Black Pond, Woodstock

2005 Aquatic Plant Survey of Black Pond

Transect Data | Water Data

Black Pond is a tea-colored, natural lake. Its shoreline is virtually undeveloped, with only the Nipmuck State Forest, a house, and a summer camp with a beach. There is a state boat launch in the Nipmuck State Forest and motors are allowed. The maximum depth of the pond is 23 ft. and the mean depth is 14 ft. 

During our July 2005 survey, plants were found all along the edge of Black Pond, but the growth did not exceed 12 feet in depth.  Sevenangle pipewort (Eriocaulon aquaticum) was the only species found on all sides of the pond. Small waterwort (Elatine minima) and variable pondweed (Potamogeton gramineus) were found in small patches on the east side of the pond. Not only were eelgrass (Vallisneria americana) and white water lily (Nymphaea odorata) found in small to medium patches on the east, north, and west sides. Purple bladderwort (Utricularia purpurea), small patches, and pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), one large patch were the only species just found in the northern section of the pond, while watershield (Brasenia schreberi) was found in small patches on the north and west sides and spikerush (Eleocharis species), humped bladderwort (Utricularia gibba) and Tuckerman's quillwort (Isoëtes tuckermanii) were found in small patches on the north and south sides. Golden hedge-hyssop (Gratiola aurea), Robbins' pondweed (Potamogeton robbinsii), arrowhead (Sagittaria species), and floating bladderwort (Utricularia radiata) were only found in small patches on the south side, while snailseed pondweed (Potamogeton bicupulatus0, and small pondweed (Potamogeton pusillus) were found in small patches on both the west and south sides. Yellow water lily (Nuphar variegata) and southern naiad (Najas guadalupensis) were only found on the west side, the former in small patches and the latter in one long patch.