Invasive Species

Eurasian Watermilfoil

The Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP) in cooperation with the Hiawatha National Forest (HNF) have completed inventories of Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) and other aquatic vegetation in two lakes (totally 217 acres) in and around the Big Island Lake Wilderness Area with funding from the National Forest Foundation. Eurasian Watermilfoil is an exotic aquatic weed which has the capability to efficiently reproduce from fragments and spread rapidly. It can tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions and can be moved by boats, birds and currents to new locations. In areas where it is established it forms extensive mats at the surface further causing negative effects by shading out native vegetation, creating a problem for boating, and negatively affecting fish habitat. Once this exotic is established in a lake it is very difficult to eradicate.

This important work by SWP and HNF will allow for a quick response to documented EWM infestations and prevent further spread to inland lakes within Lake Michigan, Lake Superior and Lake Huron watersheds of the Upper Peninsula. The SWP and HNF have installed informational signage at heavily used public access lakes to inform recreational users of ways they can help prevent the spread of EWM. Measures boaters can take include, 1) avoid boating through dense mats of EWM, 2) remove all plant fragments from boat, trailer, hitch motor, and propeller and leave on shore above high water line, and 3) drain all water from the boat, live-bait well, and bilge before leaving the lake. For more information regarding EWM on the Hiawatha National Forest call (906) 474-6442 or (906) 387-2512.

The SWP and HNF are continuing this project this summer by using biological control to attempt to eliminate EWM from Steuben Lake in the HNF. 
 
Click here to view the EWM prevention sign to be placed in the HNF. 

Do you know about a lake that is infested with Eurasian Watermilfoil?  Let us know!

This is what it looks like.  How does it differ from native milfoil?  For the  northern milfoil,  the threadlike segments are very widely separated and there are few pairs per leaflet. The Eurasian watermilfoil leaflet has many pairs of closely-spaced segments. Note also that the shape of each leaflet is different. Unfortunately not all northern and Eurasian milfoil leaflets look so differently from each other. Sometimes these two species look very similar and when that happens it is best to rely on DNA or pigment analysis for positive identification.  Funding for this project was provided by the National Forest Foundation. 


Eurasian Watermilfoil


Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS)

VHS is viral hemorrhagic septicemia, a viral fish disease that has caused large scale mortalities in rainbow trout and turbot aquaculture operations in Europe and in wild Pacific herring and pilchard populations along the Pacific Coast of North America. The disease is caused by a rhabdovirus, Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHSv). Rhadoviruses are a group of viruses that include 8 other fish disease causing agents including the highly virulent Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis (IHN) that is found in the Pacific Coast salmon populations.

VHSv has a number of identified isolates (unique genetic types) grouped in four types; three from Europe and one from North America. Each appears to have unique effects with specific pathogenicity (virulence) on certain species. The isolate recently found in the Great Lakes Basin is nearly identical genetically to the VHS strain previously isolated from the Maritime Region of Canada and has been labeled Type (isolate) IVb.

VHSv is not a human pathogen as it can not replicate in warm-blooded animals. There are no concerns with respect to human health with this pathogen and it can not infect humans if they eat fish with the pathogen.

Voluntary Disinfection stations are being established at Michigan boat launches to help stop the spread of the VHS fish virus.

Want more information visit Michigan Lakes and Streams Associations website or go directly
to the Watercraft Disinfection Station Instructions.

Also please visit the invasive species page on the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment website.

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The SWP shares a research vessel with Northern Michigan University.  The ERDA is used for a variety of projects on Lake Superior, including invasive species monitoring and water quality research.