Meet Larry Smith, the co-owner of Paddle Boston, a local business here in the Greater Boston area that provides kayaks and canoes to anyone interested in venturing out on the Charles River.
Water chestnuts are a real cause for concern for anyone who enjoys river recreation, Larry and his clients included.
Water chestnuts typically proliferate first along the river’s edges and coves—but their unchecked spread can significantly narrow the width of the river without management.
This is bad news for paddlers, especially for those who are less experienced, as water chestnuts can easily entangle canoes and kayaks.
Reporting and images by Skyler Kim ’24. See more photos and read the story at Charles River Watershed Association.