Taunton Lake is a private, 124-acre body of water located in Newtown, CT. It has an average depth of 7.0 meters (22 feet). A private boat launch in the northwest provides access to authorized parties. The rapid increase in depth from the shore leads to the majority of the lake being too deep for aquatic vegetation but the edges and the shallow southeast cove have recently become invaded with Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum).

In 2009 CAES IAPP surveyed Taunton Lake to quantify the effectiveness of suction harvesting for removing the milfoil. Six native species and two invasives were found: Eurasian watermilfoil and curlyleaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus). Eurasian watermilfoil covered 9.2 acres and curlyleaf pondweed was sparse . Our June 2010 survey found seven native species and the same two invasives. In 2009, the aforementioned Eurasian watermilfoil was noted in medium to low abundances along the entire perimeter of the lake and in very high abundance in the southeast cove. The 2010 survey showed Eurasian watermilfoil in high abundance around the entire perimeter of the lake. Eurasian watermilfoil apparently replaced the native plant, western waterweed (Elodea nuttallii) in the southeast cove where it was in high abundance in 2009. The total acreage of Eurasian watermilfoil found in 2010 increased to 37 acres. This increase may be at least partially because some suction harvesting may have occurred in 2009 prior to our survey. The other invasive, curlyleaf pondweed, also increased in abundance over the 2009 survey but to a much smaller extent. In 2009, the most abundant native plant was western waterweed which carpeted the bottom in most areas less than three meters (10 feet) deep. Now this plant has been virtually removed from the southeast cove but still is in high abundance along the western cove of the lake. Yellow water lily (Nuphar variegata) was found in small patches near the shore. The remainder of the native plants are small submerged species that occurred low abundance.