Amston Lake, Hebron - 2006

             Amston Lake is a 187 acre water body supporting 25 known aquatic plant species, none of which are invasive. To prevent the introduction of invasive plants, the boat ramp remains locked and is opened only after boats are inspected.  There are many storm drains where filamentous algae is found year-round.  The lake averages eight to ten feet deep and has a maximum depth of over twenty-six feet. The lake can be drawn down ten to twelve inches for dam repairs.  The northern end is sparsely developed but in the southern end development is dense. There are no buffer zones between the most yards and the water.     

            During our August 2006 survey, the dominant species in the lake was eelgrass (Vallisneria americana), which was abundant along the edge of the lake to a depth of about eight feet.  The only exception to the high occurrence of eelgrass was in the eastern-most cove where watershield (Brasenia schreberi) and Robbins' pondweed (Potamogeton robbinsii) were dominant. 

            The floating-leaved species, watershield, white water lily (Nymphaea odorata), andyellow water lily (Nuphar variegata) all coexisted in shallow, protected parts of the lake, mostly notably in the eastern and northern-most coves. Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), an emergent species, was sparse and close to most of the shoreline. Other submerged species, including Charaphytes, spineless hornwort (Ceratophyllum echinatum), small waterwort (Elatine minima), needle spikerush (Eleocharis acicularis), sevenangle pipewort (Eriocaulon aquaticum), slender watermilfoil (Myriophyllum tenellum), largeleaf pondweed (Potamogeton amplifolius), snailseed pondweed (Potamogeton bicupulatus), floating leaf pondweed (Potamogeton natans), clasping-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton perfoliatus), small pondweed (Potamogeton pusillus), arrowhead (Sagittaria sp.), humped bladderwort (Utricularia gibba), purple bladderwort (Utricularia purpurea), floating bladderwort (Utricularia radiata), slender naiad (Najas flexilis), western waterweed (Elodea nuttallii) and unidentified sedge. These species occurred mostly in small patches around various places along the perimeter of the lake.