100-plus lakes attacked by plants

Guilford (WTNH) - Connecticut is under attack with an invasion just under the surface.

"This is a common plant sold in the aquarium trade," said Greg Bugbee for the Department of Environmental Protection [DEP], Soil and Water Division.

A plant sold for aquariums has made its way into hundreds of lakes across Connecticut.

News Channel 8's Bob Wilson headed out to Quonnipaug Lake , in Guilford, with Bugbee to find out just how serious this problem is.

Bugbee leads a team of scientists and experts that act like a plant SWAT team.

Armed with underwater cameras and satellites, Bugbee goes onto the water to find the invasive plants that are taking over the majority of Connecticut lakes and ponds.

Wilson: "How choked out is this lake?"
Bugbee: "This cove, right here, is about 80 percent 'choked out' because of these invasive species."

The long, strong rope-like plant called Najas minor is just one of the many plants that can cause serious problems in the Connecticut waterways.

Crew teams from Choate train on the a nearby lake (or, try to). And, they know how invasive these aquatic plants can be firsthand; the plants tear up the bottoms of their boats.

"When they get tangled in weeds, like this, it's strong enough to rip the skegs [skags] right off," said Choate Rowing Coach John Cholnoky.

The weeds continuously tangle props and make it impossible to use parts of the lake; it’s a problem, environmentally, as well as economically.

They spread so fast they can lower property values. And, what’s more, they can kill you; experts say they can pose as deadly entanglements for swimmers.

"I wouldn't want to go overboard absolutely not," said Coach Cholnoky.

There are seven different invasive plants attacking Connecticut lakes; most are tropical. But their background is anything but.

These species, outside the confines of a 10x10 glass box, have no natural enemies in the waters here in Connecticut. And, that’s a troublesome combination.

"[People] will get tired of their aquarium and they think it's the right thing to do; rather than throw it away, or kill everything, they come to a launch ramp, come to a lake and dump it all in. We have been to an area where there was an entire aquarium right in the lake," said Bugbee.

From there, the plants grow. Sometimes they mutate, hopping from lake to lake on boat trailers.

And, the plant team has tried everything from underwater hedge clippers to biologically engineered fish to eat the plants. So far, they haven't found a solution that sticks.

"[It's] hard to come by really good, long-term techniques to get rid of these things," said Bugbee.

Prevention, Bugbee says, might be the best solution.

Meanwhile, the Invasive Aquatic Plant Team uses a special camera to map out different lakes. All of the data is then brought back to labs for testing and the information is put online so you can look to see what invasive plants are in your lake.

A lot of experiments are being done at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station [CAES] in New Haven. At one point they were growing a weevil that eats invasive plants; eventually would introduce it into the lake and control these kinds of plants naturally.

The CAES has also made the viewing of these uprooted, different types of invasive plants open to the public; you can come in to the experiment station and see them. And, if you can notice it in your lake before it's too late, you can even possibly help prevent the spread.

"If you can find the plants and recognize that they are there, it might be as simple as pulling them out. They will not multiply and take over the lake," said Bugbee.

But it may be too late for the crew team at Choate; they struggle to free from their docks every time they are in the water.

"Several of the coaches and I spent several days down here with rakes and shovels pulling out as much of the weeds as we can get," said Cholnoky.

For additional information about these invasive, aquatic plants and/or how they impact the lakes/ponds near you, click on the links to the left.