Oneida River (WSYR-TV) - About 50 people were working along the Oneida River Tuesday evening, pulling out an invasive species of water chestnuts.
The invasive plant has a knack for multiplying and can make enjoying the waterway difficult for homeowners, boaters and anglers.
On a hot summer day like Tuesday, water chestnuts tend to grow faster because of all the sun, which is why so many folks were out there on the water to pull them out.
People say that if they can yank out the chestnuts now, it'll not only help stop the spread of it, but it will also help the local economy.
“Fishing alone is a billion dollar industry,” says Mike Cusano of the Salt City Bassmasters. “We have a lot of bass tournaments, a lot of bass fishing, rec tournaments, all the different species. If you clog the waterways, you make it so that users don't want to be on the water. It becomes difficult for people to fish and enjoy the resource we have here.”
Members of the Bassmasters will keep pulling out water chestnuts until about 8:00 Tuesday night.
The goal is to get to as many as possible and to spread awareness. They say the more who take part in this, the clearer the water will be.
This is the third year the Salt City Bassmasters and other volunteers have come out to pull the water chestnut from the banks of the Oneida River.
