Aquatic Invasive Plants

Most nuisance aquatic plants in New England are invasive, meaning that they are non-native to the ecosystem and “threaten the diversity or abundance of native species”. Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) are problematic for multiple reasons. In most cases, they grow quickly, reproduce and spread rapidly, thrive in a wide range of conditions, have no natural predators, replace native plants, significantly degrade water quality, are economically devastating, and are very difficult or, in some cases, nearly impossible to control. The best (and cheapest) method for controlling invasive species is to be proactive and keep invasives from ever entering the waterbody in the first place. This can be done by washing watercraft and having a boat ramp monitor check boats for plant fragments before entering and after exiting the waterbody. It is also important to educate the public on the harmful impacts of invasive species, as well to teach invasive species identification.

Common reed (Phragmites australis)