The Water Chestnut Chasers Challenge is a free event which invites participants to visit their local lake, pond, stream, or river in the month of July and search for water chestnut, an aquatic invasive species known to out-compete native species and hinder recreational activities.

 

If water chestnut is found, observation reports should be directed to iMapInvasives via the mobile app or by using a desktop computer. Assessment data is also useful in capturing the full extent of an infestation when a positive finding is made. If water chestnut isn't found (i.e., absence data), this is still important information to gather and can be done so by creating a survey record.

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Both presence and absence data captured in iMapInvasives will be used to assist natural resource professionals and citizen scientists in knowing which waterbodies require continued treatment efforts and to identify waterbodies with new water chestnut infestations. 

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Interested individuals may choose to participate in the challenge as a formal survey event, or to simply remain vigilant when out recreating on the water in July. Anyone wishing to participate in the Challenge must register to attend the webinar training on June 21, 2018. (If you are unable to attend this training but would still like to participate in the Challenge, please contact Amy Jewitt at iMapInvasives@paconserve.org.)

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At the end of the Challenge, the participant who enters the most data into iMapInvasives (i.e., both presence and absence) will be awarded a grant prize package of items related to outdoor aquatic recreation.

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