Many may think the lake is in great shape but those who have enjoyed it’s waters for 20, 30 or more years tell a different story. “You could see the bottom clearly!” and less weeds! Today’s Telegram and Gazette ran an article about new EPA regulations and the Route 20 sewage treatment plant. “Environmental officials have attributed low oxygen levels in the bay (Narragansett Bay in Rhodes Island) to the Blackstone River, and in part to the wastewater treatment facility and to companies that border the river,” the article reports. There is some debate whether or not the treatment plant is really to blame. The concern is the “release of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients which increase algae and other plant life that, when the die, reduce oxygen in the water.” What does this have to do with Manchaug Pond, you ask? Well, let me quote a description from our grant project: “The Pond (Manchaug) is 303d listed impaired by organic enrichment, low dissolved oxygen, and noxious aquatic plants and exotic species. Manchaug Pond directly feeds the Mumford River, which leads to the Blackstone River, both rivers are also 303d waterbodies.” Now clearly the Route 20 facility has nothing to do …
A Boat Ramp in the News
Manchaug Pond Public Boat Ramp Winter 2007 Today I found an interesting article in the Worcester Telegram whichtells of an effort to build a boat launch at South Meadow Pond inClinton. What I found interesting is that the state Office of Fishingand Boating is supporting a small ramp which allows “only boats thatcan be brought in on top of cars, such as canoes and kayaks.”Fishermen, the neighboring property owner and the Town – Selectman,Department Heads and a subcommittee – support a larger ramp whichwould allow the parking of cars with trailers. Mr. Jack Sheppard,Director of the state Department of Fish and Game, which encompasses thefishing and boating access office, believes “the pond size, wetlandconsiderations and financial factors dictate that a car-top access ismost appropriate for this location.” The Manchaug Pond boat ramp is also a ramp under the jurisdiction of the Department of Fish and Game, presently managed by the Town of Sutton. Previously it was managed by the DEM. Overuse, illegal parking of the Torrey Road and neighbors’ property, dumping on Blueberry Island are among the reasons the MPA asked for town management which include a gate, port-o-let and a gatekeeper on weekends during the season. For more info:This …
Eagle Spotted in Area 7
Just received a call that the eagle was sighted twice this afternoon in Area 7. I sure would love a photo if someone can get the camera out fast enough! Check my past post on eagles for the link to the eagle cam to see adults nesting, laying their eggs, hatching and raising their young. Keep your head up!🙂
Spring Blooms, Snow Melt and Higher Water
Spring is here! The ice and snow are history and my daughter looking forward to her first swim! Here the snowdrops are blooming in the yard once again having made their first appearance in January. With a good snow cover in the watershed and the lake covered in ice, the high temperature and strong winds caused a tremendous melt which brought the lake up quick. I haven’t heard how much the lake went up but the gate had been opened 12″ and then closed down to 8″ and then this week to 6″. This retain more of the melt and bringing us closer to the level Interface considers as “full”. What usually isn’t in the equation this time of the year is the ice. This month the lake was totally covered with ice! Damage looks to have hit only a few docks and the channel markers. The markers are bent back toward the south as the ice flow was thick and strong. The camera battery is charging so I’ll get you a photo later. A nearby dock took on a wacky Z shape as the ice flow pressed on. It was amazing as the front legs of the dock was …
Wind + Ice = Damage
Let me tell you, check your dock and anything else you may have in or a few feet away from the lake! If you don’t live on the lake, it is worth taking a ride down. My neighbor was kind enough to give us a heads up! The flag is out straight as the wind is incredible! It is blowing across the lake toward the channel and has broken up the ice and sent it crashing into the shore bringing anything in its path with it!
Morning Photos and the Nonpoint Source Pollution Grant Project
Today my kitchen window thermometer has reached a high of 71 degrees. And yes, it is in the sun. 🙂 Here’s a few photos taken this morning. Also, I am pleased to report that the Manchaug Pond Association Proposal for the s.319 Nonpoint Source Competitive Grants Program for the “Manchaug Pond NPS Improvement Project” is a go! Our start up meeting with the project managers – CEI’s civil engineer (he made the presentation at the MPA annual meeting 2 years ago) and environmental engineer – has been scheduled for April. The paperwork process is complete: forms submitted, letters for affirmative action and to establish the MPA as a vendor have been sent, project scope and sequence approved, and the contracts signed. Total cost of the project is $219,370 with the U.S. EPA funding 58.9% with $129,250 and the MPA and towns of Douglas and Sutton matching with 41.1% with $90,120 worth of services. Specifically the EPA pays for the engineers, the designs of the bioretention and leaching catch basins, vegetated swales, and plunge pools construction materials, educational material, and supplies. The matching contribution is the use of the towns highway department’s construction equipment and the salaries of the highway super, …
Eagles Go Home to Nest
A lake neighbor shared her story of watching the eagles this winter as they perched on this tree in front of her home. An adult and immature eagles where regularly seen over a few months this winter. If you missed the eagles on Manchaug Pond or would like to see more, check out these websites! The first has great photos of both adults and young, perched and in flight. The second and third site are eagle cams – a movie camera pointed at the eagles’ nest which will take you through the nesting, egg laying and hatching and the raising of the young eaglets. http://www.eagletmomsters.com/prints.html To watch eagles nesting in Massachusetts, check out this site. http://www.firstlightpower.com/eagles/default.asp Or in Washington State, this site.http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildwatch/eaglecam/index.html Explore those sites for links, movies, eagle sounds and more. And check in daily!
Readership Skyrockets! Membership Increases!
MPA is on the right course. The readership for the blog has skyrocketed! And MPA membership continues to increase! This demonstrates the 40 year old association knows the concerns of the lake and the people who use it and is proactively moving forward. Our blog counter shows the numbers for this month already significantly higher than totals for February. We’re talking daily numbers from 11 to 45 times higher than the numbers from the beginning of last month! The counter keeps track of new and returning visitors as well as their view of different pages as well as specific days and subject searches! For instance someone did a search looking for info on “Manchaug Indians”, another on the District. As for the numbers, clearly the day after the Sutton Selectman’s meeting at the Senior Center stands out and builds more from there. I guess press is good – even if you are missquoted, portrayed as the bad guy, or are billed as having a single issue. and the MPA mailbox was smiling with checks when I checked it Friday – unsolicited donations and new and old members renewing their committment for 2007. This was an unexpected surprise to me as …
Basic Town Services Give Life Lines
Thursday I thanked the Sutton Fire Department for the safety ladders by the dam, thinking of a boy who had fallen through the ice near Swenson’s Island many years ago and not realizing that Thursday night the Douglas Police and ambulance service would assist one of our youngest lake residents. Deepest appreciation to the Douglas Police Department and ambulance service for their quick response to the call and for finding their way through those dark and winding remote roads in record time. I am told a number of cruisers responded, blocking traffic to allow passage of the ambulance. Also worthy of our gratitude is the Douglas Highway Department for the plowing and sanding of these private ways and for the decision makers who realize that safety of all our citizens uppermost – even during a budget crunch. Here’s the quote for the day: “Sometimes we must do more than our best, we must do what is required.” Winston Churchall
Lake Still Thawing
March 22nd and we still have a lot of ice and snow covering the lake. They’ll be no swimming in March this year! Funny how some years the lake is frozen in November, others not at all, and this year we didn’t see ice until January. Thanks to the Sutton Fire Department for the safety equipment.
Snow Melt to Bring up Waterlevel
For our property owners in other states, let me tell you it is 57 degrees, sunshine, blue skies and no wind. Beautiful day! Fuddy the caretaker of the dam was happy with this snow cover as he explains that this will melt and give us water to fill the lake for the spring level. Fuddy thinks we are in good shape. 🙂
Caretaker Opens Gate
This photo was emailed in and titled “Waiting for Spring!” The Interface Dam Caretaker opened the gate agood 12 inches to take care of this snowstorm and the tremendous amount of runoff expected. Our lawyer did say that with all the “what if” of the future, the ONE THING WE CAN BE CERTAIN OF IS THAT GUILFORD IS GOING AWAY! I knew he was right, but I never thought I would hear that news yesterday. Those opposed to the District say that the state regulates the water level for Manchaug and that no dam owner could drain it down. Maybe to an extreme, but every year I see it different. Reality is that there is about a 9 foot spread. NINE FEET! up or down, whatever is seen fit and still within the state range! Our Dam Caretaker is a wonder! He does a tremendous job! Thank God the caretaker is dedicated, and concerned about keeping us happy and will spend the time needed to fine tune the lake level on a daily basis. Thank God over the years Guilford was concerned about the residents on Manchaug Pond. NO state official tells Interface to open the dam, the caretaker watches …