Eurasian Watermilfoil

Myriophyllum spicatum L.

Description:  Eurasian watermilfoil is a submerged plant with feather-like whorled leaves. It grows in extremely large dense mats in depths up to 15 feet. This plant produces a reddish flower that emerges from the water’s surface.  

General Information:  Eurasian watermilfoil, a native plant of Europe and Asia, is a serious threat to lakes and ponds throughout the United States. This species of watermilfoil is found in nearby Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut and in Canadian Provinces.

Once introduced into a lake, Eurasian watermilfoil is virtually impossible to eradicate. It grows rapidly and aggressively, reproducing primarily through fragmentation. The introduction of one single fragment of this plant can result in the infestation of an entire lake.

The impacts of an infestation have the potential to be devastating. Dense mats of Eurasian watermilfoil impair boating, fishing, and swimming.  Reduced lake water quality is another concern along with the potential decline of shorefront property values.