Anonymous said… Does the lake water level rise from just rain/runoff or does the lake have natural springs that feed the lakes water supply? May 14, 2008 9:15 AM Great question! The lake’s water level will rise from both rain and runoff from the watershed. Manchaug Pond is NOT fed by natural springs. (info from Lee Lyman of Lycott Environmental, Inc.) We need rain and soon! Can the rain/runoff bring the water level up quickly so residents and visitors can enjoy a safe season on the lake with swimming, boating, etc? Yes, definitely and I’ll get some photos of runoff for you, but the MPA Board of Directors continues to work to address the MPA membership’s call for a longterm solution to our dam situation. The dam owner has it up for sale, has moved their operation out of the area and is limiting their day-to-day involvement and liability. Also, as summed up nicely by a local official, in looking at the rule curve and regulations we have a “company interpreting in a conservative manner.” This week’s good news about the flashboards going in and the gate closed is a short term solution… we need to continue to work for …
Town of Sutton Responds to MPA Request!
Nice sign! I am impressed! What a week.. both the dam and the boat ramp receive major attention here on Manchaug Pond! The dam flashboards (all seven!) were put in on Tuesday and the low outlet gate closed. The same day, just up the road, the State Public Access Boat Ramp which is managed by the Town of Sutton, received a facelift! New signs, a second mowing, and the port-o-let – which was brought in earlier – is moved to its new location. Look at that sign! Impressive! State park brown with the Sutton “Rufus Putnam” town seal clearly marking the entrance of the ramp. (Now dead end Irma Jones Road should get less traffic from those lost boaters!) But the excitement doesn’t stop there… drive down the ramp to see a host of new signage: where to best park if you are pulling a trailer, if your boat is cartop, or if you need a handicap spot. There’s also signage explaining a few do’s and don’ts and to encourage you take all those noxious aquatic weeds off your boat motor! Who do we thank for all this? The new Sutton Town Administrator, James Smith! Seems at a meeting between …
YIPPEE! Not a drop going over the spillway :)
YIPPPEEEE! YAHOOOOEEEEE! LOOK! Not a drop going over the spillway!! I knew this big “green” company would do the right thing for the well-being of Manchaug Pond and the many creatures who live in its watershed! – once we brought it to their attention :)) Good work everyone!
BOARDS ARE IN! GATE CLOSED!
THE BOARDS ARE IN! all seven of them! AND THE GATE IS CLOSED to the one inch required by DEP for downstream aquatic life. The employee for the dam owner remaining at the mill did this work this morning at 10. (I was on the phone with the Sutton Town Administrator’s office at 9:30 and the MPA President right after, so I missed the whole thing! No photos.) He explained the Boards will leak a bit until they swell with water. But we are good for now. Pray for rain and we’ll see how fast this lake can come up. I’ll report more after my daughter comes for the grandchildren! It is hard to blog with an 11 month old and a 2 1/2 year old.
Dam Owner Notifies MPA the Boards are Going In!….. WHEN?
Here’s the lake from the launch at the Public Access Boat ramp on Manchaug Pond this afternoon. At 4:45, the water was still pouring though the spillway and low level outlet to leave Manchaug Pond lower still. The MPA President did speak with the attorney for the dam owner as to what is going on. He reports the boards are going in…. WHEN? I’ll report more later…
Enough is Enough – let’s hope today is the day!
We’re told flashboards have been ordered to go in today! This information came to us Saturday morning (unconfirmed, but from a state official to two of our board members) – the dam owner did not return our call Friday after their meeting with DEP – but we heard the meeting went in the LAKE’s favor. We’ll see what today brings … promises or action? BOARDS! The word of the day!
What a Beautiful Day!
What a beautiful day! Sunshine, comfortable temperatures, and a nice breeze to keep the mayflies away as a wonderful backdrop for a day with good company on a beautiful peaceful lake. Last night fireworks were seen on the lake which seemed to mark the start of the season. This beautiful field of bluets are to be found at the Public Access Boat Ramp on the Sutton side of Manchaug Pond. The boat ramp is owned by the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and managed by the Town of Sutton. Oh, did I just hear someone ask why the town manages this state owned ramp?
Go back and Check out the comments! And the New photographer!
Go back and take a look at older posts to see what readers have to say… KGB has left a new comment on your post “Dam FOR SALE to the right owner!”: Instead of putting up a fence, the dam owner should have put in the boards. geesh! Also check out photos sent in by our newest photographer! He sure did capture two of the happiest workers! I’d like to suggest that a few of you readers start your own blog! Use sites like Blogger or WordPress, they make it easy.
Will Fall 2008 be another 2006?
These photos came in late last night. Taken the fall of 2006 at one of the 3 campgrounds directly on Manchaug Pond, this shows the importance of the waterlevel and how the dam owner can make you or break you. This is a waterfront campsite. The lake begins just after the trees. The dam owner took the water level down to make repairs to the spillway gate in 2006 – but timing being everything… that drawdown was delayed til fall after the recreation season dies down. The low water level did have a negative impact on a couple wells, and one cove still reports no peepers or bull frogs since. The lake was brought up immediately after the repairs were completed – impact was minimized as the safety issue was fully addressed. Today we question the need to maintain the water level low as we have heard of no threat to safety. The dam owner still owns this dam, we ask you to honor your committment and service to this community.
Questions, and more questions….
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post “Boards Still Out, Prop Problems”: So we did’nt get any new info from the May 5th meeting and I saw that the following day could shed some light on the issues. Have we had anymore progress with the dam? Are we just hoping that someone puts the boards in? Dear Reader, The MPA is looking for two things: 1. Short term – to get the waterlevel up ASAP (Dam Owner! how about 5 of the seven boards!) to a reasonable level to ensure the safety of boaters especially those visitors from the Public Access Boat Ramp and campgrounds who don’t know the lake as well; for the health and well-being of aquatic species, amphibians and reptiles; to prevent excessive invasive aquatic weed growth; for the recreation of day campers from the YMCA facility, and the seasonal campers at the 3-4 campgrounds of the watershed; the continued economic health of the family-based businesses on Manchaug Pond and the tourism dollars they bring into our communities; as well as preserving property values of lake and near-lake property owners.2. Long term – secure a dam owner who is interested in working with us to …
Boards Still Out, Prop Problems
Our MPA President confirmed that as of last night around 6:30 there are still NO flashboards in the dam spillway and the reports received from lake neighbors concerning a fence were true. President Dave confirmed the fence was extended higher around the gate. We would all like a few flashboards in especially with the rain we had last night. We’ll see if the dam owner is hearing our cry from around the lake. I know putting flashboards back into the spillway is definitely a two man job… so perhaps the mill has to find a second man off the street to help the lone millkeeper. I know, I know, about 50 of you would volunteer and be down there in a flash to lend him a hand!! :)) So helpful, concerned and cooperative! That’s us! Seriously, let’s hope they take action today! This is not making for good relations and it is costing businesses around the lake dearly. And how about last night’s fishing tournament from the club using the state Public Access Boat Ramp?! With 15 plus boats out there, and I was wondering how they were all doing navigating around the rocks especially when they love to fish …
Dam FOR SALE to the right owner!
This blog entry is unconfirmed/unofficial info… I have not seen orconfirmed this myself but heard it from a few sources tonight. I’lltake a walk tomorrow with my camera and check it out for myself andtake a few photos so you can see for yourself. This is the word on the street – from the Torrey Road to be exact! The neighborsreport… A red truck from Charlton Fence came in and added more fenceto extend the cage around the dam controls. Remember the dam owner reportedtwo incidences of vandalism to the spillway controls this past month.Funny, that in 25 years, this is the first vandalism I’ve heard of or seen – except for couple painted signs. Anyway, seems the dam owner is trying to secure everything here inMassachusetts: the mill is empty, the contents sold, the staff reducedto one or two and the whole package – mill and three dams – is up for sale. But while they are waiting for just the right buyer for the mill or a dam or two, they need to further button things up, limit the liability, tie up the loose ends until it can be sold in whole or in parts. Too bad our …