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Lake Life & Living in a Watershed - Docks. Lawn Care, Septic & More!

Manchaug Pond boat ramp rain garden

Manchaug Pond Boat Ramp Rain Garden

It is amazing the amount of little things we can do to help our Manchaug Pond watershed. We welcome more people moving to the area but as more land around Manchaug Pond becomes developed, there is less “buffer area” to stop pollutants from entering into the lake. The Manchaug Pond Foundation is the only organization dedicated to preserving this 380 acre community lake and offers an environmental focus dedicated to educating people as to the best practices they can use around their home to preserve water quality.

There are several simple things that homeowners can do to help control lake pollution:

Manchaug Pond Boat Ramp Rain Garden - Butterfly Milkweed

Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) flowering in the Manchaug Pond boat ramp rain garden.

  • If you are on the lake, or near a river, steam or wetlands create a “buffer zone” of plants between your lawn and the water resource to filter pollutants. For lake shoreline homes, the buffer offers an added benefit aiding in keeping geese off the lawn.
  • Limit the use of fertilizers using only no-phosphorus brands.  Fertilizers do not stay on a lawn: seeping into the groundwater and/or washing into storm drains becoming fertilizer for aquatic plants if reaching our water resources.
  • A good practice is to perform a soil test each year to see what your lawn really needs.  UMass Amherst offers this service.
  • Only 5% – 15% of insects in a yard are pests with the remaining “good insects” actually control pests. Limit pesticide use as they also kill the beneficial insects as well as create a chemical environment that is tracked into your house by people and pets.  A healthy lawn will tolerate insects but if control is needed use an organic alternatives such as botanical sprays and beneficial milky spore and nematodes to rid your lawn of grubs.
  • Capture roof runoff into a rain garden or rain barrel.  This will reduce lawn erosion, conserve water and you can enjoy a beautiful garden area as well.  UConn offers an excellent rain garden app for your cell phone available for both iOS and Android.
  • If you water your lawn, water deeply and infrequently. Lawns need only 1 inch of water a week.

Irma Jones Road rain garden during rain event

Irma Jones Road rain garden during a rain event.

Resources for you!

Below you will find many documents regarding living within a watershed.  From town regulations affecting activities within 200' of the lake and Mumford River to best management practice for lawn,landscape, small farms and more. Lists of native plants, septic system maintenance, pet and livestock waste and pasture management,creating rain gardens are among the resources offered helping each of us to improve water quality by prevent pollutants from reaching our water resources.

Simply click on the document icon you're interested in and it will bring you to a printable PDF file or website for more information.  You can read online, or print it out if you like!


ANIMALS - PETS, STABLES & HOBBY FARMS:


Screen Shot PET WASTE

Pet Waste Pickup


 

CONSERVATION COMMISSION BYLAW:

Town of Douglas Links to Wetlands Laws

Town of Sutton Links to Wetlands Laws

DOCKS:

Massachusetts Dock Regulations

DRIVEWAYS & STEEP SLOPES: Water Bars

Water bars can provide a simple and effective method to manage stormwater runoff on moderately sloped surfaces such as gravel or dirt driveways and forest paths that do not require snow plowing. A water bar creates a break in the slope to intercept and direct stormwater to an adjacent vegetated or stabilized area where runoff will be absorbed and infiltrated.

Click for a PDF of the Water Bar Guidance Fact Sheet




LANDSCAPING-Planting Trees & Native Plants

Life on the Edge – of a Waterway

Manchaug Pond Foundation Education

Screen Shot ORGANIC LAWN CARE

Introduction to Organic Lawn and Yard

Screen Shot RAIN BARRELS


Stormwater rain barrel


Rain Garden Manual

RAIN GARDENS A How-to Manual for Homeowners

Click for a list of Native Plants   ~  Trees and shrubs for your lakeshore!

Clammy Azalea (Rhododendron viscosum)


SEPTIC SYSTEM CARE:

Screen Shot SEPTIC CHECKLIST

Homeowner Septic System Checklist

Click to visit the EPA's website for info:
"How to Care for Your Septic System."

This project has 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.