National Invasive Species Awareness Week

Yesterday marked the beginning of National Invasive Species Awareness Week!

Pictured are four particularly damaging invasive plants in the Charles that threaten native species, reduce biodiversity, and are hazardous to recreation.

Thanks to a CRWA partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Eurasian watermilfoil (top left) and fanwort (bottom left) receive safe, targeted herbicide treatments in the Lakes District and Lower Basin of the Charles River. We are in year four of a five-year treatment plan. As a result of our work, the annual survey measuring our progress found only 4% of survey sites contained Eurasian watermilfoil, a decrease from 6.1% in 2023. Fanwort also saw a 51% reduction compared to post-treatment in 2023.

CRWA leads efforts to manually remove water chestnut (top right) with the help of our dedicated volunteers. In 2024, 110 volunteers pulled 33,000 pounds from the river. CRWA also hosts removal efforts targeting bittersweet vines (bottom right) that strangle trees.

“Community Rowing appreciates the Charles River Watershed Association’s advocacy and leadership in protecting the river we all cherish. Their continued stewardship ensures that the Charles remains a safe and accessible space for rowers and all members of the Boston Community who enjoy river recreation and the surrounding parkland… We’re proud to be a partner with them in these efforts so that the river remains a vibrant part of our lives for generations to come." - Ted Benford, Executive Director, Community Rowing, Inc.

Interested in supporting this work? DCR will match CRWA contributions 2:1 up to $50,000. CRWA’s goal is to raise just over $16,000 to reach $50,000 annually. Invasive plant removal is made possible through community support by volunteering and donating. Please make a gift to support a healthy, invasive-free Charles River. Your gift provides the resources to help clear invasives from identified prioritized areas of the river as part of DCR’s 5-year management plan.