Divers experienced in the removal of Eurasian milfoil have worked with the APLC and have succeeded in removing about 1 ton of plants including their roots and surrounding earth from Petit lac des Cèdres in 2019. This method of eliminating invasive plants has been successful in other lakes in the Outaouais and in the Laurentians.  As well, the APLC has installed yellow buoys to mark the Eurasian milfoil areas and plan to verify the feasibility of this method of root removal. Following the monitoring of the plant removal areas in the spring of 2020, the APLC will determine the next steps in the pilot project

The APLC reminds property owners to never pull up Eurasian milfoil by hand, as it fragments and will propagate. If you find Eurasian milfoil growing, please communicate with us. Our specialists can confirm the plant’s existence and will discuss potential interventions.

The first step in the Eurasian milfoil pilot project was completed June 8-9, 2019 with the support of nine EPSO (École de Plongée Sous-Marine de l’Outaouais) divers. These divers, trained in the removal of plant roots, worked for two days testing the method used in other lakes in the Outaouais and the Laurentians. For the APLC it was the first test of the feasibility of this method.

Several volunteers participated in this collaborative effort, supporting the divers by collecting the plants and plant fragments, and by providing logistics and transport, etc. This collaborative effort which brought participants and equipment together included:

9 EPSO divers

2 dives/day/diver (at 1h30 per dive)

2 pontoon boats to transport divers, tanks and equipment

 2 additional boats for logistics

1 boat with volunteers to collect the Eurasian milfoil

6 kayaks/day with nets to collect the plants from divers as well as plant fragments in the water

1 canoe to collect plant fragments and take photos

lodging offered by a property owner

organization of meals for divers and volunteers

total of 20 volunteers

2000 lbs (1 tonne) of plant material collected

disposal of Eurasian milfoil with the municipality of Messines

As well, on July 8, 2019, yellow buoys were installed with volunteers and their mask and tuba, to mark the Eurasian milfoil sites and to support project management.  The objective of these buoys is to limit watercraft in order to avoid spreading the plant. On July 22,  two divers came back to inspect the tested site and validate the position of the buoys.  These were repositioned when needed.The final step in 2019 will be to recheck the plant inventory in the two lakes to confirm whether or not there are new plants.In the spring of 2020, another study of the tested zones will provide information about whether or not to continue or to improve the methodology.  Discussions with other lakes which are affected and with the government will continue.

The APLC took this first test to verify the feasibility of this method.

You too can protect our lake against the propagation of Eurasian milfoil.

• Inspect the lake bottom in front of your lot. If you believe you have found Eurasian milfoil let us know! Our specialists can confirm the plant’s existence and will discuss potential interventions. 
• Avoid circulating in zones delimited by the yellow buoys.
• Inform yourself! Regularly visit our internet site for results of our pilot project against the propagation of Eurasian milfoil.
• Engage yourself! We will need volunteers for next phases of the pilot project in the spring of 2020. Don’t delay, communicate with our project leads.