Invasive Water Chestnut Removal

Pages Mill Pond in North Branford has been invaded by European water chestnut (Trapa natans). This "jewel of the upper Farm River" provides spawning habitat for the declining Alewife river herring. This invasive aquatic plant would degrade the alewife's habitat by prolifically covering the entirety of the pond. Let's not let it!

On Saturday August 5th please join us (The Farm River coalition, in conjunction with Trout Unlimited and support from Regional Water Authority & CT DEEP) to help us remove the invasive aquatic plant. 

Saturday August 5

8:30 am to 1:30 pm, or whenever you need to leave

Pages Mill Pond 

16 Mill Road, North Branford

Carpooling encouraged

Unload your canoe or kayak at the farm gate, then park along the road. 

BYO: water bottle, lunch, sunscreen, bug spray, hat, gloves that can get wet, clothes that can get wet & grungy, boots and/or water shoes

A few kayaks and two canoes can be reserved for loan, thank you to Trout Unlimited. Please reply if you'd like to borrow a kayak.

These floating aquatic plants are not poisonous, or difficult to pull, but they are prolific!  The best means of removal is to pull the plants by hand, and dump them on land, where they will be tended to. Shallow-bottomed boats are best for access to the plants. Our host Lindsay says it’s actually kind of fun!  Though most of the effort is done on the water, we also need land-based ‘runners’ who take the ‘haul’ from the boats and spread it out on the shore. 

We will break for lunch, when our host (the property owner, Lindsay Suter) will tell interested volunteers about the history, lore, and workings of the old Mill and the new fish ladder.  

Due to the nature of the work and the venue, young children are not invited, but self-sufficient teenagers are welcome!  We aim to work for 4 to 5 hours, but you may leave any time. Please spread the word!