Ice Safety

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We love out winter sports!  So how can you tell if ice is safe? There are no guarantees. Always consider ice to be potentially dangerous. You can’t judge ice conditions by appearance or thickness alone; many other factors like water depth, size of waterbody, water chemistry, currents, snow cover, age of ice, and local weather conditions impact ice strength.Ice tips to remember: New ice is stronger than old ice. Four inches of clear, newly formed ice may support one person on foot, while a foot or more of old, partially thawed ice may not. Ice doesn’t freeze uniformly. Continue to check ice conditions frequently as you venture out onto the ice. Ice formed over flowing water and currents is often more dangerous. Avoid traveling onto ice-bound rivers and streams, as the currents make ice thickness unpredictable. Many lakes and ponds may contain spring holes and other areas of currents that can create deceptively dangerous thin spots. Before heading out onto the ice Tell someone your plans, including where you are going and when you expect to return. Come prepared. Carry a cell phone in case of emergency. Always carry ice picks and rope with you on the ice. In case of emergency, drive the nails into the ice and …

Manchaug Pond Foundation Safe Boating

Kayaking? Life Jackets Required

Manchaug Pond Foundation 2 Comments

Did you know life jackets are required for cold weather kayaking in five states including Massachusetts? From September 15th through May 15th life jackets are required, yes mandatory, for all person’s kayaking and canoeing on Manchaug Pond and all other Massachusetts waterways. It is not enough to have the life jacket in the boat,  all persons on board a canoe or kayak must wear a life jacket/PFD at all times. People enjoy boating and fishing in the fall and spring, but a nice sunny spring or fall day can quickly become hazardous if you end up in cold water. According to the Massachusetts Environmental Police, most boating fatalities in the Commonwealth result when boaters fail to wear life jackets while in small craft in cold water or weather. Paddlers in canoes and kayaks are required to wear life jackets from September 15 – May 15. The Wear It! Campaign unites the efforts of a wide variety of boating safety advocates and is produced under a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. The Wear It! Campaign reminds boaters to: Make sure everyone – even experienced swimmers – wears a properly fitting …

Manchaug Pond Foundation Event

Labor Day Weekend Lighting of the Shoreline

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Join us in lighting the Manchaug Pond shoreline at 8:30 PM for Labor Day weekend on Sunday evening September 1st! This remains the last big weekend on the lake as children go back to school and the summer vacation season comes to an end. With flares, tiki torches, and campfires, light your waterfront, campsite and home showing solidarity with the Manchaug Pond Foundation…

Manchaug Pond Foundation

Annual Meeting Changed to Rain Date

This has been one of the driest summers on record, and right on cue, the day we are scheduled to have our Annual Meeting of the Members, rain is forecast all day long from the remnants of hurricane Laura.  Due to this forecast […]

Updates: Lake-level of Manchaug Pond & Annual Meeting

Posted August 20, 2020  Lake Water Level The Manchaug Pond Foundation {MPF} has recently been receiving multiple questions and complaints concerning the water level of Manchaug Pond this summer.  The Town of Sutton operates the Manchaug Pond dam, and strives to set the water level of the pond to a ‘rule curve’ or optimum level through the year which has been developed in partnership with the MPF.  During the summer months, the rule curve directs that the pond water level be kept full.  However the Sutton Conservation Committee approval of this rule curve requires a minimum level of water outflow at all times to maintain the environment downstream.    In addition to evaporation, during drought conditions there is not enough water inflow to replace the mandated outflow.  Whereas the Town of Sutton also owns and operates the Stevens Pond dam, conditions there must also be assessed. We have confirmed with the Town that the dam is currently set with a 1/2″ outflow as it has been all summer addressing, as best possible, the needs of Manchaug Pond and Stevens.  Since this has been the second driest Summer on record in the Worcester area, there is unfortunately nothing more we can …