Horse Pond, Salem

2005 Aquatic Plant Survey of Horse Pond

Transect Data | Water Data

Horse Pond is a 13-acre body of water bordered on the northeastern side by Route 85, and the remainder by state forest.  The maximum depth is 17 feet and the mean depth is 12 feet. There are no residential structures along the shoreline, and most of it is wooded. There is a public boat launch on the eastern side of the pond, and no gas-powered motors are allowed. The pond is also used as a water source for fire trucks.

In our August 2005 survey white water lily (Nymphaea odorata) was the most widespread aquatic plant, found on all sides of the lake and heavily concentrated along the northwestern and southeastern shores. Horse Pond did not have any invasive aquatic plants at the time of the survey.

Vegetation found in smaller patches around the shoreline in depths less than 9 feet included purple bladderwort (Utricularia purpurea) and common bladderwort (Utricularia macrorhiza), and sedge (Carex), watershield (Brasenia schreberi), yellow water lily (Nuphar variegata), spotted pondweed (Potamogeton pulcher), and floating bladderwort (Utricularia radiata) were found on the north side. Watershield also was found on the south side along with ribbon-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton epihydrus) and slender naiad (Najas flexilis). Slender naiad and yellow water lily also were found on the east side of that lake along with western waterweed (Elodea nuttallii), sevenangle pipewort (Eriocaulon aquaticum), snailseed pondweed (Potamogeton bicupulatus), spineless hornwort (Ceratophyllum echinatum) and flat-leaf bladderwort (Utricularia intermedia), which was found on the west side as well.