Vegetation

Winter Pond hosts a variety of native, non-native, and invasive plants both in the water and along the shoreline. Some of the plants that present a risk to Winter Pond  include:  water lilies; purple loosestrife; and yellow flag iris. Although water lilies are native, if left unchecked, they can overtake the pond. The others are among the many invasive plants that grow in and around the pond.  

Winter Pond is home to a Coastal Plain Pondshore Community (CPPS); the pond’s sandy shoreline provides a habitat for many unique plants. This includes a rare and endangered plant, the small-flowered dwarf-bulrush, or Lipocarpha micrantha,that is protected by the state of Massachusetts. For several years, the State’s National Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) prevented any treatment of invasive plants in Winter Pond because of concerns about the impact on the small-flowered dwarf-bulrush. Through diligent efforts, Friends of Winter Pond was able to identify the bulrush habitat range and develop a plan for treating invasive plants while protecting the endangered plant. Thanks to these efforts, after a three-year hiatus, treatment of lilies and submerged vegetation was renewed in 2021, helping expand the amount of open water and improve the pond's overall health. 

2019 Annual Meeting Presentation explaining the characteristics of a Coastal Plain Pondshore Community and Winter Pond.