May 13, 2025
Community members urged to report sightings and practice Clean, Drain, Dry
Community members are encouraged to join the effort to protect Lake Simcoe and help manage the spread of water soldier – an invasive aquatic plant – in collaboration with the Water Soldier Working Group. After the initial find in August 2024, federal and provincial ministries, Indigenous organizations, municipalities, conservation authorities, universities, and non-government organizations have come together to form the Lake Simcoe Water Soldier Working Group and develop a response plan.
Water soldier is a perennial aquatic plant, prohibited under the provincial Invasive Species Act, that has long, thin, serrated leaves that grow in a circular pattern. They form dense mats that crowd out other vegetation and may alter water chemistry, impacting native aquatic species. Water soldier can be submerged up to 5 metres under water but floats to the surface in the summer. This poses a threat to summer recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. Boat motors can break up plants, allowing them to spread and invade new areas. Prior to being regulated as a prohibited invasive species, water soldier was used as an ornamental plant in water gardens, which is the most likely source of its introduction to the wild.
“Ontario is working to prevent the spread of water soldier, and other invasive species that threaten our lakes, rivers and local ecosystems. If left unchecked, water soldier has the potential to also have economic impacts, and hurt recreation and tourism.” says Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources. “That’s why we’re collaborating with the Working Group members to assess the extent of this invasion and develop plans to help manage it. But – everyone can help, by spotting and pulling water soldier when possible, and reporting sightings. By working together, we can protect our waters and local economies.”
Since receiving the initial report of water soldier in Lake Simcoe, members of the Lake Simcoe Water Soldier Working Group mobilized to survey the area and continue to explore management and treatment options. To date, surveys have shown the infestation to be limited to Cook’s Bay, Krates Marina, and Young’s Harbour. Members of the working group will be out this summer to focus on mapping existing water soldier patches, including in-water surveys and aerial drone assessments.
“The earlier an invasive species is detected, the more effective management efforts are,” says Colin Cassin, Executive Director at the Invasive Species Centre. “In addition to monitoring and management done by the Working Group, community members have a significant role to play in identifying and reporting water soldier and preventing further spread by taking measures such as cleaning, draining, and drying watercraft.”
“Water soldier is an invasive aquatic plant that can spread quickly. It is known to alter shallow water habitats by crowding out native plants and impacting living space for fish species,” says Brian Ginn, Limnologist, Certified Lake Manager, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority. “If not properly managed, it could have significant effects on both the ecology of Lake Simcoe and our recreational use of the lake.”
What Community Members Can Do
- Learn how to recognize water soldier by visiting the Invasive Species Centre Water Soldier Species Profile and the Invading Species Awareness Program’s water soldier webpage.
- Report sightings of water soldier through the EDDMapS or iNaturalist websites and mobile device applications, or by calling the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711. A good report includes an accurate location of the sighting and photos.
- Clean, Drain, Dry your watercraftwhen you leave Lake Simcoe and other waterbodies so that you aren’t moving water soldier or other invasive species on your watercraft. It’s the law in Ontario!
- Safely pull it. Watchthe Parks Canada See It, Pull It video to learn the skills and equipment you will need to carefully remove water soldier on your own.
- Never keep water soldier in your water garden. Water soldier is a prohibited species in Ontario under the Invasive Species Act. This means it is illegal to import, possess, deposit, release, transport, breed/grow, buy, sell, lease or trade water soldier.
- If you are disposing of water soldier, do it properly. Dispose of it in regular household garbage or on dry land in a manner that ensures that no part of the plant will re-enter the body of water or enter any other body of water.
For more information please contact:
Lauren Rogers, Senior Communications Coordinator
Invasive Species Centre
media@invasivespeciescentre.ca
705-257-8188
