Hidden Lake, Higganum - 2023
2023 Aquatic Plant Survey of Hidden Lake
Hidden Lake is a 39-acre waterbody located in Higganum, CT. It is shallow with a maximum depth of two meters. The lake is bordered by dense development of residential homes with a dam at the lake’s west end. Access is limited to residents, and boats with motors are prohibited.
Our July 2023 survey was a resurvey of the lake; originally performed in 2005 and again in 2018. Compared to 2018, there were significantly fewer plants throughout the lake. Most notable, the water lilies were much less abundant. This could be a result of winter drawdowns. No nonnative invasive species were present in any survey year. Phragmites (Phragmites australis) is an invasive wetland plant which we mapped for the first time in 2023. We found a similar number of species in 2023 (17) compared to 2018 (15). Bur-reed, cattail, golden hedge-hyssop, low watermilfoil, phragmites, and rush were mapped for the first time in 2023. Purple bladderwort, ribbon-leaf pondweed, slender naiad, and tapegrass were found in 2018 but not in 2023.
The most abundant species in the 2023 survey were pickerelweed, spikerush, small pondweed, yellow water lily, and white water lily. The northern cove had the most abundant vegetation, especially yellow water lily. Small pondweed was common in the western cove of the lake. Pickerelweed was found along much of the shoreline.
| Species recorded during our 2023 survey of Hidden Lake Scientific Names *Invasive |
||
| Bur-reed | Phragmites* | Spikerush |
| Cattail | Pickerelweed | Watershield |
| Common duckweed | Primrose-willow | Waterwort |
| Floating-leaf pondweed | Rush | White water lily |
| Golden hedge-hyssop | Small pondweed | Yellow water lily |
| Low watermilfoil | Snailseed pondweed | |