Learn More About Aquatic Invasive Species

Eurasian watermilfoil impacts:

• Forms dense mats at the water’s surface that inhibits water recreationists.

• Overtakes habitat and outcompetes native aquatic plants, potentially lowering diversity.

• Provides unsuitable shelter, food, and nesting habitat for native animals.

Curly-leaf pondweed impacts:

• Forms dense mats at the water’s surface that inhibits water recreationists.

• Overtakes habitat and outcompetes native aquatic plants, potentially lowering diversity.

• Provides unsuitable shelter, food, and nesting habitat for native animals.

• Midsummer die-offs can litter the shoreline with dead plants.

Zebra mussel impacts:

• Encrust equipment, such as boat motors and hulls, which reduces performance and efficiency and is costly to clean and repair.

• Swimmers and pets can cut their feet on zebra mussels attached to rocks, docks, swim rafts and ladders.

• Create a costly problem for power plants, cities and residents when they clog water intakes.

• Filter tiny food particles out of the water, which can reduce available food for larval fish and other animals, and can increase aquatic plant growth as a result of increased water clarity.

• Attach to and kill native mussels.