Putnam Park Pond is located in Putnam Memorial State Park in Redding/Easton. The pond is 14 acres with no boat access. The pond is typically used for fishing and picnicking along the shore. There is also a trail that can be used for hiking along the pond. Route 58 runs close to the western shore and divides the state park nearly in half. The deepest part of the pond is found near the dam at the southern end and is 2.5 meters.

Our 2011 vegetative survey found 17 species, including 2 invasive species. We found the invasive American water lotus (Nelumbo lutea), and this is one of the few places in the state where it exists. It grew in dense patches along the both shores of the middle section of the pond. Where the pond narrows and bends, American water lotus covered all the way across. Due to the extensive coverage of the plants and frequent visitors’ accounts, the invasive has been overwintering in the lake. The other invasive found was Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum). Eurasian watermilfoil grew throughout the pond but was more dominant in the middle and southern portions, especially near the shores. American water lotus, Eurasian watermilfoil, and large-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton amplifolius, native) were the three most dominate plants in the pond. Large-leaf pondweed was found growing in very large, dense patch in the middle of the lake.

We found three bladderwort species: common bladderwort (Utricularia macrorhiza), humped bladderwort (Utricularia gibba), and purple bladderwort (Utricularia purpurea). Purple bladderwort was the most abundant. Native floating plants included yellow water lily (Nuphar variegata) and white water lily (Nymphaea odorata). Many shoreline species were present: pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), green arrow arum (Peltandra virginica), knotweed (Polygonum species), and cattail (Typha species). Pickerelweed, knotweed, and cattail were abundant in the northern portion of the pond, covering the majority of the surface. Other native species found included: spineless hornwort (Ceratophyllum echinatum), Canadian waterweed (Elodea canadensis), water starwort (Callitriche species), star duckweed (Lemna trisulca), and a unidentifiable watermilfoil (Myriophyllum)species. All natives could be found in small patches throughout the lake except the watermilfoil which was found in only the southern portion.