Another Dam in the News – Prindle Lake Dam

Prindle Lake and dam in Charlton, Massachusetts was not only the topic of conversation and questions at this January’s COLAP conference but appeared in Saturday’s Worcester Telegram. Saturday, February 6, 2010 Legislation to help save lake New law lets town acquire Prindle dam By Debbie LaPlaca CORRESPONDENT CHARLTON — Special state legislation permitting the town to save Prindle Lake by acquiring and repairing its dam has been signed into law by Gov. Deval L. Patrick. The new law authorizes the town to acquire dams within its boundaries, make improvements to the dams and assess betterments to fund repairs. “The town of Charlton and the lakefront property owners looked to me to file a bill and I delivered a resolution to them as quickly as possible,” state Sen. Stephen M. Brewer, D-Barre, said in an announcement Thursday. The lake, manmade more than 100 years ago to power a mill on Cady Brook, is used recreationally by the public, including about 85 shore property owners. When the dam failed an inspection in 2006, the state Office of Dam Safety ordered owner Santos Irrevocable Trust to repair or breach it by November 2009, or face a fine of up to $500 a day. …

Skiidoos! & How Thick is the Ice?

With this morning’s temperature hanging at the zero mark on the thermometer, we are back making ice! This photo came in mid-January from a reader with the title “skiidoos!” Don’t you love it! We also received a request from another reader:“Hi I was just wondering if you heard any reports on how thick the ice is. Thanks.” Can anyone out there give us some numbers? The channel is open but I am sure the main part of the lake is thICK! Sorry the blog has been quiet for a couple days! The organization is busy: a lake conference, 319 grant meeting, & much planning and typing have taken this week! 2010 promises to be packed with events! Stay tuned …

Yesterday’s Rains + Today’s Temps = Ice Out!

Here’s a few words from MassWildlife:Stay safe on the ice Marion LarsonOutreach Coordinator, MassWildlife With the recent bone-chilling temperatures, many bodies of water iced over and ice fishermen, skaters and others are impatient to get out on the ice. Before venturing onto any frozen water body, here are some common sense measures you can take to make sure that the ice is safe. Check ice by using a chisel to chop a hole to determine ice thickness and condition. In general 4 inches of clear blue ice is safe for foot traffic. Because the thickness of the ice will not be uniform all over the pond or lake, continue to chop more holes as you go further out on to the ice. Don’t venture onto ice bound rivers or streams since currents make ice thickness unpredictable.Ice Thickness(inches) Permissible Load(clear, blue, lake ice)2″ or less STAY OFF!4″ Ice fishing or other activities on foot5″ Snowmobile or ATV8″ – 12″ Car or small pickup truck12″ – 15″ Medium truck Before you set out on the ice, be sure to wear or carry ice pins or picks. Ice pins are a set of two wooden dowels fixed with a spike that sticks out …

Wonder of Winter!

Stepping on the ice for the first time this year, the 2 year old exclaimed, “Mommy! Where did the lake go!”

This Saturday – MACOLAP Lake & Pond Management Workshop

Join us! At least 4 representatives from Manchaug Pond will be at the Mass Congress of Lake and Pond Association Conference this Saturday, January 23, 2010 from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm at Worcester State College. 10 different workshops to choose from ranging in topics from Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting to Lake Law to Community Preservation Act Funds to Eurasian Watermilfoil… not to mention some old favorites – 319 grants, rain gardens, lake-level drawdown and tree removal on dams. $25 pre-registration with lunch included. Check the website to do so. http://www.macolap.org/

Ice Auger at 7:19. All Is Well

The USGS has an realtime updated map of recent earthquake activity. Check for yourself: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/ A July 1980 Manchaug Pond Dam MA.00955 Phase I Inspection Report of the National Dam Inspection Program of the Department of The Army New England Division, Corps of Engineers states: “The dam is located in Seismic Zone 2 and in accordance with recommended Phase I guidelines does not warrant seismic analysis.”

Warmer Weather

Yesterday’s morning temperature was in the low single numbers, today we have warmer weather!