MassDCR announced that a stretch of the Charles River in Watertown will be treated for invasive aquatic plant species this week. See the announcement below.
On Thursday, August 24, 2023, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will conduct invasive aquatic species control work in the Charles River from approximately the Newton Yacht Club in the City of Newton to the Arsenal Street Bridge in the City of Boston. The Charles River will remain open to the public, however, DCR encourages those on the river that day to avoid the treatment area and the treatment vessels.
If left unmanaged, invasive aquatic species will outcompete native plant species and inhibit water flow and recreational access. Alternative local state parks include the downstream portions of the Charles River Reservation in the City of Boston, Mystic River Reservation in the City of Medford, Beaver Brook Reservation in the Town of Belmont and Middlesex Fells Reservation in the Town of Stoneham.
WHERE: Charles River from the Newton Yacht in the City of Newton to the Arsenal Street Bridge in the City of Boston
WHEN: Thursday, August 24, 2023
Do we know what they treated the plants with? And how they were treated?
I asked the DCR about the treatments. They said the product used is called ProcellaCOR (active ingredient: florpyrauxifen-benzyl) which targets just the invasive milfoil.
I’ve written the organization Beyond Pesticides to see what they know about this chemical. It’s difficult to believe that the chemical treatment won’t flow down the river, especially with all the rain and flooding we’ve been having.
http://www.beyondpesticides.org