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MILFOIL

 

                   

 

Milfoil-L

Milfoil is one of the most pressing challenges ahead for Diamond Lake. Monitoring and prevention are important steps for keeping milfoil under control. Several distinguishing characteristics

are used to identify the plant:

 Milfoil-R
 
  • 12 or more leaflet pairs
  
 
  • Feather-like appearance
  
 
  • Leaves are limp when out of water
  
 
  • Topmost leaves & stems may be reddish brown or pink
  
 
  • Stem is as thick or thicker than a pencil
  
     
  Everyone should be on the alert to spot milfoil but don't pull the weeds. If you have seen this plant, contact Jerry Senn, chairman of the Milfoil Committee. Without proper supervision the easily broken off fragments can be far more destructive than any plants you can remove. New plants and colonies can start from a single fragment. A very small piece of plant can float away, re-root and start a new colony. Special care must be taken to collect the entire plant during removal.  

                  

WHAT TO DO: CLEAN CRAFT = CLEAN WATER

 
    • Avoid running the engine through plant beds near boat ramps.
    • Inspect your boat, trailer and any other sporting equipment for plant fragments and remove them before you leave the access.
    • Drain water from the motor, livewell, bilge, and transom wells while on land before leaving any waterbody.
    • Empty your bait bucket on land before leaving the waterbody.
    • Wash/dry your boat, tackle, downriggers, trailer and other boating equipment to kill harmful species that were not visible at the loat launch. Some aquatic nuisance species can survive more than 2 weeks out of water, so it is important to:
    1. Rinse your boat and equipment that normally get wet with HOT water (at least 104°F) OR
    2. Sprayyour boat and trailer with high-pressure water OR
    3. Dry your boat and equipment for at least 5 days before transporting to another waterbody.
  
  Where to look for milfoil  
 

  On personal watercraft or jet-skis,

      • Turn the watercraft over (after the engine has stopped) and pull plants from the water-intake area.
      • Check edges of the grate over the eater-intake area.
      • Push or winch the watercraft up on the trailer without running the engine.
      • After pulling the watercraft out of the water, start and run the engine for 5-10 seconds to blow out any excess water and vegetation.
      • Pull plants out of the steering nozzle after the engine has stopped.
  

 

 

LINKS to more information about Eurasian Milfoil

Washington State Dept. of Ecology

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency-Kids

Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants (University of Florida)