Common Waterweed, Elodea Canadensis

Report this plant! Stop the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species! If you think you have seen this plant, take a sample, photograph, and note location. Common Contact: Alaska Department of Fish & Game Waterweed , Osceola County 1-877-INVASIV (468-2748) or NY State DEC USFWS Elodea canadensis Fairbanks CWMA Follow these simple guidelines: 479-1213, [email protected] Identification: Remove all visible mud, plants, fish/animals from equipment • Leaves in whorls of 3 (occasionally 4) • Stem lighter green than leaves Eliminate water from all equipment before An invasive plant threat • transporting Stems grow in tangled mass Much of the recreational equipment we use have places where water can collect and harbor hitchhikers to Alaskan waters Clean and dry anything that came in contact with water Use hot (140°F) or salt water If possible, allow 5 days of drying before entering new waters Do not release or put plants, fish, or animals into a body of water unless they came out of that water body. Aquarium plants and animals may be able to survive in our Alaskan waters! Dispose of aquariums responsibly For more specific prevention guidelines, visit: Don’t let this happen to Alaska! Fairbanks Cooperative Weed Management Area 590 University Ave, Suite 2 Leaves: Growth form is Fairbanks, AK 99709 1/4 –1/2’’ long variable Phone: (907) 479-1213 1/8’’ wide, edges Email: [email protected] finely toothed www.fairbankssoilwater.org/resources_CWMA Examples of potential impacts from aquatic invasive plants Impacts Are other waters at risk? Elodea canadensis could impact local waters in Elodea prefers cool, clear, slow waters with silty Elodea in Alaska several ways. bottoms. It spreads easily because: Recently an 1. Degrade fish habitat • Its segments can break apart forming hundreds of aquatic inva- 2. Make boat travel difficult new plants • It can survive frozen in ice, and sive plant was 3. Displace native vegetation found growing potentially travel long distances 4. Reduce recreational opportunities downstream in the Chena 5. Alter freshwater habitats, including decrease • It grows rapidly Slough near flow and increase sedimentation. If nothing is done, Elodea will Will you let Elodea North Pole. Looking for Elodea in the spread to This plant, Chena Slough in 2010 spread downstream. The more it your favorite spreads the less control we will Elodea canadensis , is thought to have been fishing hole? accidently introduced into the slough, possibly have over the potential outcome. by the dumping of an aquarium. It has likely How can you help? been in the slough for 5-7 years. Leadership, initiative, cooperation, funding, and fast Elodea around the world action are all needed to solve this growing problem! Elodea has a long history as an 1. Join the Elodea canadensis Steering Committee 2. Volunteer to help survey or educate this summer invasive plant. It was intro- Example of what can happen when non native plants are duced to Great Britain over a introduced into freshwater habitats 3. When on the water, follow simple procedures to century ago, and has since prevent spread of this plant. spread to Scandinavia and Distribution 4. Report Elodea if you see it! across Russia to Lake Baikal. In 2010 Elodea canadensis was documented grow- Lake Baikal’s In other places Elodea has in- ing in the Chena Slough and the Chena River. This Elodea Infestation vaded, it can dramatically im- data was collected just before winter, so the pede navigability and make infestation fishing problematic or impossible. is ex- pected to be more extensive. Public Action: Surveys Help protect Alaska’s natural resources. in 2011 Stars indicate Elodea infestations Contact your legislators and let them are being know invasive species management “...we can easily remove 20+ tons to the acre (of Elodea ) planned for local rivers and high use areas, such from the water.” - Mike Stretton, Aquatic Solutions, UK is an important issue! as float ponds and boat launches. .

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