## 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: [Lake Warner, MA](http://goo.gl/maps/n5zto) and [HackerFarm at Belchertown, MA](http://goo.gl/maps/TdG32) ![hfarm.png](https://i.publiclab.org/system/images/photos/000/000/815/medium/hfarm.png) ### RSVP: [waterchestnuts.eventbrite.com ](http://waterchestnuts.eventbrite.com/) ### What: **Sunday (7/21): Intro to MapKnitter + Infragram**. 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. **Monday (7/22): 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. [Group Working gDoc for Attendance, BBQ and Lodging](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MaIJiT6Z8llY3SMCbqq0UVoTGoaVJoztqTblXxWj9Ls/edit) ### 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 in Belchertown, MA [Address on Google Maps ](https://maps.google.com/maps?q=141+franklin,+belchertown,+ma&hl=en&sll=42.394497,-72.571778&sspn=0.013692,0.020471&gl=us&hnear=141+Franklin+St,+Belchertown,+Hampshire,+Massachusetts+01007&t=m&z=17) **12pm - 1 pm**: Welcome & Arrivals **1 pm - 5 pm**: Intro to Aerial Imagery -Equipment overview / gear check -Balloon and Kite mapping of nearby site -HackerFarm Backyard -Christmas Tree Farm -UMass Orchard -Cold River **5 pm - 7 pm**: BBQ **7 pm**: Brief Public Lab Tools Intro: -MapKnitter -Infragram -SpectralWorkbench **Monday, July 22nd** @ Lake Warner: 293 River Drive, Hadley, MA [Address on Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/maps?q=293+River+Drive,+hadley&hnear=293+River+Dr,+Hadley,+Massachusetts+01035&gl=us&t=m&z=16) **9 AM**: Welcome and Arrivals Arrivals on Site Presentation: Background on Water Chestnut **10 AM**: Balloon Launch **11 AM**: Mitigation Team -canoe launch -on-water recon and visual inspection of species -culling Water Chestnut **1 PM**: Gear wrap-up & leave site Location: HackerFarm in Belchertown, MA Address on [Google Maps ](https://maps.google.com/maps?q=141+franklin,+belchertown,+ma&hl=en&sll=42.394497,-72.571778&sspn=0.013692,0.020471&gl=us&hnear=141+Franklin+St,+Belchertown,+Hampshire,+Massachusetts+01007&t=m&z=17) **2 PM**: BBQ **3 PM**: MapKnitter processing of photos ### RSVP Please register here: [waterchestnuts.eventbrite.com ](http://waterchestnuts.eventbrite.com/) if you're planning on attending, so we'll know how many people to plan for. Thanks! ### 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