| Blue Lake Weed Report |
Anderson Pond, North Stonington
Anderson Pond is a relatively small water body, at 56.6 acres, but it has a diverse community of aquatic plants.
During a 2004 survey, 18 species were recorded in the pond, which also is known as Blue Lake.
Two of the plants are invasive species, Myriophyllum heterophyllum (variable-leaf watermilfoil) and Cabomba
caroliniana (fanwort).
Myriophyllum heterophyllum was the dominant species, occurring throughout the lake, even under floating-leaved
plants such as Nymphaea odorata (white waterlily), Nuphar variegate (yellow pond-lily) and Brasenia schreberi
(watershield). The floating-leaved species dominated the shoreline, extended into the water to a depth of 7 feet on the
northeast and southwest sides of the pond. A bladderwort, Utricularia purpurea, also was abundant in shallow water on
the west side of the pond.
The pond is uniformly shallow, with a maximum depth of 7.5 feet, and only small patches of the bottom were free of
submerged plants in 2004. The water level had been lowered about 1 foot because of concern about the safety of a dam at
the pond’s northeast end. The dam was scheduled for replacement, and it was expected that the lake would be lowered
several additional feet during the process. Residents had asked that the lake not be refilled before winter, in hopes that
aquatic plants and their propagules would freeze, reducing vegetation in the lake. Most residents live on the pond’s
eastern side; the western side remains largely wooded. The pond has a public boat launch and no boating restrictions. It
does not have public swimming access.
A number of aquatic plants occurred in scattered patches or isolated populations around the pond. Large patches of an
Eleocharis sp. (spike rush) were found throughout the lake, especially in the shallow water of the western side.
Potamogeton epihydrus (ribbon pondweed) was recorded in several patches in shallow water at the pond’s southwestern
end, and P. spirillis (spiral pondweed) was found in small patches at the northern end of the east and west sides.
Nymphoides cordata (little floating heart), which produces small floating leaves, was found in many small patches
around the lake.
The non-native species Cabomba caroliniana (fanwort) was found in several widely scattered locations, near the dam on
the pond’s eastern end, in a cove at the northern end of the western side, and at the southwest end of the lake, among
others. Potamogeton natans (floating pondweed) was found near the dam and in a cove at the pond’s west end, where
Ceratophyllum echinatum (spineless hornwort) also occurred. Potatmogeton pulcher (spotted pondweed) was found in
only one location at the southwestern end of the pond.
Anderson Pond is a relatively small water body, at 56.6 acres, but it has a diverse community of aquatic plants.
During a 2004 survey, 18 species were recorded in the pond, which also is known as Blue Lake.
Two of the plants are invasive species, Myriophyllum heterophyllum (variable-leaf watermilfoil) and Cabomba
caroliniana (fanwort).
Myriophyllum heterophyllum was the dominant species, occurring throughout the lake, even under floating-leaved
plants such as Nymphaea odorata (white waterlily), Nuphar variegate (yellow pond-lily) and Brasenia schreberi
(watershield). The floating-leaved species dominated the shoreline, extended into the water to a depth of 7 feet on the
northeast and southwest sides of the pond. A bladderwort, Utricularia purpurea, also was abundant in shallow water on
the west side of the pond.
The pond is uniformly shallow, with a maximum depth of 7.5 feet, and only small patches of the bottom were free of
submerged plants in 2004. The water level had been lowered about 1 foot because of concern about the safety of a dam at
the pond’s northeast end. The dam was scheduled for replacement, and it was expected that the lake would be lowered
several additional feet during the process. Residents had asked that the lake not be refilled before winter, in hopes that
aquatic plants and their propagules would freeze, reducing vegetation in the lake. Most residents live on the pond’s
eastern side; the western side remains largely wooded. The pond has a public boat launch and no boating restrictions. It
does not have public swimming access.
A number of aquatic plants occurred in scattered patches or isolated populations around the pond. Large patches of an
Eleocharis sp. (spike rush) were found throughout the lake, especially in the shallow water of the western side.
Potamogeton epihydrus (ribbon pondweed) was recorded in several patches in shallow water at the pond’s southwestern
end, and P. spirillis (spiral pondweed) was found in small patches at the northern end of the east and west sides.
Nymphoides cordata (little floating heart), which produces small floating leaves, was found in many small patches
around the lake.
The non-native species Cabomba caroliniana (fanwort) was found in several widely scattered locations, near the dam on
the pond’s eastern end, in a cove at the northern end of the western side, and at the southwest end of the lake, among
others. Potamogeton natans (floating pondweed) was found near the dam and in a cove at the pond’s west end, where
Ceratophyllum echinatum (spineless hornwort) also occurred. Potatmogeton pulcher (spotted pondweed) was found in
only one location at the southwestern end of the pond.
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| All this information provided by Tom Maraglino |
| Click on any Map To Enlarge |
| Native Plants |
| Lake Weeds |
| Invasive Plants |
| "The color blue on the maps does NOT represent water. Each color represents a species of weeds. See the Legend on each map to determine which color represents each weed" |
Vegetation of Anderson Pond, North Stonington
Potamogeton pulcher: A native species to New England, commonly known as spotted pondweed. It is threatened or endangered
in most of its United States range.
Cabomba caroliniana: An invasive species to New England, commonly known as fanwort. It can form dense stands that can clog
drainage systems and impede recreational activities.
Potamogeton natans: A native species to the United States, commonly known as floating pondweed. This plant is found in much
of the U.S., except in most southeastern states.
Elodea canadensis: A native species to New England, commonly known as Canadian waterweed. This plant is invasive to the
southern United States.
Eleocharis sp.: A native genus to the United states, commonly known as spike rush. The exact species is still to be determined
from Anderson Pond.
Potamogeton spirillus: A native species to the United States, commonly known as spiral pondweed. This plant is thought to be
extinct from Ohio.
Nymphoides cordata: A native species to the United States, commonly known as little floating heart. This plant is endangered
or threatened in two states.
Potamogeton epihydrus: A native species to the United States, commonly known as ribbon pondweed. This plant is endangered
or of special concern in two states.
Utricularia purpurea: A native species to the United States, commonly known as eastern purple bladderwort. This plant is rare
or threatened in three states.
Nuphar variegata: A native species to the United States, commonly known as variegated yellow pond-lily. This plant is
endangered in Ohio.
Nymphaea odorata: A native species to the United States, commonly known as American white waterlily. This plant is
designated as noxious in the state of Washington.
Brasenia schreberi: A native species to the United States, commonly known as watershield.
Myriophyllum heterophyllum: An invasive species, commonly known as variable-leaf watermilfoil. It can form dense stands
that out-compete native species and hinder recreational activities. The dense stands can be breeding grounds for mosquitoes
and degrades the water quality for aquatic wildlife.
Ceratophyllum echinatum: A native species to the United States, commonly known as spineless hornwort. It is of special
concern, endangered or threatened in five states.
*For more information on any of these plants see the Plants Database administered by the USDA ( http://plants.usda.gov/ ). For
more information on the invasive plants see The Invasive Plant Atlas of New England ( www.ipane.org ).
Potamogeton pulcher: A native species to New England, commonly known as spotted pondweed. It is threatened or endangered
in most of its United States range.
Cabomba caroliniana: An invasive species to New England, commonly known as fanwort. It can form dense stands that can clog
drainage systems and impede recreational activities.
Potamogeton natans: A native species to the United States, commonly known as floating pondweed. This plant is found in much
of the U.S., except in most southeastern states.
Elodea canadensis: A native species to New England, commonly known as Canadian waterweed. This plant is invasive to the
southern United States.
Eleocharis sp.: A native genus to the United states, commonly known as spike rush. The exact species is still to be determined
from Anderson Pond.
Potamogeton spirillus: A native species to the United States, commonly known as spiral pondweed. This plant is thought to be
extinct from Ohio.
Nymphoides cordata: A native species to the United States, commonly known as little floating heart. This plant is endangered
or threatened in two states.
Potamogeton epihydrus: A native species to the United States, commonly known as ribbon pondweed. This plant is endangered
or of special concern in two states.
Utricularia purpurea: A native species to the United States, commonly known as eastern purple bladderwort. This plant is rare
or threatened in three states.
Nuphar variegata: A native species to the United States, commonly known as variegated yellow pond-lily. This plant is
endangered in Ohio.
Nymphaea odorata: A native species to the United States, commonly known as American white waterlily. This plant is
designated as noxious in the state of Washington.
Brasenia schreberi: A native species to the United States, commonly known as watershield.
Myriophyllum heterophyllum: An invasive species, commonly known as variable-leaf watermilfoil. It can form dense stands
that out-compete native species and hinder recreational activities. The dense stands can be breeding grounds for mosquitoes
and degrades the water quality for aquatic wildlife.
Ceratophyllum echinatum: A native species to the United States, commonly known as spineless hornwort. It is of special
concern, endangered or threatened in five states.
*For more information on any of these plants see the Plants Database administered by the USDA ( http://plants.usda.gov/ ). For
more information on the invasive plants see The Invasive Plant Atlas of New England ( www.ipane.org ).
