Twin Lake North, Simsbury - 2018

2018 Aquatic Plant Survey Map of Twin Lake North

Transect Data | Water Data

Twin Lake North is a public, man-made lake located in Simsbury, CT. It is 13.4 acres with a maximum depth of 2 meters. The lake is located in the Nod Brook Management Area, land owned and maintained by the DEEP. Various field trial competitions are held on the area’s land and the lake is used yearly for hunting dog field trials. The lake was built for these competitions, using various channels of water to create a course for the field trials.

The CAES IAPP 2018 survey is the third vegetative survey of Twin Lake North; the first was in 2012 and the second was in 2013 following an herbicide treatment. Thirteen species were found in 2018, including two invasive species: brittle waternymph (Najas minor) and Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum). These are the same two invasives found in past surveys. Common reed (Phragmites australis), an invasive wetland plant, was found as well in two locations on the western shoreline.

The overall abundance of plants has decreased since 2013, however species diversity has increased. Brittle waternymph and Eurasian watermilfoil both decreased. Brittle waternymph was found in a few small patches in the northwestern part of the lake. Eurasian watermilfoil was found throughout, but in small patches compared to the large swath found in 2013. The 11 native species were found throughout the lake, the majority along the shoreline. Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) and Coontail (Ceratophyllum demersum) were the most abundant. Three floating species, common duckweed (Lemna minor), great duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza), and watermeal (Wolffia species) were found on much of the lake’s surface, but did not completely cover any areas.

Other Twin Lake North Surveys: 2013, 2012