Pinewood Lake, Trumbull - 2022

2022 Aquatic Plant Survey of Pinewood Lake
Bathymetry Map of Pinewood Lake
Transect Data | Water Data

Pinewood Lake is a 60-acre lake located in Trumbull, CT. The lake is managed by a lake association, which has a beach on the southern end and prohibits use by non-members. An unimproved boat launch exists at the lake’s northern end. Only electric motors are allowed on the lake. There is development around the entire lake. Sailing, fishing, and swimming seem to be popular recreational activities by residents on the lake. Water flows into the lake from the northern end and out of the lake by an outlet on the southern end.  A dam allows water to drain from the lake at the end of the western arm.

CAES IAPP performed the first survey of Pinewood Lake in 2004 and surveyed again in 2011. This is the third survey of Pinewood Lake. In 2022, 12 aquatic plant species were found; all were native. This is fairly similar to 2011 (14 native species) and 2004 (8 native species). This was the first year that the invasive minor naiad (Najas minor) was not found. This is a major improvement than in 2004 when minor naiad covered large sections of the lake. It is a seed-borne annual, so it may still appear in future years. Two invasive wetland plants were found in a small number of locations in the lake: yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) and forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides). Wetland invasives are not always recorded in CAES IAPP surveys because they are not aquatic plants, so this may not be the first occurrence of these two invasives in the lake. Yellow flag iris was found in the northern section of the lake, and forget-me-not was found in one location by the beach in the southern section of the lake.

Similar to 2011, native eelgrass (Vallisneria americana) was the most commonly found plant and was found frequently along the shoreline. Small pondweed (Potamogeton pusillus) and snailseed pondweed (Potamogeton bicupulatus) were also common. The only lily found in the lake was yellow water lily (Nuphar variegata), found in the northern section of the lake and the arm of the western side of the lake. Overall, vegetation was slightly less abundant than in 2011. The center of the lake was largely plant free, but charaphyte, a plant-like algae, was found frequently in deeper water. There did not appear to be any nuisance vegetation.

Other Pinewood Lake Surveys: 2011 Survey, 2004 Survey