Manchaug Pond Foundation Land Conservation

Hobby Farming with Our Water Resources in Mind: STORMWATER

Posted March 13, 2024 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 …

boat ramp

Manchaug Pond Boat Ramp Repaving ~ Invitation for Bid

Invitation to bid! Continuing our efforts to improve and protect the water quality of Manchaug Pond, this spring you will see more work completed at the state public access boat ramp thanks to the Manchaug Pond Foundation’s Phase III s.319 Nonpoint Source Pollution grant […]

Hobby Farming With Our Water Resources in Mind!

Posted March 6, 2024 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 s.319 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 …

UPDATE: Enforcement Order & Fines Issued with Mumford River Affected

posted December 22, 2023 Sediment carrying runoff from the Oak Street Solar construction site in Douglas, Massachusetts has reached beyond Manchaug Pond and Stevens Pond further into the Mumford River. This morning at 10:00 a.m., visibly brown water was exiting the Stevens Pond dam to the village of Manchaug.  (full video can be viewed on the Manchaug Pond Facebook page) Since the first incident on December 11th, Manchaug Pond Foundation has been calling for immediate action be taken to stop the erosion and prevent further impacts to Manchaug Pond and its watershed, as well as Stevens Pond and the Mumford River. Information as to the scope of the area affected, the potential for further erosion beyond the lake’s causeway/channel and to watershed streams including the Douglas trout coldwater fishery, and to concerns for future water quality impacts, are being brought to local and state officials, agencies and regional organizations. Additionally, the MPF president provided public testimony before recent both Douglas and Sutton Conservation Commission meetings. The December 18th meeting of the Douglas Conservation Commission included a call for the company to put measures in place to prevent further erosion and runoff. (View at Douglas Cable You Tube)  A December 23 …

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!