I’m with you, Bubby!

Anonymous said… This is more like a drama blog on a yearly basis. Boards will be in and everything will work out. Have a great summer….bubby April 17, 2009 3:51 PM Bubby! I totally agree… but if you only knew how much time the MPA Board of Directors and so many others on the town and state level are putting into this drama you’d buy a front row seat! Here’s a look at the flow leaving Manchaug today. Open and open WIDE! Totally white water. The area between the two ponds, Manchaug and Steven’s, is totally flooded. Yesterday when I walked by I could clearly see the land where the skunk cabbage is growing. Why? Ready Bubby for more drama? Here we go… April 15th MassDEP’s Wetlands Section Chief held a site evaluation at Manchaug Pond. He started the meeting at the dam, walked down to a wetland on Holt Road, and then drove to the inlet at The Old Holbrook Place Campground. What did he find… low-level gate open, no flashboards in and water flowing over the spillway; bordering wetlands down 2 feet and drying out; all 5 1/2 miles of bank dry; the majority of the shoreline in …

Cleanup Keeps a Tally

“Everybody’s Runnin on Dunkin and I’m Not Lovin it” Our 1st Vice President and Cleanup Coordinator got creative this year and brought us a new slogan! She also asked the 23 volunteers to keep a tally sheet of what they picked along the roadside and shoreside, wanting to know where the trash is coming from. As volunteers checked in we found the brands were specific to certain areas. McDonald and plastic bottles were reported popular in the coves; McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, cigarette packs along Manchaug Road, glass vodka bottles at the ramp, etc. Also note the bottle return for Aquafin water in ME and CA but NOT MA.

Runoff from the watershed – Cleanup tomorrow

Water continues to flow into Manchaug Pond from the watershed. This particular Sutton unnamed tributary was surveyed last summer by MassWildlife – 120 brook trout were counted. Tomorrow is our Spring Cleanup event. See my previous post for details…. See you out there!

Hang Tight – Don’t Panic and Don’t Act Desperate!

Here’s the recap as of today: Our dam owner filed a NOI (Notice of Intent) last August with the Conservation Commission in Sutton to take the water level down. March 4th there was another public hearing before Sutton Conservation Commission at which the dam owner presented an even lower level siting a need to comply with 1/2 PMF Storm Standard (Possible Maximum Flood – lot of variables go into the calculation and it is specific for each dam – etc. Rip rap or black top on the earthen side is the solution.) Bottomline: Dam owner is trying to identify a new owner for the dam. Whitin Watershed District reports a friendly take over of their dam is just a vote away with the details all ironed out. With respects to Manchaug Pond Dam, the dam owner reports all serious proposals will be considered! To date we have on record: * a 3/24/09 order from Sutton Conservation Commission to keep at historic levels. * a 4/6/09 letter from Office of Dam Safety to dam owner stating the dam has not been ruled unsafe, please submit more info, and dam owner is obligated to comply with local Conservation Commissions. * a 4/9/09 …

While Push Continues for Flashboards… WATCH OUT FOR ROCKS!

All are still pressing for “flashboards in!” …. more calls yesterday and today, more meetings scheduled on the push… This morning the lake was calm – like a mirror. Three bass fishing boats from the State Public Access Ramp came up the channel at a snail’s pace, motors tipped up, with a man at the each bow watching and directing to avoid the submerged rocks. Makes you want to yell, “stay right!” and once through the old dam, “stay in the middle!” This photo was taken Tuesday at the ramp:

What’s the Score! Flashboards__ Breach ___

If you go back and read comments sent in by readers and my responses, you gain a bit more insight into the game, the complexity of it and the ever-evolving plan. I can tell you that this past month the game has gone from a slow moving football-type game of delays and postponements to a rousing game of ping pong with the ball change hands repeatedly this week alone. New info may be out there that I am not yet aware, but here’s a few answers for today… Are the flashboards in? Could be – I haven’t heard or driven by yet today. Sutton Conservation Commission (SCC) ordered them in so that historic levels could be maintained. 1-0 The 10 day waiting period has passed earlier this week so now we will see compliance or enforcement. Did the dam owner appeal to DEP because they didn’t like the SCC ruling? Sure they did – at the last “hour” so to speak – for more delays. I will tell you now that the MPA discussed appealing the decision to DEP before it came out if SCC ruled anything less than historic – last year we had a major fish kill at …

Horse-Keeping Seminar Scheduled – April 25th

How about a Mass Aggie Horsekeeping Seminar ! In cooperation with UMass Extension and the MPA’s 319 Grant educational program, a horse keeping seminar will be held Saturday April 25th, 2009 in the Sutton Town Hall. All are welcome! Here’s the agenda: 10 a.m. BASICS OF PASTURE MANAGEMENT – Dr. Stephen Herbert Well managed pastures can furnish high-quality, nutritious feed at a relatively low cost. Dr. Stephen Herbert will discuss the basics of pasture establishment, and managing pastures for horse and livestock. 11 a.m. WEEDS AND POISONOUS PLANTS IN PASTURES – Randall Prostak Many weeds in pastures are actually quite palatable and nutritious if the pasture is maintained in a vegetative state and not allowed to become too mature. Both, horses and livestock usually avoid eating poisonous plants as long as quality hay or pasture is available. However, faced with no pasture or hay, an animal might decide to sample one of the poisonous weeds. An overview of weed management in pasture and hay fields will be discussed. 12:00 p.m. Lunch provided 12:30 p.m. EQUINE AND LIVESTOCK BARNYARD MANAGEMENT – Dr. Masoud HashemiSpring rains may result in manure and mud runoff threatening water quality. Dr. Hashemi will discuss managing nutrients …

Noteworthy Quote

“In the end, our society will be defined not only by what we create, but by what we refuse to destroy.” Nature Conservancy’s John Sawhill

A Word of Thanks to the MPA Board of Directors

A message of appreciation to the MPA Board of Directors from an MPA Member, received April 3rd: “Many thanks for your regular updates to the blog and for the emails… I do miss the days of Fuddy stopping by my house and telling me about the flashboards and/or how many inches he had the gate open. As a relatively new property owner on the lake I really appreciate all the time and effort the MPA board has put into this and the professional approach from all. Thanks again-“

Manchaug Wildlife: Woodpeckers of all kinds!

Through it all, we are finding new friends who share our love for the lake and the quality of life offered by the area – and who appreciate the forum offered by the MPA. This photo and message were submitted this week from a new friend in the watershed. “Thank you for all the background information about the pond and ramp. I have seen that you enjoy reporting about the birds and wildlife in the watershed. Last week I observed 5 different kinds of woodpeckers in my back yard. Male and female downy woodpeckers A male hairy woodpecker Male and female red-bellied woodpeckers A northern “yellow shafted” flicker and a pileated woodpecker (see photo attached) Thanks, again.” What a great photo Dick! Last summer we often hear three pileateds calling to each and their distinctive drumming resonating through the nieghborhood. They are huge, loud birds! My daughter in the Douglas woods has quite a few new holes in the oaks in her yard. No small damage! We’ll have to see if we can find where they nest. Thanks for submitting!

April 18th MANCHAUG POND ANNUAL CLEAN-UP

SATURDAY, April 18th beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the State Public Boat Ramp, in cooperation with the Town of Sutton Highway Department and enhanced by our DEP 319 Non Point Source Pollution Grant… MPA members and friends will hit the pavement with gloves and garbage bags in hand to clean the roadsides, break the waves with small boats and long arms to clean the shoreline and take to the turf with rakes to spruce up the ramp all in a Manchaug Pond/watershed-wide cleanup event! So mark your calendar, call out your Boy and Girl Scout Troop, grab the neighbor and relatives and get out here and join us! Come early, stay late! Come late, leave early! Just come :)) Rain or Shine! Bags and the dump truck will be provided but you should bring your own gloves, rake, etc. We’ll ask the treasurer to pick up a few refreshments. The educational exhibit made possible by our DEP 319 grant will provide info on lawn and landscape maintenance in a watershed, septic system maintenance, rain gardens and more! Free handouts. Check the archives for photos of our past spring and fall cleanup events! Check DEP’s site: http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/319rfr09.htm Section 319 of the …