An invasive aquatic plant, water soldier (Stratiotes aloides), has been identified in Cooks Bay, which is a concerning development for the health of Lake Simcoe and the connected waterways of Simcoe County.
What is water soldier?
Water soldier is a floating aquatic plant with long, pointed green leaves arranged in a rosette shape. It has sharp, serrated edges and looks like an aloe plant, spider plant, or the top of a pineapple. In late summer, it often forms thick clusters near the water’s surface.
Originally from Europe and Asia, it was likely introduced to Ontario through ornamental ponds or water gardens. The species is now listed as prohibited under Ontario’s Invasive Species Act, meaning it cannot be imported, sold, or released into the wild.
Local impacts
Once established, water soldier can spread rapidly and disrupt local ecosystems.
- It forms dense mats that block sunlight and reduce oxygen levels, affecting fish and other aquatic life.
- The thick growth can interfere with boating, swimming, and fishing
- Removal is costly and time-consuming, making prevention and early detection essential
What you can do
You can help prevent the spread of water soldier by learning how to identify it and avoid accidentally spreading it with your watercraft.
- Report sightings through EDDMapS Ontario, iNaturalist, or by calling the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711
- Use the "clean, drain, dry" method after using boats or water equipment
- Avoid infested areas or reduce your speed when travelling by infestations (boat wake can dislodge plants and offsets and allow them to spread to new areas)
- Never release garden or aquarium plants into ponds, rivers, or lakes
Water Soldier Integrated Management Plan
Since water soldier was first discovered in Ontario in 2008, the Water Soldier Working Group has been monitoring and managing populations. Working within the province, they created the Water Soldier Integrated Management Plan to:
- Prevent the introduction and spread of water soldier to new locations
- Implement early detection and rapid response actions to locate and eradicate new water soldier populations
- Eradicate established water soldier populations from public waters
- Work with the private sector to identify and eradicate water soldier from private waters
