Only two of the 13 Aquatic Weeds Management Fund grants Ecology is issuing this month are to control the non-native noxious weed, but aquatic plant management experts are calling the weed one of the worst to overtake Washington's waters. Brazilian elodea has been in our state for as long as milfoil, but until recently, we didn't understand how much of a problem it could be. So far, state and local government reports show the attractive, hardy plant has infested 15 lakes and rivers in our state. All of the infestations are in western Washington waters.
People are the primary culprits of introducing and spreading the noxious non-native weed.
The most common way elodea gets into Washington waters is by people dumping their home aquariums into neighborhood lakes, streams and creeks. Since 1993 it's been illegal for pet stores to sell elodea. Last year Ecology launched an education campaign, along with the State Noxious Weed Board and the Department of Agriculture, to educate pet store owners about the harmful affects of elodea and to instruct them not to sell the plant. Surveys of the education campaign report pet stores in our state have stopped selling elodea. The following communities received funding.