Herbicide to be applied to Dartmouth, N.S., lake to control invasive plant species

Yellow floating heart is pictured. (Source: halifax.ca)

Herbicide will be applied to a lake in Dartmouth, N.S., next month in an effort to control an invasive plant species.

Yellow floating heart has spread throughout Little Albro Lake in recent years.

The Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) says it was unintentionally introduced to the lake in 2006.

A selective herbicide was first applied to the lake in September 2024.

It says while it “significantly reduced” the yellow floating heart population in the lake, some living plants remain, which are impacting the natural ecosystem.

The plant grows aggressively and can even replace native plants in a body of water.

A second dose of the herbicide will be applied in the late between June 20 and June 30.

“Signage is posted at public access points to the lake. Signs will be updated with orange stickers while herbicide application is in progress, and for at least seven days following the application. The targeted herbicide will be applied beneath the water surface and will not be applied to the land surrounding the lake,” reads a municipal release.

ProcellaCOR FX targets the root systems of broad-leaved plants when applied beneath the water surface.

The municipality says the risks to humans and other mammals from the herbicide are negligible, but public access to the lake will be restricted during its application “out of an abundance of caution.”

HRM adds Little Albro Lake is the primary site affected by yellow floating heart and eradicating it from the lake will “greatly reduce” its spread.

The work has reportedly received approval from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and from Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change.

Yellow floating heart is native to Eurasia.

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