*What is Hydrilla?
Hydrilla (hydrilla verticillata) is an invasive aquatic species that was first identified in the Connecticut River in 2016 in Glastonbury, CT. Three years later, 2019 and 2020, the Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station (CAES) surveyed the Connecticut River from Agawam, MA to the Long Island Sound, reporting at least 774 acres of hydrilla. See CAES map of invasive plants here.
Hydrilla can outcompete native species and, as a result, replace habitat for sensitive species, including migratory fish. In recent years, thick mats of hydrilla have crowded out boaters, anglers and those who come to recreate on the Connecticut River. Marinas and municipalities have reported that they can no longer access boat slips and docks due to the severity of the hydrilla infestations, limiting business opportunity.
*Taken from the Connecticut River Conservancy website: