NEWS RELEASE

INVASIVE SPECIES CENTRE

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The Lake Simcoe Water Soldier Working Group is calling on residents and visitors to Lake Simcoe to clean, drain, and dry their watercraft and equipment and report suspected sightings of water soldier outside of Cook’s Bay to prevent the spread of water soldier.

Water soldier is an invasive aquatic plant that can create large, dense mats that can limit recreational activities such as swimming, fishing, and boating, and is even a human health risk, as the plant has thin, serrated leaves that can cut skin.

“The water soldier population in Lake Simcoe is the largest known population in North America, and Lake Simcoe itself is a vital source of drinking water for 500,000 residents and a favoured recreation spot for so many more,” says Colin Cassin, Invasive Species Centre executive director. “Given the significance of both the infestation and the lake itself, collaboration is key in managing the current population and preventing further spread into Georgian Bay and the Trent-Severn Waterway.”

The Lake Simcoe Water Soldier Working Group continues to take co-ordinated action, with funding from the Ministry of Natural Resources, to monitor the water soldier population and support the implementation of management activities outlined in the integrated management plan including a mechanical harvesting pilot, manual pulls, and research initiatives exploring control tools.

Ongoing monitoring within Cook’s Bay, as well as surveys extending into the main lake, are essential for determining whether the infestation has spread beyond its known distribution. This information helps guide management decisions and evaluate the effectiveness of response efforts.

“Reporting suspected sightings of water soldier outside of Cook’s Bay is essential in our efforts and residents of Lake Simcoe should take clear photos, note their location, and report to the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711 as soon as possible,” says Brook Schryer, the Invading Species Awareness Program’s adviser.

In addition to monitoring, public engagement is a key activity of the working group. Through activities such as hosting and attending events, posting signage, and offering the newly launched Aquatic Invasive Plant Quiz, residents and lakes users can learn how to identify water soldier, understand its impacts, and find out how to report suspected sightings. Test your knowledge today.

How community members can help prevent the spread:


Learn how to recognize water soldier by visiting the Invasive Species Centre water soldier species profile.
Report sightings of water soldier to the Invading Species Hotline: 1-800-563-7711. A good report includes an accurate location of the sighting and photos. Other ways to report: Online or mobile devices (EDDMapS or iNaturalist); email ([email protected]).
In Ontario, cleaning and draining your watercraft (motorized or non-motorized) and equipment is required by law before entering or leaving any waterbody. It’s even better if you can allow everything to dry completely in the sun or clean your boat from top to bottom with hot or pressurized water. Even small plant fragments can be transported by boats or equipment and establish new infestations.
Safely pull it. Watch the Parks Canada See It, Pull It video to learn the skills and equipment you will need to carefully remove water soldier on your own. Make sure you refer to the Prevention and Response Plan for Water Soldier to ensure you meet all the management requirements and complete activities during the in-water work timing windows.
If you are disposing of water soldier, do it properly. Dispose of it in regular household garbage or on dry land in a manner that ensures that no part of the plant will re-enter the body of water or enter any other body of water.
Don’t use water soldier in aqua-scaping. Water soldier is prohibited under Ontario’s Invasive Species Act. This means it is illegal to import, possess, deposit, release, transport, breed/grow, buy, sell, lease, or trade water soldier in Ontario. See all regulated species here.

Community members can learn more about water soldier and how to prevent the spread at lakesimcoeWS.ca.

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