Specifications include, but are not limited to: This element of the Water Chestnut Management Program will have two subcomponents. The first will focus on the removal of water chestnut (Trapa natans) by hand from locations in and around central Lake Champlain in tandem with the State’s staff and a contractor to survey and harvest at sites that have historically large populations of water chestnut. These sites include Bulwagga Bay, Dead Creek, Little Otter Creek, Fort Ticonderoga Bay and the LaChute River, and Benson Landing. The second component is to work solely with the State to survey and harvest northern sites in Grand Isle and Franklin County. The State’s full Management Program involves mechanical harvesting and handpulling to remove water chestnut plants before they reach maturity. Both methods will be used. The State will implement and oversee the program through contracts with selected vendors. Handpulling involves the use of crews (three-five individuals) to pull water chestnut plants from designated sites for approximately thirty-days (weather permitting). Handpulling crews work from kayaks and motorboats, or wade directly in the water. Areas with scattered water chestnut growth as well as areas where chestnut plants are interspersed with native floating aquatic plant species are typically selected for handpulling.
