Making Way for Spring

This past week’s warmer temps, torrential rains and the weekend’s high winds have caused the ice to totally disappear between the old causeway and the dam. The main part of the lake still has quite a bit of ice on it, but certainly not safe for any kind of sport. The high waterlevel and ice continues to raise havoc with docks around the lake’s shore. Inspite of the dam being wide open, the tremondous runoff from the watershed continues to bring the water level up. Here’s a photo of the lake just last week – the circles in the snow reminded me of those mysterious circles you read about in corn fields.

Yesterday Morning Photos

Yesterday morning saw a temperature of 16 degrees F, freezing the water which flows from the ledge of the watershed. Today is a bit warmer at 24, but still cold enough to put a skim of ice on the open water going through the Old Causeway. The waterlevel remains high, even with the dam open, twisting our docks out of shape. The high level will also give us very little weed control this summer.

Another Dam in the News!

http://helpsavethelake.com/photos.php http://www.wickedlocal.com/tauntongazette/obituaries/x1288316308

Snow Cover + Warm Temperatures + Rain = Runoff Problems

Manchaug Pond is fed by runoff from the watershed – not by springs. This means that the waterlevel of the pond goes up with precipitation and from the water that drains in from the surrounding yards, forests and hillsides. Today’s warm temperatures caused most of the 2 inch snowcover in the watershed to melt. With frozen and saturated ground and heavy rains, this brought a lot of water into the lake from the watershed. Of concern to the MPA are the problems which arise from this stormwater runoff: flooded roads, erosion, non-point source pollution of sediment, organic matter, road salt, etc. Our 319 grant will address 5 such problem sites around the lake. These photos taken today show just 2 out of over 20 non-point source pollution problem areas identified around Manchaug Pond. The 319 grant will address pipes such as this which go directly into the lake to be replaced with retention pools, stormdrains and other designs which will filter the stormwater before it gets to the lake. Eliminating these sources of pollution will greatly reduce aquatic weed growth and improve the quality of the waters of Manchaug Pond. Thanks to our 1st Vice President and 319 Grant Coordinator …

Lunar Eclipse on Weds., Feb 20th

While this photo was taken of a full moon over the YMCA Camp Blanchard on Manchaug Pond the evening of January 21st, this Wednesday will give us all plenty of opportunity – actual 3 hours and 26 minutes – to view and capture photos of a lunar eclipse. The eclipse will begin at 8:43 p.m. in eastern North America with totality or mid-eclipse being reached at 10:26 p.m. The moon travels west to east and is very visible in the evening/night sky from Manchaug Pond, especially in the early evening from areas 5,6,7, 8 and 1. Below are a couple of links from NASA which will aid your viewing – even instructions on photographing. Mid-eclipse can be particularly spectacular as the moon can take on a very vibrant red-orange glow. http://www.mreclipse.com/Special/LEprimer.html http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEmono/TLE2008Feb21/TLE2008Feb21.html If you do take a photo – please email it to me and I’ll share it with our readers.

Dam Open as Rain and Snow Continue

Pictures taken this morning as the dam was open has it has been this past week sending more white water out of Manchaug Pond and flooding the area below the dam.

What’s for Dinner?

During dinner, he looked out the window toward the lake and said, “We could have had goose!”

Turkey for a Manchaug Pond Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! While turkey maybe on the menu in most parts of the US, here on Manchaug Pond they are the guests! Do you see them?! In area 3, a flock of over 20 frequently visits a number of homes along Manchaug and Torrey Roads. As you are driving, watch for them and our female deer and her three young ones born this spring. Preserving open space is another reason to form a watershed district. As property comes up for sale, conservation grants are available to secure this land to maintain wildlife corridors and protect endangered species common to our watershed.

Sutton Conservation Commission to Hold Mtg on Docks

The Sutton Conservation Commission is holding another meeting to discuss lakes and ponds on Wednesday, November 14th at 7:00 p.m. in the Sutton Town Hall. Dock regulations have been the topic of recent board discussions. Public attendence at those meetings has been by non-lake residents as well as residents from ponds with and without public access. In September of this year, Sutton Conservation Commission enacted “non-dock regulations on 300 ft. abutters notification, 2 1/2″ tree replacement (less if due to poor access) for trees felled in the jurisdiction greater than 5″, and the requirement to use 20-0-10 (or comparable), zero-phosphate, slow-release fertilizer w/in 200′ of any waterbody, wetlands or stream.” As in the past, the MPA will continue to take a strong role in educating Manchaug Pond lake abutters, watershed friends of Manchaug Pond, and others as to current state and local regulations and concrete ways to minimize and eliminate negative impacts to the lake. New docks have not been an big issue on Manchaug Pond as we have had just a couple new docks in the past few years with the sale of a couple old homes/summer cottage – the state Dep and local Sutton permit notices are posted …