What is an aquatic nuisance species?
Nuisance species affect the integrity of freshwater biological communities and also the use of freshwater as a resource for humans. Variable milfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum), water chestnut (Trapa natans), fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana), and Brazilian elodea (Egeria densa) are just four of the aquatic species considered exotic nuisances in New Hampshire, a state in which they are not native. Uninformed people inadvertently introduce exotics into a water body by dumping aquaria in a lake or by introducing nuisance plants purchased from the nursery trade. Exotic nuisance plants can hitch a ride from lake to lake on boats, boat trailers, dive gear, bait pails, and personal watercraft. Exotic aquatic plants are among the greatest threats to water bodies because each exotic species has the potential to reduce biological diversity. Fragments of nuisance species are often each capable of forming another plant and so disperse widely in a short time. A plant-clogged lake becomes less attract
