Water Level Update

Email from a Board Member: “If the lake is to be taken down as previously stated of 15′ feet or more, the loss of marine life, problems with wells and the possible leaching of septic, is a very real concern. Surely there has to be some method of water level containment in close proximity to the dam that would allow the work to be done. I would like to hear your thoughts and comments.”Response from the MPA President: “I have been in contact with the spokesman for the dam owner. I have expressed our concerns regarding shallow wells and septic systems. We, the MPA Board of Directors, have drafted a letter faxed and mailed this letter. The dam owner has hired an engineer to put together a proposal of the project and present it to Con-Com and the DCR (Dam Safety). Our letter of concern will be present at the proposal. Last conversation I had with the spokesman for the dam owner was the water level will only to be dropped 5′ below the spillway or 9′ not 16′. I was assured they will contact all abutters via mailing or hand delivery to the abutters property.”Info from a Sutton Conservation …

More on the Water Level!

The dam owner reports today that divers will be brought in on Monday to open the broken gate in order to bring the water level down to an extremely low level to allow for repairs to be made. This opening of the gate is in addition to the boards taken out of the spillway. It is highly recommended that residents get their boats out of the lake this weekend.

MPA a Winner! Grant Proposal is Funded!

The MPA has received congratulations from the state that our Manchaug Pond Nonpoint Source Improvement Project was recommended for funding! This project will bring storm drains, catch basins, retention gardens, educational programs and much more to the watershed of Manchaug Pond. It is a matching grant funded by the state and matched by the town with work done to the roadways around the lake and at the boat ramp and educational efforts by the association. Why did we file? Well, it was the recommendation of Lycott Associates who conducted a survey of the weeds and did a water quality survey testing the water coming into the pond from runoff from the watershed. It was the way to go to protect the water quality now and head off weed growth in the future. Go get’um MPA!

Water Level Coming Down

The aggressive draw down of the lake water level has begun in order to make repairs to the gate. Just got the call from the dam owner: 2 boards are being removed this morning from the spillway which will take the water level down 12 more inches this week. Next Monday this will be repeated. I’ll keep you posted.

Abandoned Not Adrift

The MPA has received information that this yellow boat, adrift in the channel, was brought in by the boat ramp this week. Dumped. Abandoned. If it floats by, could someone get the old numbers off the side (if they have been removed, they are probably still readable) and give the Sutton Police a call. The boat is not the only “dumping” taking place at the boat ramp… since Sutton went to the bag “Pay-as-you-throw” system at the transfer station, a pick-up was seen dumping plant material/branches in the woods, and larger amounts of litter are being left behind. If you see it, report it. Send the message there will be NO dumping at Manchaug.

Adrift

“Will the owner of the yellow and white boat, please move their vehicle!” Just kidding! If you know who owns this boat, give them a call. It is adrift in the causeway/the old dam. With the lake calm this morning, it is resting peacefully against/on the rocks.

Water Level at 14 Inches Down From Full

We are in good shape for having a broken gate on the dam – 14 inches down from full as of this morning! Whitin Reservoir, another dam controlled by Guilford, is down 12″ without a broken gate. Guildford reports that only 3 boards have been taken off the spillway and they are waiting for the state Office of Dam Safety to tell them when to take another board out.The MPA has expressed to Guilford’s headquarters our concern that a significant drop in the water level will negatively effect wells and septic systems. They are talking with the state and conservation commission about putting up a temporary structure to minimize the impact. Keeping you posted 🙂

Fishing Manchaug Pond

Thursday night’s catch included 5 nice white perch and about 50 kivers! My husband says he rarely catches white perch so was quite happy. He used worms from the flower beds and the compost pile for bait. All were put back into the lake to catch another day. Nothing was biting Friday or Saturday evening. Talking about fishing brings to mind the bass tournaments and the boat ramp. You can tell our boat ramp gatekeeper is off for the season (Memorial Day – Labor Day) as twice this week we have heard the roaring voices of the bass fisherman coming through the causeway before 7 a.m. A quick check of the ramp reveals only 7 cars from RI one day and 10 from RI and MA this morning. They are a loud chatty group for so few! It was only a few years ago that the MPA invited the then Sutton Police Chief John Hebert to our annual meeting and a member asked that the boat ramp be open at 7 a.m. rather than 6 a.m. The Chief agreed that the booming count off of fisherman at 5 on a Sunday morning should be delayed to 7.

Stormdrain Grant – still waiting to hear!

We are still waiting to hear about the awards for the s. 319 Non point Source Pollution Grants -aka Stormdrain Grant. This will allow/fund the town to put in stormdrains, catch basins, bioretention gardens and the like along Manchaug Road, the boat ramp, and Oak St. and provide educational efforts for those living and working in the watershed.

Dam Repairs Still Being Planned

Here’s a view of how the lake and the dam looked today. Two boards are out of the spillway and the gate is open a bit as mandated by the State as part of their order to Guilford – concern was the hurricane season and the inability to control the gate and get enough water out in a short period of time. The MPA President was on the phone quite a bit this week to find out the latest details from all parties involved… Right now – The State has granted Guilford’s request to keep the waterlevel up until Labor Day so that we can enjoy the season. (Thank you!) After Labor Day watch the lake waterlevel closely. You may need to take your boats out soon. Guilford has had their engineers out to look at the dam this week, monitoring the situation, calculating the flow and time needed to bring down the lake and waiting for government approval and instructions. The State and the Town of Sutton’s Conservation Commission will actually decide the details as to how aggressively (how low and how fast) the water will be taken down, and when that will happen. Guilford is sensitive to the …