Amston Lake, Hebron, Lebanon, Colchester - 2025

Transect Data | Water Data

     Amston Lake is a private 187-acre waterbody located in the towns of Hebron, Lebanon, and Colchester with a maximum depth of over twenty-six feet. The boat ramp remains locked and is opened only after boats have been inspected. The use of gas motors is prohibited on the lake. Storm drains are found throughout the lake as well as two dams: the Main Dam and the Duck Pond Dam. For dam repairs the lake can be drawn ten to twelve inches. Majority of the lake is heavily developed except for the northern cove and many areas have little to no buffer zones between residents’ yards and the water.

     During the August 2025 survey, CAES OAIS recorded 34 total species, of which three are newly documented invasive species. The dominant species in the lake were native Robbins’ pondweed (Potamogeton robbinsii) and spotted pondweed (Potamogeton pulcher) closely followed by native eelgrass (Vallisneria americana), which was abundant along the edge of the lake to a depth of about nine feet. Robbins’ pondweed and spotted pondweed grew along the shore as well and to a depth of 14 feet.

     Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), a submerged invasive species, was found in a small patch in the north-eastern cove of the lake. Phragmites (Phragmites australis) and purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) both invasive wetland species were found scarcely around the lake and do not currently pose as a threat at this time.

     The floating-leaved species’, watershield (Brasenia schreberi), white water lily (Nymphaea odorata), yellow water lily (Nuphar variegata) and common duckweed (Lemna minor), all coexisted in shallow parts of the lake, most notably in the eastern and southern-most coves. Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), an emergent species, was found sparsely along most of the shoreline often growing with an unidentified sedge. Bur-reed (Sparganium species), arrowhead (Sagittaria species), cattail (Typha species), rush (Juncas species), and swamp loosestrife (Decadon verticillatus) were found at the shoreline in small patches.

     Other submerged native species found in small patches around the perimeter of the lake include spineless hornwort (Ceratophyllum echinatum), small waterwort (Elatine minima), needle spikerush (Eleocharis acicularis), sevenangle pipewort (Eriocaulon aquaticum), slender watermilfoil (Myriophyllum tenellum), snailseed pondweed (Potamogeton bicupulatus), floating leaf pondweed (Potamogeton natans), clasping-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton perfoliatus), humped bladderwort (Utricularia gibba), purple bladderwort (Utricularia purpurea), floating bladderwort (Utricularia radiata), slender naiad (Najas flexilis), and Canadian waterweed (Elodea canadensis), common bladderwort (Utricularia vulgaris), leafy pondwed (Potamogeton foliosus), low watermilfoil (Myriophyllum humile), and ribbon-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton epihydrus).

Other Amston Lake Surveys: 2006 Survey