The Minnesota Department of Natural Resource on Friday confirmed that a non-native starry stonewort has invaded Lake Koronis and Mud Lake. The presence of these non-native macro algae is producing dense mats that choke out other plants and form a wall between fish and their natural breeding grounds.

According to the Virginia-based National Wildlife Federation, these invasive species are a major threat to the biodiversity of the United States. “Non-native plants and animals ... threaten native wildlife and ecosystems and are causing ecological havoc in many of our most sensitive habitats, pushing many of our native plants and animals to the brink of extinction”, it said.

These invasive species also cost taxpayers as they wild gave to pay for damages to the environment, agriculture, and native species. The impact of these invasive species ranges from $74 billion to $120 billion per year, said government.

From the Northeast to the Southwest, non-native aquatic species disrupt local plant and animal communities, spurring local groups to act.

Furthermore, in order to encourage the local residents to report about the appearance of the invasive species, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection provides a list of plants from Brazilian elodea to European frog-bit, infesting water bodies in the state.

The appearance of starry stonewort in Minnesota’s lakes has locals worried. Native to Europe and western Asia, the algae first appeared in Michigan and northern Indiana. Authorities have also confirmed about the presence of starry stonewort in six lakes in southeast Wisconsin.

Karen Langmo, a member of the Koronis Lake Association, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that it is really hard for them to see what is happening as for them the lake is very sacred.