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non-native Eurasion milfoil 

Click to see List of Wisconsin Lakes with non-native Eurasion milfoil

 

How to Identify:

 

This milfoil is the only non-native milfoil species in Wisconsin - seven native species are found here. It is easiest to identify when it is blooming or has fruits on it. Eurasian water-milfoil has slender stems encircled by feathery leaves in groups. The stems branch and commonly grow to lengths up to 10 feet. Eurasian water milfoil produces small, 4-parted flowers on a spike that sticks out of the water two to four inches. The flowers are either four-petaled or without petals. The fruit is a hard, capsule with four seeds. The plant stem is often reddish-brown. Look for 12-21 pairs of leaflets per leaf to help distinguish Eurasian water-milfoil from Northern water-milfoil, the most similar native milfoil. The native plant typically has 7-11 pairs of leaflets. Don't mistake the common plant called coontail for the milfoil, it does not have individual leaflets.

 

Effects of invasion:

 

This invader grows quickly in spring and forms a dense leaf canopy in the water that shades out native aquatic plants. Because it can spread rapidly by fragmentation, it can block out sunlight needed for native plants to grow. This can lead to areas where all the plants are just Eurasian water-milfoil, which is not a diverse habitat. This disrupts predator-prey relationships by keeping out larger fish, and takes away nutrient-rich native plants that waterfowl need. Eurasian water-milfoil may also lead to poor water quality and algae blooms in infested lakes. Thick stands of Eurasian water-milfoil also make it hard to have fun in the water when you want to go swimming, boating, or fishing. Nobody wants to get tangled up in that long, stringy mess! The flat yellow-green mat of vegetation can also make a lake look "infested" or "dead."

CONTROLLING EURASIAN WATER MILFOIL: Preventing a milfoil invasion involves various efforts. Public awareness of the necessity to remove weed fragments at boat landings, a commitment to protect native plant beds from speed boaters and indiscriminate plant control that disturbs these beds, and a watershed management program to keep nutrients from reaching lakes and stimulating milfoil colonies--all are necessary to prevent the spread of milfoil.

Monitoring and prevention are the most important steps for keeping Eurasian water milfoil under control. A sound precautionary measure is to check all equipment used in infested waters and remove all aquatic vegetation upon leaving the lake or river. All equipment, including boats, motors, trailers, and fishing/diving equipment, should be free of aquatic plants.

Lake managers and lakeshore owners should check for new colonies and control them before they spread. The plants can be hand pulled or raked. It is imperative that all fragments be removed from the water and the shore. Plant fragments can be used in upland areas as a garden mulch.

Mechanical Control: Mechanical cutters and harvesters are the most common method for controlling Eurasian water milfoil in Wisconsin. While harvesting may clear out beaches and boat landing by breaking up the milfoil canopy, the method is not selective, removing beneficial aquatic vegetation as well. These machines also create shoot fragments, which contributes to milfoil dispersal. Harvesting should be used only after colonies have become widespread, and harvesters should be used offshore where they have room to turn around. Hand cutters work best inshore, where they complement hand pulling and bottom screening. Bottom screening can be used for severe infestations, but will kill native vegetation as well. A diver-operated suction dredge can be used to vacuum up weeds, but the technique can destroy nearby native plants and temporarily raise water turbidity.

Hand pulling is the preferred control method for colonies of under 0.75 acres or fewer than 100 plants. The process is both thorough and selective (not to mention time-consuming); special care must be taken to collect all roots and plant fragments during removal. Sites remote from boat traffic can be covered with bottom screens that are anchored firmly against the lake bed to kill grown shoots and prevent new sproutings, but screens must be removed each fall to clean off sediment that encourages rooting. Buoys can mark identified colonies and warn boaters to stay away.

Whenever possible, milfoil control sites should become customized management zones. For example, colony removal by harvesting can be followed by planting native plants to stabilize sediments against wave action, build nurseries for fry, attract waterfowl, and compete against new milfoil invasions.

DNR permits are required for chemical treatments, bottom screening, and buoy/barrier placement.

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