Beseck Lake, Middlefield - 2024

2024 Aquatic Plant Survey Map of Beseck Lake
Transect Data | Water Data

Beseck Lake is a 113-acre lake located in Middlefield, CT.  There is a public boat launch along the eastern shoreline. The lake is used for a variety of recreational activities such as boating, water skiing, jet skiing, swimming, and fishing. There is a private town beach on the western side of the lake open to town residents. A dam is located at the end of the long, deep cove along the eastern shore. Most of the shoreline is developed except for a park at the southern end. Beseck Lake's maximum depth is 24 feet with an average depth of 12 feet. This is the fourth survey that CAES OAIS has completed of Beseck Lake.

A total of 17 species were found in the 2024 survey. All invasive plants found in 2024 were found again except for water chestnut (Trapa natans) which was hand pulled by CAES OAIS in 2023. Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) was only found in one small patch on the western side of the lake not far from the shore. Curlyleaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus) was found in a few small patches throughout the lake mostly on the western side. Phragmites (Phragmites australis) was still found at the southernmost end of the lake and close to the dam on the eastern side of the lake relative to 2023. All invasive species coverage has significantly decreased since 2023 with very few patches of Eurasian watermilfoil and curlyleaf pondweed.

This was our third survey that confirmed the presence of state-listed Vasey’s pondweed (Potamogeton vaseyi). Vasey’s pondweed was found relatively consistently throughout the whole lake predominately on the western side of the lake in large patches and appeared to grow closely with clasping leaf pondweed (Potamogeton perfoliatus) at the northern end of the lake.

A total of 14 native species were found in 2023 comparing to 11 in 2004, 17 in 2011, and 18 in 2017, 18 in 2023. They included western waterweed (Elodea nuttallii), slender naiad (Najas flexilis), cattail (Typha species), small pondweed (Potamogeton pusillus), arrowhead (Sagittaria species), Canadian waterweed (Elodea canadensis), pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), waterwort (Elatine species), spikerush (Eleocharis species), water smartweed (Polygonum amphibium), free-floating common duckweed (Lemna minor), and an unidentified sedge. Native species were abundant, but never became a nuisance with the most common species being state-listed Vasey’s pondweed and clasping leaf pondweed.

Other Beseck Lake Surveys: 2023, 2017, 2011, 2004