What does watermilfoil look like?

Identifying Eurasian watermilfoil can be tricky since it looks similar to native watermilfoils. Native watermilfoils usually have less than 12-14 leaflets on one side of the leaf, whereas Eurasian watermilfoil has more than 12-14 leaflets. Eurasian Watermilfoil has small reddish flowers above water in mid-summer.

What is Eurasian watermilfoil?

Deceptively delicate and fragile in appearance, the Eurasian watermilfoil forms thick mats in shallow areas of a lake, quickly growing and spreading to block sunlight, killing off native aquatic plants that fish and other underwater species rely on for food and shelter.

Where did Eurasian watermilfoil come from?

Eurasian watermilfoil is native to Europe, Asia and Africa. It may have arrived in the early 1900s through shipping or may have become established from plants that were originally contained in an aquarium.

How fast does Eurasian watermilfoil spread?

Eurasian watermilfoil is highly invasive and competes aggressively with native aquatic plants, thereby reducing diversity. A single fragment of stem or leaves can take root and form a new colony, and plants can grow up to 2 inches per day.

Why is milfoil bad?

Water milfoil can quickly become a problem because it spreads rapidly forming mats of vegetation on the water surface. Milfoil mats can rob oxygen from the water by preventing the wind from mixing the oxygenated surface waters to deeper water and can also increase the sedimentation rate by trapping sediments.

What animals eat milfoil?

Adult weevils primarily eat milfoil leaves, but will also consume stem tissues. This is the only stage of the weevil that can exit the water.

How do I get rid of Eurasian watermilfoil?

Eurasian Watermilfoil can be removed by cutting and raking from the pond. It will regrow from remaining roots and seeds. Pond Dye can be used to limit sunlight into the pond. With reduced sunlight, photosynthesis cannot occur so growth will be stunted.

What is the impact of Eurasian watermilfoil?

Eurasian Water Milfoil grows and spreads rapidly while invading replacing native plants. It negatively impacts fish and wildlife populations as well as human activities such as swimming, boating, waterskiing, fishing and tourism in affected areas.

Is Eurasian watermilfoil edible?

Edible Uses: Root – raw or cooked[257]. Sweet and crunchy, the roots were a much relished food for several native North American Indian tribes[257].

Does milfoil produce oxygen?

Milfoil mats can rob oxygen from the water by preventing the wind from mixing the oxygenated surface waters to deeper water and can also increase the sedimentation rate by trapping sediments.

What causes milfoil?

Eurasian water-milfoil is found in places with lots of nutrients. It likes heavily used lakes, disturbed lake beds, and lakes that get a lot of nitrogen and phosphorous runoff. Warmer lakes can cause the milfoil to flower and reproduce more often in one summer.

What is used to treat milfoil?

The most commonly used herbicide for milfoil control in Minnesota is 2-4-D (often Aqua-Kleen) which is selective for dicots. Control is most effective with spring or fall applications and some damage to other dicots (e.g., coontail, water lilies) can be expected.

What does Eurasian watermilfoil do to a lake?

USDA. Blog. Deceptively delicate and fragile in appearance, the Eurasian watermilfoil forms thick mats in shallow areas of a lake, quickly growing and spreading to block sunlight, killing off native aquatic plants that fish and other underwater species rely on for food and shelter.

When does the Eurasian water milfoil start to grow?

Eurasian water-milfoil competes aggressively to displace and reduce the diversity of native aquatic plants. It elongates from shoots initiated in the fall, beginning spring growth earlier than other aquatic plants.

Why is watermilfoil an invasive plant in North America?

In North America, the plant threatens the diversity and abundance of native plants as well as the ecological balance of lakes and ponds, which in turn adversely affects recreational opportunities. If left unchecked, invasive watermilfoil will spread through a lake, or even to other lakes by transmission.

Is the Myriophyllum spicatum an invasive plant?

MDARD Weed Risk Assessment for Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) – This document evaluates the invasive potential of the plant species using information based on establishment, spread and potential to cause harm.