INVASIVE WEEDS

---

Invasive vegetation is a threat to our bay. The following are excerpts from the U of MN Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC). They do a better job than we can describing the issues these invasives cause:

Eurasian watermilfoil grows rapidly and tends to form a dense canopy on the water surface, which often interferes with recreation, inhibits water flow, and impedes navigation. Eurasian watermilfoil is a particularly problematic aquatic weed, due to its ability to reproduce from fragments and spread rapidly, its high growth rate in a range of temperatures and environmental conditions, and its tendency to reach the surface and form extensive mats of plant at the surface, which can allow it to shade and outcompete native vegetation.

Curlyleaf pondweed inhibits the growth of native species, interferes with recreational activities, and disrupts valuable services provided by native plants such as stabilizing sediment, improving water quality, and providing support for fish and other animals.