Virtual Training for Cyanobacteria/Algae Water Quality Monitors

A virtual training will take place Wednesday, April 17th at 6:30 p.m. for cyanobacteria monitoring volunteers.  We invite all to join this informative presentation and the Manchaug/Stevens team offered by the Worcester Cyanobacteria Monitoring Collaborative (WCMC).

While volunteers are needed at Manchaug Pond, you may attend to just learn more about our efforts in water quality.  All are welcome and no experience is necessary. Contact us to volunteer and click here to register!

Manchaug Pond Foundation enters the 4th year of monitoring with the WCMC giving tremendous baseline data and as one component to our organizations overall water quality program!  While Manchaug Pond and Stevens Pond do NOT have an algae or cyanobacteria problem, with past levels either at “not detected” or extremely low levels, we do monitor in order to learning more about the waters and the ecology of our lakes and to protect the health and safety of this water resource and all who enjoy.

Worcester Cyanobacteria Monitoring Collaborative: The Collaborative is a group of citizen science volunteers who work to better understand the diversity of algae and cyanobacteria in the lakes and ponds of Worcester County under the guidance of the City of Worcester.  Visit their website for videos, reports and more!

Goals of the Collaborative:

1. To learn about the diversity of cyanobacteria and other phytoplankton in our local lakes and ponds
2. To better understand local lake ecology
3. To determine if a bloom is occurring
4. To determine if a bloom is imminent
5. To share information about public health risks at our waterways

Volunteer Requirements:

1. Attend a virtual training session. In-person training/support will also be given
2. Choose your time to volunteer once or twice a month from May-October:
   1. MONITOR/TAKE SAMPLES at the lake shore
      1. either the first Monday morning
      2. or the third Saturday morning of the month
   2. DRIVE the sample to Worcester either
      1. One Monday morning/month, off Shrewsbury St, Worcester
      2. One Saturday/month, off Belmont St., Worcester (Between 10:00 and 11:00 noon)
   3. BE THE ALTERNATE  sampler or driver
   4. ATTEND a Saturday for microscopic observations!  Learn more by looking at Manchaug or Stevens Pond’s sample under the microscope! (Takes about 30 minutes) Commonly found and identified are various species of algae, cyanobacteria, diatoms, zooplankton, pollen, etc.  Great for students of all ages.  WCMC staff on hand to help!

Contact us to volunteer for the Manchaug Pond team! Training is also offered remotely and on site as needed and at your convenience.  All welcome!

Sampling Days 2024:

To be Announced but are usually  one Monday  and one Saturday morning/month

Why do we care?

Algae and cyanobacteria (harmful blue-green algae) can make the water look green and smell unappealing, reduce clarity, and some types of cyanobacteria produce toxins harmful to human health, pets and wildlife.

What contributes to cyanobacteria and harmful algae blooms (HABs)?:

• Nutrients in sediment runoff and from fertilizers, failed septic systems, and animal manures that wash into our watershed streams, wetlands and the lake itself.
  • YOU! can make a difference
    • Reduce your fertilizer use on your lawn and landscape – try half the recommended amount.
    • Don’t apply fertilizers before it rains.
    • Plant a buffer between your lawn, garden and/or animal pasture/paddock and the wetlands, steam, pond or lake.
    • Eliminate sediment erosion by capturing stormwater in rain barrels, rain gardens, swales, pervious pavers, and other structures.
    • Don’t overgraze your pasture so as to reduce/eliminate mud, erosion and runoff.
    • Keep your septic systems in good working order – pumping on a regular basis.
• Still water (Even during times of drought, Manchaug Pond has a flow out the dam to maintain downstream ecosystems of the Mumford River.
  
• Warm temperatures (Trees along the shoreline and in the watershed help lower the overall temperature of the area.)
  

Consider volunteering with and/or supporting the Manchaug Pond Foundation.

Making a difference together!