Testimony – Mass Bass Federation!

(Last night’s sunset) Before we continue with Part 2 of our dam photos, lets look at the testimony submitted on behalf of Manchaug Pond : This one from the Mass Bass Federation, an umbrella organization representing 30 fishing clubs who in turn speak for a total of 600 anglers submitted the following testimony to Secretary Ian Bowles, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs as part of the MEPA filing:My name is Erik Kaplan, I am the Conservation/Natural Resource Director for the Massachusetts Bass Federation. I speak for the approximately 600 anglers throughout the Commonwealth when I say we vehemently oppose this project. Many of our fishing clubs hold tournaments on this Great Pond throughout the year and this beautiful pond is an asset to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. There have been fish kills on this Great Pond in recent years due to low water levels instituted by the Manchaug Reservoir Corp and their parent company Interface Global, Inc.. Breaching of the Manchaug Pond dam would completely decimate this great fishery. The breaching of the dam would endanger the Core Habitat on the shores of Manchaug Pond. The Core Habitat has been fount to have several endangered, imperiled, threatened and …

Yes, Telegram File Photo Incorrect

Yes, yes! You are correct. The T & G file photo appearing on the front page of the local section of the Sunday Telegram is NOT on, in or near Manchaug Pond. See for yourself: Captioned: “The old dam sits in the middle of Manchaug Pond.” With all those trees, and other green leafy growth, it makes you wonder if the reporter and editor have ever been in the middle of a 380 acre pond. Usually when you are in the middle of a pond you are surrounded by water… … but then there are 17 dams in the town of Sutton alone so it could be difficult choosing a file photo of the correct dam. Our next post will look at photos of the dams on this end of the Mumford River including photos of Manchaug Pond’s dam. I’ll see if I can find the old dam that sits in the middle of the pond.

Telegram Release Two More Articles on Manchaug Dam

The Worcester Telegram again features the Manchaug Pond dam and the continued plight of the dam owner to find a buyer for the dam property. The Telegram took a position on Friday in an editorial and on Sunday the reporter quoted MassDEP testimony in the MEPA process the dam owner has opened up. Mass DEP is quoted repeatedly as it aims to preserve the lake ecosystem and public access rights by maintaining “the status quo”, protect the water bodies up and downstream, protect downstream users such as the Douglas Wastewater Treatment Facility, and protect or provide mitigation for the private water supply wells within a half mile radius of the pond. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles will have a decision, Environmental Impact Report on the matter by July 24th. Here’s a link to Friday’s editorial:http://www.telegram.com/article/20090717/NEWS/907170337 and Sunday’s front page local news article:http://www.telegram.com/article/20090719/NEWS/907190380/1101 Here’s a list of the other articles:Search resultsYour search for manchaug pond dam resulted in 6 articles. The water isnt over the damThe company that wants to breach the dam on Manchaug Pond appears to have a long regulatory road ahead of it.Published on 07/19/09 in the category News The deed to the …

Manchaug Pond Foundation Water Quality

Blob Travels over Falls to Manchaug Pond

Can you identify this one? A camper found it this weekend on the shoreline at the inlet. Manchaug Pond property owners reported in a recent survey seeing it last summer… Do you know it? Take a guess! and then I’ll tell you more…

A Day at the Lake…

Yesterday proved to be a beautiful day! Sunshine, a nice breeze and not too much fast traffic on the water. Talk with anyone who grew up on a lake and you will find endless stories of memories filled with family, friends and wonderfully adventurous, simple fun! I was recently given a copy of the little 1955 booklet, “The Land Without a Sunday” written by Maria Von Trapp where a country had adopted a staggered work week schedule where all had a different day off. With the loss of the traditional Sunday, the society, community and family had loss the opportunity to come together in play and worship. Today, I understand Manchaug Pond will serve a grander role … its waters will be used in the baptism of a child. Baptisms have long been held at Manchaug Pond with my own former neighbor bringing his congregation from the West Sutton First Baptist Church to her shores for such events.

Nightime Storms Brings Rain and Morning Fog

Last night’s thunderstorms, three perhaps, brought an inch of rain to the rain gauge and left the lake surrounded in a morning fog. A check of the Mass Office of Fishing and Boating Access website (see link under FOR MORE INFORMATION!) tells us it was the American Bass Anglers Couples counting off loud and clear as they left the ramp and channel for the main part of the lake early this morning. The MPA advises caution to all lake users as the waterlevel continues to go down and boat safety is a concern! Sunday evening 2 boats hit the wall and a third hit a rock when going through the causeway with a fourth boat hitting during the week. The many new users from the access boat ramp and at the campgrounds are not aware of the dam owner’s new lowering of the lake in mid-summer bringing the many large rocks and walls just under the water’s surface. The MPA Board of Directors is lining up a number of boating safety education initiatives for Manchaug Pond’s visitors and MPA members. Details to come! Sun is shining – the fog has burnt off! BE SAFE!

Zebra Mussels and Public Access

The entry of the invasive zebra mussel has caused the temporary closing of 10+ public access boat ramps in western Massachusetts in an effort to stop their spread and now Quabbin is added to the list to rightly protect Boston’s drinking water supply. Here on Manchaug Pond we know the problem of other aquatic invasives plants such as fanwort and variable milfoil and we will soon learn more now that the dam owner is no longer cooperating with us to employ lake level drawdown – the successful method we have used since 1991 – and with the introduction of Asian Clam last fall at Manchaug’s public access ramp and purple loosestrife in the watershed. With the dam owner’s new lower waterlevels the past two years, we are seeing new invasives, especially reed canary grass, fill the shoreline. Hopefully the high water mandated by MassDEP and achieved the beginning of July will help eliminate these populations. On to Quabbin! (photo courtesy of MassDCR) Try this link for the Quabbin Cam! for actual footage: http://www.mwra.com/qcam.html Here’s the story as reported by the Boston Globe:Quabbin Reservoir closed to boaters amid zebra mussel concernsBy Milton J. ValenciaGlobe Staff / July 15, 2009 The menacing …

Last Thursday’s Mtg. – Good Going MPA!

Not that last Tuesday wasn’t enough excitement for Manchaug Pond, Thursday morning provided another meeting for the MPA. Our 1st Vice President/Stormwater Grant Coordinator met with CEI, the engineering/environmental firm concerning the s.319 stormwater grant. We just completed our second year of a 3 year grant. Our Grant Coordinator is the taskmaster – keeps us hopping, turning us now and again from the water level/dam issue back to water quality, has us keeping detailed volunteer logs, gets the reporting in on time to DEP, and makes sure we don’t go over budget… to name a few of her duties! Well, Thursday’s assessment of our project is that we are in great shape! We are under budget, and the site work in Douglas and Sutton is now completed with the exception of the rain garden at the Public Access Boat Ramp. And all the rain provides the added bonus of actually allowing us to see right away how the structures will handle heavy rains and lots of runoff! The rain garden site is all prepared with just some design work and planting to be done. The center strip in the photo below – where no grass is growing – will be …

Invasive Zebra Mussel Found in Western Massachusetts Lake

Let’s look at a definition first…invasive: (esp. plants and disease) tending to spread prolifically and undesirably or harmfully. Three MPA members have recently been trained on invasive species with more workshops ahead – in their identification, mapping, and management or eradication. The MPA has been on the alert for zebra mussels for many years providing literature at the Annual Meeting to aid members in their identification. We have invasive species here on Manchaug Pond, BUT NOT ZEBRA MUSSELS! Here’s the latest response to the first sighting in Massachusetts the Executive Office of Energy and Environmenal Affairs throught the collaboration of such agencies as DCR Lakes and Ponds Program and Office of Fishing and Boating Access: Executive Office of Energy and Environmental AffairsIan A. BowlesSECRETARYTel: (617) 626-1000Fax: (617) 626-1181http://www.mass.gov/envir FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: July 13, 2009 Department of Fish and Game Takes Action to Prevent Possible Spread of Invasive Zebra MusselsResponding to local concerns, agency authorizes municipalities to restrict use of public boat ramps on water bodies susceptible to infestation; temporary, emergency measures to remain in place no longer than 45 days BOSTON – In the wake of last week’s discovery of zebra mussels in Laurel Lake in Lee and Lenox …

Sutton Website Reports Position of Board of Selectman

Board of Selectmen Take Unanimous Vote to Oppose the Breaching of Manchaug Dam At the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday July 7th, 2009 the Board of Selectmen unanimously adopted a resolution in opposition to the efforts of the Manchaug Reservoir Corporation to breach the Manchaug Dam. The minutes show:“Selectman Geraghty would like to vote on a resolution in regards to Manchaug Pond as follows: That we, the Sutton Board of Selectmen express in a clear manner our strong opposition to the attempt by Manchaug Reservation Corp. to breach the damn on Manchaug Pond. As a critical natural, recreational and environmental component to the watershed in Sutton and the greater Blackstone Valley the proposed breaching would create incalculable and irreversible damage to our community the Blackstone River Valley and our State, Selectman Chizy seconds the motion passes 5-0.” The Board will be submitting written comments and encourages all that want to preserve Manchaug Pond and protect the environment to submit comments prior to July 14th, 2009. Written Comments on Breaching of Manchaug Dam Due July 14th If you are interested in preserving Manchaug Pond and preventing the tearing down of the Dam then Submit written comments to the State prior …

Sunday – A Day of Rest!

Early this morning it was sunny and windy – a great day for sailing! But now the wind has calmed with blue skies at the northern end of the lake and overcast to the south. Have a restful day! Let’s stop and see what is in bloom… a few native flowers: Swamp Honeysuckle (Rhododendron viscosum) Virginia Rose (Rosa virginiana) and Common Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium montanum) along the shores of Manchaug Pond!