SURVEY & IDENTIFY- Join the Team!
What's growing in Manchaug Pond? Our survey team has found a diverse ecosystem of plants making for important spawning areas for lake fisheries, food for ducks and other wildlife, and more. The MPF has trained* volunteers like you - all ages - to be citizen scientists who learn more about our lake and what is unique about Manchaug Pond.
Aquatic Plant Survey
- Annually in late June for two 2 1/2 hour sessions
- 50 point grid
- Rake-Toss Methodology
- Identification of all submerged aquatic plants captured
- Record & monitor plant varieties, weed bed growth, watch for new invasives
- Follow up in kayaks with littoral survey
- Map survey results for D.A.S.H. Crew
The Goal
- Keep invasives in check
- Prevent new invasives from getting established
*Training: Special thanks to DCR Lakes and Ponds Program's Jim Straub and Tom Flannery as well as the former Lycott Environmental for initial training sessions. Current volunteers receive hands-on instruction.
REDUCE, REMOVE, ELIMINATE
1.) Winter Lake-level Drawdown
While an annual winter drawdown of the Manchaug Pond's water-level is employed for flood control reasons, in 1990 our organization requested the timing be adjusted by the dam owner to offer control of exotic invasive species. Curly Pondweed, Fanwort and Variable Milfoil plants, and Asian Clam populations DECREASE with drawdown. The Manchaug Pond Foundation advocates for this no-cost, effective method of control with the lake's dam owner, the Town of Sutton. Having a shallow shoreline of less than five feet, a good winter of freezing and thawing during drawdown offers a good knock down of invasives around the lake.
Control is dependent on depth of drawdown and winter weather which contributes to the freezing and drying of shoreline soils. Snow cover and lack of freezing temperatures can impede to the process.
2.) Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (D.A.S.H.)
Removal of established submerged aquatic invasives from the lake - roots and all - by suction harvesting! Our D.A.S.H. boat program is new with boat purchased, converted and equipped in 2023-25 and lake tested the summer of 2024.
Summer 2025 our lead diver reports: In one hour, one diver removes 6 - 27 gallon containers of invasive Variable Milfoil (162 gallons total), clearing approximately 1,300 sq. ft. of lake bottom of invasives permanently removing from the lake ecosystem. Areas cleared in 2024 remained clear in 2025!
Divers needed for 2 hour sessions (1 hour diving). Contact us to get involved.
3.) Early Detection/Rapid Response
Survey, identify, and remove new invasives before they become established.
- No new submerged invasive plant species found in Manchaug Pond since the Commonwealth of Massachusetts documented in 1990.
- Invasive Asian Clam, introduced at the state boat ramp, was identified by the survey team members.
- Successfully eradicated Purple Loosestrife from the northwest shoreline and in the wetlands of our 100 acre watershed protection property.
- Surveyed Manchaug Pond and Aldrich Mill Pond revealing NO water chestnuts plants present in 2025.
If you see an invasive...
- pull or cut it out,
- bag it,
- burn or dispose of in trash,
- note the location where you found it and contact us to report to the MPF Aquatic Plant Survey Team.
"On a global basis...the two great destroyers of biodiversity are, first, habitat destruction, and second, invasion by exotic species..." E.O. Wilson, Strangers in Paradise, 1997
"The presence of a non-native wetland or semi-terrestrial macrophyte(s) (e.g., Phragmites sp., Lythrum salicaria) is not usually considered an impairment of the Aquatic Life Use unless they have eliminated the open water area of the waterbody."MassDEP Division of Watershed Management
PREVENTION: Be a Weed Watcher !
What are invasive species?
Invasive species, Asian Clam, can be successfully controlled with lake-level drawdown.
Our lakes and ponds contain a wide variety of native plants and animals that are essential to a healthy ecosystem. These native species originated here in New England and are well adapted to our climate and to other species that live here. However, many "non-native" or "exotic" species have been brought here from other parts of the country and the world for use in aquariums and in home landscapes. Some of these species are considered "invasive" because they are able to dominate or significantly alter an area's ecology. Once established, they continue to spread to additional locations by hitching rides on boats, trailers, gear, and in bait buckets.
When invasive species enter a water body, they can have a devastating impact. Since the local ecosystems has not developed natural controls (animals or other plants to limit their growth) invasive species may spread rapidly.
Why are they harmful?
- Many invasive plants form dense mats of vegetation that can restrict boating, fishing, and swimming, and make the waterways entirely impassable.
- Many native plants and animals cannot compete for space or food with exotic species, and are crowded out or eliminated from the area.
- The aesthetic appeal, recreational value, and surrounding property values may quickly decline as the invasives species take over.
- The microscopic larval stage of Zebra Mussel and Asian Clam can easily travel undetected in bilge bait and livewell water. They can proliferate at an alarming rate and frequently destroy boat motors, buoys, and fishing gear. Their razor sharp shells often create a hazard for beach visitors.
- Once invasive plants and animals are established, they are almost impossible to eradicate.
What YOU can do... your activities make a difference!
Before you visit:
- Clean your boats before launching! Inspect, remove all plants and animals from your boat motor, trailer, anchors, fishing gear, and dive gear and dispose of them on dry land, away from the water or in a trash can.
- Flush engines and dispose of live-well, bait bucket, and cooling water away from the shore after each use.
- Never release any plant or animal into the lake or stream unless it came out of that body of water.
- Never empty aquariums into a waterbody.
- Be a Weed Watcher while you're at the lake and/or join our survey teams.
Information courtesy of Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Lakes and Ponds Program.
On the lake, at home/campsite, and in the watershed:
- Clean your boats before bringing to the lake.
- Avoid weedy coves! Your propeller captures and brings back plant fragments to your dock where they drop and take root.
- Remove floating weed fragments from lake or that wash up on the beach/shore - dry and burn, compost or bag and dispose.
- Watch the fertilize - keep to your lawn not the lake or impervious surfaces! Rain runoff from your landscape will cause invasives to grow and promotes algae blooms.
- Leave a buffer unfertilized between the lawn and the lake,
- Don't fertilize before a rain storm,
- Use half the recommended amount and only
- Zero phosphorus formulations (middle number of N-P-K)
- Say no to beach sand on your waterfront - A rocky shore inhibits plant growth. Addition of beach sand requires a permit from town Conservation Commission.
- Remove Pet waste - a source of bacteria and fertilizer: remove, bag and dispose or bury.
Think Prevention!
The Most UNWanted!
If you see, contact us ASAP so our teams can respond! Click the photo for a link to learn more about each invasive.
Eurasian Milfoil
Eurasian Milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum)
Diagram of Eurasian milfoil
European Water Chestnut (Trapa natans)
The "nut" or fruit is about one inch in size with four 1/2" barbs.
Hydrilla (Hydrilla Verticillata)
Diagram of hydrilla
Parrot Feather
Parrot Feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
Diagram of Parrot Feather
European Naiad
European Naiad
(Najas minor)
Diagram of European Naiad
Waterweed
South American Waterweed (Egeria densa)
Diagram of South American Waterweed
Purple Loosestrife
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Diagram of Purple Loosestrife
Zebra Mussels
Zebra mussels on a stick
Zebra Mussel
(Dreissena polymorpha)
Established Invaders we need to keep in check!
Curly-leaf Pondweed
Pondweed (Potamogeton crispus)
Diagram of Curly-leaf pondweed
Fanwort
Fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana)
Diagram of Fanwort
Variable Milfoil
Variable Milfoil
(Myriophyllum heterophyllum)
Variable Milfoil
(Myriophyllum heterophyllum)
Yellow Flag Iris
Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus)
Yellow Flag (Iris pseudacorus)
Common Reed (Phragmites australis )
Diagram of Common Reeds
Common Reed
Asian Clam
Asian Clam (Corbicula fluminca) Not to be confused with our native mussel.
Diagram of Asian Clam
Get Involved:
Click each photo and publication to learn more! Contact us to observe a team in action:
- Aquatic Plant Survey Team (2 1/2 hour session, two afternoons in late June)
- D.A.S.H. Team - Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (Divers needed!)
- Water Monitoring & Testing
- On-Lake Total Phosphorus (once/month May-October)
- Cyanobacteria (twice monthly, May-October)
- Bacteria/eColi (twice monthly, June-September)
- Watershed Streams (second Saturday morning, April-November)
- Laboratory (second Saturday morning, April-November)
Guide to Non-native Aquatic Invasive Species in Massachusetts
NY DEC's Algae Identification Website
Management under the Wetlands Protection Act
Eutrophication and Aquatic Plant Management
Mass NPS Pollution Management Manual: Chapt. 7 Lake Management
DCR Guide to Lake Management
Research on Winter Drawdown for Aquatic Invasive Control
WI Conference 2016 Presentation on Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting
Evaluation of Non-Native Plants
Nature Conservency's Handbook on Weed Control Methods
DON'T LET THIS BE YOU!
EEK! don't bring harmful bacteria to the lake. Walk pets away from the lake and shore. Dispose of properly!
Don't fertilize near the lake, on impervious surfaces like driveways, and not before a rain event.
Car washing near water resources does negatively impact the lake! Do it on the lawn or at a professional car wash.