Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual

Common Name: Eurasian Water-milfoil

Scientific Name: Myriophyllum spicatum L.

Eurasian water-milfoil is a perennial, aquatic, submersed herb that was accidentally introduced from Eurasia, probably in the 1940s. This plant can form large mats of floating vegetation on the water surface preventing light penetration thus outcompeting native plants and impeding water traffic. The preferred habitat for Eurasian water-milfoil is fresh or brackish water of fish ponds, lakes, slow-moving streams, reservoirs, and canals. Dispersal is primarily by fragmentation. It belongs to the primarily aquatic Haloragaceae family.

Similar Species

Several members of the Haloragaceae family are native to the southeastern United States, and a number of exotic milfoils are now widely naturalized.M. spicatum L. is distinguished by its distinctly whorled leaves, bracts, and flowers, and its deep branching.

Habitat

Typical water-milfoil habitat includes fresh to brackish water of fish ponds, lakes, slow-moving streams, reservoirs, and canals. It is tolerant of many water pollutants. Eurasian water-milfoil does not spread rapidly into habitats where native plants are well established and tends to exist in habitats where native species grow poorly or cannot adapt. By altering waterways, we have created an unnatural, disturbed environment where milfoil thrives. Although short-term habitat improvement in habitat for fish and waterfowl has been experienced in disturbed habitats, the long-term effects are considered to be more damaging.

Management Recommendations

Mechanical Controls

Harvesting: Large equipment exists to mechanically remove milfoil in larger areas. A sturdy handrake can be used for smaller areas, such as around docks, swimming areas and harbors. For the single harvest, harvesting should take place just before peak biomass is obtained. There may be substantial regrowth if done too early. Better results appear with multiple harvests in the same growing season. If multiple harvests are not possible, then sustaining annual harvests is an option. All fragments of milfoil plants must be removed to achieve adequate control.

Water Levels: Where water levels are under manual control, raising or lowering of the water can have an effect on the milfoil. By raising the water level, plants can be "drowned" by not having access to enough light. By lowering the water level, plants can be dehydrated and, at the right time of the year, frozen to death. This type of control is usually used in conjunction with herbicides and shade barriers.

Herbicidal Controls

Fluridone: Fluridone is a selective herbicide for milfoil and several other exotic aquatic weeds. There are no restrictions on swimming, fishing, or drinking after application and season-long control can be achieved with one application. Fluridone is available in liquid or granular form and can be used as a spot treatment or on an entire water-way. For best results, applications should be made before or during the early stages of active growth. Granular 2,4-D: This method is appropriate for large unmanageable areas of milfoil. This herbicide is formulated to release the active ingredient over several days. Apply granules at a rate of 100 lbs per acre of water. The herbicide granules will sink to the root zone and kill the plant.

Liquid DMA 2,4-D: Application of liquid DMA 2,4-D may be used for milfoil control in areas with low dilution potentials such as ponds and lakes. Application rates should be less than 2.0 parts per million (ppm). Subsurface application rate has to be adjusted proportionately for varying water depths.

Other Controls

Heat: The viability of milfoil fragments is severely reduced after being subjected to temperatures between 45-50°C in the cooling systems of thermal electricity generating systems.

Light: The amount of light reaching the plant can be limited by changing water levels using bankside plantings or floating plant species, light limiting dyes, or shade barriers.

Booms: Barriers are used to prevent the movement and spread of aquatic weeds in ponds and lakes. Usually the barrier is a suspended blocking screen that hangs vertically from a cable to a depth of about 4 meters, and the cable is suspended by drum floats. This will not eradicate milfoil, but it can limit its spread.

Bibliography

Aiken, S. G.; Newroth, P. R.; Wile, I. The biology of Canadian weeds. 34. Myriophyllum spicatum L. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 59:201-215; 1979.

Anonymous. Eurasian water-milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum). Internet on the Great Lakes Information Network Gopher; 1995.

Couch, R.; Nelson, E. Myriophyllum spicatum in North America. Proceedings First International symposium on water-milfoil and related Haloragaceae species. Aquatic Plant Management Society. Vancouver, British Columbia, 1985.

Godfrey, R. K.; Wooten, J.W. Aquatic and wetland plants of southeastern United States: Dicotyledons. Athens, GA: The University of Georgia Press; 1981.

Hotchkiss, N. Common marsh, underwater and floating-leaved plants of the United States and Canada. 1st ed. New York, NY: Dover Publications, Inc.; 1972.

Lorenzi, H. J.; Jeffery, L. S. Weeds of the United States and their control. New York, NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company; 1987.

Pieterse, A. H.; Murph, K. J. Aquatic weeds: the ecology and management of nuisance aquatic vegetation. New York: Oxford University Press; 1990.

Tennessee Valley Authority. Aquatic plant management program: current status and seasonal work plan. Resource Group/Water Management/Clean Water Initiative; 1994.