What is Eurasian Watermilfoil?

• It is an extremely aggressive non-native water weed.
   

• Eurasian watermilfoil crowds out native plants and forms thick, floating mats on the surface of the water that make boating, fishing and swimming almost impossible.
   

What does it look like?

It's a submersed, rooted perennial plant with smooth stems that branch near the water surface. This branching can form large, floating mats of vegetation on the surface of lakes, rivers and other water bodies, preventing light from reaching native aquatic plants.

The leaves of eurasian milfoil are feathery and occur around the stem. Each leaf is 1/2 to 2 inches long, with 12 to 21 pairs of fine, thin leaflets. The leaves rarely extend above the water surface and will collapse around the stem when removed from the water. The upper portion of the plant often develops a reddish color.

The flower is a spike which is often pink or red. It is held above the water during flowering from June to September.

Why is it a Problem?

• Once introduced into a river or lake, milfoil rapidly forms thick mats that make swimming, boating and fishing difficult.
   

• Eurasian watermilfoil can cause drowning by tangling swimmers in the thick beds.
   

• Eurasian watermilfoil alters rivers and lakes by choking out native plants, thus harming fish and wildlife habitat.
   

• Eurasian watermilfoil clogs irrigation intake pipes and hinders power generation.