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Problems Related to Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM)
What is the Problem with Eurasian watermilfoil?
Eurasian watrmilfoil in the field and in the lab
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Since its accidental introduction to US waterways in the 1940s, Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM) has spread across North America to more than 45 states and much of Canada. Once established, this rapidly spreading freshwater weed out competes most native plants and interferes with recreational activities, wildlife habitat, and facilities having water uptake systems.
Eurasian watermilfoil:
grows at colder temperatures and lower light levels than most native species
has a canopy growth pattern which shades out native vegetation
often results in a monoculture of EWM.
Large monocultures of Eurasian watermilfoil:
promote thermal stratification;
promote oxygen stratification;
reduces natural circulation, often leading to DO and bacterial problems;
affect all recreational uses;
reduce in-lake biodiversity;
provide poor fish and wildlife habitat;
can result in an unbalanced fishery.
EWM must be managed continuously to sustain the environmental and economic integrity of public and private waterbodies. Current methods of EWM control use physical, mechanical and chemical disruption processes that neither eradicate EWM nor provide long-term control. These methods are expensive, and at best, stop-gap measures. Due to their damaging effects on the environment, some are banned in certain states and provinces.
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