Please be advised that the Town will be conducting its annual aquatic weed spraying in the harbour basin for the control of Eurasian Milfoil on Thursday, July 31, 2025. Weed growth becomes a significant issue for boat propellers and shafts, rendering the vessels powerless and causing them to drift, which poses a safety hazard.
Alternative weed control methods have been explored by the Town, such as harvesting, but these are labour intensive and expensive.
The aquatic weed spraying is conducted by a licenced applicator using reward herbicide for aquatic weed control. This concentrated herbicide is diluted in a spray tank in the boat, then applied to the surface of the water at label rate, only in ministry approved treatment areas (refer to enclosed map). The herbicide is ionically charged, which attracts the herbicide to organic material as soon as it is sprayed on the water surface and absorbed by target plants within minutes, quickly becoming inactive in the water, making the spread of herbicide out of target areas next to none, and posing no danger to people swimming at the pier.
The spread of the herbicide is dependent on environmental factors such as currents, and movement of the water. However, licenced applicators are aware of what conditions are ideal to keep any movement within the treatment areas.
All recreational groups at the harbour have been notified and advised to stay out of the water for 24 hours; notices also been posted at the harbour.
All pesticides are regulated by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). Should you have any further questions regarding the herbicide that was used, contact the Pest Management Information Service.
