With the final long weekend of summer upon us, many boaters will soon be packing up their gear for another year.
But officials with the Nature Conservancy of Canada are asking you to check for any unwanted stowaways before you do.
Spokesperson Andrew Holland said you may unknowingly be taking invasive species with you, such as Eurasian water-milfoil, a highly invasive aquatic plant.
“It hinders what I would call native plants and fish and wildlife. The thick mats of the plant take on the bottom of the river,” Holland said in an interview.
Eurasian water-milfoil, also known as the “zombie plant,” can block sunlight from reaching native plants and prevent fish from swimming through it.
The plant has feather-like leaves arranged in whorls of three to six around the stem. Officials say it grows in columns and has a high tolerance for a lot of different environmental conditions.
Dense mats of Eurasian water-milfoil that form at the surface. Photo Credit: Dr. Meghann Bruce
Experts say the plant, which is not dangerous to humans, typically spreads from one place to another through fragmentation.
The fragments float in the water and grow what are called advantageous roots. From there, the plant can be transported downriver naturally or become stuck to a boat.
But Holland said there are things water lovers can do to help prevent the spread of invasive species, like the Eurasian water-milfoil.
“Inspect and remove all visible pieces of this from your equipment and drain all the water from your boat,” he said. “Wash your boats and your vessels and dry them for at least five days.”
Officials recommend doing this any time you move from one body of water to another, not just at the end of the summer season.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada also encourages you to check out apps like iNaturalist to track where invasive species are found.
