Bashan Lake, East Haddam - 2004
2004 Aquatic Plant Survey Map of Bashan Lake
The 273-acre Bashan Lake supports a community of at least 16 submerged and floating-leaved aquatic plants, which were collected during a survey in early September 2004. A boat-based survey based on visual observations and grabs with a long-handled rake was augmented by observations with an underwater video camera system that permitted detailed inspection of the deeper water in the lake, which reaches a maximum depth of 47 feet. Mean depth of the lake is 17 feet.
One invasive species, variable leaf watermilfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum), occurs in the lake, and it has been treated with herbicides for several years due to residents’ complaints. Residential development around the lake is extensive, and there are docks on the shoreline. The lake is widely used for recreational fishing and has a public boat ramp exists at the southern end of the lake. The only beaches are maintained by private lake associations and are closed to the public.
Purple bladderwort (Utricularia purpurea) occurred most widely in Bashan Lake, covering the bottom except in the deepest water. Variable leaf watermilfoil was also abundant, although its distribution was more patchy than that of purple bladderwort. Variable leaf watermilfoil occurred in extensive patches on the southeast side of the lake and in coves where the water was less than 15 feet deep with smaller but equally dense patches occurring elsewhere around the lake.
Western waterweed (Elodea nuttallii) was found within variable leaf watermilfoil in several coves at the southern end of the lake and on the eastern side. Spineless hornwort (Ceratophyllum echinatum) grew densely in a large cove on the lake’s eastern side and occurred in scattered locations around the lake. Ribbon-Leaf pondweed (Potamogeton epihydrus), snailseed pondweed (Potamogeton bicupulatus), and small pondweed (Potamogeton pusillus) were found in very shallow water north of the boat launch and in a cove on the western side of the lake. Eelgrass (Vallisneria americana) was recorded in a cove at the northern end of the lake. In addition to submerged and floating-leaved species, two emergent species – bur-reed (Sparganium species) and spikerush (Eleocharis species) – were collected.
| Species recorded in our 2004 survey of Bashan Lake. Scientific Names *Invasive Species |
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| Bur-Reed | Humped bladderwort | Slender naiad | Variable leaf watermilfoil* | |
| Common bladderwort | Purple bladderwort | Snailseed pondweed | Water starwort | |
| Eelgrass | Ribbon-Leaf pondweed | Spikerush | Watershield | |
| Hiddenfruit bladderwort | Sevenangle pipewort | Spineless hornwort | Western waterweed | |