Another Reason to Preserve Manchaug Pond and the Watershed

On our way home from a cookout this evening, we came upon this resident of the Manchaug Pond watershed over on the Douglas side of the lake. This deer had visited my daughter’s home only yesterday, walking just a few feet from the house while they were all inside quietly waking up from naps. The gentle, quiet of this deer grazing in the green of the woods calls to us to work a little harder to protect this wonderful habitat. When I called to tell her, she said a grey fox had just pasted through her yard. Wildlife abounds here in the Douglas and Sutton woods! Past efforts of Manchaug Pond Association members, friends in the watershed and the town have resulted in the conservation of Waters Farm and the lands along the shore of the pond donated to the Sutton Conservation Commission and the beginning of the Lake Manchaug Greenway and Wildlife Corridor linking the Douglas State Forest with the Sutton State Forest and Purgatory Chasm. Check out the link of the Metacomet Land Trust to see a map of these lands. Looking further into Douglas to the southwest you can see the Douglas State Forest http://www.metacometlandtrust.org/Protected.html Click on …

SHh!! Don’t Tell Anyone…

…it is a beautifully calm, sunny day on Manchaug Pond! This photo was taken last night from Manchaug Road, Sutton. Like a mirror!

boat ramp

“Green” Asphalt Installed at Manchaug Pond State Ramp

Our state public access boat ramp continues to be modernized, this time with the latest in paving material: pervious or permeable pavers or porous pavement. The idea of the pavers is to capture runoff allowing it to filter into the ground before it gets to the lake. This keeps pollutants such as gas and oil drips from vehicles as well as the salts from road sand and other pollutants from flowing directly into the lake. The water flowing into the ground also recharges groundwater supplies which are important to maintaining our drinking watersupplies/private wells and water levels of the lakes and tributaries. Filtering the water directly improves water quality and reduces or eliminates weed beds in the lake and around the shoreline. So this porous pavement allows the rain and water flowing down the ramp from the parking area to hit this area and flow water through it! How is this new technology possible? Partnerships: Federal monies from EPA and the Clean Water Act, state administered through MassDEP’s s.319 NonPoint Source Pollution Grant Program, with local partnerships with the lake association securing and administering the grant and providing volunteer time and resources and the Towns of Sutton and Douglas providing …

Telegram Reporter Misses Story of Manchaug Pond

The Worcester Telegram correspondent missed the article on Manchaug Pond by a long shot. She got caught up in the dam owner’s latest effort to be rid of their last piece of Massachusetts real estate. Consulting her previous contacts with the Whitins Reservoir Watershed District and citing one report made to Sutton Selectman, she fails to report recent efforts and rulings of those champions of the 380* acre lake: the Sutton Conservation Commission, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Mass Wildlife, Douglas Conservation Commission, our local legislators, the courts and the people of Manchaug Pond and their association. (Additionally the Telegram file photo of Manchaug Pond was submitted by our MPA Vice President 2 years ago when we announced the award of the s.319 EPA/DEP NonPoint Source Pollution Grant.) Are we to panic about their INTENT to breach? No. The dam owner announced they were exploring the option to breach at least 2 years ago when they decided to relocate the mill operation and sell the properties. The MPA then and now continues to work solidly and methodically to protect the lake and resolve the dam ownership issue. Have we asked Whitin’s district to save us, or “solve the problem” – …

A Perfect Day…

Beautiful sunshine, a nice breeze, with rain in the forecast… a perfect day to get things done. A perfect day to… … survey the Lake!! Today, two boats from two different companies – one hired by the Manchaug Pond Association, the other hired by the dam owner – one looking to improve the lake, the other looking to cut the size of the lake by half. … attend a lovely garden reception!! … check out the water level!! … rest awhile!! ( female Widow Skimmer – Libellula luctuosa resting on iris) … try out a kayak!! … stop and smell the flowers!! (Mountain Laurel – Kalmia latifolia)

Tonight’s Meeting Agenda- Douglas Conservation Commission

Douglas Conservation Commission Douglas Municipal Center29 Depot StreetDouglas, MA 01516Main Phone: (508) 476-4000 Fax Number: (508) 476-4012 (Click on the title of this post to be linked to their website) 6/15/2009 – Agenda Postby mdc » Mon Jun 15, 2009 8:26 am7:00 PM CONSERVATION BUSINESS1. Request for a Certificate of Compliance: Gadoury Homes, LLC, 103 Franklin Street2. Request for a Certificate of Compliance: Douglas Properties, LLC, Hemlock Street 7:20 PM PUBLIC HEARING CONTINUED: DOUGLAS CAMPMEETING ASSOCIATION (NOI)25 South Street 7:30 PM PUBLIC HEARING: GUARANTEED BUILDERSAND DEVELOPERS, INC. (NOI)93 Davis Street 7:45 PM PUBLIC HEARING: MASS. DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION& RECREATION (NOI)Wallum Lake 8:00 PM PUBLIC HEARING CONTINUED: MUMFORD RIVERRESERVOIR COMPANY (NOI)Whitin Reservoir Dam, Northwest Main Street 8:30 PM PUBLIC HEARING: MANCHAUG RESERVOIR CORPc/o INTERFACE, INC. (NOI)Torrey Street*Application Withdrawn

Saturday’s MPA Social

It was very nice to see a good many of our lake neighbors once again! With a higher seasonal population of property owners (not to mention the campers!) who come from far and wide, this very informal event allows us to chat over a hot cup of coffee and catch up on lake friends and neighbors as well as discuss where we are as a lake community. Welcome to our new neighbors and members from Area 2 and Area 4 and friends from the campgrounds – I’ll be sending you more in the mail! Our 319 Stormwater Grant Coordinator, Marty Jo, also had our exhibit with photos and actual plans of the work being done around the lake to improve our water quality and reduce aquatic weed growth. Plenty of handouts were available on how-tos/best management practices around the home with the lake in mind as well as booklets and floating key chains from the DCR Lakes and Ponds Program. Also available was a very abbreviated flow chart on the waterlevel issue identifying the short-term and long term goals and the directions our dam owner has taken Manchaug Pond with their various filings and lawsuits with and against local and …

If you see this camper… Wish Him a Happy Birthday!

The YMCA was hopping this afternoon as the Captain of “Dah Barge” celebrated his 50th birthday with a bang of a party! While talking with the campground owner, we recently met this faithful blog reader and lover of Manchaug Pond. The owner of “the tri-hull” (as my husband calls his boat!) is often seen cruising the lake with his family and friends. It is they who suggested we highlight his special day on the blog! So tip your hat this weekend to the tri-hull and wish him a very Happy Birthday! and many more on Manchaug Pond!

Hex Hatch

One of the best indicators of the health of a lake are the bugs that call it home. Last night there was a significant Hex hatch (Hexagenia a.k.a. Mayfly) and this morning I counted over 120 that were resting on the screens and doors of my house. According to my neighbor Harry, this is the largest hatch he has seen during his 75 years on the lake. These Mayflies are a great indicator that our lake is healthy. Click in the title for a link to the EPA Bioindicators information. Mayflies are loved by Trout as well as the local Robin who has been plucking them off the deck.

It’s Raining Here on Manchaug Pond!

It is finally raining here on Manchaug Pond- not heavy at all but it has been forecasted for the next few days so we should have some gain. If you’ve been working around the yard, you know the soil is dry, so the rain is welcomed by both the gardens and the lake. And I will add that we usually do get a good rain each and every year when the peony is in full bloom! Last night I took a photo of this rock to show how low we still are compared with our actual historic levels. In spring, this rock is submerged just peeking out of the water. Here’s a look at the flashboards last night. And the boards again on May 15th. You’ll note the small red tags on the left number each board. It appears that board # 1 was not installed in the dam, just boards numbered 2-7 so we should see another board showing to get a true view of where actual historic levels should be. (Please correct me if my sources are wrong.) Don’t forget to sign up for the June 11th workshop by Audubon and Trout Unlimited and on June 17th for …

Public Access Boat Ramp in Sutton Meets the 21st Century

The Sutton Highway Department has been hard at work the past couple of weeks bringing new technology to the Public Access Boat Ramp at Torrey Road. These improvements are possible through the federally funded EPA/DEP grant (Clean Waters Act s. 319 Non-point Source Pollution Grant) written, obtained and managed by the MPA to address stormwater and pollution runoff into the lake. The town is reimbursed for all materials used in the project. As I understand it, the two old storm drains brought stormwater to a pipe which ran under the length of the parking lot to a ditch which led directly into the lake. These weeds at the outlet are the direct result of that runoff. In addition to updating the two stormdrains/catch basins, this filtering pool will catch the nutrients before they enter the lake. Grass seed has been planted with a straw mat put down to prevent erosion until the grass takes hold. The existing weed bed in the lake lies beyond the temporary hay bales. This area is designed to catch rainwater running directly on the pavement of the parking lot. The center is the location of a “rain garden” which will be planted later in the …

Comments on The Value of Water…

Do you check back on earlier posts to read the comments left by other readers? They can be quite interesting and they allow me to answer questions, going into greater detail. Comments can be anonymous, signed with your name, or a pen name. The original post and the thread of comments below raise quite a few side topics we could explore… read on and stay tuned! Comment if you like… Here’s a thread from “The Value of Water: Part One”5 comments: Anonymous said… Writer, What is your feelings on how this decesion of the Reservoir Watershed is and how this could effect Lake Manchaug? Does this mean the lake is possibly going to face the low levels again and suffer fish and other species loss in the near future? Thank you for a response. June 03, 2009 9:47 AM Corresponding Secretary said… I do not see the decision of Whitin’s district having an effect on Manchaug Pond. The care and preservation of Manchaug Pond is under the watchful eyes of the Manchaug Pond Association, MassDEP, MassWildlife, Mass Office of Boating and Fishing Access, the Sutton Conservation Commission, Douglas Conservation Commission, Senator Moore, Rep. Kujawski and Rep. Callahan and many others. …