IN THE NEWS: Distance swim marks a milestone birthday

September 22, 2023 Issue of the Blackstone Valley Xpress Distance swim marks a milestone birthday Victory! Eric Shrayer at the completion of his swim. Photo submitted By Patty Roy Eric Shrayer celebrated his 50th birthday in August, but decided to add a  challenge to the festivities by making a long swim around Manchaug Pond. Rather than setting distance goals, Shrayer headed for landmarks as he rounded the circumference of the lake.  “I swam point to point around the perimeter of the lake,” he said. “The channel where the dam is, and on the other side by old Holbrook Campground, there’s a sandbar, Blueberry Island and there’s conservation land on one point, the South Cove.“ Those were the markers he used, familiar to him from boyhood. He wore no fins, no goggles, no swim shirt, just kept it simple with swimming trunks. Shrayer guessed the water temperature was about 70 degrees. “It was nice, it was a warm night the night before.” He also noted it was cloudy and rainy on the day of his swim “So that lowered the chances of me getting hit by a boat.”  Above: Shrayer’s entrance to the Channel  Below, Manchaug Pond map showing Eric Shrayer’s …

ANNUAL MEETING of the Members This Saturday!

Calling all Manchaug Pond fans! Join together for the Manchaug Pond Foundation Annual Meeting of the Members this Saturday morning, August 26, 2023 at the YMCA Camp Blanchard Dining Hall on Manchaug Road, Sutton. Not yet a member? Jump in by joining online at www.manchaugpond.org or prior to the meeting. Coffee and a light breakfast buffet will be offered at 9:30 a.m. with the business meeting starting at 10:00 a.m. This year’s agenda will include: a review our budget performance for 2022 election of additional directors to the Board approval of a 2024 operating budget updates/reports on water quality monitoring and testing, advocacy in addressing boat ramp/public access issues, safe boating advocacy and education, invasive species monitoring and control, and watershed conservation news on unfinished and new initiatives including outreach to the membership,  new secretary positions, purchase of a boat for the Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH) program and upcoming events. and your questions, concerns, and suggestions! Educational information and volunteer opportunities will be also be highlighted including water quality monitoring, safe boating, and our 319 Non-Point Source Pollution grant work around the lake and watershed. MPF Apparel & Gear will be sale: new tees – both youth and adult …

Manchaug Pond, Let’s Cheer on the Pan-Mass Challenge!

Mark your calendar to join Manchaug Pond’s Pan-Mass Challenge CHEERING SQUAD! Saturday, August 5th, 6:00 – 8:00 a.m. along Manchaug Road in Sutton. Get your boat and head to the northern end of the lake or join roadside along Manchaug Road to CHEER ON the many cyclists of the Pan-Mass Challenge! Thousands and thousands of cyclists ride 25 to 190 miles as part of the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC).  Founded in 1980, this annual bike-a-thon raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraising event in the country! The PMC’s mission is to raise funds for cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. 100% of every rider-raised dollar goes directly to Dana-Farber. So let’s give them a big cheer as they pass Manchaug Pond from Sturbridge to Provincetown! Thanks to the member who made this suggestion at the 2012 Annual Meeting ! Do you know someone riding this year?  Give them a shout-out so we can support their ride!

Tomorrow! Social & Volunteer Open House

Start the season on Manchaug Pond with the Social & Volunteer Open House! Catch up with lake neighbors and friends over a cup of coffee and pastry. Families, new friends, neighbors and lake users are welcome. As usual, we’ll come together in the Dining Hall of the YMCA Camp Blanchard facility on Manchaug Pond from 9:30 to about 11:00 a.m. or so on Saturday, June 17th. Over coffee and pastry catch up with lake friends and neighbors. Learn more about our lastest efforts for Manchaug Pond and the watershed. Our Vice President and s.319 Non-point Source Pollution Grant Coordinator will have an detail display of our roadside and ramp work. Bring the family as activities for children will be offered including Facepainting with Christine Z from 10-11. Check out MPF Logo Gear on sale which includes a wide variety of apparel and Manchaug Pond themed items from cribbage boards to baseball hats, tee shirts to fleece … lake photos,  wood Lake Art to order, playing cards, mugs, and more! Purchase your flares for the Lighting of the Shoreline, July 3rd at 9:00 p.m. or as Safe Boating equipment for your vessel. Register, sponsor, and volunteer for this year’s The DAM …

Manchaug Pond Foundation Boat Decorating Contest 2016

4th of July Boat Parade – RAINED OUT – See you next year!

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  CANCELLED TO TO INCLEMENT WEATHER – Next year! With the Fourth of July celebrations on Manchaug Pond comes the BOAT PARADE!  On July 16th at 1:00 p.m. meet in West Cove, and parade around our favorite pond. Decorations are optional and encouraged this year. Work those kinks out because next year we hope to judge you! We hope to see you out there!   Be sure to participate in the Lighting of the Shoreline July 3rd at 9:00 PM.  Flares on sale here. Visit our Pinterest Boards to view for patriotic celebration ideas. See a gallery of past Manchaug Pond July 4th celebrations on our Gallery page!  

Plan to attend!

Save the Date – Don’t miss out on these events: ~ Attention Boaters! Free VESSEL SAFETY CHECK, tomorrow morning, Saturday, June 3rd from 9:00 a.m. to noon!  Stop in for your  Vessel Safety Check at the Manchaug Pond boat ramp. Come by land or lake – with any size vessel, motorized, paddled, pedaled or sail – our certified examiner will help you get your boat safe and legal for the season. Pass and you can display your hull decal for all to see on the water. For more information visit our website event page. Volunteer opportunity: 2 volunteers needed to hold boats.  Contact us to help! In case of rain/poor weather conditions, check our website/Facebook feed for cancellation and future reschedule date. ~ Yes, you heard it right- COFFEE WITH COWS!! A representative from Manchaug Pond Foundation will be on the Sutton Town Common on Sunday, June 4 from 10:30 a.m.- to 1:00 p.m. at the invitation of Sutton 4-H Club to talk with you about our water quality efforts in the Manchaug Pond watershed and how you can protect our water resources at home, at the campsite, and on the farm.  Our exhibit will highlight the roadside and boat …

Hobby Farming with Our Water Resources in Mind: MAKE A PLAN!

Posted: Friday, May 12, 2023 Did you know?  Agricultural activities that cause non-point source pollution most generally occur in the absence of a conservation plan according to EPA.  How do you use your property?  You can conduct your farming activities in ways that protect water resources! Remember… we all live in a watershed (the area of land that drains into a certain waterbody like Manchaug Pond), so our daily activities at home, around the lake, at the campsite, and at the barn are something we need to think about when it comes to the lake and clean water. Do you understand your site and how to work with it? Is your farm, garden, or barn/coup area “stormwater friendly”? Do you know the Best Management Practices (BMPs) that can help? Learn more… check out this second in a series of newsletters geared to small farms, gardeners and animal owners… Click the icon for a PDF of Fact Sheet 2.2: How Can Hobby Farmers Protect Water Resources? and visit our Hobby Farm website page and our Hobby Farm Facebook group for all fact sheets and watch for our next in the series on Friday.  If you live in the Manchaug Pond watershed, …

Manchaug Pond Foundation Land Conservation

Hobby Farming with Our Water Resources in Mind: STORMWATER!

Posted: Friday, May 5, 2023 We all live in a watershed (the area of land that drains into a certain waterbody like Manchaug Pond), so our daily activities at home, around the lake, at the campsite, and at the barn are something we need to think about when it comes to the lake and clean water. You may be surprised to learn that just like our lawns and landscapes, hobby farms can be a potential source of water pollution. Heavy rain storms can cause fertilizers, animal manures, and sediment to be carried into the lake, streams and wetlands.  Fertilizers cause excessive aquatic plant growth and algae blooms while animal manures not only act as organic fertilizers but also carry bacteria and sediment. So, what can you do? Learn more… check out this first in a series of newsletters geared to small farms and animal owners… Click the icon for a PDF of Fact Sheet 2.1: How Can Hobby Farms Be Sources of Stormwater Pollution? and visit our Hobby Farm website page and our Hobby Farm Facebook group for more information. ___________________________________________________________ This project has been financed with Federal Funds from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Massachusetts Department of …

Manchaug Pond Foundation Water Quality

TODAY! Annual Spring Lake & Watershed Cleanup

Saturday, April 22, 2023 Spring into action where everyday is Earth Day – for the Annual Manchaug Pond Spring Lake & Watershed Cleanup!   Today is the day!  You are needed to canvas the lake shoreline, public boat ramp, and watershed roadsides to remove litter and other potential threats to water quality. Come alone, bring family, friends, and neighbors as all are invited to meet at the state public access boat ramp at Manchaug Pond, 22 Torrey Road in Sutton, anytime between 9:00 a.m. and noon to fan out across the watershed. Refreshments, good company and the fresh beauty of Manchaug Pond will make for a great morning! Safety vests, gloves, and garbage bags will be provided. Rain date will be Sunday, April 23rd with notice posted on the Manchaug Pond Foundation social media and website at www.manchaugpond.org. Volunteer time will support the Foundation’s Phase III s.319 Non-point Source Pollution Grant volunteer match requirements under the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) grant award. (For each person attending, we are credited $32.15/hour/volunteer towards a $177,656 match requirement for this grant.) Manchaug Pond is a scenic 380 acre community natural resource located in Sutton and Douglas. Manchaug Pond Foundation looks to …

Manchaug Pond Foundation Land Conservation

Got Horses? Donkeys? Chickens? New Outreach to Backyard Farms in the Manchaug Pond Watershed

Posted April 19, 2023 We love our animals, gardens and pastures in the Manchaug Pond watershed – especially horses, donkeys, beef cattle, sheep, and chickens!  A 2020 watershed survey found close to 30 small hobby farms dot the landscape in this corner of Sutton, Douglas and Oxford. With water quality in mind, the Manchaug Pond Foundation is offering two new outreach programs to small farmers as part of a s319 Nonpoint Source Pollution grant received from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. ~ The first is a series of 24 newsletters and 12 podcasts – Hobby Farming with Water Quality in Mind.   Our series is “for owners of ‘Hobby Farms’ – small scale farms operated primarily as a residential lifestyle – to provide their owners with the tools to develop and operate an environmental-friendly farm and promote responsible stewardship of both land and the environment.” Each Wednesday for the next 24 weeks, we will release a newsletter on a topic of interest to backyard gardeners and animal owners which offers best management practices, options and solutions to farm and raise animals with our lake, streams and wetlands in mind.  Topics will go the gamut from planning your farm to understanding …