What are aquatic noxious weeds?
Aquatic noxious weeds are non-native plants introduced to Washington waters, usually as ornamental plants (purple loosestrife, giant hogweed), as water garden plants (parrot feather milfoil), and as aquarium plants (Eurasian watermilfoil, Brazilian elodea, fanwort). They have been released into our water bodies through floods, by people discarding aquarium plants, and by being deliberately planted. Once introduced, these invasive plants rapidly out-compete our native plants, forming single-species stands, and reducing suitable habitat for fish, waterfowl, aquatic mammals and invertebrates. They grow aggressively and lack natural enemies. Aquatic weeds are a leading contributing cause of native species endangerment.
