A good deed for the Delaware

DAMASCUS, PA — The Delaware River is a little safer from alien invaders after members of Boy Scout Troop #122 from Damascus worked to remove water chestnut, Trapa natans, from a private pond owned by Floyd Campfield Sr. located in Narrowsburg, New York on August 10.

The private pond on the Campfield’s property has an outlet that eventually leads to the Delaware River. Water chestnut is an aquatic invasive plant which is not native to the Upper Delaware region. It is native to Europe and Asia, and was first observed in the United States in Massachusetts in the late 1800s. As with many invasive plant species, this plant provides no real benefits to the environment that it grows in, or the environment around it. In fact, it can form dense floating mats, severely limiting light—a critical element of aquatic ecosystems. It can also, in some situations, reduce oxygen levels, which may increase the potential for fish kills, and it limits boating, fishing, swimming and other recreational activities. If the plant can be eliminated from connecting ponds like the Campfields, it should be possible to inhibit its spread to the Delaware River.

With a day’s worth of elbow grease and a little bit of fun, the boys spent time in canoes and along the shore of the Campfield’s pond, hand pulling the water chestnut plants out one by one. After the pond was water chestnut free, they did their best to remove as many of the nutlets (from which the plant can reproduce) from the pond bottom as possible.

The boys who participated earned the Service to America badge in the process.

Boy Scout Troop #122 meets every Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. in the Damascus United Methodist Church basement.

For more information about water chestnut, or to report a sighting, call 570/729-7842.

Contributed photos

Boy Scouts from Damascus Troop #122 who helped clear the Campfield pond of invasive water chestnut were Zach Smith, back row left, Josh Campfield, Scoutmaster Rich Egan, Austin LoCicero, Brandon Tessyman, Mike Marienshek, Jamie Myers, Jesse Campfield, front row left, and Jake Forelli.

A rosette of water chestnut found in the Delaware River at Narrowsburg, NY.