Hydrilla verticillata lithuanica, more commonly known as clade c hydrilla or the CT river biotype was detected during the summer of 2023

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has been awarded a $315,214.47 Project Grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Fish and Aquatic Conservation - Aquatic Invasive Species program (CFDA 15.608). The grant will fund activities to prevent, control, and manage the recent detection of the aquatic invasive species Hydrilla verticillata in Congamond Lakes, Massachusetts. Specifically, DCR will conduct annual surveys of the entire lake system, install marker buoys and barriers around the infestation area, and implement herbicide treatments to eradicate the Hydrilla. As a subrecipient under this grant, the Town of Southwick will also receive funding to assist with Hydrilla surveys and management in the Congamond Lakes. The grant period runs from May 1, 2024 through May 1, 2027.

The estimated the invasion happened within the last two to three growing seasons(2020-2023), as the observed growth (as of october 2023) is minimal and contained to one general area.given the shallow, but relatively stagnant area, the hydrilla can easily spread and thrive in the sunlight and nutrient rich area. As IT is growing in an area where all boats launched at the southern access have to navigate through, IT is fullyanticipated the hydrilla will not only spread within this localized area, but to the remainder of litoral zone throughout this and the other basins of congamond, as all three are heavily recreated upon by a variety of users. Congamond in total is approximately 477 acres, with approximately 150 acres of litoral zone capable of supporting hydrilla growth. Additionally, public users of congamond are known to also use other recreational waterbodies throughout MA and neighboring states, which further expands the potential infestation range of the hydrilla. State will annually survey entirety of the lake to document all hydrilla growth and install marker buoys and or barrier around the infestation to deter users from navigating through the plant growth, where applicable. The will also conduct herbicide treatment(s) for all observed hydrilla and survey etirety of the lake following the treatment effort(s) to document management impacts and results.