Volunteers help harvest invasive plant at Meshanticut Pond

By HERALD STAFF

Posted 8/7/19

By HERALD STAFF Volunteers descended on Meshanticut Pond over the weekend as part of an ongoing effort to control an invasive plant at the local recreational site. According to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, 20 volunteers took

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Attention subscribers

We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.

If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.

Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.

Volunteers help harvest invasive plant at Meshanticut Pond

HARD WORK: Lifting some of the invasive lotus plants from Meshanticut Pond this past Saturday morning was volunteer Katherine Lang.

(Herald photos by Steve Popiel)

IN THE DUMPS: Frank Volante helped to unload the sacred lotus seed pods that were removed by volunteers in canoes and kayaks this past Saturday morning at Meschanticut Pond.

(Herald photos by Steve Popiel)

EDUCATIONAL EVENT: Katie DeGoosh-DiMarzio, a project coordinator with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, was on hand to explain the issues surrounding the sacred lotus patch at Meshanticut Pond.

(Herald photos by Steve Popiel)

Posted Wednesday, August 7, 2019 1:10 pm

By HERALD STAFF

Volunteers descended on Meshanticut Pond over the weekend as part of an ongoing effort to control an invasive plant at the local recreational site.

According to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, 20 volunteers took part in a morning session on Saturday, along with 16 during the afternoon. That followed work by a group of 21 volunteers on Aug. 1.

The community harvesting events – the last of which will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 18 – are focused on curbing the growth of a sacred lotus patch on the pond.

DEM describes the plant – known scientifically as Nelumbo nucifera – as a “highly-aggressive, invasive species that threatens a healthy balance of native plants … impedes fishing and boating opportunities and will be costly to manage over the next several years.” Prior to the harvesting, the patch covered approximately 1.25 acres of the 12-acre pond.

During the harvesting events, some volunteers took to the water in kayaks and canoes and cut lotus seed pods from stems. Other volunteers remained ashore to unload containers of the seed pods for disposal.

According to DEM, roughly 1½ dumpsters were filled between the Thursday and Saturday sessions.

Volunteers are still being sought for the final harvesting event. For more information or to register, visit dem.ri.gov or follow DEM on Facebook or Twitter.