Fish Kill Numbers over 150

It has been a busy week with litle time for blog posting but lots to talk about and report. On the fish kill – Our 1st Vice President walked the end of Area 1 which extends from Bachand’s cottage to Bronson’s – the stretch on Manchaug Road next to the lake where there are no houses and is the location of “the big rock.” 116 fish. She also saw 3 at the boat ramp and 4 at her home. I walked the Sutton side of the old causeway to find 18 fish (14 bluegills, 1 calico bass, 1 white perch and a yellow perch) The yellow perch was upside down and still breathing but I counted him as he did not look long for this world. Wednesday- 3 on the beach including the first horn’d pout I see to add to the original 8 and 3 more the next day, the neighbor’s 9, my daughter’s 2 on the opposite shore, the President’s 3 in the opposite cove. That brings my total up to 169 plus what you might have picked up. The wind had been blowing to this shore so by far their are more on the eastern shores. Our …

Fish Kill after the pollen cleared

Here’s a link to learn how to identify the freshwater fish species in Manchaug Pond: http://newenglandsportfishermen.com/freshfish.htm More fish kill photos: Did any one want close-ups? ugh!

Reporting a Fish Kill

This is how the water front looks today. 25 ft back I could smell the dead fish. At least 8 fish dead at first glance: My husband identified 3 white perch, a pickerel, a bass, yellow perch, and a few kivers. Another neighbor told us he had 9. In all my years here, I never remember it looking this gross. I called Mass Wildlife as they had just sent out their monthly e-newletter with a blurb on REPORTING FISH KILLS. The dispatcher had a biologist call me within minutes. The biologist, Todd Richards, said it is good to report the kills so that the state can record it and get a history on what is going on. He himself knows Manchaug Pond as he likes to ice fish here. 🙂 He said if the kill is under 100 fish, wait and call the office Monday morning. Specifically, biologist look at three things: 1. multi species 2. large numbers and 3. if they are still dying, in trying to determine a cause. Talking it through with him, we could eliminate pollution – the yellow stuff is harmless pollen from the white pine trees. (I have a degree in horticulture so I …

Manchaug Pond Foundation

Next Saturday, June 14th, 9-Noon – ANNUAL SPRING SOCIAL

(photo taken at the August 2004 MPA Annual Meeting & Picnic – No names please and I did not get permission to post this photo so if one of you three mind – let me know and I’ll remove it immediately. Thanks.) Well, you may have heard about it in the mailing with the info on the Healthy Lawns worshop and the Spring Clean-up, or read it earlier on this blog, or saw the signs posted around the lake roads, or maybe the postcard is in your mailbox today … if not, here it is again – a notice for the MPA ANNUAL SPRING SOCIAL! MPA Members are invited to come together for our Annual Spring Social!Over a coffee and danish in the YMCA Dining Hall, this year’s conversation will focus on the water level and the water quality of our lake. 9:00 – Make and renew friendships with lake neighbors over coffee and danish. 9:30 – What’s with the Waterlevel! MPA President Dave Schmidt will give an overview as to why the change in the waterlevel this spring; highlighting our cooperative efforts with the Town of Sutton, the Office of Dam Safety, and the Governor’s Administration with DEP to …

Manchaug Pond Mentioned in Fishing Article

http://www.telegram.com/article/20080527/NEWS/805270806/1009/SPORTS Here’s an article, brought to my attention by our 1st Vice President, which mentions Manchaug Pond as it comments on the effect gas prices are having on the fishing tournaments. Funny as I had forgotten about the price of gas for boats… the past two weekends we have seen little traffic from the boat ramp and it made me wonder if it was the lower waterlevel, the windy days we have been having, the never ending forecasts of bad weather the weather men keep giving… I should have thought about gas prices as our MPA President did mention putting $98 worth in his boat for the Memorial Day weekend. At my house we are not motorboating yet and it has been too windy for the canoe!