This summer, I worked as a Water Resources Management Specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources doing lake and groundwater sampling. Aside from water sampling, I also had the chance to brush up on my macrophyte (large aquatic plant) identification skills! I love being able to use those skills when I kayak around the Yahara chain of lakes in Madison, Wisconsin, where I live. If you're like me, I was curious about what invasive species inhabit the Madison-area lakes, and how I could identify them.
Curly-leaf Pondweed (Potamogeton crispus)
Where you'll find it: Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, Lake Wingra, Lake Waubesa, Lake Kegonsa
How to identify it: The main giveaway of Curly-leaf Pondweed is its curly-edged, finely serrated leaves. The leaves are greenish-red and about three inches long. The stem is flat is reddish-brown.
Eurasian Water-milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
Where you'll find it: Lake Mendota , Lake Monona, Lake Wingra Lake, Lake Waubesa, Lake Kegonsa
How to identify it: Finally divided leaflets give the plant a "feathery" look. The leaves are arranged in whorls of 3-5 around the stem with 12-21 leaflets.
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Where you'll find it: Lake Waubesa, Lake Wingra
How to identify it: You'll find Purple Loosestrife in shallow waters. Square shaped stem with thin, blade shaped leaves. The easiest way to identify Purple Loosestrife is by its bright pinkish purple flower stalks.
Next time you're out kayaking, canoeing, or paddle-boarding, see what you pull up on your paddle! And of course, always decontaminate your watercraft, paddle, anchor- anything you've put in the water to stop the spread of invasive species in our lakes.
If you're curious on the steps to take to decontaminate your watercraft, look out for my next blog post.
Let me know in the comments what type of macrophytes you've identified in Madison's lakes!
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