Lower Pond, Lyme - 2006

Lower Pond is a 4-acre body of water located in Lyme, CT. It is surrounded by a 50-foot buffer of land trust property. Our September 2006 survey found 18 aquatic plant species including three invasive milfoils: parrotfeather (Myriophyllum aquaticum), variable-leaf watermilfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum), and Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum).  

Parrotfeather and Eurasian watermilfoil are found together in the southern-most part of the lake. Eurasian watermilfoil is also found in sizeable patches throughout the middle of the lake. Variable-Leaf watermilfoil occurred in only a small patch in the middle of the northern half of the lake.

Most of the lake is covered with watershield (Brasenia schreberi), white water lily (Nymphaea odorata), and yellow water lily (Nuphar variegata). The southwest areas of the lake contains a large area of common bladderwort (Utricularia macrorhiza), as well as smaller patches of humped bladderwort (Utricularia gibba). The eastern shore has several small patches of spotted pondweed (Potamogeton pulcher), mostly in the middle of the eastern shore. The northeastern point contains spotted pondweed, arrowhead (Sagittaria species), bur-reed (Sparganium species), swamp smartweed (Polygonum hydropiperoides), and all three bladderworts. Swamp smartweed is also found along the northern shoreline.