Canoe Brook Lake, Trumbull - 2021
2021 Aquatic Plant Survey Map of Canoe Brook Lake
Canoe Brook Lake is a 64-acre waterbody located in Trumbull. It is a private lake with no public access and is maintained by the Canoe Brook Lake Association. The association maintains a website that provides information on ways to protect the environmental quality of the lake (Canoe Brook Lake Association).
The lake was surveyed for the third time by CAES IAPP; the previous surveys occurred in 2004 and 2012. Eleven native species were found in 2021 compared to 15 in 2012 and nine in 2004. Minor naiad (Najas minor) was the only non-native invasive aquatic plant found during all three surveys. It was less abundant than in 2012 and 2004, only being found in a few locations. Invasive curlyleaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus) was found for the first time in 2021. It was only found in one location by an inlet stream during our September survey. Curlyleaf pondweed senesces in mid-summer, so a June survey is required to accurately document its presence. One invasive non-aquatic wetland plant was found during the 2021 survey: phragmites (Phragmites australis). Our documentation of non-aquatic plant species is outside the scope of CAES IAPP surveys and is performed at the discretion of the surveyor. Comparing their presence from survey-to-survey is therefore unreliable.
Eelgrass (Vallisneria americana) was the most common species in the lake. While less abundant than in 2012, it was still present near the shoreline of almost the entire lake. Clasping-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton perfoliatus) and small pondweed (Potamogeton pusillus) were also common. The decline in minor naiad and native species from 2012 was likely caused by recent aquatic herbicide application performed prior to our survey. Deeper areas of the lake had occasional spots of eelgrass and small pondweed as well as charaphyte, a plant-like freshwater algae. Water transparency was 1.7 meters (6 ft) which is below average for Connecticut lakes. This was likely accentuated by the herbicide treatments.
| Species recorded during our 2021 survey of Canoe Brook Lake Scientific Names *Invasive Species |
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| Arrowhead | Large-leaf pondweed | Small pondweed |
| Clasping-leaf pondweed | Minor naiad* | Spikerush |
| Common duckweed | Phragmites* | Water starwort |
| Curlyleaf pondweed* | Pickerelweed | Waterwort |
| Eelgrass | Primrose-willow | |
