Nightime Storms Brings Rain and Morning Fog

Last night’s thunderstorms, three perhaps, brought an inch of rain to the rain gauge and left the lake surrounded in a morning fog. A check of the Mass Office of Fishing and Boating Access website (see link under FOR MORE INFORMATION!) tells us it was the American Bass Anglers Couples counting off loud and clear as they left the ramp and channel for the main part of the lake early this morning. The MPA advises caution to all lake users as the waterlevel continues to go down and boat safety is a concern! Sunday evening 2 boats hit the wall and a third hit a rock when going through the causeway with a fourth boat hitting during the week. The many new users from the access boat ramp and at the campgrounds are not aware of the dam owner’s new lowering of the lake in mid-summer bringing the many large rocks and walls just under the water’s surface. The MPA Board of Directors is lining up a number of boating safety education initiatives for Manchaug Pond’s visitors and MPA members. Details to come! Sun is shining – the fog has burnt off! BE SAFE!

Zebra Mussels and Public Access

The entry of the invasive zebra mussel has caused the temporary closing of 10+ public access boat ramps in western Massachusetts in an effort to stop their spread and now Quabbin is added to the list to rightly protect Boston’s drinking water supply. Here on Manchaug Pond we know the problem of other aquatic invasives plants such as fanwort and variable milfoil and we will soon learn more now that the dam owner is no longer cooperating with us to employ lake level drawdown – the successful method we have used since 1991 – and with the introduction of Asian Clam last fall at Manchaug’s public access ramp and purple loosestrife in the watershed. With the dam owner’s new lower waterlevels the past two years, we are seeing new invasives, especially reed canary grass, fill the shoreline. Hopefully the high water mandated by MassDEP and achieved the beginning of July will help eliminate these populations. On to Quabbin! (photo courtesy of MassDCR) Try this link for the Quabbin Cam! for actual footage: http://www.mwra.com/qcam.html Here’s the story as reported by the Boston Globe:Quabbin Reservoir closed to boaters amid zebra mussel concernsBy Milton J. ValenciaGlobe Staff / July 15, 2009 The menacing …

Last Thursday’s Mtg. – Good Going MPA!

Not that last Tuesday wasn’t enough excitement for Manchaug Pond, Thursday morning provided another meeting for the MPA. Our 1st Vice President/Stormwater Grant Coordinator met with CEI, the engineering/environmental firm concerning the s.319 stormwater grant. We just completed our second year of a 3 year grant. Our Grant Coordinator is the taskmaster – keeps us hopping, turning us now and again from the water level/dam issue back to water quality, has us keeping detailed volunteer logs, gets the reporting in on time to DEP, and makes sure we don’t go over budget… to name a few of her duties! Well, Thursday’s assessment of our project is that we are in great shape! We are under budget, and the site work in Douglas and Sutton is now completed with the exception of the rain garden at the Public Access Boat Ramp. And all the rain provides the added bonus of actually allowing us to see right away how the structures will handle heavy rains and lots of runoff! The rain garden site is all prepared with just some design work and planting to be done. The center strip in the photo below – where no grass is growing – will be …

Invasive Zebra Mussel Found in Western Massachusetts Lake

Let’s look at a definition first…invasive: (esp. plants and disease) tending to spread prolifically and undesirably or harmfully. Three MPA members have recently been trained on invasive species with more workshops ahead – in their identification, mapping, and management or eradication. The MPA has been on the alert for zebra mussels for many years providing literature at the Annual Meeting to aid members in their identification. We have invasive species here on Manchaug Pond, BUT NOT ZEBRA MUSSELS! Here’s the latest response to the first sighting in Massachusetts the Executive Office of Energy and Environmenal Affairs throught the collaboration of such agencies as DCR Lakes and Ponds Program and Office of Fishing and Boating Access: Executive Office of Energy and Environmental AffairsIan A. BowlesSECRETARYTel: (617) 626-1000Fax: (617) 626-1181http://www.mass.gov/envir FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: July 13, 2009 Department of Fish and Game Takes Action to Prevent Possible Spread of Invasive Zebra MusselsResponding to local concerns, agency authorizes municipalities to restrict use of public boat ramps on water bodies susceptible to infestation; temporary, emergency measures to remain in place no longer than 45 days BOSTON – In the wake of last week’s discovery of zebra mussels in Laurel Lake in Lee and Lenox …

Sutton Website Reports Position of Board of Selectman

Board of Selectmen Take Unanimous Vote to Oppose the Breaching of Manchaug Dam At the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday July 7th, 2009 the Board of Selectmen unanimously adopted a resolution in opposition to the efforts of the Manchaug Reservoir Corporation to breach the Manchaug Dam. The minutes show:“Selectman Geraghty would like to vote on a resolution in regards to Manchaug Pond as follows: That we, the Sutton Board of Selectmen express in a clear manner our strong opposition to the attempt by Manchaug Reservation Corp. to breach the damn on Manchaug Pond. As a critical natural, recreational and environmental component to the watershed in Sutton and the greater Blackstone Valley the proposed breaching would create incalculable and irreversible damage to our community the Blackstone River Valley and our State, Selectman Chizy seconds the motion passes 5-0.” The Board will be submitting written comments and encourages all that want to preserve Manchaug Pond and protect the environment to submit comments prior to July 14th, 2009. Written Comments on Breaching of Manchaug Dam Due July 14th If you are interested in preserving Manchaug Pond and preventing the tearing down of the Dam then Submit written comments to the State prior …

Sunday – A Day of Rest!

Early this morning it was sunny and windy – a great day for sailing! But now the wind has calmed with blue skies at the northern end of the lake and overcast to the south. Have a restful day! Let’s stop and see what is in bloom… a few native flowers: Swamp Honeysuckle (Rhododendron viscosum) Virginia Rose (Rosa virginiana) and Common Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium montanum) along the shores of Manchaug Pond!

Anyone Know This One? A Moth of a Different Color

Here’s a photo sent in from Area 2! Thank you for the submission! Yes, it is very interesting with the Tarantula-like legs and the unusual antenna, not to mention the colors of the wings. By the antennae, I would venture to say we have a moth. Anyone know it’s name?

New Article: “That Dam Issue”

THAT DAM ISSUE-Company, officials clash over proposed pond breach BY JOSH FARNSWORTHMillbury-Sutton Chronicle, July 10th Several residents and local officials from Sutton and Douglas joined state officials to voice their vehement disapproval of a plan by Manchaug Pond Reservoir Corp. to breach or remove the Manchaug Pond Dam at a public meeting Tuesday afternoon… …”The only way to describe this is a breathtakingly terrible idea,” said George X Pucci of Kopelman and Paige, Sutton’s Town Counsel. “The removal of a dam makes sense when it is faulty or damaged. There are no benefits other than that Manchaug Reservoir Corp. does not want to operate it anymore.” Rep. Jennifer Callahan (D-Sutton) accused the Manchaug Reservoir Corp. of being a bully and using “scare tactics” to strong-arm other parties to take responsibility for the up-keep and general responsibility of the pond. It is an oxymoron to think we will be restoring the pond by draining it,” she said. The state is not in the business of buying up dams and neither are the towns.”… … “To divest themselves is vindictive,” said Pucci. “Going through with this would cripple the ability to store flood waters going into nearby Stevens Pond. It has potentially …

Last Night on Manchaug Pond

Calm, cool and clear was yesterday evening. During today’s early morning moonlight, the faint call of an owl broke the 3:25 a.m. silence. Reminded me of the children’s classic, “Owl Moon” by Jane Yolan. Sure wish someone was there in the watershed getting the photo! Thanks to the MPA member who submitted the photos above.

Today’s Telegram FLASH

Once again Telegram & Gazette correspondent, Ruth Vecchione reports on the blow-by-blow news lakeside – this time in the FLASH for Grafton, Millbury and Sutton and from the Sutton Board of Selectman’s perspective. Here she goes… Finally, Selectman Kevin Geraghty, with the board’s agreement, expressed their opposition to the attempt by Manchaug River Corp. to breach the dam along with their support of what the town’s attorneys and the Conservation Commission are doing in the matter. Mr. Smith said they have retained George X. Pucci of Kopelman & Paige to represent the town. “It’s a dramatic turn of events, a not-so-veiled threat by the company. Their interest is not the environment or dam safety. They are interested in divesting their responsibility.” he said. “I think they’re in for a war with the community and the state.” Good choice of quotes, Ms. Vecchione! And well said Mr. Smith and Mr. Geraghty! Remember readers that you can see for yourself the meetings of our Sutton and Douglas Selectman and Conservation Commission at the towns’ websites. Here’s the link to Sutton’s award winning website: http://www.suttonma.org/Pages/index On the left side of the home page, click Sutton TV online to view the meeting. On the …

The Value of Water: MPA Speaks on Behalf of Manchaug Pond

MPA President David Schmidt present the “NO BREACH” position of the Manchaug Pond Association at state MEPA meeting. Meeting of MEPA (Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act)Executive Office of Energy and Environmental AffairsEnvironmental Notification Form # 14435July 7, 2009, 3:30 p.m., Sutton Town Hall TESTIMONY OF THE MANCHAUG POND ASSOCIATIONDavid Schmidt, President Thank you for this opportunity to speak on behalf of Manchaug Pond. My name is David Schmidt, I am President of the Manchaug Pond Association. This organization was formed over 40 years ago to promote the welfare and correct use of Manchaug and its watershed. My family has owned a summer cottage on Manchaug since 1938 along with many of the other 120 property owners. In addition to our members, many enjoy this 380 acre lake through the public access boat ramp, the campgrounds, the YMCA day camp for inner city kids, as well as those who view from the historic Waters Farm. We will be sumbitting written testimony based on the observations and experiences of living with this Great Pond as our backyard. We strongly oppose this project and foresee many issues and hardships caused by its action. Today we respectfully ask that the scope of the MEPA process …