Aquatic invasive species are non-native plants and animals that disrupt ecosystems, harm wildlife, and impact recreation. Learn how they spread, the problems they cause, and safe methods for control and management.
In 2023, invasive quagga mussels were discovered in the Snake River near Twin Falls, Idaho. To stop the spread, officials carried out a large-scale chemical treatment using copper-based products. Two years later, the results show just how much damage these treatments can cause—and how little success they’ve had in eliminating the mussels. Chemical Treatments: Lethal
Water hyacinth is often seen as a serious problem in lakes and rivers around the world. The fast-growing invasive plant can clog waterways, block sunlight, reduce oxygen levels, and harm native wildlife. Managing large infestations is difficult and expensive, especially in tropical and subtropical regions where the plant spreads quickly. Now, researchers are exploring whether
Preliminary results from systematic monitoring of Wisconsin lakes for aquatic invasive species confirm that boaters, not ducks or other birds, are spreading the invaders around. That is according to state and University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers. None of the wilderness lakes surveyed – those in remote places and easily accessible only to wildlife – had any
Invasive plant species can be a source of valuable ecosystem functions where native coastal habitats such as salt marshes and oyster reefs have severely declined, a new study by scientists at Duke University and the University of North Carolina-Wilmington finds. On otherwise barren mudflats, habitat-forming invasive species such as nonnative seaweed can offset the loss
A new study from the University of Minnesota challenges a common belief that lakes with diverse plant life are more resilient to aquatic invaders. The study by the U’s Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center looked at 13 years of vegetation survey data collected from about 1,100 lakes by the Department of Natural Resources. The
If Worcester, Massachusetts wants to keep using Indian Lake for recreation, then there needs be a concerted effort to reduce pollution. That is one of the main recommendations from a WPI study of the lake recently released by the Indian Lake Watershed Association. To avoid increased chemical treatment of the lake, the association and the
Lake Minnetonka is the 9th largest lake in Minnesota and of the most popular among boaters, fishermen and recreationalists. However, the popularity doesn’t come without environmental issues. Invasive species such as curly-leaf pondweed, purple loosestrife, Eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussels have been discovered as well as dealing with various sources of pollution which has affected
Morses Pond, located in Wellesley Massachusetts not only provides the town with water, but provides the town with an excellent public beach and other and recreational activities. Morses Pond was overrun with weeds, but today they are barely noticeable. Efforts from a Morses Pond Management Plan written in November 2005 and fully implemented two years