Yesterday’s View from Water’s Farm
As the leaves drop, Manchaug Pond is not only visible from the neighboring roadsides and Waters Farm but also from Douglas Road in Sutton (from Whittier’s Farm head south, look left as you start down the hill to Northwest Main St, Douglas.) A close-up of the view from Waters Road, Sutton shows the old causeway which stretches across the channel. I am told by a neighbor that their home was moved many, many years ago from the Douglas side to the Sutton side along this road. A look at the 1831 map of Sutton shows that road.
Boating Mishap Photos Just In!
Here’s a preview of my next post on that boat mishap on Manchaug Pond. An MPA member and his cousin caught the whole story in photo form on a cell phone and have shared it with us – from the “out of control” to the “crashed on the rocks.” More to come!
Tonight Vote for Protection of Manchaug Pond Watershed!
Sutton voters! Tonight your raised hand, your YEA! is needed at the fall Town Meeting Monday October 19, 2009 7:30pm Early Learning Center Auditorium in support of two articles which will preserve 378 acres of open space in the Manchaug Pond watershed thereby directly benefiting the water quality of Manchaug Pond, protecting wildlife corridor… not to mention give cell phone coverage to the area. Here they are:Article 3 Article 3 sponsored by the Board of Selectmen is a request to borrow $280,000, through a debt exclusion vote, for the purpose of becoming a co-holder, with the State of Massachusetts, of an Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) on 314 acres of land currently owned by Whittier Farms Inc. APR is a voluntary program that offers an alternative to owners of farmland who choose to see the property protected rather than sell it for development. The APR program offers to pay farmland owners the difference between the “fair market value” and the “agricultural value” of their property in exchange for a permanent deed restriction that prevents the land from ever being developed for anything other than a farm purpose. The Whittiers are seeking the APR for 378 acres of land: 314 acres on …
Sutton Voters Decide Tonight – Protection of 378 Watershed Acres
http://www.suttonma.org/Pages/SuttonMA_News/I014E5293 http://www.suttonma.org/Pages/SuttonMA_News/I014D1116Towns Looking to Protect 378 Acres at Whittier FarmsSelectmen support APR on Whittier land BY TOM REILLY Town Administrator Jim Smith updated the board on a proposed Agricultural Preservation Restriction on Whittier Farms. Smith said the Whittier family has been working on the measure with the state’s Department of Agricultural Resources and it appears that an offer from the state will come in September. The offer would initiate a time period during which the town needs to decide if it wants to contribute monetarily to this preservation restriction. Town meeting approval is required to do so. The APR is a voluntary program that offers an alternative to owners of farmland who choose to see the property protected rather than sell it for development. Smith said that without the APR the most logical use of such land is for residential housing development. The Whittiers are seeking the APR for 378 acres of land: 312 acres on Town Farm Road and Douglas Road in Sutton and 66 acres in Oxford. The APR program offers to pay farmland owners the difference between the “fair market value” and the “agricultural value” of their property in exchange for a permanent deed restriction that prevents …
Just in – Weather on Manchaug Pond
Large snowflakes, 1 1/2 inch and larger, have been falling on Manchaug Pond for a few hours this afternoon. The photographer tells me that Canada geese were flying over as well as three large birds she could not identify.
Autumn Reds at Yesterday’s Cleanup
Unfiltered stormwater, throught pipes such as this one, will be the target of future s.319 NonPoint Source Pollution Grant. Water quality up stream and the activities and practices in the watershed are important and contributing factors to the water quality of Aldrich Mill Pond (at Sutton Falls Camping Area) and Manchaug Pond and beyond to the Mumford and Blackstone River systems.
2009 Fall Cleanup a Success!
All for one and one for all! Annual Fall Cleanup 2009 a success! ending with chocolate, blueberry and choc. chip muffins and a box of Joe! 18 volunteers from 11 households cleaned the state public access boat ramp, Manchaug Road from Central Turnpike to Torrey Road, Torrey to Oak St, Shore Road, and Lackey Road as well as the lake shoreline areas which were not cleaned during the spring cleanup event. Whew! Covering the Shoreline and lake areas: The public boat ramp: Along Shore Road and the conservation land: Also a few invasive weeds not picked up during the Weed Cleanup a few weeks ago also made there way to the truck! Along Manchaug Road: Strange finds included a distributor cap and a part to a high tech weather machine or something! Great job everyone! It was a pleasure working with all of you – we sure covered a lot of area. (I also was told the story about last week’s boating accident from two eyewitnesses. We’re working on getting the pics, video and story to you via the blog! Stay tuned.)
Manchaug Pond Needs YOU!
Come on, we want YOU! Lake Cleanup this morning! Rise and shine! 🙂 See you around 9 at the boat ramp. I bought muffins – the big ones from BJ’s. I have rubber gloves too to keep your gloves clean. If you’ve never joined us before you’ll find the work easy, the company and conversation good, tremendous scenery, and a superb mission/purpose – the care of your Manchaug Pond. Don’t just let the MPA Board of Directors do the work – lend a hand – even for a 1/2 hour!