## W A T E R C H E S T N U T S

**W**orkshop on **A**quatic and **TER**restrial **C**haracterization via **H**elium **E**levation of **S**ensor **T**echnology;  **N**eeded: **U**FOs and/or **T**urgid **S**leepingbagcovers

![Water Chestnuts in the Sudbury River, Concord, MA.  Photo by Ann Ringwood of Wicked Local](https://i.publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/000/794/medium/Water-Chestnuts-in-Sudbury-River-Concord_photo-by-Ann-Ringwood-Wicked-Local.jpg)

Water Chestnuts in the Sudbury River, Concord, MA.  Photo by Ann Ringwood of Wicked Local, from an [article](http://www.unionparkpress.com/the-massachusetts-invasive-species-war-is-justified/) by Meg Muckenhoupt

### When: Sunday, July 21st -- Monday, July 22nd

### Where:  [HackerFarm at Belchertown, MA](http://goo.gl/maps/TdG32) and [Lake Warner, MA](http://goo.gl/maps/n5zto)

![hfarm.png](https://i.publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/000/815/medium/hfarm.png)


### What:

**DIY Aerial Water Chestnut Assessment**.  [Water Chestnut](http://www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/sav/water_chestnut.asp) is an invasive aquatic plant species in Massachusetts that forms dense, floating mats which severely limit available light and nutrients for aquatic ecosystems.   On Monday, July 22nd, we'll be working with members of the [UMass Amherst Dept of Environmental Conservation](http://eco.umass.edu/) and the [US Fish and Wildlife Service](http://www.fws.gov/) to apply Public Lab's DIY aerial imagery techniques in the assessment one or several management sites near Amherst, MA.   Depending on the conditions, we're planning on using [kites](http://publiclab.org/home#kite-mapping) and/or [balloons](http://publiclab.org/home#balloon-mapping) (perhaps based from canoes) to take aerial photos of affected areas both "before" and "after" a management event.  We'll also be capturing [Infragram](http://publiclab.org/wiki/infragram) near-infrared imagery, in order to see whether near-infrared photography can help to distinguish Water Chestnut from other aquatic species.  

**Sunday: Intro to MapKnitter + Infragram**.  Although the Water Chestnut aerial imaging event will occur during the day on **Monday, July 22nd**, we're planning on gathering on **Sunday, July 21st** at the newly-formed "Hacker Farm" in nearby Belchertown, MA in order to do some planning, practice kite and balloon flying, and potluck BBQ-ing.  We'll also be introducing MapKnitter and the Infragram platform, in preparation for the aerial imaging event the next day.

### Lodging

There is plenty of room to camp at the [Hacker Farm](http://goo.gl/maps/2IH4l) in Belchertown, MA, on Sunday, Monday, and even Tuesday nights; and there are also a bunch of beds available in the farmhouse.

### Agenda

**Sunday, July 21st** @ HackerFarm01007

Afternoon / evening:
- Intro to Balloon / Kite mapping
- Intro to Infragram
- DIY Garden / Farm technology
- Potluck BBQ
- Camping / Bonfire
- Mosquitoes

**Monday, July 22nd** @  Log Pond Cove, Holyoke, MA, Lake Warner, MA, or another nearby location

- Exploration of Area and Overview
- Balloon / Kite Mapping -- Round 1, “Before”
- Volunteer with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove water chestnuts
- Balloon / Kite Mapping -- Round 2, “After”
- Mapknitter Workshop @ HackerFarm01007
- BBQ

### Links to more information about Water Chestnut

- [Slide presentation](http://morris.njaes.rutgers.edu/pdfs/water%20chestnut%20_FINAL.pdf) on Water Chestnut as an invasive species

- [Background](http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/waterchestnut.shtml) from invasivespeciesinfo.gov

- [Article](http://www.unionparkpress.com/the-massachusetts-invasive-species-war-is-justified/) on Water Chestnut as an invasive species