A Vernal Pool in the Manchaug Pond Watershed
There is the vernal pool ahead of us… … a bit mystical … seeming out of place, away from the lake, a distance into the oak/hickory forest. Turn over a log to reveal… one of the species of salamanders which come each season to lay their eggs here… the rest of the year living within a mile or two of this pool which will be dry by summer. My sincerest thanks to the property owner and my guides. http://www.vernalpool.org/
Flow Reduced. Rule Curve Being Followed to Maintain Waterlevel
Yesterday we see the flow leaving Manchaug Pond has been greatly reduced. The MPA understands that the dam continues to be owned and controlled by the Douglas mill owner – nothing has changed. MassDEP and Sutton Conservation Commission continue to monitor and regulate the flow for downstream and the lake area itself. And at a minimum flashboards needed to go in by April 1 (which they did, :)) and the waterlevel outlined in the 1930 rule curve is to be followed.
MPA Meets with Engineers
This morning from 9:30 to 12:30pm, 2 engineers visited the roadsides of Manchaug Pond checking the catchbasins, gabion dams, plunge pools, pervious pavers and other structures constructed last year under the S 319 DEP stormwater grant project for Manchaug Pond. The engineers’ goal today was two fold: first to evaluate the current structures noting improvements needed if any and secondly to identify new sites to be addressed. Three MPA officers gave the Douglas/Sutton tour.To take the tour yourself, view the slide show on the right. For more information on Low Impact Development and what you can do to protect the water quality of Manchaug Pond consult our website at www.manchaugpond.org under Living in the Watershed or visit http://www.epa.gov/nps/lid/ http://www.lid-stormwater.net/background.htmOn seeing this site the engineer exclaimed, “It’s working!” How can you tell? Note all the road sand and salt captured!
Windy and a Fighter Jet Fly Over
This morning it is cool and WINDY! Regardless, fisherman off the ramp are on the lake with the majority from Rhode Island. Between 9:30 and 9:45am a number of fighter jets roared over the lake for a loud and dramatic few moments. Oh and the flow you ask?
Some Ramps Open, Some Still Closed
Today, the Webster Police Department website still reports Webster Lake as closed to boating. Thursday, a drive by the Public Access Ramp at Lake Singletary found it open, but the waterlevel was right up there so with more rain this weekend you might see the closed sign posted once again. Here on Manchaug Pond, our ramp is open and our waterlevel is low enough to accommodate more rain. Only problem may be finding a parking space!
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