Annual Business Meeting – Saturday, August 22, 2026

Calling all members…  … it’s time for the ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING of the Manchaug Pond Foundation! This Saturday morning, August 22nd, at the YMCA Camp Blanchard dining hall, 208 Manchaug Road in Sutton on the shores of our beautiful lake, we will hold our annual business meeting!    Coffee and a light fare is on at 9:30 AM with business meeting to start at 10:00 AM. Speaker Ron Scott will present Manchaug Pond, Sutton MA — A History of the Pond.  The agenda is to include: Moment of Silence for Members who have passed Approval of the Minutes Financial Report for FY 2025 Program Reports/Updates Waterlevel & Dam Watershed Conservation Water Quality Safe Boating/Public Access Invasives Approval of Budget for FY 2027 2026 Boat Decorating Contest Awards Election of Directors New Business From the Membership Speaker Presentation Educational/informational material will be offered as well as the photo exhibit highlighting the s.319 Non-point Source Pollution Grants Phase 1-3. MPF Gear will be on sale for purchase: exclusive MPF Lake Art cribbage boards, logowear tees, fleece, hooded sweatshirts, baseball hats, lake photos, and more as well as flares for the Labor Day weekend Lighting of the Shoreline.  A 50/50 Raffle will be …

Lake & Watershed Clean-up April 25th

Let’s do it! Community members are invited to roll up their sleeves and help care for one of the area’s natural treasures later this month. The Manchaug Pond Foundation will host its annual spring cleanup of Manchaug Pond and its watershed on Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 9 a.m. to Noon welcoming volunteers to assist in clearing litter and other potential threats to water quality from Manchaug Pond and surrounding areas. Participants will meet at the state public access boat ramp on Torrey Road in Sutton before heading out to clean roadsides, shoreline areas, and other parts of the watershed. Volunteers are not required to stay for the full three hours and can contribute as their schedules allow. Those in boats are especially encouraged to take part, helping to reach coves and harder-to access areas of the pond. All necessary supplies including gloves, safety vests, grabbers, and trash bags will be provided.  In case of inclement weather, the event will move to Sunday, April 26, with updates posted on the foundation’s website and social media pages. The clean up effort supports ongoing work to protect water quality at the 380 acre lake, which spans both Douglas and Sutton.  The organization …

Saturday Morning Events for You!

posted June 6, 2025 ~ Attention Boaters! Free VESSEL SAFETY CHECK, Saturday, June 7th from 9:00 a.m. to noon!  Stop in for your  Vessel Safety Check at the Manchaug Pond boat ramp. Come by land or lake – with any size vessel, motorized, paddled, pedaled or sail – our certified examiner will help you get your boat safe and legal for the season. Pass and you can display your hull decal for all to see. For more information visit our website event page. In case of rain/poor weather conditions, check our website/Facebook feed for cancellation.       Start your day on a peaceful note with our Kayak and Coffee event—where adventure meets relaxation! Join fellow outdoor enthusiasts for a morning paddle on the water, get your kayak, bring your coffee, and enjoy good conversation. Whether you’re an experienced kayaker or a first-timer, this is the perfect way to connect with nature, meet new people, and kickstart your day with a calm mind and a warm cup. Meet at Blueberry Island or join the group as we pass your waterfront. Also stop in to the Vessel Safety Check at the state boat ramp  to get your kayak, canoe or other …

Manchaug Pond Foundation Land Conservation

Hobby Farming with Our Water Resources in Mind: STORMWATER

Posted March 13, 2024 We all live in a watershed (the area of land that drains into a certain waterbody like Manchaug Pond), so our daily activities at home, around the lake, at the campsite, and at the barn are something we need to think about when it comes to the lake and clean water. You may be surprised to learn that just like our lawns and landscapes, hobby farms can be a potential source of water pollution. Heavy rain storms can cause fertilizers, animal manures, and sediment to be carried into the lake, streams and wetlands.  Fertilizers cause excessive aquatic plant growth and algae blooms while animal manures not only act as organic fertilizers but also carry bacteria and sediment. So, what can you do? Learn more… check out this first in a series of newsletters geared to small farms and animal owners… Click the icon for a PDF of Fact Sheet 2.1: How Can Hobby Farms Be Sources of Stormwater Pollution? and visit our Hobby Farm website page and our Hobby Farm Facebook group for more information   ________________________________ This project has been financed with Federal Funds from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Massachusetts Department of …

Hobby Farming With Our Water Resources in Mind!

Posted March 6, 2024 We love our animals, gardens and pastures in the Manchaug Pond watershed – especially horses, donkeys, beef cattle, sheep, and chickens!  A 2020 watershed survey found close to 30 small hobby farms dot the landscape in this corner of Sutton, Douglas and Oxford. With water quality in mind, the Manchaug Pond Foundation is offering two new outreach programs to small farmers as part of a s.319 Nonpoint Source Pollution grant received from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. ~ The first is a series of 24 newsletters and 12 podcasts – Hobby Farming with Water Quality in Mind.   Our series is “for owners of ‘Hobby Farms’ – small scale farms operated primarily as a residential lifestyle – to provide their owners with the tools to develop and operate an environmental-friendly farm and promote responsible stewardship of both land and the environment.” Each Wednesday for the next 24+ weeks, we will release a newsletter on a topic of interest to backyard gardeners and animal owners which offers best management practices, options and solutions to farm and raise animals with our lake, streams and wetlands in mind.  Topics will go the gamut from planning your farm to understanding …

Tomorrow! Social & Volunteer Open House

Start the season on Manchaug Pond with the Social & Volunteer Open House! Catch up with lake neighbors and friends over a cup of coffee and pastry. Families, new friends, neighbors and lake users are welcome. As usual, we’ll come together in the Dining Hall of the YMCA Camp Blanchard facility on Manchaug Pond from 9:30 to about 11:00 a.m. or so on Saturday, June 17th. Over coffee and pastry catch up with lake friends and neighbors. Learn more about our lastest efforts for Manchaug Pond and the watershed. Our Vice President and s.319 Non-point Source Pollution Grant Coordinator will have an detail display of our roadside and ramp work. Bring the family as activities for children will be offered including Facepainting with Christine Z from 10-11. Check out MPF Logo Gear on sale which includes a wide variety of apparel and Manchaug Pond themed items from cribbage boards to baseball hats, tee shirts to fleece … lake photos,  wood Lake Art to order, playing cards, mugs, and more! Purchase your flares for the Lighting of the Shoreline, July 3rd at 9:00 p.m. or as Safe Boating equipment for your vessel. Register, sponsor, and volunteer for this year’s The DAM …