Hydrilla represents a new and potentially devastating risk to the Twin Lakes. It is believed to have come to East Twin on a visiting boat and so far has been spotted only near the marina. This weed is most commonly found in southern states but in the past few years found its way to the Connecticut River, which is being choked by the weed’s rapid growth. The video below details the impact of unchecked hydrilla spread. To read more about it click here. 

The Connecticut Federation of Lakes, in its October 2023 newsletter, reports that hydrilla has now been found in three more Connecticut lakes and also was  “intercepted by boat launch monitors at Lake Champlain and Lake George.” The federation calls for “educating lake users about invasive species and following the clean, drain, dry procedure” to prevent the further spread of hydrilla.

The Twin Lakes Association board is acting with urgency. We applied for emergency treatment in August 2023 and upon request for more information from the Connecticut Natural Diversity Data Base replied with details you can find here. 

On Oct. 3, a coalition of state agencies and state and state and local officials toured the areas of East Twin where hydrilla has a toehold. Here is where you can read about that tour and the discussion that preceded and followed.

The New York Times reports that humans have introduced more than 37,000 species to places outside their natural ranges globally. More than 3,500 of those are harmful to their new ecosystems. Here is the study that is the basis for the Times report.  The Lakeville Journal published this report. A subscription is needed.