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!
Tomorrow – Join us for the Annual Clean-up!
Our annual Fall Clean-up is tomorrow morning, Saturday, October 17th from 9 to noon. The town has the truck parked waiting for us to get to work! Our coordinator wants YOU ALL to come join the MPA Board of Directors as we… Hit the road! Hit the Boat Ramp! Hit the shore! Our annual clean-up targets litter and illegal dumping in and around the lake. 9:00 am to noon. Meet at the Boat Ramp on Torrey Road to get a bag and fan out from there or take a piece of your own shore or a roadside and get to work. If you thought the Weed Cleanup was hard work- you’ll find this a breeze! Thursday we spotted two early birds cleaning up Lackey Road and Manchaug getting a head start on the job. Thank you to the Sutton Highway Dept. for joining us in this effort with the use of the truck and disposal of trash collected.
Weather Change
Yesterday was Blog Action Day where once a year Blogger asks all those users to write about a given subject. This year the topic is climate change. Given I am not a meteorologist, I will leave the research and speculation about the global climate to others and focus on the weather instead! Sorry Blogger. Here it is October 16th and what should have been our first frost is actually the morning of our first snow! Snow is falling as we speak, the wind is gusting up and the temperature is at 32 F. The fall foliage, especially in Area 1, has well begun the promised reds, oranges and yellows. Photos will be posted later today. Also we hope to give you some details/photos/video of the boat involved in Saturday’s boating mishap – one of our MPA Board members heard it on the police scanner and is tracking down some details. With Manchaug Pond noted for its rocky shore combined with the early low waterlevel, boat safety has been a big concern. The boat ramp and the campgrounds bring in an ever-changing population of recreational boaters which are not always familiar with the lake.
Turkeys Abundant!
Bow hunters must be in the woods today as the turkeys are hanging out in yards and along the roadsides. And further down the road, a few more birds are seen.
MassWildlife Trout Hatchery
Lets feed the fish! Feed them a few pellets at a time and watch them jump! Or get someone in the back of the pickup to throw it in by the shovelful! They sure get big! Manchaug Pond is not a stocked pond but brook trout do live in the unnamed tributaries of our watershed. Land worth preserving. A beautiful ride out to Belchertown, especially this time of year! http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/fisheries/fisheries_home.htm