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Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM) Update
In 2024, the SDRA Board, family members and volunteers completed the first comprehensive survey of individual EWM plants and colony locations throughout Skootamatta Lake.
Since that time the SDRA has developed and is implementing an education and abatement strategy to reduce the rate of spread of EWM and potential impacts on water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and lake-based recreational activities.
This Spring SDRA Board members installed new signage at our three public launches, and at the private, Jacques Bay boat launch. In addition, bright yellow marker buoys have been installed at the two largest EWM colonies on Skootamatta. The marker buoys are intended to discourage boating access, prop damage, and boat wakes that contribute to the rapid spread of the milfoil.
The first marked EWM colony is situated on the SE side of Bible Island, and the second is just N. of the Upper Basin public boat launch. Both marked locations are high boat traffic areas and are some distance from area cottages.
The SDRA Board is also pleased to announce that we will have a boat cleaning station set up at the Trails End Launch from July 2-9. The boat cleaning station rental has been made possible by the generous support of the Township of Addington Highlands and Quinte Conservation.
The boat cleaning station will also be at the July 5th AGM (at the Barrie Hall in Cloyne) where a Quinte Conservation Invasive Species expert will be on hand to discuss how we can mitigate the impacts of EWM, reduce ‘lake to lake’ spread of invasive species, and keep an eye out for other aggressive aquatic plants such as European Frogbit and Water Soldier, both relatively new threats that have been sighted in the Bay of Quinte.
Later this Summer the Board will be updating EWM mapping and, subject to permit approvals, will be manually removing individual EWM plants before they can form new colonies.
EWM removal must be carefully planned, timed and executed to comply with Provincial and Federal invasive species regulations, and that without proper training, cottager removal efforts can have unintended consequences and lead to more aggressive plant growth and spread. Every small piece of EWM roots and vegetation that are missed or break apart during removal have a high likelihood of forming new and vigorous plant growth.
For more information or assistance, please contact the SDRA Board at .
SDRA Board
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