Nature Done Wright

Lori Charkey of Bergen Save the Watershed Network (SWAN) writes:

Attention River Enthusiasts…

     In fall
2005, a group of scientists,
historians, and environmental activists  paddled the length
of the Hackensack
River from its source in New City, NY south to where it empties into
Newark Bay.  Mark
Becker, Ray Cywinski (UWNJ) and I were lucky to be amongst this
group of adventurers.

     Along the
way, many of us were
spellbound by the magic of this waterway, especially when we traversed
a large
marsh off of Lake Tappan known locally as the ’40 Foot Hole.”  Not
familiar
with this nickname, we dubbed it “The Spatterdock Marsh” after one of
the
prevailing types of floating, native vegetation.

   Unfortunately,
this tranquil spot
has become home to a common invasive aquatic species – the water
chestnut, Trapa
natans
(unrelated to the edible Chinese kind).  Of little
value to wildlife, this invader forms dense, floating mats that choke
off light
and oxygen, and crowd out native plants.

      On July 11, if you
would like to help us to avoid
an infestation of water chestnut in our watershed while getting out on
a beautiful
stretch of the Hackensack, please contact Bergen SWAN or United Water
New
Jersey at your soonest convenience! 

     Participation is limited to the
first
25 people who register.  Download Water Chestnut Removal for
further
details!

Thank you,Lori
Charkey