
The boat launch at Lakeville Lake is closed indefinitely due to the hydrilla threat.
Debra A. Aleksinas
The boat launch at Lakeville Lake is closed indefinitely due to the hydrilla threat.
This is the first of a series on invasive aquatic hydrilla and its growing threat to waterbodies and communities in Northwest Connecticut.
SALISBURY — It was only a matter of time.
Since 2016, an aggressive non-native aquatic plant, Hydrilla verticillata, also known as water thyme, has fouled coves and tributaries along the Connecticut River from Essex to the Massachusetts border, leaving unprecedented ecological, recreational and economic damage in its wake.
Now it has hitched a ride via unsuspecting boat owners to inland freshwater lakes and ponds around the state, causing concern among lake associations, town and state officials.
To date, the submerged perennial plant, fittingly named after Hydra, the nine-headed serpent from Greek mythology known for its regenerative powers, has been identified in at least 10 known lakes and ponds in the state.
That number is expected to rise as scientists from the Connecticut Aquatic Experiment Station’s Office of Aquatic Species (CAES/OAIS) scour 94 state-owed marinas in search of the worrisome weed, which they fear is spreading undetected.
Time is of the essence to locate, control and eradicate an aggressive subspecies of Hydrilla verticillata, which is unique to the Connecticut River and grows at an astonishing rate of up to a foot a day with long, slender stems that can grow underwater to lengths of up to 30 feet and spread horizontally into thick mats.
Fragments that contain as little as a single whorl of leaves are capable of drifting to other parts of a waterbody and forming new colonies. Left unchecked, perennial hydrilla, which has earned the title of “the world’s worst invasive aquatic plant” and is listed as a federal noxious weed, can completely displace native submerged plant communities, altering fish populations and water chemistry, and threatening bald eagles.
Last summer, East Twin Lake in Salisbury raised alarm when it became the first documented lake outside of the Connecticut River to become infested with a Connecticut River variant of hydrilla. Lake officials suspect it had been thriving undetected beneath the lake’s surface around the marina for several years before being noticed during a routine lake survey. [See timeline here].
Ripples of invasion
Hydrilla, native to Africa and Southeast Asia, has had a rich introduction history into the United States, with multiple subspecies being introduced since the 1960’s. It was first introduced to this country in the early 1950s near Tampa, Fla., when an aquarium plant dealer dumped bundles of the lush, green plant into a canal near his business, and by the early 1990s hydrilla occupied more than 140,000 acres of public lakes and rivers.
In 2016 a new variant of Hydrilla verticillata, subspecies lithuanica, also known as Northern hydrilla, was identified in the Connecticut River, and three years later the CAES surveyed the river from Agawam, Mass., to the Long Island Sound, reporting at least 774 acres of hydrilla.
“The particular strain that is unique to the Connecticut River appears to be much more aggressive and robust than anything we have seen before,” said Gregory Bugbee, who runs the Invasive Plant Program at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES)
And it is difficult and expensive to manage and eradicate.
“Significant costs are already associated with the impact and maintenance of the prior two subspecies established in the United States since the 1960s and 1980’s,” according to Jeremiah Foley, assistant scientist with CAES.
Why hydrilla management is important
The alarming explosion of Connecticut River hydrilla outside of the Connecticut River has raised significant concerns about its spread inland, threatening the beauty and pristine nature of many of its waterbodies.
The worrisome weed can outcompete native species, replacing habitat for sensitive species including migratory fish. Thick, horizontally-growing mats of hydrilla have crowded out boaters, anglers and those who recreate on the Connecticut River.
Marinas and municipalities have reported that they can no longer access boat slips and docks due to hydrilla infestations, limiting business opportunities. Extensive stands of hydrilla can obstruct swimmers and other water-related activities. The plant can also hurt tourism and impact the value of real estate that depends upon attractive waterways.
“The threat of hydrilla gaining a foothold in our lakes here in the Northwest Corner is an increasing concern of the highest levels.”— John Harney, Salisbury real estate agent
"The threat of hydrilla gaining a foothold in our lakes here in the Northwest Corner is an increasing concern of the highest levels,” said John Harney, a real estate broker with Willaim Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty in Salisbury.
“Twin Lakes commands the highest values for real estate, but this all changes if the lake becomes clogged with hydrilla. I would hope that this is a clarion call to bring all of our resources and attention to solving not only the hydrilla issue, but also to address the effects of overdevelopment.”
Since hydrilla’s discovery last summer in East Twin, the nearby boat launch at Lake Wononscopomuc, has been off-limits to outside boaters to keep the lake from becoming infested, and lake officials there intend to keep it closed indefinitely.
“If you lose this wonderful body of water the town would take such a hit. Property values around the lake will drop if you have a lake you can’t boat or swim in, and it’s not just popular for fishing. This is a very recreational lake for the children,” said Stacey Dodge, Town Grove Manager.
Management and control
The best way to manage hydrilla is to prevent its spread in the first place. Boaters are advised to clean, drain and dry their boats, trailers and equipment after leaving a body to keep hydrilla fragments from entering other lakes or rivers.
Once it becomes established, it is a nightmare to control and can cost as much as $1,000 per acre to manage. Many states are spending millions of dollars annually to control it. Lake Associations and towns can face a staggering rise in management costs, even with state and federal assistance.
Research on this very invasive plant is ongoing, as many biological attributes of this subspecies remain unknown, and it has no natural predators or diseases to limit its population. “Because it’s a new strain, it’s been a slow and frustrating process,” noted the Connecticut River Conservancy’s Rhea Drozdenko, River Steward for Connecticut.
Eradication by harvester is discouraged because even the smallest of fragments can spread and repopulate, and the introduction of grass carp into lakes is not a viable option, according to Foley, because while the fish will eat hydrilla, they will also devour every other aquatic plant within the lake. Biological control, he recently told members of the Twin Lakes Association during the group’s annual meeting at Camp Isola Bella on East Twin, is still in its infancy.
Aquatic herbicides have shown the most promise.
Coming next: A visit to the Connecticut River, where researchers are testing various aquatic herbicides at five sites.
The roof of the Grove was damaged by the tree, the event tent was punctured, a chef was injured and the Jubilee Luncheon was canceled Sunday, Oct. 12.
LAKEVILLE — The Lakeville Journal and The Millerton News Jubilee Luncheon fundraiser at the Grove Sunday, Oct. 12 was canceled after a very large section of a tree fell on the caterer’s tent at about 10 a.m.
Most of the catering staff heard the tree breaking up and got out of the tent in time, but the chef was hit by the falling limbs and sustained non-critical injuries.
A portion of the Grove’s roof sustained damage and branches came through the tent.
The Lakeville Hose Company responded to the scene. The chef was transported to Sharon Hospital by the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Service.
“While we’re deeply disappointed to cancel our annual fundraising event, our first concern is for our caterer’s chef, who was injured in the incident and is now recovering at home,” said James Clark, Publisher. “We’re grateful there were no more serious injuries, and we deeply appreciate the understanding and support of our honoree, underwriters, and guests.”
The incident occurred during preparation for the event, which would have centered around the presentation of the Estabrook Community Leadership Award to Bunny Williams.
Food that The Marketplace had prepared for the event was donated to People’s Pantry in Great Barrington.
Emergency responders block Amenia Union Road in Sharon Saturday, Oct. 11, while responding to the vehicle crash.
Updated Oct. 13, 9:25 a.m.:
SHARON — Shea Cassidy-Teti, 17, of Salisbury, died Saturday, Oct. 11, in a tragic car crash on Amenia Union Road in Sharon.
Connecticut State Police reported Charles Teti, 62, was driving his Jeep Grand Cherokee northbound on Amenia Union Road when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle crossed the southbound lane and exited the roadway where it struck a tree and home. Airbags deployed.
Teti and front seat passenger Aidan Cassidy, 63, sustained serious injuries. Teti was airlifted to Hartford Hospital and Cassidy was transported by ambulance to Sharon Hospital for treatment.
Shea Cassidy-Teti was in the back seat and sustained fatal injuries. He was pronounced dead on scene.
Cassidy-Teti was a senior at Kent School. He played on the football and tennis teams.
The residence that was struck is located at 35 Amenia Union Road.
The case remains under open investigation. Witnesses are asked to contact Trooper Lukas Gryniuk at Troop B 860-626-1821.
The residence at 35 Amenia Union Road sustained damage to the front of the structure, which can be seen from the street through the trees. Oct. 13.Photo by Ruth Epstein
LAKEVILLE — Rhys V. Bowen, 65, of Foxboro, Massachusetts, died unexpectedly in his sleep on Sept. 15, 2025. Rhys was born in Sharon, Connecticut, on April 9, 1960 to Anne H. Bowen and the late John G. Bowen. His brother, David, died in 1979.
Rhys grew up at The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, where his father taught English. Attending Hotchkiss, Rhys excelled in academics and played soccer, basketball, and baseball. During these years, he also learned the challenges and joys of running, and continued to run at least 50 miles a week, until the day he died.
In 1982 after graduating summa cum laude from Harvard College, Rhys returned to Hotchkiss to teach biology, where he met his wife of 35 years, Rebecca (Becky) Snow. After two years of teaching, he worked at a research field site in Borneo, then went on to the University of California, Davis where he earned a PhD in Animal Behavior in 1995.
Rather than follow an academic tenure track, Rhys preferred the solitary focus of field ornithology, and he spent several decades researching the ecology of bird species in California and on Cape Cod and the Islands. Rhys believed passionately in supporting biodiversity through habitat preservation. His proudest achievements, therefore, came through his work for the Lakes Region Conservation Trust, in New Hampshire, where he served on committees and the Board of Trustees for twenty years, including three years as Chair.
Deeply intellectual and curious, Rhys learned Homeric Greek so he could read The Odyssey and The Iliad in their original language. An amateur Melville scholar, he would wax poetic about reading Moby-Dick for the umpteenth time.Rhys’s spirit was filled by the performing arts. Concerts by the Handel and Haydn Society and Boston Early Music Festival often brought tears to his eyes, while Boston Bluegrass Union shows delivered toe-tapping fidgetiness.
Rhys will be missed by his wife, Becky Snow, his mother, Anne Bowen, extended family, friends, and anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.
A service will be held at The Hotchkiss School chapel on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 at 1 p.m..
In honor of Rhys’s memory, donations can be made to the Lakes Region Conservation Trust.
LAKEVILLE — Kelsey K. Horton, 43, a lifelong area resident, died peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, Connecticut, following a courageous battle with cancer. Kelsey worked as a certified nursing assistant and administrative assistant at Noble Horizons in Salisbury, from 1999 until 2024, where she was a very respected and loved member of their nursing and administrative staff.
Born Oct. 4, 1981, in Sharon, she was the daughter of W. Craig Kellogg of Southern Pines, North Carolina, and JoAnne (Lukens) Tuncy and her husband Donald of Millerton, New York. Kelsey graduated with the class of 1999 from Webutuck High School in Amenia and from BOCES in 1999 with a certificate from the CNA program as well. She was a longtime member of the Lakeville United Methodist Church in Lakeville. On Oct. 11, 2003, in Poughkeepsie, New York, she married James Horton. Jimmy survives at home in Lakeville. Kelsey loved camping every summer at Waubeeka Family Campground in Copake, and she volunteered as a cheer coach for A.R.C. Cheerleading for many years. Kelsey also enjoyed hiking and gardening in her spare time and spending time with her loving family and many dear friends.
In addition to her husband and parents, Kelsey is survived by her two beloved children, Hunter Horton and Aryanna Horton, both of Lakeville; a step-brother, Jason Tuncy of East Hartford, Connecticut; her mother-in-law, Frances “Fran” Horton and her brother-in-law, Benjamin D. Horton III and his wife Penny of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, and their son, Alec, and several aunts, uncles, cousins and many dear friends. She was predeceased by her father-in-law, Benjamin D. Horton, Jr. in 2017.
There are no calling hours. A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Millerton American Legion Post # 178, Route 44, Millerton, NY 12546. A time to celebrate Kelsey and share stories and memories. Memorial contributions may be made to The Jane Lloyd Fund. Please make checks payable to Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation (please note in memo line, The Jane Lloyd Fund) and mail to: Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, 800 N. Main Street, Sheffield, MA 01257.
To send an online condolence to the family, flowers to the service or to plant a tree in Kelsey’s memory, please visit www.conklinfuneralhome.com
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Scott D. Conklin Funeral Home, 37 Park Avenue, Millerton, NY 12546.