Northern watermilfoil has 5 to 10 leaflet pairs. The Northern watermilfoil looks like a wide toothed comb where Eurasian watermilfoil has a feather like apperance. Coontail has leaflets that whorl around the stem of the plant. This does not actually look like the milfoil plants but does grow very thick and will form dense mats of vegetation on the water surface in shallow water.
Currently, in the state of Iowa there has been 15 sites located with Eurasian watermilfoil, as of September of 1999. Below is a map that shows where the milfoil has been and is presently found(as of Sept99):
(The areas on the map that are in red are infested areas. The areas on the map that are in blue are areas that were infested and have been treated or are new infestation site for Eurasian Watermilfoil.)
The areas are:
1. Crystal Lake, Hancock Co.
2. Walnut Creek Marsh, Ringgold Co.
3. St. Benidicts Ponds, Kossuth Co.
4. Sportsman's Park Pits, Palo Alto Co.
5. Snyders Bend, Woodbury Co.
6. Kounty Pound, Bucanan Co.
7. Mitchel Lake, Blackhawk Co.
8. Sweet Marsh Pools B and C, Bremer Co.
9. North Praire Lake, Blackhawk Co.
10. Sweet Marsh Pool A, Bremer Co.
11. Mississippi River
12. Beeds Lake, Franklin Co.*
13. Keg Lake, Mills Co.*
14. Mile Hill Lake, Mills Co.*
15. Scott Lake, Fremont Co.*
16. Horseshoe Lake, Northeast Iowa*
(Areas with "*" are not shown on the map)
Why is the plant bad you may ask? Eurasian watermilfoil is not harm full to a lake until it has reached the surface. The plant will place a thick mat of vegetation on the surface of the lake and block out sunlight for the natvie plants in the lake. This will end up lowering the number of native plants in the lake, which are valuable in many different ways. Once Eurasian watermilfoil has reach the lake surface, it makes it hard for boats to get across the lake and deprecates property values by 10 to 20% (Engel Wiscon DNR). Yes, the native plants in some areas already make it seem impossible to cross a lake, but Eurasian watermilfoil reachs the surface of the water in water twenty feet deep. This will close off most shallow lakes. Eurasian watermilfoil can make it harder for people to reach open water in deeper lakes.
In Iowa we presently have a fine for anyone transporting Eurasian Watermifoil on public highways. So if you are caught with any Eursain watermilfoil on any type of watercraft, trailer, or vehical you can be fined $100. The best way to prevent reciving a fine to by removing all aquatic plants from your watercrafts, trailers, or vehicals.
Center for Aquatic Plants
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