Great news from the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP), who have awarded grants for aquatic invasive species management in the Connecticut River watershed - including over 34K for Connecticut River Conservancy to continue our work on water chestnut!
Water chestnut is a problem because it takes up space and nutrients. It can crowd out native plants that are food sources for native animals. Not only do they take over our waterways by out-competing other emergent and floating vegetation, but their colonization also negatively impacts the function of the entire aquatic ecosystem. They proliferate profusely on the surface of freshwater.
This is the fourth annual round of grants for aquatic invasive species control from CT DEEP. A total of $545,000 was awarded to 13 projects that will help restore Connecticut waterbodies, addressing threats from aquatic invasive species as part of the Biden Administration’s America the Beautiful Freshwater Challenge Goals.
You can also learn more about Connecticut River Conservancy's Aquatic Invasive Species work, or get to to know Water Chestnut.