Ontario Water Soldier Working Group
Since the initial discovery of water soldier in the Trent River, an inter-agency working group was created to help coordinate research, monitoring, control, and prevention strategies. Technical working groups include Trent-Severn Waterway, Bay of Quinte, and Lake Simcoe.
Partners on the working group include:
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 to help monitor, control and help eradicate water soldier populations.
Water Soldier in the Bay of Quinte - 2026 Application Information
Proposed herbicide control operations are scheduled to take place during the week of October 5, 2026, using a combination of Reward (Diquat dibromide) and ProcellaCOR FX.
Please see the list of planned treatment locations below.
2025 Treatment Locations
An aquatic herbicide application (Reward (Diquat dibromide)) was applied Wednesday, October 8th and Thursday, October 9th at the following locations around the Bay of Quinte:
- Baker Island to Bay Marine, Quinte West (2.3 ha)
- Montrose Road to Wedgewood Lane, Quinte West (1.2 ha)
- Gracefield Lane to Wilkie Street, Belleville (0.8 ha)
- Sawguin Creek Wetland North, Ameliasburgh (4 ha)
- Blessington Creek, Belleville (1.1 ha)
- West Muscote Bay, Prince Edward County (4.8 ha)
- Sawguin Island to Grape Island, Prince Edward County (19.6 ha)
- Manley Drive, Point Anne, Belleville (2.5 ha)
- Robinson Cove, Sophiasburgh (0.5 ha)
- North Port Boat Launch, Sophiasburgh (0.5 ha)
An aquatic herbicide application (ProcellaCOR FX) was applied Wednesday, October 8th, 2025 at the following locations around the Bay of Quinte:
- Pine Point, Ameliasburgh (1.5 ha)
- Cow Island, Prince Edward County (0.5 ha)
- Thrasher Lane, Quinte West (0.5 ha)
- Wilkie Street, Belleville (0.5 ha)
- West Zwick’s Island Park, Belleville (2 ha)
- Bluff Point, Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory (4.9 ha)
- Lower Sucker Creek, Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory (1.5 ha)
- Haig Road, Belleville (3 ha)
- Deseronto Yacht Club (0.5 ha)
For more information about the aquatic herbicide application, call 613-391-4122. Calls received after hours will be returned the next business day.
2025 Treatment Locations
An aquatic herbicide application (Reward (Diquat dibromide)) was applied Wednesday, October 8th and Thursday, October 9th at the following locations around the Bay of Quinte:
- Baker Island to Bay Marine, Quinte West (2.3 ha)
- Montrose Road to Wedgewood Lane, Quinte West (1.2 ha)
- Gracefield Lane to Wilkie Street, Belleville (0.8 ha)
- Sawguin Creek Wetland North, Ameliasburgh (4 ha)
- Blessington Creek, Belleville (1.1 ha)
- West Muscote Bay, Prince Edward County (4.8 ha)
- Sawguin Island to Grape Island, Prince Edward County (19.6 ha)
- Manley Drive, Point Anne, Belleville (2.5 ha)
- Robinson Cove, Sophiasburgh (0.5 ha)
- North Port Boat Launch, Sophiasburgh (0.5 ha)
An aquatic herbicide application (ProcellaCOR FX) was applied Wednesday, October 8th, 2025 at the following locations around the Bay of Quinte:
- Pine Point, Ameliasburgh (1.5 ha)
- Cow Island, Prince Edward County (0.5 ha)
- Thrasher Lane, Quinte West (0.5 ha)
- Wilkie Street, Belleville (0.5 ha)
- West Zwick’s Island Park, Belleville (2 ha)
- Bluff Point, Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory (4.9 ha)
- Lower Sucker Creek, Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory (1.5 ha)
- Haig Road, Belleville (3 ha)
- Deseronto Yacht Club (0.5 ha)
For more information about the aquatic herbicide application, call 613-391-4122. Calls received after hours will be returned the next business day.
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 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
OFAH/MNR 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 Jay Callaghan, OFAH.
Think you have seen an invasive species?
Report it!
Invading Species Hotline
1-800-563-7711
