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Water Soldier Eradication

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An inter-agency working group on water soldier was formed in 2013 to help coordinate research, monitoring, control and prevention strategies. Agency groups include: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and ForestryOntario Federation of Anglers and HuntersMinistry of the Environment, Conservation and ParksTrent UniversityLower Trent Conservation, and Parks Canada.

2020 Monitoring

From July – August monitoring of Lake Seymour, Crowe Bay, Percy Reach, and Glen Ross was conducted. A 50 m x 50 m grid was overlaid and at each point intercept, the presence/absence and abundance of water soldier was recorded. The results from the monitoring have revealed the 2019 herbicide treatment was a success. 2020 monitoring efforts revealed:

Lake Seymour – Summer 2019
Water soldier coverage: 23.33 ha

Water Soldier Eradication - Lake Seymour - Summer 2019 | Ontario's Invading Species Awareness Program

Lake Seymour – Summer 2020
Water soldier coverage: 13.68 ha

Water Soldier Eradication - Lake Seymour - Summer 2020 | Ontario's Invading Species Awareness Program

Lake Seymour:  41% reduction of water soldier (23.33 ha in 2019 to 13.68 ha in 2020)

Crowe Bay – Summer 2019
Water soldier coverage: 1.12 ha

Water Soldier Eradication - Crow Bay Summer 2019  | Ontario's Invading Species Awareness Program

Crowe Bay – Summer 2020
Water soldier coverage: 0.35 ha

Water Soldier Eradication - Crow Bay Summer 2020  | Ontario's Invading Species Awareness Program

Crowe Bay: 68% reduction of water soldier (1.12 ha in 2019 to 0.35 ha in 2020)

Percy Reach – Summer 2019
Water soldier coverage: 60.06 ha

Water Soldier Eradication - Percy Reach - Summer 2019  | Ontario's Invading Species Awareness Program

Percy Reach – Summer 2020
Water soldier coverage: 44.85 ha

Water Soldier Eradication - Percy Reach - Summer 2020  | Ontario's Invading Species Awareness Program

Percy Reach: 25% reduction of water soldier (60.06 ha in 2019 to 44.85 ha in 2020)

Glen Ross – Summer 2019
Water soldier coverage: 5.97 ha

Water Soldier Eradication - Glen Ross - Summer 2019  | Ontario's Invading Species Awareness Program

Glen Ross – Summer 2020
Water soldier coverage: 2.47 ha

Water Soldier Eradication - Glen Ross - Summer 2020  | Ontario's Invading Species Awareness Program

Glen Ross: 58% reduction of water soldier (5.97 ha in 2019 to 2.47 ha in 2020)

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has developed a prevention and response plan to enable people and organizations to undertake low risk activities to monitor, control, and in some cases eradicate these invasive plants without the need for an authorization under the Invasive Species Act, 2015. The plan also includes detailed best management practices for water soldier.

To view the prevention and response plan for water soldier, follow this link: Water Soldier Prevention and Response Plan PDF

With support from:

Ontario Wildlife Foundation

Resource Files

OFAH/OMNRF Invading Species Awareness Program. (2021). Programs – Water Soldier Eradication. Retrieved from: www.invadingspecies.com.
This factsheet may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes.

Header photo by Matt Smith, MNRF.

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