Eurasian Water Milfoil
Description & Managament
In 2019, Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) reported to Invasive Species Ontario that Mazinaw had “Eurasian Milfoil”. EWM is an extremely aggressive invasive aquatic plant that forms thick underwater stands of tangled stems and dense floating mats of vegetation.
The MPOA organized a 2 hour FAQ Information Session on August 15th, 2024 about Eurasian Water-Milfoil & ProcellaCOR . Special thanks to the world renowned PhD Experts for answering our questions received since 2022 when the MPOA first started to take a leadership role on this EWM invasive species issue. If you were not able to join us, please view our Video Recording of the FAQ Information Session; or see below for the written form of the FAQ as it relates to EWM.
The MPOA’s proposed ProcellaCOR FX as a mitigation measure to control the Eurasian Water-Milfoil (EWM) invasive species is deemed to be a pragmatic step forward, as presented at the July 2024 AGM. After the AGM, several members asked why the government wasn’t taking the lead on managing this invasive species, since the government owns the lake and the lake floor. The MPOA have engaged with various levels of government individually and to-date, no level of government has intervened to manage the EWM invasive species issue on the Lake, since it was first registered in the Invasive Species of Ontario database by the Conservation Authority on Oct 29th 2019.
The MPOA has asked for a multi level government meeting(s) with North Frontenac and Addington Highlands Townships, the MVCA, MNR, together with MPP John Jordan, MPP Rick Breese, MP Shelby Kramp-Newman, MP Scott Reid to seek clarify on leadership and roles & responsibilities of the government.
Should the government take the lead in managing EWM, they will determine the best course of action, whether it is the use of Health Canada approved aquatic herbicides, (consistent with their invasive species management plans in abuting watersheds and nearby federally controlled waters), or a different approach. Until it is known what leadership role the government will take, if at all, the MPOA will wait before pursuing further steps, including seeking ProcellaCOR FX to manage the EWM in the lake.
The EWM FAQ is posted below in PDF format. We are expecting to have more FAQ information related to management of EWM to share after the meeting with the government has concluded, depending on which direction the government chooses to take, if any at all.