Telegram Reports on Secretary’s Decision & Dam Ownership
On July 31st, we reported that Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles released the decision on the dam owner’s proposal to breach the Manchaug Pond dam thereby reducing the lake from 380 acres to 201 as “the proponent states in the ENF that, because the dam no longer serves its original purpose, it wished “to divest itself of any and all responsibility and liability for the ownership and operation of the dam.” Read proposal for yourself – the link is to the right of this post under “For More Information.” It will take you to the town link for the complete document Environmental Notification Form (ENF) #14435. or go to the state MEPA website: http://www.mass.gov/envir/mepa/secondlevelpages/currentissue.htm#rodcert Today the Worcester Telegram further reports on Secretary Bowles decision, not his requirement that the dam owner prepare a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the scope of their project, changes and loss which would occur if allowed, and mitigation and alternatives but a bold and innovative solution to the dam owner’s problem. He states that the proponent (dam owner) “consider the collective costs it will be required to spend on the environmental impacts and including the resolution of any appeals that …
Skies of the Lake
With this hot weather, the lake becomes an even more popular place especially to homes and camps along the shore. The day is spent welcoming family and friends that come to swim and picnic at your home and Manchaug’s shores – and being a grandparent can make you and your home even more popular especially with the younger crowd! Such was the case here, so I didn’t get the blog entry finished. But yesterday evening’s boat ride, and for those of you skiing and tubing and fishing, taking the evening tour around the lake offered a showcase of beautiful skies to view. Let me share a few with you…
The Results are in… Manchaug WON!
Manchaug Pond voted THE MOST SCENIC body of water! In a recent poll conducted by the Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, 54% of the participants chose Manchaug Pond out of 7 lakes and 1 river! Thank you to all those of you who took the time to head over to the Millbury-Sutton Chronicle website to vote for our Manchaug Pond! and thank you to our 3 guest photographers for their submissions of scenic Manchaug Pond!
So What Do You Do Early Sunday Morning?
Sunday morning early before the fishermen arrive at the boat ramp, before the newspaper is delivered, before churches opene their doors… Manchaug Pond is alive! The mist rolls across the water and the skiers do their barefoot thing. An the sky changes as a kayaker glides on the calm, mirror-like lake…. and even a hot-air balloon is seen in the distant sky.
Today at Manchaug Pond… A little work, a little rest.
Today the Town of Sutton Highway Department put some time in at the State Public Access Boat Ramp working on the main gate. Seems with time it had settled making it difficult to line up, lock and unlock. They also put more topsoil on the pervious pavers with talk of reseeding in the fall. This neck of the woods sure has been getting a lot of attention! And later in the evening, the wind died down with a beautiful red sunset finishing the day.
Manchaug’s Big Birds -How about this one!
Do you know this one? A few days ago this big bird circled and flew in dipping close to the road in front then going up to land on a neighboring house. Sat on the roof quite awhile looking around and sunning its wings. All was silent in the area including that rooster we often hear in the distance, and the small flock of chickens here went inside their coop. Look at that distinctive head to help you identify….
Manchaug Pond and Tuesday’s Morning Fog
About 6:30 Tuesday morning a fog rolled in to Manchaug Pond and the shoreline neighborhoods were wrapped in white. The water was calm and quiet with no boats on the water. But I said to myself, “Jeez, I can’t report that… there are “Those opposed” who would have a field day with us being put a fog!” But the fog had rolled in and I knew first hand that the MPA had kept its head – stayed on course these past few years working toward a solution to the waterlevel issue and yet not losing sight of our overall mission and other goals and priorities. We are seeing our s.319 grant through – bringing new technology to the watershed to get at the root causes of weed growth and poor water quality. The findings to our latest weed study are in and we continue to broaden our efforts in the watershed with groups concerned about land conservation, coldwater fisheries, wetlands protection, invasives and the river system as well as Manchaug Pond. Stabilization of the waterlevel has been achieved and an awareness of our 380 acre lake exist within the user community, the two towns and at the state level…. and …
Beautiful Day for a Bike Ride
It was finally a beautiful morning and a perfect day for the Pan Mass Challenge which over 5,000 people from around the U.S. participated in to raise money for cancer research. It is a two day ride that starts in Sturbridge and ends up in Provincetown, 192 miles in all. While I was taking my early AM “coffee cup Tour d’Manchaug” kayak trip I could hear people saying “WOW, beautiful lake!!!” or “WOW, nice view!” as they came down Manchaug Rd. Kudos to everyone who participated or volunteered for the challenge and we look forward to seeing you next year! Click on the title of this post to learn more.
Heavy Rains, Runoff a Test for Grant Sitework
The afternoon brought heavy rains to already saturated soils here in the Manchaug watershed. 2 plus inches of rain by the rain gauge lakeside. Here down past the village on Whitins Road a tree took down wires and made travel a bit dangerous. But back at Manchaug Pond as we check in on the site work for the stormwater grant at the Public Access Boat Ramp, we see a lot of runoff being caught and filtered. The Highway department foreman had the original asphalt taken out at the edge putting a greater slope in around the cobblestones to allow the flow off the parking lot into the plunge pools. We definitely will need plants that can handle lots of moisture and wet roots! Native species have been chosen and ordered from the New England Wildflower Society. Our MPA s.319 Grant Coordinator and Sutton Town Highway Department Superintendent are already discussing needs on the other side of the ramp parking lot to capture and filter the runoff there. So after this grant is completed next year, the MPA and the town will partner with pen to paper in hand to forge a new grant project to further address water quality and …