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!

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 …

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, …