Taunton Lake is a private, 124-acre body of water located in Newtown, CT. It has an average depth of 7.0 meters (22 feet). A private boat launch in the northwest provides access to authorized parties. The rapid increase in depth from the shore leads to the majority of the lake being too deep for aquatic vegetation but the edges and the shallow southeast cove have recently become invaded with Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum). CAES IAPP is currently studying the effectiveness of suction dredging to remove the milfoil.

Our July 2009 visual survey of the lake found eight species of aquatic plants including two invasives. The aforementioned Eurasian watermilfoil was noted in medium to low abundances along the entire perimeter of the lake and in very high abundance in the southeast cove. The other invasive, curlyleaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus), showed little impact on the lake and was noted only in very small patches. The most abundant native plant was western waterweed (Elodea nuttallii) which carpets the bottom in most areas less than three meters (10 feet) deep. Yellow water lily (Nuphar variegata) was found in small patches near the shore. The remainder of the native plants are small submerged species that occurred low abundance.