The Latest News

The Manchaug Pond Nonpoint Source Improvement Project was resubmitted last month in an effort by the MPA to secure state monies to address weed-causing nutrients, bacteria and sediment getting into the lake from the watershed.Our proposal was one of 16 grant requests received by the State asking for a piece of the $2 million they expect to be available. The MPA is asking for $129,250 – requests this year ranged from $77,768 to $300,000. Last year the requests were lopsided with one heavy hitter asking for $1 million which threw the rest of us out. So providing we get the grant – which we are told looks good! – there is a matching component where the Town of Sutton will provide labor, etc to install a number of storm drains, catch basins, etc and the MPA will provide volunteer hours getting educational information out on animal manure best management practices, septic systems, fertilizers, unpaved roads, and the like to those using the lake and in the watershed. I’ll let you know when we hear!

So what were you doing yesterday evening? The MPA Board of Directors held a meeting in Area 5.Topics on the agenda?1. the pending sale of the dam2. forming a watershed district 3. the water level and the broken dam gate4. the s. 319 Non-point Pollution Grant5. the annual meeting of the members6. Sutton’s Lake Patrol Program7. Nomination/election of a new board A new member came to the board meeting, his Area Representative recommended him as an Area Rep. for Area 4. Elections will be held at the annual meeting. What to get involved?

Tuesday’s Telegram reports the Sutton Police Department is planning to step up their Lake Patrol program on Manchaug, Singletary and Ramshorn Ponds. Two recent lake deaths, one on Quinsig and the other on Stoneville Pond in Auburn, have the police looking to prevent such fatalities on the town’s lakes. In recent years, sightings of the police boat have been rare! It was actually the lake associations of the three ponds which years ago asked police to patrol the ponds as the number of boats made the lakes dangerous. The MPA worked with the chief and officers to secure a boat, equipment and funding for officer hours. The MPA also donated $$$$ to get the program started. Today, the Sutton Police want you follow the boating laws and be ready as they routinely perform safety inspections on the boats they meet. Remember that you need a life jacket (accessable – not stowed away!) for each person, a fire extinguisher and horn, and a ladder if you are swimming, tubing or skiing. Sutton also has an open container bylaw which means no drinking on the lake! They will enforce no matter if you are on the Douglas or Sutton side. If you …

Guilford has called in R.H. White and the divers once again! First thing this morning the teams arrived at the dam to work on reducing the flow. I took these photos less than a half hour ago. I didn’t want to get too bold and pesty with the camera so there are no close ups. Seems every third person traveling by stops to ask “What’s Going On?!” and “Is it repairable?”A diver is placing more sandbags and a special fabric around the gate – he was up to sixty bags when we got there but then R.H. White pulled in with more sandbags and a new roll of fabric.He’s hoping less water is flowing and so are we! Thanks to Guilford for keeping on top of this.

Yesterday our MPA President spoke with Fuddy’s boss – Guilford’s plant engineer… it is clear the dam remains a priority and serious business with Guilford even though the operation has relocated to North Carolina and in light of this new development with the broken gate. The concern at present is the amount of water flowing out (too much) and the upcoming hurricane season and inability to control the water flow on a daily basis. Without the gate, the water will be controlled buy removing or inserting boards from the spillway. The boards do allow for lowering and raising but just not the daily fine tuning we are used to. Also the gate cannot be fixed until the lake level is drawn down. Divers inspecting the gate and taking measurements last week noted the incredible force of the water in this area making underwater repairs impossible. I’ll keep you posted!

Guilford has called in the professionals to dive down to get a view of the gate as something (a branch?) is preventing the dam gate from closing. We are 4 inches down from full. Stay tuned! By the way… if you have questions or opinions about the water level PLEASE DO NOT call Guilford in Douglas or in Maine. It really does NOT get you anywhere. Also you should know that while you’re calling for Guilford to close the gate, someone else is complaining the water is too high! It doesn’t make us look good as a group. Guilford has a mandate from DEP to maintain a flow for the sewerage treatment plants in Douglas and they have their rule curve they have been following for years. Ask Fuddy or your MPA Area Rep. or Officer or check here for more info.

Our dam caretaker reports trouble closing the dam, so a little more water than he would like has been going out the gate. He suspects debris from a previous storm is preventing them from closing the gate so divers are being called in to check it out.

Millbury, Auburn and Northbridge Sunday night; Worcester Monday night and Manchaug Pond EVERY night! Sorry my camera didn’t capture the beauty! Anyone have better – send them in!