Gorton Pond, East Lyme - 2004

2004 Aquatic Plant Survey Map of Gorton Pond

Transect Data | Water Data

Gorton Pond is located in East Lyme, and measures 52.4 acres. Gorton is a relatively shallow pond (maximum depth of 11 feet, mean 7.4 feet) allowing it to support abundant growth of aquatic plants. All of the sides of the pond are developed with private homes and a nursery at the southeast end and a private beach on the western side. Access to the lake is provided by a state boat ramp on the southwest shore, with boat speed (8 mph) and water-skiing restrictions. The pond’s dam was rebuilt in the late 1980s, and the pond was also dredged sometime within that decade.

A total of 17 submerged and floating-leaved species were recorded during a July 2004 survey, of which one is an invasive species - variable-leaf watermilfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum). Slender naiad (Najas flexilis) and southern naiad (Najas guadalupensis) were particularly abundant providing dense cover throughout the pond, particularly in water from 6 to 11 feet deep, which is the pond’s maximum depth. The naiads grew in smaller patches in shallow water on the edge of the pond, where common bladderwort (Utricularia macrorhiza) also was abundant.

White water lily (Nymphaea odorata) was abundant in the pond’s northern end, particularly in shallow water, with the naiads abundant in deeper water. Individual plants and small patches of watershield (Brasenia schreberi), common bladderwort, coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum), yellow water lily (Nuphar variegata), western waterweed (Elodea nuttallii, ribbon-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton epihydrus), and the non-native variable-leaf watermilfoil also were found.      

Shallow water along the eastern shore was dominated by the naiads. Patches of coontail, watershield, common bladderwort, snailseed pondweed (Potamogeton bicupulatus), variable-leaf watermilfoil, western waterweed, yellow water lily, and spikerush  (Eleocharis species) also were found. In deeper water, the naiads were very abundant.

The narrow southern end of the pond supported only small patches of Tuckerman's quillwort (Isoëtes tuckermannii) and white water lily along the eastern side; with the naiads growing abundantly on the western side, along with small patches of variable-leaf watermilfoil, common bladderwort, snailseed pondweed, and western waterweed. Charaphyte algae (Chara) also were abundant in this area.

Other Gorton Pond Surveys: 2015