Today the MPA President received a call from the dam owner. The reason we’re open? My guess would be Hanna, Ike and the other potential storms of the Hurricane Season which give the dam owner a legitimate reason to open things up. Even though we still haven’t reached our summer high for waterlevel yet. Also the previous caretaker would have given the MPA a courtesy call notify us of the opening- reason and how much – so we could “let the people around the lake know.” We had a friendly working relationship with him, it would be nice if that continued with the two new caretakers. Perhaps the dam owner’s spokesman will call next week with an update.
Public Hearing Continued to Oct 15
Last night the Sutton Conservation Commission once again took up the subject of dam owner’s proposed new lower water level. I’ll give you more details later today…. but for now… The public still has an opportunity to submit comments and concerns as to the impact of this low water level on the wetlands, wildlife, etc to the Commission…. and we hope to see you Oct 15th at 7:00, Sutton Town Hall for the next meeting. This is a 2006 file photo of the cove at the Old Holbrook Campground. Try fishing at that campsite! Looks more like a bog than a lake!
Tonight: 9:15 at Sutton Con. Com Mtg
Manchaug Pond is on the agenda for 9:15… the time was just confirmed by our 1st VP at the Town Hall… and they have a quorum. See you there. Should I mention that I submitted the requested documentation proving we have fanwort -a 2003 Aquatic Weed Survey conducted by Lycott Environmental as well as information on lake level drawdown, timing of when to lower and when to raise as well as other info.
Con Com Mtg Tomorrow Night
The continuation of the Sutton Conservation Commission’s review of the new water level for Manchaug Pond proposed by the dam owner is slated for this Wednesday, September 17th in the Sutton Town Hall. As of yesterday the secretary reported that this item is scheduled for 9:15 p.m. on the agenda. But stay tuned, I’ll report here if there is a change… rumor has it that due to the large turnout and the time needed to consider the topic, the Con Com may postpone to a separate Wed. where it would be a stand alone issue at that meeting. Will keep you posted. Here’s a photo of the Old Holbrook Place campground in 2006 when the dam owner took the water down to make repairs. You can see that Manchaug Pond, especially on the Sutton side, is very shallow. Taking the water level down 3-4 feet can leave quite a few docks stranded, coves dry and the water yards away from the shore. Looking at this makes it very easy to understand why timing with a drawdown is SO important – why the fish kill, why boats hit rocks, how docks became useless, why wildlife was lost in the coves, and …
Water is flowing…
Yes the water is flowing and yes the blog has been too quiet. And you asked what’s new? Today, Monday is a beautiful, cool sunny day on Manchaug Pond in the mid 60s. Yesterday was just as beautiful with a breeze. Saturday into Sunday early morning, Manchaug Pond received a total of 5 inches of rainfall from the remnant of hurricane Hanna. Water is running downstream from Manchaug Pond out the low-level gate and under the flashboards. Friday, two “men in boots” were at the dam opening things up – the lowlevel gate was opened a good amount letting white water flow and the sandbags were removed from the spillway flashboardsso water could flow beneath them (remember the little stone situated under the bottom flashboard allowing water to run out the spillway even with the flashboards in…) The reason we’re open? My guess would be Hanna, Ike and the other potential storms ofHurricane Season which give the dam owner a legitimate reason to open things up. Even though we still haven’t reached our summer high for waterlevel yet. Also the previous caretaker would have given the MPA a courtesy call notify us of the opening- reason and how much – …
Join the Public Hearing for the Manchaug Pond Waterlevel!
3-Sep-2008 Wednesday 7:00PM PUBLIC HEARING ~ WETLANDS PROTECTION ACTSutton Conservation CommissionSutton Town Hall, 4 Uxbridge Road, Sutton. Come stand with the Manchaug Pond Association in support of the lake by attending this important meeting. Of concern is the dam owner’s new plan to further lower the water level. We have already experienced negative impacts to our lake with the drying of coves, wetland and channel areas; major fish kills involving all species; decline or loss of spring peepers/amphibian populations; excessive weed growth; public safety hazards from exposed rocks; loss of revenue to town and area businesses with drop in visitors to the State Public Access Boat Ramp and campgrounds. See what it is all about!
Caught in an Artic Votex
Where have I been?! July 28th was my last blog entry here, snuck in the one on August 2nd and now another dated August 14th! The blog has been in a big void especially with everything going on. The weatherman says we have been in an arctic vortex…. sure! http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a010000/a010005/index.html http://nsidc.org/arcticmet/patterns/arctic_oscillation.htmlhttp://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA03448 Sure! I can definitely relate to that! Look at the photo of a whole lane of artic vortexes! But with all this exceptionally rainy season, the dam owner’s representative reported the lake had come up only 11 inches by July 30. Two months later with plenty of help from nature, the dam owner missed by a few feet their new “Full” date goal of June 1st. The weather has been swirling around us bring in storm after storm. But so has life and the issues the MPA is facing on behalf of Manchaug Pond. We are the busiest we have been in years! Save Wednesday evening, September 3rd on your calendar for Manchaug Pond. Stay tuned and the next post will give you a major update!
Going back to read the comments…
Hello readers! Lets go back and read the three comments posted after the last blog entry just to catch us up with life!Blogger leslie said… I am a seasonal resident on Lake Manchug, after reading this article I didn’t see anything that said the water level would not be an issue again next year. Is there something that the seasonal residents can do to ensure this does not happen again. Can the company that has rights to the dam leave it open again next year. July 30, 2008 8:20 AM Anonymous Anonymous said… I would have asked the governor if he would commit to fast track legislation to have the Office of Dam Safety take ownership and control of the Manchaug Pond Dam. The Office of Dam Safety currently controls 341 dams throughout the state, Manchaug Pond should also be one of them. Manchaug Pond is a Great Pond and should have enough water in it to be enjoyed by the Commonwealth(read all about it in Chapter 91, The Massachusetts Public Waterfront Act of 1866). From the website www.mass.gov/dep/water/resources/about01.htm “Through Chapter 91, the Commonwealth seeks to preserve and protect the rights of the public and to guarantee that private uses …
MPA Talks With Governor Deval Patrick
Who cares about Manchaug Pond today? Who cares about our low water level? Who cares that some property owners around the lake still can’t get their motorboat in the water? Who cares Manchaug had a major fish kill with over 200 dead fish counted in three locations? Who cares that the spring peepers are gone from one of our coves because it is dry? Who cares that the yearly routine maintenance on the dam didn’t happen last year and hasn’t happen yet this year? Who cares that gate receipts at the state ramp are down as visitors don’t like low water, hitting rocks and broken props? Who cares? The MPA cares! 100 members strong, with over 40 years of stewardship, the MPA continues telling others why they need to care about Manchaug Pond. Rep. Kujawski suggested to a couple MPA members who live in his district that they attend the Governor’s Town Meeting Tour in Webster to talk about Manchaug Pond. Rep. Kujawski cares about Manchaug Pond. Last Wednesday, the MPA came face to face with Governor Deval Patrick! Right there at Bartlett High School in Webster the MPA spoke for you to the Governor. Wait! First… tell me what …
From Sunday to Sunday – 10 inches of rain!
From last Sunday to today we have had numerous thunderstorms bring us a total of over 10 inches of rain by the little garden rain gauge! This photo of the flash boards taken on Friday showed 4 1/2 boards out of 7 still exposed. The waterlevel should continue to go up as runoff water flows in from the watershed and of course with more rain in the forecast. Tonight’s sunset was exceptionally beautiful after the thunderstorm. And my husband reports the old 28ft pontoon boat is finally floating – front and back!
Clouds were building for this much needed rain!
When I took the photos of the contrails, the clouds were building for the much needed rain we are now finally receiving. With the warm weather, the lake was going down further and further reaching a point where many of us were loosing the couple inches of water that made it possible to get our boats out on the lake. Worcester County has been receiving rain but not here on Manchaug Pond. As a neighbor put it “There’s an umbrella over Manchaug with storms all around us!” I’d receive phone calls during the day from board members who work in Westboro, Northbridge and other areas of Worcester County, all excited to report the 2 inches of rain they were receiving to have me report dry conditions lake side. Well that is over as this week the skies have opened up on Manchaug Pond! Sunday afternoon brought almost an inch, Sunday night saw winds of 23.7 miles per hour with more rain to bring the total by Tuesday to over 2 1/2. Keep it coming!! Skies the day of the contrails: Area 2 looks like the Golden City!
Contrails
Couple photos taken the beginning of the week: