The Latest News

Here’s a photo of Manchaug Pond taken by a reader/member. I am not sure when it was taken but it is a beauty! A member of the Sutton Conservation Commission paid a visit to Manchaug Pond today! Quite surprised at the shallowness of the pond! She thought it was a much deeper lake in the over 20 foot area. I informed her that the state Public Access Board has it listed at 13 feet.

Thanks to the staff of the Douglas State Forest for repainting the channel markers this past winter. The rocky shore makes for few weeds. If possible… if you see some small weedy patches between the rocks, place some rocks over the area.

The Millbury-Sutton Chronicle reported in their October 5th issue the MPA coming before the Sutton Board of Selectman’s September 26th meeting to ask for their support of a Manchaug Pond District. It is a very lengthy article which highlights concerns and questions of the selectman. The article does get quite a few things wrong starting from the MPA President’s name to the fact that the MPA did present the Board with 129 signatures representing 75% of the property owners and those with deeded water rights around Manchaug Pond who support the initiative. The report also fails to capture the intent of the people around Manchaug Pond and why we want a municipal district: to give property owners around the lake a voice! To empower each of us so we can take care of our lake and maintain the water level and secure state and federal $$ to be spent on Manchaug Pond for what we feel is important. The Town told us they don’t want our dam or the waterrights and don’t have the $$ to maintain it! The state wants to breech every dam it can and has also stated they won’t help. The Corp of Engineers doesn’t want …

A few of my neighbors asked me what the certified letter was about. Given they didn’t pick it up at the post office and the fact that our membership includes not only the property owners of Douglas and Sutton around the lake and those of us with deeded water rights but also long time renters and a few campers, I put a copy of the letter in the mail with the newsletter. Forgive me on the newsletter too, it is late as usual.. succumbing to a number of technical difficulties as we tried something new with the transfer from computer to the printer’s copier. Anyway it is out and those who are not online may appreciate the printed communication. Hope you enjoy the photo. This was taken Monday evening on the wall at the channel. Its of a fisherman from the boat ramp who caught a nice bass my daughter spotted swimming in the channel.

Manchaug Pond has a special designation by the state as a “Great Pond”. Not all lakes have this designation and what makes our pond special is that the public has access to its waters therefore preventing the dam from being breached. (The state is currently of the opinion that breaching old dams, which were needed in the past by many mills in the area, is a good alternative both for the environment and instead of costly repairs and maintenance.) The boat ramp gives the public access to the Pond. Our ramp is state property which for many years was managed by the state through the Public Access Board and the staff of the Douglas State Forest. Many years ago, the MPA membership petitioned the Town of Sutton to provide more involvement/patroling of the ramp specifically preventing parking on Torrey, Parker and Irma Jones Roads when the boat ramp is full, providing a port-o-let for boaters who spend the day at Blueberry Island, and keeping the boat ramp off limits in the wee hours of the night. Sutton agreed to manage and still does with a gatekeeper who monitors usage on weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the Cemetery Commission …

A look at the flow from the spillway (dry!), the broken gate (white water) and on to Steven’s pond!

Tuesday night the MPA took its request for support on the formation of a municipal watershed district to the Douglas Board of Selectman.Douglas was already aware of our efforts as well as the grant $$$ we secured recently. State rep. Kujawski had sent them a letter and Chair Shirley Moscynski extend congratulations on our achievement. On the district idea, the board was supportive but looking for more information as to the town’s involvement. The MPA gave the petitions signed to date by 85% of the Douglas property owners and those with water rights from Manchaug Pond demonstrating the tremendous support for the Watershed District. We will be meeting with both Douglas and Sutton again with the clerk of Cedar Meadows and providing info other contact info.If you didn’t sign the petition to state your sopport, contact your area rep.

I almost forgot to tell you! Turn on the TV to the Sutton cable station for the Board of Selectman’s meeting to see for yourself … … last Tuesday night Manchaug Pond and the MPA were on the agenda of the Sutton’s Board of Selectman’s meeting – a few times to our surprise! Third on the agenda, the MPA asked the Town of Sutton to support our move to form a watershed district. MPA Attorney Walter Jabs Jr. came before the Board with the MPA President who also was their representing the MPA, Douglas and water property owners and with the MPA Corresponding Secretary who is a Sutton resident with water rights. To our pleasant surprise, State Rep. Jennifer Callahan followed us to announce to the town that the MPA had secured a large grant from the state! She was very supportive of our efforts to preserve and improve the water quality of Manchaug Pond. :)) We will be meeting with the Town of Douglas next. I’ll let you know how it goes. This photo appears on the cover of the Grant application!