Lower Moodus Reservoir, East Haddam - 2012
2012 Aquatic Plant Survey Map of Lower Moodus Reservoir
Lower Moodus Reservoir is a 126-acre waterbody located in East Haddam, CT. It is a public lake with access on the northern portion of the reservoir off of route 149. The reservoir has a dam on the northern end and an impoundment separating Upper and Lower Moodus on the south end. There is a public park and a beach located on the southeastern shore of the reservoir.
The CAES IAPP 2012 survey of Lower Moodus Reservoir was a resurvey. The first survey was conducted in 2009. The 2012 survey found 32 aquatic species, resulting in an increase of species when compared to the 27 species found in 2009. Only three species were found in 2009 that were not found in 2012: coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum), spotted pondweed (Potamogeton pulcher), and sago pondweed (Stuckenia pectinata). Both natives and invasives were most abundant in coves around the reservoir. The most species rich cove is located on the southwestern shoreline with 21 species.
The 2012 survey found the presence of four invasive species: fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana), Brazilian waterweed (Egeria densa), variable-leaf watermilfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum), and curlyleaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus). Fanwort and variable-leaf watermilfoil were the most abundant species in the 2012 survey, covering a majority of the reservoir's shoreline and spreading greatly since the 2009 survey. Curlyleaf pondweed was found less frequently in our 2012 survey, located in a small abundance in one cove along the southwestern shore of the reservoir where it was also found in similar abundance in 2009. Brazilian waterweed is new to Lower Moodus Reservoir. It was found in our 2012 survey in small abundance in a cove on the southwestern shoreline and was not present in our 2009 survey.