Manchaug Pond Foundation

Second s. 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Grant Secured

For: Manchaug Pond Foundation Contact: Marty Jo Henry, Vice President, 508-667-4349 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Manchaug Pond Foundation Continues Water Quality Improvement Efforts Sutton/Douglas, MA – With a landmark real estate acquisition to preserve the 100-acre Beaton Farm Property now complete, the Manchaug Pond Foundation (MPF) is going full speed ahead with their next major initiative, completing a s.319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Grant recently awarded to the nonprofit group by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Having successfully completed a similar grant in 2011, the MPF will continue their efforts to improve the quality of water entering the pond. The MPF will once again work with Comprehensive Environmental Inc. (CEI), a Massachusetts based environmental engineering firm who will design the stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs), and the Town of Sutton who will construct it with their generous in-kind commitment. The MPF is particularly excited to be working with Whittier Farms on a number of agricultural related improvements. With over 500 acres of farmland within the Manchaug Pond watershed, the Whittier Family has committed many hours of volunteer labor to help make some unique watershed improvements for educational outreach including modifications to several areas which will …

Gearing up for spring on Manchaug Pond!

If you have had enough of ice fishing, snowmobiling, and other winter sports, or have spent the winter just looking out the window longing for summer, take heart! The snow and ice are melting fast in and around Manchaug Pond and the Manchaug Pond Foundation has been working all winter on a whole calendar of fun and worthwhile events and projects to involve you and benefit you, the lake, the watershed, and the greater community! Let’s take a look at a few for April: Spring issue of SPLASH! our colorful, print newsletter with 8 pages of info is at the printer! Get on the mailing list by hitting our PayPal donation button for any amount or send a donation to MPF, P.O. Box 154, Manchaug, MA 01526. Special thanks to our Newsletter Committee: Alice our Editor, and committee members, writers and photographers Andy, Dave, George, Karen, Marty Jo, Wendy, Phyllis, Russ and Paul, Bill L. Want to join the committee? BIG SPRING RAFFLE tickets on sale now! Get your ticket today with only 100 chances to win a $6,600 Home Theater, the 55″ Bose VideoWave III with delivery, setup and installation OR the CA$H prize of $4,000! Tickets price is …

ICE & the waterlevel

With the large amount of ice still covering the pond, the low-level gate of the dam has been opened. Rain and snow are in the forecast. Wind and ice can cause significant damage to docks and walls. The dam is monitored daily. Please check back for updates.

Win this home theater or $4,000!

Get in on the BIG Raffle with only 100 tickets to be sold at $100. each! The cause is great and you have a chance to win a 55″ Bose VideoWave III home theater system valued at $6,600 or take a hefty check of $4,000 to do as you please! The reverse drawing will be held at the June 21st Annual Spring Social with enough creativity and suspense to give you an edge-of-your-seat experience! Contact a Board member or email ManchaugPondSecretary@gmail.com to get your ticket today.

Snowmelt!

With watershed runoff from snowmelt and rainfall, the lake waterlevel continues to rise. Low level gate has been adjusted to fill the reservoir! Questions? Concerns? Ask them here with the MPF. (mid-March, 2014)

YOU Can Name MPF to Telegram Outreach for Charities Program

You can help Manchaug Pond through a new program of the Telegram & Gazette. Subscribers can name the Manchaug Pond Foundation to benefit from the new TOUCH (Telegram Outreach for Charities) program. When you receive your TOUCH letter and voucher, just fill in Manchaug Pond Foundation, P.O. Box 154, Manchaug, 01526, and return in the provided pre-paid envelope. There is no cost to you, and the benefits to Manchaug Pond will grow with each Telegram subscriber participating. Boston Globe Media’s Linda Pizzuti Henry tells us that Manchaug Pond Foundation will receive free advertising space to help “raise awareness around their mission, recruit more volunteers, advertise events, and create a better Worcester County community for all of us.” Go Manchaug Pond Foundation!

Today’s Millbury-Sutton Chronicle Article on MPF

Manchaug Pond Foundation announces water improvement plans MPF Photo/R. L. Charpentier The Manchaug Pond Foundation (MPF) is going “full speed ahead with their next major initiative”, according to a press release from the organization which will be to complete a “s.319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Grant recently awarded to the nonprofit group by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.” MPF completed a similar grant in 2011, which is designed to help improve the quality of water entering the pond. The MPF said they will work with Comprehensive Environmental Inc. (CEI), a Massachusetts based environmental engineering firm who will design the stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs), and the Town of Sutton “who will construct it with their generous in-kind commitment” according to the press release. A real estate acquisition to preserve the 100-acre Beaton Farm Property was completed after they were given a right of first refusal after a group from the College of the Holy Cross last year presented plans to purchase the parcel and build a retreat center on the property. The MPF release also said they would be working with Whittier Farms on “a number of agricultural related improvements. With over 500 …

Worcester Telegram article tells of grant secured by MPF

Saturday, January 18, 2014 Manchaug Pond Foundation in Sutton receives EPA grant to protect watershed By Susan Spencer TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF susan.spencer@telegram.com Add a comment SUTTON — Residents around the 380-acre Manchaug Pond bordering Sutton and Douglas are moving forward with plans to restore the lake’s water quality with the help of a water protection grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state Department of Environmental Protection. The nonprofit Manchaug Pond Foundation announced recently it had received a “Section 319” nonpoint source pollution grant totaling $208,525, according to Vice President Marty Jo Henry. The grant includes nearly $120,000 from federal funds, and the remaining roughly $89,000 reflects volunteer time contributed by the foundation. Ms. Henry said the grant will fund projects to filter the nitrogen, phosphorus and “total suspended solids,” a term for the microscopic flotsam and jetsam from the roads, including bits of tire rubber, that muck up the water. “All of that, especially after a big rainfall, ends up getting flushed right into the lake,” Ms. Henry said. “This will end up capturing and filtering it.” Specifically, the money will go to planting rain gardens and restoring vegetation on public and private property at five …

Press Release on Water Quality Improvement Efforts by MPF

YOU Can Name MPF to Telegram Outreach for Charities Program

Weekend Fun

Cold weather brought beautiful sunny skies and the opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy the lake. There were a couple of future Bruins team members practicing on the ice and plenty of snowmobilers out and about now that we have plenty of fluffy snow.

Happy New Year!

Area two had their own Polar Plunge New Year’s day with one hearty soul leaping into the frigid water to start off 2014 with a splash. You snow birds down south don’t know what you are missing!