Today’s fishing

With the comment “We are glad the water is up!”, one of our readers sent these photos… …of three fisherman and the fish caught on the second cast. 4 lbs. 2 oz. is the record for Calico Bass in Massachusetts. For information on fishing Massachusetts waters- best ponds for bass, last year’s trophy winners, record catches, boat ramp maps, etc go to MassWildlife at this link: http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recreation/fishing/fishing_home.htm

A Dam, 2 Docks and Conservation

Flashboards are still in! Water continues to come up but as you can see we still have a ways to full. If you look on the left side of the boards you’ll see little red tags. Each board is numbered. 4 boards are visible, 3 underwater making for 7 total. Once they are all under water, we are told we will have realized a 3 1/2 foot increase in the level of the water. A buzz around the lake shows a few boats at docks in the campgrounds as the campers arrive at their summer homes. Seasonal cottages and year round homes are still pretty quiet and docks which spent the fall and winter on the shore are floating away with the rising waters. These two where photographed yesterday evening. I am sure they will be rescued and secured over the weekend. On another note, a few MPA members are heading out this morning to River Bend Farm in Uxbridge to attend a workshop given by the New England Wildflower Society and the Metacomet Land Trust on Invasive Species from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.As you may know, Metacomet conserves properties right here in the Manchaug Pond Watershed – with …

The Dam Owner’s Plan for Manchaug Pond

To read the dam owner’s proposal (Notice of Intent) for Manchaug Pond go to the website of the Douglas Conservation Commission at this link:http://www.douglasma.org/cdd/concom/news.htm This in about the judge’s decision at the Worcester Superior Court:The electronic docket contains the following text: ORDER on Plaintiff’s Motion for a Preliminary Injunction: The Court Denies Plaintiff’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction. The Court is mindful that the situation may change rapidly and that the competing risks and harms may vary depending upon conditions. Therefore the court’s present ruling is made without prejudice to the refiling of this motion should a substantial change of conditions necessitate the same.(see order) (Peter W. Agnes, Jr., Justice) copies mailed 5-13-09

Judge Rules Flashboards Stay In!

As previously reported, the owner of the Manchaug Pond dam filed a civil suit in Worcester Superior Court against MassDEP Unilateral Adm. Order and the Sutton Conservation Commission Order of Conditions (both call for the flashboards in) asking the court to direct the agency & commission to issue a new order consistant with their Amended Notice of Intent filed by Manchaug Reservoir Corp on February 4, 2009. Well, today the judge made his decision. You will be very pleased to know that the judge has DENIED the company’s request for an injunction. Therefore, the boards must remain in place. We also await the decision of the MassDEP in the dam owner’s appeal to that agency as they did not like the Sutton Conservation Commission’s Order of Conditions. And since Manchaug Pond is in two towns, we are also turning to Douglas who will review the dam owner’s proposal with the public hearing before the Douglas Conservation Commission scheduled for June 15th – 8:00 p.m. for Whitin Reservoir and 8:30 p.m. for Manchaug.

s. 319 NPS Pollution Grant Work Begins in Sutton

Yesterday the Sutton Highway Department began work at the State Public Access Boat Ramp as outlined in the EPA/DEP s. 319 Non Point Source Pollution Grant project for Manchaug Pond. Replacing the pipe that went directly into the lake will be a filtering pool lined with stone. The stone used around this pipe is “historic” rock, I was told, coming from the egg farm which once stood at the present site of the Manchaug Fire Station just down from Steven’s Pond dam. This filtering sturcture, pervious pavers and a rain garden in addition to the upgrade of the two existing catch basins will address run off at the ramp which have caused these “phragmites” to grow.

Whose Reading the Blog?!

Readership. I find it fascinating! Three counters on the blog track our readers. Google Analysis says readership is up 31% with 967 visitors checking in 6,011 times since January 1, 2009. Significant wouldn’t you say for a small pond in central Massachusetts with only 120 or so shoreline and waterrights property owners. Wednesday May 6th was a big day with 114 visits. Between 35-70 loyal visitors checking in everyday – 85% are returning visitors and 15% are new. How do our readers find us? Most, 46%, come in directly knowing our website, 44% come in from a search engine such as google, yahoo, or aol with the other 10% referred from verizon or blogger. Those who do a search, type in such things as “manchaug pond blog”, or whitin and manchaug reservoir”, or “manchaug pond dam” or “lake manchaug assn”. Once in a while a reader comes to the site as a result of a search for something like “flashboards,” “how litter hurts a lake” or “Manchaug Indians.” The keyword search “dep#303-669” brought us 61 visitors while “Lip Rippers Bass Club” brought in 21. “Manchaug Pond Association” and “manchaug pond” are the two most common search words. Two other counters …

Trip Around the Lake

Back in the 40 year old 12ft Mirrocraft with the new 4 HP Yamaha for an evening drive around the lake. Got to love it! Very different feel from the 28 ft pontoon boat. The SanPan is still hung up on the rocks from the late winter ice floe, suffering from low water. But the water is rising, the flashboards are still in, and no new news from the court room saying things should be any different.

Windy Mother’s Day

What a wind! So we headed to the west side of the lake where the ledge and hill side offered protection. Otherwise it was a beautiful, sunny day with the waterlevel continuing to rise. Today may bring more news on the legal front with the dam owners civil suit against the Town of Sutton and the MassDEP. I’ll let you know if I hear anything.

Campers Arriving & Tournaments in Full Swing- Summer Season is Here!

It was a beautiful day on Manchaug Pond. A trip around the lake in the Mirrocraft row boat equipped with new oars and a new 4HP Yamaha engine revealed campers setting up, bass boats fishing, a cormorant diving for lunch and a few boats actually sitting in a bit of water at the campground docks. That dock that got loose last week has settled on the sand bar at Blueberry Island and appears to be one from the YMCA. Rain and run-off continue to bring the water level up. Although we still have a good two feet (up) to go at least we are above last year’s fish kill level.

Manchaug Pond: “Should be Preserved Forever”

“Two occasions on the lake during the summer and fall of 2008, I observed a BALD EAGLE. The confirmation of the species was confirmed by observation at distances as close as 50 meters, and with binoculars. The environment available to this grand creature should be preserved forever. Thank you.” Submitted this week by an MPA member with their dues/support form. See this photo and more Alaskan photos of eagles fishing/swimming on this website:http://www.ketchikanphotos.com/Wildlife/Bald-Eagle-swimming.html