Looking for Trout? Try Lake Singletary or Wallum

Looking for trout? Manchaug Pond is not stocked, but the following central Mass lakes were stocked the week of March 15, 2010 according to Mass Wildlife: Brookfield – South PondDouglas – Wallum LakeHubbardston – Comet PondLancaster – Fort PondLunenburg – Whalom LakeRutland – Long PondSpencer – Browning PondSterling – West Wauschacum PondSutton – Singletary LakeWebster – Webster LakeWorcester – Lake Quinsigamond “Any angler who catches a trout with a bright pink tag will receive a prize from the local cooperator in the Tags ‘N Trout Program!” Check out the website: http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recreation/fishing/trout/tags_n_trout.htm

TOMORROW! MassAggie Horsekeeping/Livestock Seminar

Join us! There is still room … pre-register at HorsekeepingSeminar@charter.net PASTURE, MANURE, AND MUD MANAGEMENT FOR SMALL-SCALE HORSE AND LIVESTOCK FARMS Mass Aggie Horse Keeping Seminar Series DOUGLAS/SUTTON — Well-managed pastures, high quality hay, and manure management are the topics of this one day seminar aimed at area livestock owners. On Saturday, April 3, 2010 at the Sutton Town Hall, Mass Aggie in cooperation with UMass Extension will present the Horse Keeping Seminar. The Manchaug Pond Association is sponsoring the educational program through a Mass DEP Grant which looks to protect water quality within the watershed. The workshop is open to everyone and will be held at the Sutton Town Hall, 4 Uxbridge Road, from 9 AM – 12:00 noon with lunch (provided) and discussion to follow. Door prizes donated from area businesses will be given. Seminar Agenda 9:00 a.m. BASICS OF PASTURE MANAGEMENT – Dr. Stephen Herbert Well managed pastures can furnish high-quality, nutritious feed at a relatively low cost. Dr. Stephen Herbert will discuss the basics of pasture establishment, and managing pastures for horse and livestock. Problems with weeds and poisonous plants also will be discussed. 10:15 a.m. EQUINE AND LIVESTOCK BARNYARD MANAGEMENT – Dr. Masoud Hashemi Spring …

Runoff Continues to Raise Manchaug’s Waterlevel

The hillsides continue to bring, in torrents, water to Manchaug Pond. Talk on the street is of the importance of the Manchaug dam to flood control. Downstream is pictured below – earlier this week. (Thanks to the MPA Board member who sent these in!)

Sutton Planning Board Presents Hydropower Bylaw

Small hydropower installations may soon be allowed in all districts of the Town of Sutton. With 17 dams in town, the Planning Board is proposing a change in the Zoning Bylaw which will go before the May town meeting. The change will allow small hydropower generation in all districts and require dam owners to apply for a special permit before the Planning Board. A public hearing has been scheduled for Monday, April 12, 2010 at 7:20 p.m. at the Sutton Town Hall, 4 Uxbridge Road. Town meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 10th. It should also be noted, that not only will dam owners need a special permit from the Planning Board in this regard, but the activity also warrants filing with the Conservation Commission.Pictured above is the falls near the Puckihuddle Preschool building in the Sutton village of Manchaug taken on Monday, March 25th.

No Flooding at Manchaug Pond

Can’t guarantee what is happening downstream, but I can tell you the water is rising on Manchaug Pond this rainy season! Here’s a look at the Manchaug dam today… notice anything ? No flooding and flashboards are in! 🙂

Posting and a Poll

This week sure flew by! If you scroll down, you will see I completed a few quick posts from earlier in the week which I never found time to complete. I have also added a little poll which you’ll find on the right-hand side of the screen. A couple informal discussions came up between MPA officers and again at a recent MPA committee meeting about the use of Facebook and Twitter by businesses to communicate to their clients – I thought maybe we could explore the preferences of our readership here. Please feel free to comment after you vote. Your input is read and brought back to the Board of Directors. And you can find us at:https://www.manchaugpond.org/Welcome.html

USDA Forest Service Live EAGLE Web Cam

Head to the Cascades Mountains and Deschutes National Forest in Oregon to watch the nesting activities of a pair of bald eagles via this live web cam: http://www.fs.fed.us/outdoors/naturewatch/eaglecam.html Remember the nest is in a different time zone so you may be view at night if you check in too early!

Ice Still Floats on Ramshorn and Whitins

During that beautiful warm weather last week while Manchaug Pond was fully open – not a chunk of ice to be seen- Whitin Reservoir (Douglas) and Ramshorn Pond (Millbury/Sutton) still had a large ice floa. Below is a shot of Whitins Reservoir: