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Open in new tab UPDATE: An inter-agency working group on Water Solider will be conducting active management strategies this week on the Bay of Quinte and areas of the Trent River to control this highly invasive aquatic plant. Quinte Conservation’s role is to monitor water soldier populations in the Bay of Quinte.
Water Soldier impacts and threatens our Great Lakes ecosystems in the following ways (MNRF, OFAH, 2021):
Forms thick mats of floating and submerged vegetation.
Aggressively outcompetes native species.
Has the potential to alter surrounding water chemistry.
Can interfere with infrastructure.
Threatens the diversity of aquatic ecosystems.
Significantly impedes recreational activities (for example, the dense mats can hinder boating, fishing, and swimming activities – it has sharp serrated leaf edges that can cut swimmers).
Several tools to control for Water soldier, including physical removal methods, have been researched in both the field and the laboratory. The research has found that the most effective means of addressing the spread of aquatic invasive plants is to use an integrated approach of a combination of control tools based on the size of plant population, the time of year, and the biology of the plant.
For large populations of Water soldier, the most effective approach involves the use of herbicides. Small populations of Water soldier can be addressed by manual efforts (hand-pulling) or mechanical harvesting, but this method must be undertaken only at certain times of the year to prevent the further spread of the plant.
As noted on the attached notice there are no restrictions on fishing or waterfowl hunting in the treatment areas. The water-use restrictions outlined on the notice are specific to the immediate area of treatment and a 100m buffer zone.
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