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.
Projected Start Date Update
Due to high winds today (October 5th), the projected start date for the Bay of Quinte Water Soldier herbicide application has been pushed to Tuesday, October 6th, starting in Deseronto.
We will continue to monitor the forecast closely and will provide an update should anything change.
Planned Treatment Locations - Bay of Quinte
Reward (Diquat dibromide)
An aquatic herbicide application (Reward (Diquat dibromide)) is scheduled to take place during the week of October 5th (weather permitting) at the following locations around the Bay of Quinte:
- Trent Port Marina, Quinte West
- Quinte View Drive, Quinte West
- Baylea Drive, Quinte West
- Montrose Road, Quinte West
- Potter’s Creek, Quinte West/Belleville
- Sawguin Creek Wetland North, Prince Edward County
- Muscote Bay, Prince Edward County
- Haig Road to Blessington Creek, Belleville
- Gravelly Point, Prince Edward County
NOTICE: Shoreline residents immediately adjacent to specific treatment locations will receive direct notification prior to treatment.
Herbicide: Reward® (Diquat dibromide)
- Do not use water from the application site for at least 24 hours after the herbicide application for
swimming or animal consumption. - For human consumption and irrigation, do not use water for 5 days after the herbicide application.
- If you draw water from the highlighted areas for drinking water purposes, call 613-391-4122 during regular
business hours.- Municipally treated drinking water is safe to consume unless the municipality informs you otherwise
(i.e. boil water advisory). - There are no restrictions on fishing or waterfowl hunting in the control areas.
- Municipally treated drinking water is safe to consume unless the municipality informs you otherwise
For more information about the aquatic herbicide application contact 613-391-4122
ProcellaCOR FX
An aquatic herbicide application (ProcellaCOR FX) is scheduled to take place during the week of October 5th (weather permitting) at the following locations around the Bay of Quinte:
- Bluff Point, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte Territory
- Gracefield Lane to Wilkie Street, Belleville
- Lower Sucker Creek, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte Territory
- Thrasher Lane, Quinte West
- Sawguin Creek Wetland North, Prince Edward County
- Yacht Club, Deseronto
NOTICE: Shoreline residents immediately adjacent to specific treatment locations will receive direct notification prior to treatment.
Herbicide: ProcellaCOR® FX Herbicide
- There are no restrictions for recreational purposes, including swimming and fishing.
- There are no restrictions on the label for drinking water purposes.
- For irrigation, do not use water for 5 days after application.
For more information about the aquatic herbicide application contact 613-391-4122
Trent Port Marina, Quinte West
Quinte View Drive, Quinte West
Baylea Drive, Quinte West
Montrose Road, Quinte West
Potter’s Creek, Quinte West/Belleville
Sawguin Creek Wetland North, Prince Edward County
Muscote Bay, Prince Edward County
Haig Road to Blessington Creek, Belleville
Gravelly Point, Prince Edward County
Bluff Point, MBQ Territory
Gracefield Lane to Wilkie Street, Belleville
Lower Sucker Creek, MBQ Territory
Thrasher Lane, Quinte West
Sawguin Creek Wetland North, Prince Edward County
Water Soldier in the Trent-Severn Waterway - 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.
Trent-Severn – Crowe River, Seymour
Trent-Severn – Percy Reach, Trent Hills
Water Soldier in Cook's Bay (Lake Simcoe) - 2026 Application Information
Two herbicide treatment applications are scheduled to take place during the week of October 5, 2026 (weather permitting) along the west shore of Cook’s Bay and around the outlet of the Holland River, using a combination of Reward (Diquat dibromide) and ProcellaCOR FX.
This work is being conducted as part of a research project to help identify effective control tools for water soldier. For more details, visit www.lakesimcoews.ca.
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
