Taunton Lake Weed Inspection Planned 

By Andrew Gorosko

Taunton Lake will be inspected next week in seeking to gauge the effectiveness of a recent herbicide application there intended to kill off an infestation of the invasive aquatic weed known as milfoil.

George Benson, who is the town land use enforcement officer and an aquatic biologist, has coordinated local efforts to curtail the growth of milfoil in the lake.

On July 30, Aquatic Control Technology, Inc, spread the herbicide known as Renovate 3 (triclopyr) in the southeast corner of the lake in seeking to kill off a four-acre growth of milfoil in the spring-fed 127-acre lake. Since that time, the use of water from the lake for lakeside irrigation has been prohibited.

After chemical analyses of water samples taken from the lake are performed, it will be determined when the withdrawal of water from the lake for irrigation will again be allowed, Mr Benson said August 15.

Trees around the lake have been posted with signs advising of the recent herbicide application.

The Newtown Fish & Game Club, which has a private boat launch on the northwest shore of the lake, covered costs for the herbicide project.

Milfoil, an invasive plant that originated in Eurasia, has infested many lakes and ponds in North America. In this area, there are sizable milfoil infestations in Lake Zoar, Lake Lillinonah, and Candlewood Lake. The weed recently was discovered at Taunton Lake.

Besides the recent herbicide application, scuba and/or snorkel divers will be used to remove by hand some isolated patches of milfoil that have been found in scattered spots across the lake.

The discovery of milfoil at Taunton Lake will require regular lake inspections to check for the weed’s presence and extent. If left unchecked, the spread of milfoil can damage the ecosystem of a lake, according to Mr Benson.

Taunton Lake has an 850-acre watershed. Taunton Lake feeds Pond Brook, which carries water to Lake Lillinonah. Taunton Lake is ringed by private properties.