A push is underway for sustained federal funding to stop an invasive aquatic plant from spreading in Lake Simcoe a waterway with connections to communities and recreational users across the region.
The Invasive Species Centre is urging the federal government to provide dedicated, multi-year funding to address water soldier, which has recently become established in the Lake Simcoe watershed.
The plant can form dense mats on the water’s surface, displacing native vegetation, reducing fish habitat and interfering with boating and other recreational activities.
Water soldier is currently only known to be present in Cook’s Bay, but the Invasive Species Centre says that makes early action especially important.
Lake Simcoe is connected to the Trent-Severn Waterway, which runs through communities including Port Hope, Cobourg and Trent Hills before reaching Georgian Bay. The lake also supplies drinking water to about 500,000 people and is a major destination for boating, fishing and other recreational activities.
The Government of Canada has designated Lake Simcoe as a waterbody of national significance under its Freshwater Action Plan.
The Invasive Species Centre, along with neighbouring municipalities and conservation organizations, is calling for additional support through Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Canada Water Agency.
The organization says funding could be used for early detection and monitoring, rapid response, research, coordination between local partners, public outreach and long-term management.
It says that investment could also support local contractors, researchers, conservation organizations and community partners.
Invasive Species Centre Executive Director Colin Cassin says the knowledge and partnerships needed to respond are already in place, but additional investment is needed to build on that progress and protect Lake Simcoe for communities, ecosystems and recreational users.
For communities connected to the Trent-Severn Waterway, preventing the spread of water soldier could help protect the environmental and recreational value of the broader water system.
(Branden Rushton)
