Aquatic invasives

Eurasian watermilfoil is a submergent, invasive aquatic perennial that grows in the nutrient rich waters of lakes and ponds. Eurasian watermilfoil typically ranges from 3 to 10 feet in height but has been found as tall as 33 feet. The feather-like leaves are bright green in color and are arranged in whorls of 3 to 6 with 12 to 20 leaflets on each side. The stem is a whitish pink to reddish brown in color and this invasive is often mistaken for native northern watermilfoil which only has 5 to 10 leaflets per side. Eurasian watermilfoil grows quickly and produces thick mats which reduce the light that native plants need to grow which in turn impacts fish and wildlife. These thick mats can interfere with swimming, it can become entangled in boat propellers which inhibits boating and it can lower property values. The way to prevent the spread of this invasive is to CLEAN, DRAIN, and DRY. CLEAN off any visible plants or debris from your watercraft. DRAIN the water from the bilge, motor or live well. DRY your watercraft and equipment for at least 5 days in the sun or wipe dry with a towel before reuse. 

European  frog-bit is a perennial, free-floating aquatic invasive herb that is found in shallow, slow-moving water on the edges of rivers, lakes, streams, swamps, and marshes. European frog-bit has floating, kidney shaped leaves with long stems and has flowers that are three-petaled, white and cup shaped with a yellow dot in the center. European frog-bit looks similar to water lilies or water-shield only it is smaller in size. European frog-bit creates dense mats with tangled roots which affects boating and impairs the movement of large fish and waterfowl. The way to prevent the spread of this invasive is to CLEAN, DRAIN, and DRY. CLEAN off any visible plants or debris from your watercraft. DRAIN the water from the bilge, motor or live well. DRY your watercraft and equipment for at least 5 days in the sun or wipe dry with a towel before reuse. 

The spiny water flea is an aquatic invasive species that lives in deep lakes, shallow lakes, reservoirs, and rivers. The spiny water flea is very tiny. It is about ½ inch long with a translucent body, a prominent dark eye spot and a long, sharply barbed tail. When found in large numbers, they form clumps with black spots that look and feel like gelatin or wet cotton. Spiny water fleas collect on fishing gear, especially lines, diminishing the quality of recreational fishing and they disrupts food web of the aquatic ecosystem. The way to prevent the spread of this invasive is to CLEAN, DRAIN, and DRY. CLEAN off any visible plants or debris from your watercraft. DRAIN the water from the bilge, motor or live well. DRY your watercraft and equipment for at least 5 days in the sun or wipe dry with a towel before reuse. 

Starry Stonewort is an invasive aquatic grass-like form of algae. It infests the still or slow-moving waters of lakes, streams, rivers, and ponds. Starry Stonewort has whorls of long, fine narrow branchlets in groups of 5-8 coming off of main stem and has cream colored bulbs at the base of each cluster of branches. Starry stonewort can reach 6 feet in length and can grow at depths of 3 feet up to 93 feet. It forms dense mats that cover lake bottoms and surfaces. It can reduce  fish spawning habitats and it competes with native vegetation. The way to prevent the spread of this invasive is to CLEAN, DRAIN, and DRY. CLEAN off any visible plants or debris from your watercraft. DRAIN the water from the bilge, motor or live well. DRY your watercraft and equipment for at least 5 days in the sun or wipe dry with a towel before reuse. 

Columbian watermeal is a free-floating aquatic perennial plant that is found in shallow water, moderate to hard water lakes, ponds, bogs and slow-moving rivers. It is a very small, transparent green, oval shaped leaf that has no roots. Columbian watermeal is among the world’s smallest flowering plants even though it is rarely, if ever, observed flowering. Columbian watermeal is approximately 0.2 to 1.5 millimeters in length which is about the size of a pin head and has the appearance of floating grass seed on the water’s surface. While these plants are small, they reproduce rapidly and can quickly cover the surface of a pond. This could reduce oxygen levels in the water and kill fish and other essential organisms. Columbian watermeal is not considered an invasive species in Michigan but the state has had reports of higher that normal populations on local lakes potentially due to the unusual summer weather. 

The Banded Mystery Snail is an aquatic invasive species that lives in the bottom of sandy lakes and ponds or in slow moving rivers and streams. They have a large olive-green shell with 4 reddish bands that circle it. The Banded Mystery Snail invades largemouth bass nests and kills off the bass eggs. It also serves as a host for parasites that infect fish, turtles and waterfowl. The snails are transported from affected lakes to unaffected lakes attached to boats and fishing equipment. The way to prevent the spread of this invasive is to CLEAN, DRAIN, and DRY. CLEAN off any visible plants or debris from your watercraft. DRAIN the water from the bilge, motor or live well. DRY your watercraft and equipment for at least 5 days in the sun or wipe dry with a towel before reuse.