Middle Bolton Lake, Vernon - 2020
2020 Aquatic Plant Survey Map of Middle Bolton Lake
Middle Bolton Lake is a 121-acre artificial impoundment with both a concrete and earthen dam. It is connected to Lower Bolton Lake by a spillway and is fed by Upper Bolton Lake. The lake is drawn down 3 feet each winter. The maximum depth is 20 feet, and the mean depth is 12 feet. Residential structures can be found around the entire shoreline except for the southwest side. The state owns a boat launch on the northern shore and motors are limited to 6 hp. Public access to the shoreline is via the boat launch.
The CAES IAPP 2020 survey was the third survey of Middle Bolton Lake. The survey found 26 species in the lake; the same number as found in 2010. Three invasive species were found: fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana), variable-leaf watermilfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum), and minor naiad (Najas minor). A small patch of variable-leaf watermilfoil and fanwort was found on the southwest side of the lake. An additional patch of variable-leaf watermilfoil was found in the northeastern section. A small patch of minor naiad was found near transect 5 on the northeastern side of the lake. Overall, the invasive species were sparse and only found in a few locations.
Most of the native species were found in the northern half of the lake. Most of the diversity is held in the northern cove across from the boat launch. Another section of native plants was found by transect 11 along the dam on the southern end. The most common native species was watershield (Brasenia schreberi). Cattail (Typha species) was also common along the shoreline of the lake. A few sections had common reed (Phragmites australis), which is an invasive wetland plant. It is not marked as invasive on our map because it is not listed by CT DEEP as an aquatic invasive due to its status as a wetland plant. Another non-native plant, mudmat (Glossostigma cleistanthum) was found, but it is not considered invasive by CT DEEP. It is a low-lying plant that grows in shallow waters and rarely is a nuisance. Overall, Middle Bolton Lake has relatively sparse vegetation, but is still supporting a large diversity of aquatic plant species.
| Species recorded in our 2020 survey of Middle Bolton Lake. Scientific Names *Invasive Species |
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| Arrowhead | Leafy pondweed | Sevenangle pipewort | Water starwort |
| Cattail | Minor naiad* | Slender naiad | Watershield |
| Common bladderwort | Mudmat | Small pondweed | Waterwort |
| Common reed | Pickerelweed | Snailseed pondweed | White water lily |
| Fanwort* | Purple bladderwort | Spikerush | Yellow water lily |
| Golden hedge-hyssop | Quillwort | Swamp loosestrife | |
| Humped bladderwort | Ribbon-Leaf pondweed | Variable-Leaf watermilfoil* | |