Battle Continues Against Water Chestnuts

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Contributor

FULTON, NY – They did it again!

Pictured with one of their caches of water chestnuts, are left to right: Patty Harrington, Cat Howard, Dan Kasperek and Naneen Drosse.

The water chestnut pulling by volunteers continued this past Saturday, on the Oswego River at the old Guard Lock #4, near Battle Island.

A Guard Lock is different than a Lift Lock in that its main purpose is to prevent downstream flooding that might break through the canal banks.

The old lock and canal section combined are more than 1,200 feet in length.

Besides the negative environmental impact of the water chestnuts, it would be a shame to have the old canal section choked off, so that the lock with its magnificent hand cut stone work could not be viewed.

Some hand pulling is still needed on the south shore of Battle Island and a couple other areas.

If interested in helping, please contact Dick Drosse at 343-4565.

Volunteers Continue To Battle Water Chestnut Threat

Posted on July 12, 2011 by Contributor

MINETTO, NY – As has been done over the last several years, the pulling of pulling water chestnuts from the Battle Island area of the Oswego River was started this past weekend.

Rena Bastian uses her rake to grab and pull in the water chestnuts

This year, neighbors of Battle Island and members of the Oswego County Environmental Management Council participated in the pull.

The Battle Island area along with the old Oswego lock nearby, are of significant historical importance and a popular fishing and canoeing/kayaking location.

Each nutlet of the water chestnut plant can produce multiple plants, with each plant producing multiple nutlets.

Don Hall brings in a basket of collected Water Chestnuts

As advocated by Oswego County Soil and Water Conservation District, a grassroots effort by hand-pulling can remove the water chestnuts from thinly spread out areas, where the mats of chestnuts have not formed yet.

By snapping off the stem about 18″ below the floating rosette, the plant will die.

Another pull is being planned for the area.

Water chestnuts are developing in the old Oswego lock/canal area.

If interested in helping with the hand-pulling, please contact Dick Drosse at 343-4565.

Sandy Bonanno shows the rosette of the chestnut

Rosette of the Water Chestnut

Scene Around Town: New Interpretive Plaque Placed At Battle Island

Posted on November 17, 2009 by Steve Yablonski

New Interpretive Plaque Placed At Battle Island

FULTON, NY – The new interpretive plaque about the battle at Battle Island was recently installed at Battle Island Golf Course.

The interpretive panel was designed by Rich LaCrosse of Fort Ontario, with help from the curatorial staff at Peebles Island (near Albany).

A closeup view of the interpretive panel.

It commemorates the little known battle won by 300 colonial bateauxmen under Captain John Bradstreet over 700 French and Indians on July 3, 1756.

After the successful re-enactment on the 250th anniversary of the battle in 2006, it became apparent that an interpretive panel was needed to let people know what happened, LaCrosse noted.

The only other sign was a plaque by the road that had the wrong year on it.

Dick Drosse facilitated the movement to get a new sign made and he worked with us here at Fort Ontario, Peebles Island, and Rich Belowski, manager of Battle Island golf course, LaCrosse said.

Tag Archives: Battle Island

Battle Continues Against Water Chestnuts

Volunteers Continue To Battle Water Chestnut Threat

Scene Around Town: New Interpretive Plaque Placed At Battle Island

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