Before the Big Sweep!

Early last week, when the weather made us think more of summer than of the fact that spring had just recently arrived, we took a morning walk in the watershed. Before this street sweeper made its pass over the dam and along the roadside we had just walked, we had an opportunity to read the tracks of other early morning walkers in the sand along the sides of the road. Who do you see in the sand? MassWildlife puts out a handy Pocket Guide to MA Animal Tracks. Just a card smaller than index card size that gives the track pattern, the tracks of 27 mammals and birds with size in inches of front and hind track noted. You might have pick up the pocket guide at an MPA meeting or if you haven’t check with the MassWildlife field office on 1 Rabbit Hill Rd. Westboro. Two weeks ago the MassWildlife van was sighted in Sutton heading south! www.masswildlife.org. Subscribe to their magazine – you won’t be disappointed! also www.masswildlifetracker.org

Stevens Pond Dam Gets New Flashboards

Stevens Pond dam, downstream from Manchaug Pond, received some attention this week with the installation of new pipes and flashboards. Nice work by the Town of Sutton. Here’s the before photo taken last year for comparison.

Hydropower Public Hearing Tonight

http://www.suttontv.org/stream.php?program=PB_2010_02_22.mov http://manchaugpondassociation.blogspot.com/2010/03/sutton-plannig-board-presents.html

Dam Owner Monitors Waterlevel – flow reduced

Last Thursday, the question was asked by a few as to whether or not the dam caretaker continues to monitor the Manchaug dam on a daily basis – with some thinking he is there only once a week. Well,  reports came in on Friday that YES he was indeed there and here’s of photo of his truck there AGAIN THIS MORNING.  On duty as usual!  🙂 So I would venture it is safe to say with the nature and seriousness of dam ownership – coupled with the owner’s past record of daily monitoring and concern for safety – that our dam is getting plenty of attention.  We have also seen local and state officials in the neighborhood as well. Looking at the flow out of Manchaug Pond…. Here is a photo of the flow on Thursday, April 8th: And again this morning after the caretaker took his measurements and closed the low level gate down quite a bit.  Significantly reduced.  No water is coming over the flashboards. While those who live and use Manchaug Pond clearly see the value of its water and the dam for the value of our homes, our wells, to prevent flooding, for recreation, business and …

Manchaug Pond: Alive and Well!

There was been a quiet giddiness on Manchaug Pond this past couple weeks as flashboards went in before April 1st, spring rains came in record amounts bringing the lake up to a nice level, and thanks to the dam owner and his caretaker the water level never reach a point where we had to worry about homes flooding or closing the ramp as have many others. Coupled with the unusually warm weather,  the lake has come alive once again! What do we mean by “come alive”? Yellow perch were spawning along the shore in numbers back on April 2nd. Dragging a worm off a fishing pole line brought them scooting over in droves. Turtles were seen on logs and rocks along the shore basking in the sun near the boat ramp and and on the opposite shore of Holbrook’s.  Coves and neighboring wetlands brought the evening sounds of spring peepers and wood frogs while herons and ducks were the sights of the day. A few boats from the ramp enjoyed the early fishing and we could even hear the hooting and howlering of a couple of brothers enjoying the first swim of the season in water way too cold for …

Tonight – VERNAL POOL Night Hike at West Hill Dam

http://allaboutfrogs.org/files/sounds/wood.wav LISTEN! You can hear these sounds in the woods across Holbrook’s Cove! They are wood frogs and require a moist pool in the spring inwhich to lay their eggs… Did you know there are a number of vernal pools in the Manchaug Pond watershed? and endangered species that find these areas critical? This workshop will introduce you to vernal pools with a slide show and then a hike to see for yourself the frogs, salamanders and other creatures who live there! Don’t forget your flashlight! Vernal Pool Night Hikes – Friday April 9, from 7:30-9:30pm Salamanders and wood frogs awaken from winter’s rest. They migrate during rain events to the vernal pool they hatched from to lay eggs. Join us, rain or shine, all ages, bring a flashlight, best suited about ages 6 and older. Join us for our annual night trek, April 9, 7:30-9:30pm. We will view a brief slide show on local species and the special reproduction that occurs in vernal pools. Bring a flashlight as we are off to explore several local favorite pools to see how healthy our populations are. Allow at least two hours for this spring night hike. Meet Ranger Viola at the …

BOSTON GLOBE Article: State sues owners of dams seen as unsafe

State sues owners of dams seen as unsafe Names Pittsfield, Plympton sites By John M. GuilfoilGlobe Staff / April 6, 2010 Attorney General Martha Coakley has filed suit against the private owners of two of the worst-maintained and most potentially dangerous dams in Massachusetts, asserting that they defied state orders and failed to make repairs necessary to protect local residents. In the two lawsuits, the state alleges that owners in Pittsfield and Plympton defied state orders and failed to repair dams deemed unsafe and potentially deadly to residents. J. Barrett Hollister, owner of the Bel Air Dam on the Housatonic River in Pittsfield, and Roger W. O’Neil Jr., owner of Dennett’s Pond Dam in Plympton, are named as defendants. Neither owner returned calls seeking comment yesterday. The two lawsuits mark the first time the state has taken such legal action against dam owners. “Years of inaction on behalf of these private dam owners is unacceptable and has forced the state to file these lawsuits to ensure the safety of those who live near the dams,’’ Coakley said in a statement yesterday. A state-ordered study found in 2008 that people would probably be killed if the Bel Air Dam failed, according …

Going Door to Door Looking for a Waterfront Home

If you own a home or cottage on the water, you’ll come home today to find this message on your door: A brown pickup truck was seen going door to door around the Sutton side of Manchaug Pond.

Boating Basic Course in SUTTON!

* Under age 18? You must take a classroom course and proctored exam.Just down the road from Manchaug Pond, a Boating Basics Course will be held beginning later this month. Here’s the details: WHAT: BOAT MASSACHUSETTS is state and nationally approved, concentrating on the equipment and operating guidelines needed to enjoy boating in a safe and responsible way. WHEN: April 27, 29 May 4 & 6 with all 4 sessions required, from 6:30-9 PM. WHERE: Sutton Fire Station #2, Manchaug Road, Manchaug/Sutton. WHY: Classes are for adults and youth 12 years of age and older. Family participation is encouraged and has proven to be very rewarding. All graduates in the 12 through 15 year-old age group will be issued a Safety Certificate allowing them to operate a motorboat without adult supervision, as required by state law. The same is true for 16 and 17 year old youth who wish to operate a personal watercraft (jet ski, wave runner, etc.) HOW: Pre-register with the MA Environmental Police at 508-759-0002. All classes are free of charge.

Looking for Trout? Try Lake Singletary or Wallum

Looking for trout? Manchaug Pond is not stocked, but the following central Mass lakes were stocked the week of March 15, 2010 according to Mass Wildlife: Brookfield – South PondDouglas – Wallum LakeHubbardston – Comet PondLancaster – Fort PondLunenburg – Whalom LakeRutland – Long PondSpencer – Browning PondSterling – West Wauschacum PondSutton – Singletary LakeWebster – Webster LakeWorcester – Lake Quinsigamond “Any angler who catches a trout with a bright pink tag will receive a prize from the local cooperator in the Tags ‘N Trout Program!” Check out the website: http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recreation/fishing/trout/tags_n_trout.htm