Bashan Lake, East Haddam - 2016

       Bashan Lake is a 273-acre waterbody located in East Haddam, CT. The lake is moderately developed with residential homes along the shoreline and public access through a state boat launch.

       CAES IAPP has been monitoring Bashan Lake almost every year since 2004 using visual and underwater camera surveys to spot treat for variable-leaf watermilfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum). In 2012, IAPP found a population of the invasive species fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana) and performed suction and hand-harvesting methods to reduce the population. Our 2014 survey only found variable leaf watermilfoil in small bunches sporadically throughout the lake and found only a few small patches of fanwort in the southwest corner of the lake.

      In 2014, the lake's dam underwent a complete rebuild. In the process, the water was lowered approximately 18 feet. Rebuilding was completed in early 2015; however, the lake level remained more than four feet below normal through the fall of 2016. When the lake was lowered, most of the variable-leaf watermilfoil that escaped CAES IAPP treatment was likely killed by exposure to freezing and desiccation. Unfortunately, the exposed sediment provided excellent habitat for invasive phragmites (Phragmites australis). In 2016, CAES IAPP mapped the phragmites in preparation for a CTDEEP herbicide permit application. In addition, CAES IAPP did a complete vegetation survey and marked the locations of variable leaf watermilfoil and completed a formal report for the Bashan Lake Association (2016 Report). Due to the low water levels, CAES IAPP was unable to complete transects for the 2016 vegetation survey.

       Our 2016 survey found 18 native species with humped bladderwort (Utricularia gibba) and purple bladderwort (Utricularia purpurea) as the most commonly found species throughout the lake.  Bur-Reed (Sparganium species), arrowhead (Sagittaria species), waterwort (Elatine species), and eelgrass (Vallisneria americana) were also commonly found along the shoreline. The native waterthread pondweed (Potamogeton diversifolius) and common bladderwort (Utricularia macrorhiza) were covering most of the northwestern portion of the lake.