Cedar Lake, Chester - 2022
2022 Aquatic Plant Survey Map of Cedar Lake
Cedar Lake is a 69.3-acre lake located in Chester, CT. The Cockaponset State Forest borders the lake to the northeast, where a public boat ramp is also located. In the south there is a private summer camp that borders the lake along with a public beach. Various houses and private beaches border other parts of the lake. The 2022 CAES IAPP survey of Cedar Lake was a resurvey to document change in plant communities since 2012.
In 2022, 31 plant species were documented compared to 25 species in 2012, 26 species in 2010, and 24 species in 2004. Four invasive species were found in 2022, which include fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana), swollen bladderwort (Utricularia inflata), variable-leaf watermilfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum), and purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). Fanwort and variable-leaf watermilfoil were found in all previous surveys. In 2022, both plants were found in large patches around the entire shoreline of the lake. Fanwort appears to have increased while variable-leaf watermilfoil has slightly decreased. Swollen bladderwort is likely a new invasive species to Connecticut. DNA research of this species is ongoing and potential impacts to waterbodies are being investigated. Purple loosestrife is a wetland species that CAES IAPP has not always recorded. Thus, it was likely present in previous years.
Dominant shoreline species included pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), sevenangle pipewort (Eriocaulon aquaticum), and spikerush (Eleocharis species). Floating leaf species found included little floating heart (Nymphoides cordata), watershield (Brasenia schreberi), white water lily (Nymphaea odorata), and yellow water lily (Nuphar variegata). Little floating heart, watershield, and yellow water lily appear to have increased since 2012 while white water lily (Nymphaea odorata) appears to have decreased.
Overall, vegetation in Cedar Lake is very similar to what was found in previous CAES IAPP surveys. It is a species-rich lake, and plants are abundant in most of the littoral zone (area where light reaches the bottom allowing plant growth). Invasive fanwort and variable-leaf watermilfoil occur consistently along the shoreline of the lake between 3-10 feet of water. The northern end of the lake contains abundant emergent and submergent vegetation, making it hard to navigate via boat. There is a small path clear of vegetation from the boat launch to the middle of the lake to allow boats in and out.
| Species recorded in our 2022 survey of Cedar Lake Scientific Names *Invasive Species |
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| Arrowhead | Bur-reed | Cattail | Common bladderwort |
Dortmann's cardinalflower |
| Fanwort* | Flat-leaf bladderwort | Floating bladderwort | Floating-leaf pondweed | Golden hedge-hyssop |
| Humped bladderwort | Large-leaf pondweed | Leafy pondweed | Lesser bladderwort | Little floating heart |
| Pickerelweed | Purple bladderwort | Purple loosestrife* | Quillwort | Ribbon-leaf pondweed |
| Sevenangle pipewort | Small pondweed | Snailseed pondweed | Spikerush | Spotted pondweed |
| Swamp loosestrife | Swollen bladderwort* | Variable-leaf watermilfoil* | Watershield | White water lily |
| Yellow water lily | ||||
Other Cedar Lake Surveys: 2004, 2010, 2012