Dog Pond, Goshen - 2013
Dog Pond is a 65.8-acre lake located in Goshen, CT. It has a state owned boat ramp located along the eastern shore. The northern portion of the lake is shallow and has wetland characteristics. A stream cuts through the wetland and enters the lake in the northeastern corner.
The 2013 CAES IAPP vegetative survey of Dog Pond is a resurvey from 2005. The 2013 survey was conducted in October, compared to August of 2005. This time difference could account for some of the plant community change observed. The 2013 survey found 20 aquatic plant species, compared to 13 found in 2005. The same invasive, Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), was present in both years. Eurasian watermilfoil was found in large patches around most of the lake. The southwest corner of the lake had the least Eurasian watermilfoil. It was generally growing in 1.0 meter to 3.0 meters of water. Eurasian watermilfoil increased in abundance from 2005 when it was found in small patches along the western shore.
Robbins' pondweed (Potamogeton robbinsii) was the most abundant plant in the lake, covering the entire littoral zone (<4.5 m). Among the 7 georeferenced transects (70 points total), Robbins' pondweed was found on 93% of the points in both years. In both years the visual survey marked the plant growing beyond the 80 meters from shore that the transects cover. When comparing visual surveys, Robbins' pondweed grew across the entire lake in 2013, compared to no growth >3.0m in 2005. The abundance along transects of some plants increased from the 2005 to the 2013 survey. White stem pondweed (Potamogeton praelongus) was not found on any points in 2005 but was found along 67% of points in 2013 and was the second most dominant species found in the 2013 survey. The invasive, Eurasian watermilfoil, increased to 33% of the points in 2013 from 3% in 2005.
The northern third of the lake was shallow and had the greatest plant diversity. Many emergent species covered the surface, including yellow water lily (Nuphar variegata), white water lily (Nymphaea odorata), and pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata). Some floating leaf species were also present: large-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton amplifolius) and floating-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton natans). Submerged species in this area filled much of the water column, including coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum), Canadian waterweed (Elodea canadensis), western waterweed (Elodea nuttallii), three pondweed species (Potamogeton species), and common bladderwort (Utricularia macrorhiza). All of these species were also found growing sporadically around the perimeter of the lake among other native species.
| Species recorded in our 2013 survey of Dog Pond. Scientific Names *Invasive Species |
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| Arrowhead | Flat-Stemmed pondweed |
Robbins' pondweed |
Western waterweed |
| Canadian waterweed | Floating-Leaf pondweed |
Sedge |
White stem pondweed |
| Common bladderwort |
Large-Leaf pondweed |
Southern naiad | White water lily |
| Coontail |
Leafy pondweed |
Variable pondweed | Yellow water lily |
| Eurasian watermilfoil* |
Pickerelweed |
Water stargrass | |
Other Dog Pond Surveys: 2005