Stepanksi Pond, Haddam - 2025

Transect Data | Water Data

     Stepanski Pond is 12-acre private waterbody in Haddam, CT with a maximum depth of 7 feet. There is a dam at the northeastern side of the pond. The land abutting the shoreline is mostly forested with a few residential properties on the northwestern/western side of the pond.

     CAES OAIS surveyed Stepanski Pond for the first time on July 30, 2025. A total of 17 aquatic and emergent plant species were recorded, of which 16 are native and one is invasive. Phragmites (Phragmites australis), an invasive wetland species was found on the northern side of the pond in a small dense patch with native cattail (Typha species). Phragmites does not appear to be a threat at this time but should continue to be monitored for future growth.

     Of the 16 native species, bur-reed (Sparganium species) was the most abundant plant found growing in dense patches along the entire shoreline. Common bladderwort (Utricularia vulgaris), humped bladderwort (Utricularia gibba), slender naiad (Najas flexilis), and spikerush (Eleocharis species) were commonly found growing together along the edges of the pond. Leafy pondweed (Potamogeton foliosus) and Berchtold’s pondweed (Potamogeton berchtoldii) grew not only in the shallow areas but also extended into deeper areas at the northern and southern ends of the pond where they predominately grew together. Watershield (Brasenia schreberi) and white-water lily (Nymphaea odorata) were found around the entire pond but grew most dense at the southern end in shallow water. The shallow areas of the pond had high plant diversity with several different submersed aquatic species while deeper areas were dominated specifically by leafy pondweed and Berchtold’s pondweed.

     Other plant species that occurred in the lake were common duckweed (Lemna minor), cattail (Typha species), southern naiad (Najas guadalupensis), arrowhead (Sagittaria species), flat-leaf bladderwort (Utricularia intermedia), primrose-willow (Ludwigia species), and marsh-mermaid weed (Proserpinaca palustris).