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 Forestry, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Trent University, Lower Trent Conservation, and Parks Canada.
Call To Action!
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources 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.
Download the Prevention and Response Plan for Water Soldier here to help monitor, control and help eradicate water soldier populations.
Join our water soldier monitoring crew to learn all about water soldier and its impacts. Water soldier (Stratiotes aloides) was recently detected in Lake Simcoe, and we need your help to continue to manage the spread of this invasive species. You can learn how to identify water soldier, the impacts that it has on the environment, and how to safely monitor for and remove this invasive species from your waterways.
Please note the Saturday September 7th event has been postponed due to the anticipated weather – the new event date is listed below.
WHEN: Saturday September 14th, 2024 at 10 am
WHERE: Young’s Harbour Park, 601 Lake Dr. S, Keswick, ON
Volunteers must bring their own canoe or kayak and personal safety gear and register for our event.
To learn more or register, contact Jordan MacDonald at jordan_mcdonald@ofah.org or by calling 705-748-6324 ext. 225, or 1-800-563-7711.
Monitoring
Trent-Severn Waterway
Each year from June – August, sections of the Trent-Severn Waterway are monitored for the aquatic invasive plant, water soldier. Teams from the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Parks Canada, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry systematically monitor using a 50m x 50m point intercept, recording the presence/absence and abundance of water soldier. The results from monitoring help inform treatment success and needs.
Gallery
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.
Think you have seen an invasive species?
Report it!
Invading Species Hotline
1-800-563-7711
