Letter to Editor from Tyler Lake

To the Editor,

Goshen Lakes are some of our community’s most valued natural resources. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the lakes for boating, fishing, swimming, and simply appreciating their beauty. However, this treasured resource faces a growing threat that deserves the attention of everyone who uses or lives near the lake: the potential introduction of hydrilla.

Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) is an invasive aquatic plant known for its extremely rapid growth. Once it enters a lake, it can quickly spread and form thick underwater mats that crowd out native plants, reduce oxygen levels for fish, and make boating and swimming impossible. As hydrilla reduces a lake’s usability, it can also lead to declines in surrounding property values. Several lakes and rivers in Connecticut are struggling with hydrilla infestations and have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to control it.

If hydrilla were to become established in Goshen Lakes, the financial burden of treatment could be extreme. Management often requires repeated herbicide applications and frequent scientific monitoring. These efforts would continue year after year because hydrilla is difficult to fully eradicate once it takes hold.

The good news is that prevention is effective. Hydrilla most often spreads when small plant fragments hitchhike on boats, trailers, fishing gear, or recreational equipment that has been used in other lakes.

Everyone who visits or uses Goshen Lakes can help reduce this risk by taking a few basic steps:

• Clean boats, propellers, trailers, and equipment to remove any visible plant material.
• Drain water from bilges, live wells, and other compartments before transporting boats.
• Allow boats and gear to dry thoroughly when moving between different lakes.
• Never release aquarium plants, fish, or bait into the lake.
• Report unusual or suspicious aquatic plants so they can be identified early.

Protecting Goshen Lakes is a shared responsibility. With increased awareness and simple preventative actions, we can help ensure that our lakes remain healthy and accessible for future generations.

Sincerely,

Sarah Sullivan &

The Tyler Lake Protective Association