Eurasian Watermilfoil
Sometime in the early 1900s, an aquatic plant known as Eurasian water milfoil (EWM) found its way to the United States, most likely as a decorative plant for aquariums. Once escaped, this aquatic invader spread quickly across the country, establishing itself in lakes, rivers, and streams from Alabama to California, Illinois, and Minnesota.
Key Details regarding EWM in Wisconsin:
- Impact: These plants choke out native vegetation, creating uniform, low-quality habitats for fish. When they die, they reduce oxygen in the water.
- Identification: EWM has long, limp, reddish-green stems and feathery leaves with over 12 leaflet pairs.
- Spread: It spreads rapidly through fragmentation; boaters are major contributors to its spread to new lakes.
- Hybridization: A hybrid of Eurasian and Northern watermilfoil (a “super-weed”) is spreading in Wisconsin, which is more aggressive and resistant to traditional chemical treatments.
Eurasian Water Milfoil in White Sand Lake – LDF Tribe response
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WSL Annual Meeting
The 2026 Annual Meeting date is set for July 11th.
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Clean Boats, Clean Waters
Wisconsin has various laws in place to prevent the introduction and control of the spread of aquatic invasive species and diseases in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin’s invasive species rule, Wis. Admin. Code NR 40 [PDF exit DNR]