‘I have seen how water soldier can make water untraversable by boat, canoe, or swimming,’ warned Rama First Nation official<\/p>\n
Spring is the time when nature emerges from slumber. It is also a time to be vigilant for invasive species on land and in water, officials warn.<\/p>\n
In Lagoon City, weed harvesting will resume next month. Aquatic vegetation is removed to keep the canals clear for recreational uses and some of them are difficult to manage\u00a0invasive species.<\/p>\n
Two species in particular are affecting Lake Simcoe, disrupting the growth of native plants and fish habitat.<\/p>\n
Starry stonewort is an invasive macroalgae native to Eurasia that has been found in Lagoon City canals. It\u2019s immune to herbicides and grows densely. If left in the water, cuttings propagate, making it more difficult to eradicate.<\/p>\n
Last summer, the Chippewas of Rama First Nation surveyed the shorelines of Lake Couchiching and the northern part of Lake Simcoe.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur team found that approximately 80 per cent of the survey points had starry stonewort,\u201d said Ryan Williams, GIS analyst trainee, lands and membership for the Rama.<\/p>\n
Water soldier is another invasive species starting to spread in Lake Simcoe. It has yet to be found near Ramara, but was recently identified south of the township in Cook\u2019s Bay<\/a>. It\u2019s usually found in shallow waters where there is less movement.<\/p>\n Although water soldier was not found in last year\u2019s survey points, Williams says it could be present in Lake Couchiching or other parts of Lake Simcoe.<\/p>\n The Chippewas of Rama First Nation joined a coalition of organizations \u2014 the Water Soldier Working Group \u2014 which includes the province, the Ontario Association of Anglers and Hunters, the Invasive Species Centre, and the Georgina Island First Nation.<\/p>\n They surveyed Lake Simcoe to learn about the extent of the infestation of water soldier and its growth patterns.<\/p>\n \u201cThis coalition was actually able to exceed the initial scope of the survey to include not only Cook\u2019s Bay but the southern shorelines of Lake Simcoe as far north as Big Bay Point and as far east as Duclos Point and the shorelines of Georgina Island and Snake Island,\u201d Williams told OrilliaMatters.<\/p>\n Although it was only found in Cook\u2019s Bay, water soldier covered 450 hectares. This, Williams said, is the largest known population of the plant in North America.<\/p>\n Aside from the environmental threat to ecosystems, the invasive species may also have an economic impact.<\/p>\n \u201cI have seen how water soldier can make water untraversable by boat, canoe, or swimming. If people are unable to use the shallow waters of Lake Simcoe for recreation, it\u2019s possible they will either find some other location to engage in recreation on the water, or choose an entirely different form of recreation,\u201d warned Williams.<\/p>\n Human intervention is the only effective way to stop the growth of these invasive species or completely eradicate them.<\/p>\n \u201cHelp is absolutely needed,\u201d said Williams, referencing\u00a0water soldier specifically.<\/p>\n Recreational users of the lakes can learn to identify starry stoneware here<\/a> and water soldier here<\/a>.<\/p>\n People are encouraged to inspect the hull and propellers of boats before launching into the water and when docking to prevent spreading the species to new areas.<\/p>\n A single water soldier plant or a small number of them can be removed manually, however it has serrated leaves and garden tools are recommended to avoid cutting skin.<\/p>\n \u201cRamara Township and the Lagoon City Parks and Waterways Commission work collaboratively with organizations such as the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority, the Invasive Species Centre, regional and municipal partners, and specialized service providers to share information, monitor emerging issues and support education and awareness related to aquatic invasive species management,\u201d said Laura Pye, Ramara\u2019s general manager of development and infrastructure.<\/p>\n In Lagoon City, the harvesters remove all vegetation, however, starry stonewort is resilient.<\/p>\n Aquatic vegetation that is harvested can provide nutrients like phosphorus for farmers\u2019 crops.<\/p>\n Ramara\u2019s contractor transports the harvested vegetation to a non-agricultural source material (NASM) receiving site. These sites are provincially regulated in accordance with the Nutrient Management Act, 2002.<\/p>\n \u201cDepending on the characteristics of the material and regulatory requirements, harvested vegetation may be beneficially reused on agricultural lands where deemed appropriate. Decisions regarding the distribution, reuse or disposal of the material are managed by the receiving site,\u201d said Pye.<\/p>\n Mechanical harvesting starts in July, after the fish-spawning protection period, and takes place daily until October, Pye explained.<\/p>\n If starry stonewort or water soldier are spotted, dispose of it on land away from the water, officials say. It is also recommended to contact the Invading Species Hotline, 1-800-563-7711.<\/p>\n