Curly-leaf Pondweed Found and Removed Again in Lake Sunapee

On Monday, June 9, LSPA brought in two divers to remove invasive curly-leaf pondweed near the Georges Mills boat ramp, where it was first spotted in 2024. About 12 plants were found in three small clusters along one side of a submerged log. We’re confident the divers got all of it, but we’ve scheduled a follow-up dive for early September just to be sure.

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Spiny Water Flea Now in NH

Spiny water flea (Bythotrephes longimanus), which is actually a crustacean and not an insect, was discovered in the deepest spot of Lake Winnipesaukee in mid-September and then in Winnisquam.  Unfortunately, there is no known treatment so the best thing is to prevent it from entering a waterbody in the first place by cleaning, draining and drying boats, trailers and all gear.  As with other aquatic invasive species, spiny water flea can negatively affect the aquatic food web by changing the natural communities and outcompeting native zooplankton species which in turn impacts the fish populations as well.

Click here to download a fact sheet from NHDES.

Click on the links below for more information about these invasive plant and animal species. The species with an asterisk by the name pose the greatest threat(s) in the Sunapee Region.

Plants

*Curly-leaf Pondweed (Potamogeton crispis)

*Variable Milfoil (Myriophyllum heterophyllum)

*Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)

Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)

Brittle Naiad (Najas minor)

Water Chestnut (Trapa natans)

Fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana)

*Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

*Common Reed

Animals

*Spiny Water Flea (Bythotrephes longimanus)

*Asian Clam (Corbicula fluminea)

*Chinese Mystery Snail (Cipangopaludina chinensis)

Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)

Click here for additional information from NHDES about Aquatic Invasive Species in New Hampshire.

To see a map from the USGS showing how different species have spread over time, click here.