Below you'll find a list of all posts from 2009
This afternoon a new sight was in the skies of Manchaug. This bird, slow and low, circled Manchaug Pond and than headed west to Whitin Reservoir. Can anyone identify it? We could hear it for sometime before it came back over Manchaug Pond and then headed east. Lots of activity at the dam and in the skies of Manchaug Pond today. Personally, I rather see our herons, eagles and osprey.
The reporter of the following Worcester Telegram article, Ruth Vecchione, is seated in the center of the photo to the left of MPA President Dave Schmidt.Wednesday, July 8, 2009Dam breach comments mostly criticalMEPA official conducts meeting with residents of Sutton, Douglas David Schmidt, president of the Manchaug Pond Association, lists the reasons the Manchaug Pond Dam should remain in place. (T&G Staff/JIM COLLINS) By Ruth Vecchione CORRESPONDENT SUTTON — Despite torrential rain and the threat of severe thunderstorms, more than 60 Sutton and Douglas residents, state and local officials packed the selectmen’s meeting room yesterday afternoon for the state-held meeting on Manchaug Reservoir Corp.’s petition to breach the Manchaug Pond Dam. William Gage of the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office heard opinions from local officials and residents yesterday afternoon on the environmental impact of the proposed breaching. (Mr. Gage will continue to accept comments on environmental impact in writing until Tuesday at the state Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, 100 Cambridge St., Boston, MA 02114.) The Manchaug Reservoir Corp.no longer operates in Massachusetts and doesn’t need the power the dam once provided. The 350-acre pond is in both Sutton and Douglas, has 125 lakefront homes and is used for boating …
Today was the meeting in which the dam owner presented their latest plan – breaching the Manchaug Pond dam. Today was the day legislators, many state and local officials from Sutton and Douglas, residents from Manchaug and Stevens Pond, and Whitin Res and the heads of many environmental/lake/river groups stood in support of Manchaug Pond and the Mumford/Blackstone River system. This email was waiting for me when I returned home… “…I’m sure happy we moved to such a well loved and cared for lake.” Me too! Thank you to all those who attended in support of Manchaug Pond! More details tomorrow! Check the newspapers as I counted at least 4 reporters in attendance.
With the July 4th weekend – always exciting on the lake! – we are thrilled to have finally reached a high water level! A cause alone for celebration! BUT remember…. 1.) The waterlevel will be coming down from now on as the dam owner, Manchaug Reservoir Corporation c/o Interface of Atlanta, Georgia, will be following the 1930 Rule Curve elevation – not actual historic levels. This means the water level was to peak in June (an elevation of 518.3 which was never reached) and then starts to drop off in July. 2.) The dam owners has filed an ENF/application #14435 to breach the Manchaug Pond dam with MEPA (Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office) of theExecutive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. All interested individuals, meaning YOU and ME, may attend a special meeting this Tuesday, July 7th at 3:30 p.m. at the Sutton Town Hall, Uxbridge Road in the Selectman’s meeting room As the Sutton website reports: An Environmental Notification form has been submitted for the “Restoration of Manchaug Pond – Douglas & Sutton” Project. This project requires a mandatory Environmental Impact Report (EIR). A consultation meeting will be held to receive advice and comments from agencies, official and citizens …
Okay, Mumford River?! – now you are probably saying where is she going with this one! Who cares about the Mumford River! This is Manchaug! Doesn’t she have enough to write about? Well, I’ve been re-reading my copy of the Mumford River Low Flow Study (better than reading Dam Removal in Massachusetts: A Basic Guide for Project Proponents!) If you remember the low flow study, you are shaking your head up and down fully aware of where we are going! Click the link on our blog or read it in the original Notice of Intent filed by the dam owner. Anyway, the low flow study was published in 2003 for the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs by the engineering firm of Gomez and Sullivan to specifically investigate recurring low-flow observations in the river; from Manchaug Pond, Whitin Res. and every pond, dam and use east along the Mumford River to the Blackstone River in Uxbridge. The work and concern of own Douglas Conservation Commissioner, Mr. Mike Yacino is cited along with those of the Blackstone River Watershed as the reason for the study. (1st page, second paragraph) The study reveals that Mr. Yacino’s observations, experience, and volunteer work …
The sky provided the fireworks on Manchaug Pond tonight as only a couple camps had their July 4th cookouts.
Thursday as more rain brought the level of Manchaug higher, it also brought Aldrich Pond up sending a large amount of white water over their falls into Holbrook’s Cove. Amazingly, the water entered Manchaug filled with white “sudsy” water with the foam ranging in size from large balls the size of basketballs to very tiny. I could not imagine what it was as we drove by. It appeared as large chunks of stryrofoam floating throughout the area! Closeup it appears very much like soap suds, but my guess is this foam was caused not only by the strong turbulence created with the large volume of water coming over the falls but also because of the high level of organic materials in the water: algae from the little pond’s algae blooms, aquatic plants, and decomposing plant material. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality explains further: “The foam that appears along lakeshores is most often the result of the natural die-off of aquatic plants. Plants are made up of organic material, including oils (i.e., corn oil and vegetable oil). When the plants die and decompose, the oils contained in the plant cells are released and float to the surface. Once the oils …
Around town, Manchaug Pond residents are subjected to comments like: “Okay, it’s time to stop the rain dance!” “Is your water level high enough!” “Could you pray for sunshine now!?!” “Rain…. again!” Our response: Just a big grin! :)) Yesterday evening, the water at Manchaug Pond reached a level where it was flowing over the flashboards of the Manchaug Pond dam. Who would have thought we would have received so much rain this May and June to bring us up to this level! Not only is the water bringing our lake, shoreline, coves and wetlands back to life but we are seeing how our site work for the storm drain grant is taking the flow of the storm run-off! Don’t you just love the water! Granted the flashboards just don’t seem to quite measure up to their 3.5 foot height as described in the engineers’ inspection reports and other official documents but we are at a good level! Here’s the flashboards last night. Here’s the flow over the flashboards out the spillway. With 1 1/2 inches of rain yesterday and another 2 this morning and now a storm as I write, the rain gauge continues to fill and the dam …
State to Hold Meeting to Discuss ApplicationTo Breach Manchaug DamTuesday, July 7, 20093:30 pmSutton Town Hall – Selectmen’s Meeting Room An Environmental Notification form has been submitted for the “Restoration of Manchaug Pond – Douglas & Sutton” Project. This project requires a mandatory Environmental Impact Report (EIR). A consultation meeting will be held to receive advice and comments from agencies, official and citizens regarding which environmental issues are significant for this project. Opinions as to the extent of the significance of possible environmental impacts will be welcome. The meeting will include a brief presentation of the project by the proponent, with periods for questions, answers, and open comment. Additional comments will be welcome in writing prior to July 14, 2009. Pursuant to the requirements of the American Disabilities Act, this meeting notice is available in alternative formats upon request. Questions on the meeting may be answered by contacting William Gage of the MEPA staff at 617-626-1025.For link to MEPA website to read the ENF, see the MPA “For More Information!” section to the right.
Thanks to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department website, I have identified the mystery singers: the Gray Tree Frog, and the twangy friend, the Green Frog! Here’s their info and photos from the website. Visit the NH Fish and Game yourself and listen to them sing! While you’re there, listen to the American Toad – I’ve heard that song before here at Manchaug Pond!The GRAY TREE FROG(Hyla versicolor) Photo by Mike Marchand State Rank Status: Widespread and secure Distribution: Throughout NH except north of the White Mountains Description: A small 1-2 inch frog usually a brownish gray or greenish color. The skin is rough with several dark spots. Usually a light spot with a dark edge below each eye. The inner thighs are bright yellow or orange Commonly Confused Species: Spring peeper Habitat: Forested areas with small trees or shrubs that are close to water. Found under loose bark on trees, tree cavities, or in rotting logs during summer. Seldom seen on the ground. Life History: Attaches up to 2000 eggs to vegetation in shallow water. Hibernates under tree roots or matted leaves. Voice: A loud, resonating trill Conservation Threats: Species is secure AND The Green Frog(Rana clamitans melanota)State …
Have you seen the Spotted Turtle? or the Northern Leopard Frog?? (photos provided by New Hampshire Fish and Game Department) MassWildlife wants to know and so does the MPA! This news bulletin came out yesterday in MassWildlife’s monthly news release:REPORT HERPS! The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) is asking interested conservationists for reports or sightings of certain specific reptiles and amphibians. The species of NHESP interest include: Smooth Greensnake, Eastern Hog-nosed Snake, Eastern Ribbonsnake, Eastern Musk Turtle, Spotted Turtle, and the Northern Leopard Frog. NHESP is particularly interested in sightings of the Eastern Hog-nosed Snake. These particular species are of interest for a variety of reasons: 1) the species is thought to be rare, declining or vulnerable, but there is insufficient information on the condition, number and size of populations to make a determination; 2) the species was removed from the official regulatory list, but the Program believes it still is in need of some conservation attention; 3) the species distribution and abundance are not well known. Herpetologists want to bring attention to and track reports of these reptiles and amphibian in order to determine whether any of the species listed are appropriate …
After a ride around the lake, what a perfect ending to sit and watch the sunsetfrom the front row. (notice the boat taking it all in!)
