On behalf of the 269-member…

On behalf of the 269-member Minaki Conservancy, I call on the ERO to classify flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus) as PROHIBITED under the Ontario Invasive Species Act. That consideration of Restricted status would even occur within the ERO exhibits the dangerous ignorance within the Ontario provincial government concerning the plant's history, current level of devastation, and the dire future ahead.

I've been studying flowering rush and watching its spread in the Winnipeg River in NW Ontario for the past 20 years. I have been in contact with all manner of invasive species experts in the US and Canada who are focusing on flowering rush, as well as US state departments of natural resources. Have no doubt: This plant will eventually destroy every flowing waterway in the province. Wake up! THAT'S WHAT IT DOES, and has done to lakes and streams since it first entered (and virtually shut down) the St. Lawrence River in the late 1800s..

In Minnesota, flowering rush filled and choked lakes to the point that fish populations were decimated, while beaches, channels, and shorelines were made impassible to boat traffic. Property values fell, cottages were abandoned, resorts and businesses closed. This plant is Ontario's Doomsday Monster. It spreads so quickly—in just 20 years we have seen loss of channels, beaches, and shorelines along a 30-kilometre stretch of our gorgeous wilderness river. It is choking out fish spawning areas (as it has done in Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, Alberta—come on!) in addition to killing off wild rice growth.

Please, do some research, as it appears that the those of you at the ERO are quite ignorant as to the level of disaster flowering rush imposes on the environment. Learn the history, talk to me, or let me give you some contacts names of people at various US DNRs who have had success battling this monster. Unless action is taken, and soon, flowering rush will kill off Ontario waterways to the extent that 30 years from now, the province will exist without tourism from boating, canoeing, camping, and fishing. There is no conjecture in this statement. It is inevitable.

"Prohibited" is the only category in which to place flowering rush. Then, the hard work begins.

Don Engebretson
President
The Minaki Conservancy
minakiconservancy.com