Invasive Plant Species in New London, New Hampshire

An invasive plant is a non-native species that invades a region and spreads rapidly. It displaces native plants and is disruptive to the native ecosystem. An invasive plants brochure (downloadable .pdf file) designed by student Stacey Philbrook of the Community & Environmental Studies program at Colby-Sawyer College describes some of the invasive plants that have been found along the roads in New London. Additional information on invasive plants in New London may be obtained from the on-line herbarium at Colby-Sawyer College.

Information on invasive plants in New England may be obtained from the Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE) and for invasive plants in New Hampshire from extension.unh.edu.

Exotic aquatic plants pose a potential problem for the lakes in town. Infestations of exotic aquatic species have been recorded by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) at 64 lakes and ponds in the state (milfoil in New Hampshire) through November 2004. The infestation sites closest to New London are Lake Sunapee in Sunapee and Massasecum Lake in Bradford.

View of a milfoil infestation in Squam Lake (from NHDES: http://www.des.state.nh.us/wmb/exoticspecies/photos.htm)

In a small, shallow lake, a milfoil infestation could severely limit the use of the lake for swimming or fishing.

Milfoil is spread from lake to lake by plant fragments that get caught on boats, motors, boat trailers, fishing tackle or anything else that could snag and hold the fragment. It is spread within a lake by drifting plant fragments created by boat propellers or by cutting the aquatic weeds in an attempt to control them. The lake associations in the Town of New London are actively working to prevent possible infestations by inspecting boats at boat ramps and requesting that any suspicious plant fragments be removed prior to launch. They are also educating the boating public about invasive aquatic plants in person or via signs at the boat ramps.

Periodic plant surveys are made during the boating season to provide early detection of an invasive species while eradication is still possible. NHDES provides a brochure and Fact Sheets on the invasive species in New Hampshire to assist in early detection.

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