DEEP: Invasive Aquatic Plant Found in Glastonbury Stretch of Connecticut River

GLASTONBURY, CT — The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection on Friday announced that a very highly invasive aquatic plant, has been found in the main stem Connecticut River in Glastonbury.

Earlier this week, DEEP staff observed several patches of Hydrilla Verticillata, mixed in among the aquatic plants growing in the river at Glastonbury’s Riverfront Park and Boathouse, agency officials said.

This discovery follows the identification of hydrilla in a difficult to access portion of Keeney Cove by botanists participating in a “Bioblitz” conducted around the Two Rivers Magnet School in East Hartford, in June of this year.

“Finding hydrilla in a publicly accessible portion of the state’s largest water body is a matter of serious concern,” said William Hyatt, DEEP’s chief of natural resources.

“The Connecticut River traverses the length of the state from north to south, supports substantial recreational use and has numerous access points,” said Hyatt. “Managing this infestation will be exceedingly difficult. Based on what we’ve seen it appears that hydrilla has been in the river for a couple of years and it is likely to be widely dispersed downstream of Hartford. "

He said, as a result, "eradication is not practical."

"What we can do is educate boaters on what they need to do to reduce the risk of further spread,” he said.

Hydrilla, which is not native to the United States, was likely first introduced to this country in the 1950s, DEEP officials said. The source of the plants is unknown.

The plant fist presented problems in in southeastern states and is beginning to spread into the northeast, DEEP Officials said.

It spreads aggressively, forms dense mats of vegetation, easily "out-competes" and displaces native plants, alters aquatic habitats, and interferes with recreational activities and is very difficult to control once established, DEEP officials said.

DEEP officials said boaters (including kayakers and canoeists), anglers and other recreational users should follow "clean, drain and dry precautions to prevent the spread of invasive plants and animals, including hydrilla:

So, DEEP officials said, before leaving a boat launch:

• CLEAN: all visible plant, fish, and animals as well as mud or other debris. Do not transport them home.
• DRAIN: all water from every space (including bilges, live wells and engine cooling systems) and item that may hold water.

At home or prior to your next launch:

• DRY: anything that comes in contact with water (boats, trailers, anchors, propellers, etc).

If drying is not possible, you should take extra care to thoroughly clean your boat prior to the next launch. The techniques listed below are advised to decontaminate your vessel:

• Wash your boat with hot, pressurized water, or
• Dip equipment in 100% vinegar for 20 minutes prior to rinsing, or
• Wash with a 1 percent salt solution (2/3 cup to 5 gallons water) and leave on for 24 hours prior to rinsing, or
• "Wet" with bleach solution (1 oz to 1 gallon water) or soap and hot water (Lysol, boat soap, etc) for 10 minutes prior to rinsing.

When Fishing:

• Do not dump your bait bucket or release live bait! Avoid introducing unwanted plants and animals. Unless your bait was obtained on site, dispose of it in a suitable trash container or give it to another angler.
• Do not transport fish, other animals or plants between water bodies. Release caught fish, other animals and plants only into the waters from which they came.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel