Keep up with the Manchaug Pond Foundation!
Go back and take a look at older posts to see what readers have to say… KGB has left a new comment on your post “Dam FOR SALE to the right owner!”: Instead of putting up a fence, the dam owner should have put in the boards. geesh! Also check out photos sent in by our newest photographer! He sure did capture two of the happiest workers! I’d like to suggest that a few of you readers start your own blog! Use sites like Blogger or WordPress, they make it easy.
These photos came in late last night. Taken the fall of 2006 at one of the 3 campgrounds directly on Manchaug Pond, this shows the importance of the waterlevel and how the dam owner can make you or break you. This is a waterfront campsite. The lake begins just after the trees. The dam owner took the water level down to make repairs to the spillway gate in 2006 – but timing being everything… that drawdown was delayed til fall after the recreation season dies down. The low water level did have a negative impact on a couple wells, and one cove still reports no peepers or bull frogs since. The lake was brought up immediately after the repairs were completed – impact was minimized as the safety issue was fully addressed. Today we question the need to maintain the water level low as we have heard of no threat to safety. The dam owner still owns this dam, we ask you to honor your committment and service to this community.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post “Boards Still Out, Prop Problems”: So we did’nt get any new info from the May 5th meeting and I saw that the following day could shed some light on the issues. Have we had anymore progress with the dam? Are we just hoping that someone puts the boards in? Dear Reader, The MPA is looking for two things: 1. Short term – to get the waterlevel up ASAP (Dam Owner! how about 5 of the seven boards!) to a reasonable level to ensure the safety of boaters especially those visitors from the Public Access Boat Ramp and campgrounds who don’t know the lake as well; for the health and well-being of aquatic species, amphibians and reptiles; to prevent excessive invasive aquatic weed growth; for the recreation of day campers from the YMCA facility, and the seasonal campers at the 3-4 campgrounds of the watershed; the continued economic health of the family-based businesses on Manchaug Pond and the tourism dollars they bring into our communities; as well as preserving property values of lake and near-lake property owners.2. Long term – secure a dam owner who is interested in working with us to …
Our MPA President confirmed that as of last night around 6:30 there are still NO flashboards in the dam spillway and the reports received from lake neighbors concerning a fence were true. President Dave confirmed the fence was extended higher around the gate. We would all like a few flashboards in especially with the rain we had last night. We’ll see if the dam owner is hearing our cry from around the lake. I know putting flashboards back into the spillway is definitely a two man job… so perhaps the mill has to find a second man off the street to help the lone millkeeper. I know, I know, about 50 of you would volunteer and be down there in a flash to lend him a hand!! :)) So helpful, concerned and cooperative! That’s us! Seriously, let’s hope they take action today! This is not making for good relations and it is costing businesses around the lake dearly. And how about last night’s fishing tournament from the club using the state Public Access Boat Ramp?! With 15 plus boats out there, and I was wondering how they were all doing navigating around the rocks especially when they love to fish …
This blog entry is unconfirmed/unofficial info… I have not seen orconfirmed this myself but heard it from a few sources tonight. I’lltake a walk tomorrow with my camera and check it out for myself andtake a few photos so you can see for yourself. This is the word on the street – from the Torrey Road to be exact! The neighborsreport… A red truck from Charlton Fence came in and added more fenceto extend the cage around the dam controls. Remember the dam owner reportedtwo incidences of vandalism to the spillway controls this past month.Funny, that in 25 years, this is the first vandalism I’ve heard of or seen – except for couple painted signs. Anyway, seems the dam owner is trying to secure everything here inMassachusetts: the mill is empty, the contents sold, the staff reducedto one or two and the whole package – mill and three dams – is up for sale. But while they are waiting for just the right buyer for the mill or a dam or two, they need to further button things up, limit the liability, tie up the loose ends until it can be sold in whole or in parts. Too bad our …
Sunday night the Channel 5 news at 11 highlighted unsafe dams in Massachusetts. Of course the Manchaug Pond dam did NOT make the broadcast nor did it make the list provided by the Office of Dam Safety. Check out this link yourself to read the Channel 5 investigation, to view the video broadcast and to check out a pdf list from Dam Safety of unsafe and poorly kept dams.http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/16117642/detail.html The past few weeks we have heard some tall tales and good rumors being told about Manchaug Pond and its dam. One of our MPA officers was across town in the Sutton village of Wilkinsonville at a local store only to hear tales being told of the condition of our dam. Again, Manchaug is a well-maintained dam: the MPA has on file years of inspection reports and has been kept informed as to repairs and the like from the dam owner. This photo taken in October of 2006 by our President during a tour of the dam while repairs and improvements were being made. This is a view of the inside of the spillway.
Today, the dam owner did meet with the Office of Dam Safety to obtain their recommendation as to how they can best address the guidelines the DCR Office of Dam Safety put forth since the dam owner went through the inspection process two years ago. Our MPA President did receive the anxiously awaited call this evening and was given details as to what was considered, for how long and by whom, etc…seems the concerns raised by lake residents and businesses were examined and discussed….but as to the outcome of the meeting…. seems there will be more discussion going on by the powers that be again tomorrow. Our hope is, at the very least, that a few flashboards be put back in the dam… Soon…. Please…
Here’s a photo of the dam at Whitin Reservoir in Douglas, the residents of Whitin share our concern of a low waterlevel. Both Manchaug and Whitin’s dams are owned by the same parent company. With the closing of their mill in Douglas, the contents of the mill was sold off, the mill put up for sale, and the local staff reduced to two employees. The mill utilized the flow of the Mumford River from Manchaug and Whitin to wash the fabric produced at the mill and for their own sewage plant. The water of both Manchaug and Whitin shared this load. Today, no longer needed by the mill, the waters remain a valuable resource for the residents of both lakes and for the downstream activities including the Town of Douglas’ sewerage treatment plant which request 16 cubic feet of continuous flow. In addition to its shoreline residents, Manchaug is also of prime importance to thousands of visitors year round. Many recreational boaters,individuals and families and bass and canoe/kayak clubs who come through the state Public Access Boat Ramp each day or with organized event and tournaments. The lake is also the home of the YMCA Camp Blanchard facility who buses …
It has been pretty rainy the last few days with more rain in the forecast. The rain has brought the water up a couple inches putting the pontoons in the water but we are still not floating. If the flashboards go in, this rain is saturating the ground of the watershed which will make for more runoff to fill us up. I find it amazing how soon the green plants begin to fill in the newly exposed shoreline.
This was forwarded to the MPA early this afternoon. Just one of many calls and emails we have fielded. This email is another which was sent to the Office of Dam Safety who is welcoming the input of residents and lake users. “I have been a summer resident of Manchaug Pond in Douglas MA since 1984. During that period we have seen many years of high water, thanks to the stewardship of Guilford Industries (Interface, as it is now known). They were forever watchful of weather forecasts and would react to impending situations before they became problems. The spillway at the dam has been adequate all these years and as I can recall the flashboards were very seldom used to control the water level. The low-level gate had always been sufficient. I feel that if the continued monitoring of weather conditions and lake level continues there should be little concern about the safety of those downstream. My concerns also go to septic systems. Each year, there would be a drawdown of the water in the fall to prevent damage to walls, etc from ice, allow for some repairs if necessary, and to help control the weed growth in the pond. …
Here’s an email just in from Manchaug Pond’s Area 8: To: Tom.Famulari@State.MA.US Please raise the water level back to historically normal levels at this time of year. Although everyone agrees safety is paramount, please emphasize to the dam owner your guidelines are not intended to unreasonably interfere with recreational use of Manchaug Pond. Thank you for your help
I’ve only been on the lake about 25 years. But this was a first for me… seeing this little truck in the sand along the Manchaug Road, Sutton side of Manchaug Pond. Usually this area is 3 plus feet under water in the spring and summer. This is the first year I don’t hear the spring peepers singing us to sleep in the evening, as the cove and adjoining wetlands are pretty dry. Did you get a letter from Interface about the water level? I didn’t get one because my husband and I don’t own waterfront property – we’re one row back and have waterrights to a beach area as do the rest of the property owners on our road. Even though we’re one row back, my husband did complain to me of dead fish smell the other day. This is the first year of many that one of my kids hasn’t been swimming yet. I have a couple of hardy girls that take their first dip in March or April depending on when the ice melts. It’s May now and the water is down just over the large rocks and boulders we stand on in the summer. This is …
