Section 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Grant Projects
The Manchaug Pond Foundation has been awarded and completed three s. 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS) Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP). The awards bring Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funds to Manchaug Pond and its watershed with the goal of improving water quality and educating residents and lake users to implement best management practice around the home, campground, and hobby farm.
Specific project goals are:
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- Reduction in nutrient, pollutant and sediment loading
- Decrease in invasive aquatic weed populations
- Free target outfalls of stormwater debris and erosion
- Increase knowledge of users, campers, watershed residents, both year-round and season, in residential landscaping techniques and maintenance protocols, best management practice for hobby farmers and agricultural uses, and the larger community as to ways they can ensure a healthy lake and protect our water resources.
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These grants allowed us to design and construct watershed upgrades consisting of BMP’s (Best Management Practices) of rain gardens, sediment check dams, vegetated swales, catch basins, purge pools, and infiltration trenches and more designed specifically to protect Manchaug Pond by either slowing down and/or capturing pollution-carrying stormwater filtering into the ground before it enters the lake.
The educational portion of the grant awards enables us to reach out to the Manchaug Pond watershed community to educate people about caring for the environment and reducing pollution which will eventually enter into the lake. Specifically targeting watershed residents, campground and boat ramp users, area children and the promotion of agricultural BMP’s to the dozens of horse owners in the watershed.
Map of Structural Stormwater BMP Locations
Through federal funds from three grant awards from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection under the Section 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Competitive Grant Program, the Manchaug Pond Foundation has been addressing the issues of “Nonpoint Source Pollution” and water quality on Manchaug Pond and in the watershed.
Our recent site activities geared to help improve the water quality of Manchaug Pond. Simply click on a point of interest and you can learn about the improvements made, as well as see images of the finished work being done around Manchaug Pond.
These projects have been financed with Federal Funds from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (the Department) under an s. 319 competitive grant. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the EPA or of the Department, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
Annual Projected Nutrient Reductions
Phase 3 Sites:
s.319 Grant Letters of Award FY2021 Manchaug
Phase 2 Sites:
Pervious pavers, state boat ramp, Sutton
10,110 lbs Total Suspended Solids
834 lbs Phosphorus
8,390 lbs of Nitrogen
Phase 1 Sites:
8,137 lbs Total Suspended Solids
13.63 lbs Phosphorus
61.39 lbs Nitrogen
Roadside plunge pool, Oak Street, Douglas
The Manchaug Pond Foundation is very grateful for the support and cooperation of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection , the Towns of Douglas and Sutton, the Blackstone River Coalition, the engineers and environmental scientists of Comprehensive Environmental Inc. (CEI, and the many Manchaug Pond Foundation volunteers who contributed to the successful implementation and completion of our grant awards.