Norwich Pond, Lyme - 2019
2019 Aquatic Plant Survey Map of Norwich Pond
Norwich Pond is a 29-acre waterbody located in Lyme, CT. There is a public boat ramp at the southwestern end for "carry-in" boats only. There are a few private residences on the eastern shoreline, and Beckett Hill State Park Reserve borders the western shore.
The 2019 survey was the third CAES IAPP survey of Norwich Pond; the first was in 2004, and the second was in 2015. The 2019 survey found 21 aquatic plant species compared to 18 in 2015 and 10 in 2004. No invasive species have been found in any survey. Common reed (Phragmites australis) was found in a small section on the southern shoreline of the lake. This is an invasive wetland species, but since it is not aquatic it is not marked invasive on our survey.
Vegetation in 2019 was similar to 2015. The entire shoreline of the pond had both emergent and submergent aquatic plant species. White water lily (Nymphaea odorata) continued to be the most dominant plant found, and other common species included pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), purple bladderwort (Utricularia purpurea), and watershield (Brasenia schreberi). Dortmann’s cardinal flower (Lobelia dortmanna) and spiny hornwort (Ceratophyllum echinatum) were new species found in 2019.
While the number of aquatic plant species continued to increase from 2004 to 2019, the coverage of aquatic plants has stayed very similar. This can be attributed to the deep nature of the pond creating a small littoral zone (0-12 feet deep) where plant growth is supported.