Aquatic invasive plant technical assistance

We help lakeshore property owners, communities, counties, state agencies, and Tribes identify and control invasive freshwater aquatic plants.

Aquatic invasive plants are not native to Washington’s waterbodies but have been introduced either intentionally or accidentally. These species cause environmental and economic harm by degrading fish and wildlife habitat, interfering with recreation, blocking navigation and lake access, and displacing native aquatic plants.

Public, private and Tribal organizations control aquatic invasive plants to reduce their impacts. Many of these plants are also regulated noxious weeds, which means landowners and public agencies are sometimes required to control or eradicate them.

I want to...

Help with controlling freshwater plants

Aquatic invasive plants are a serious threat to the health of Washington’s lakes, rivers, and streams. We assist those who need to manage invasive plants in lakes and rivers. We can:

Identify invasive and native aquatic plants.
Conduct site visits to determine extent of an infestation.
Advise on how to manage aquatic plants.
Provide guidance on the rules and regulations for aquatic plant control in Washington.

Aquatic plant data and research

We conduct surveys each summer to detect and monitor invasive aquatic plant populations. During these surveys, we also collect data on native plants to get a better understanding of the entire aquatic plant community. For some species, we have conducted research on control methods to help communities better manage aquatic invasive plants. We also visit lakes and rivers to follow up on projects funded by our aquatic invasive plant management grants.