Flowering rush should be…

Flowering rush should be listed as prohibited. We have seen substantial and rapidly increasing impacts on the Winnipeg River – and now it is becoming established in Lake of the Woods.

In our region, particularly the Winnipeg River this aggressive invasive species has and is spreading rapidly. It is now being found in the multi-national Lake of the Woods. Key impacts of concern:
• altering and destroying fish habitat by displacing native aquatic macrophytes (“weeds”)
• dominating wetlands with monocultures, reducing biodiversity
• displacement / eradication of native wild rice stands, of cultural and economic importance to Indigenous peoples in our region
• increasing near-shore sedimentation, filling in the nearshore shallow areas and bays (aka littoral zone)
• Socio economic impacts – access to shoreline properties, potential loss of tourism, fisheries etc.