Sutton Planning Board Presents Hydropower Bylaw

Small hydropower installations may soon be allowed in all districts of the Town of Sutton. With 17 dams in town, the Planning Board is proposing a change in the Zoning Bylaw which will go before the May town meeting.



The change will allow small hydropower generation in all districts and require dam owners to apply for a special permit before the Planning Board. A public hearing has been scheduled for Monday, April 12, 2010 at 7:20 p.m. at the Sutton Town Hall, 4 Uxbridge Road. Town meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 10th.

It should also be noted, that not only will dam owners need a special permit from the Planning Board in this regard, but the activity also warrants filing with the Conservation Commission.

Pictured above is the falls near the Puckihuddle Preschool building in the Sutton village of Manchaug taken on Monday, March 25th.

Check your shoreline... water level is rising!

If you left a boat, dock or anything else on shore for the winter, you need to give it a check. The waterlevel has come up overnight. We are no longer left "high and dry!"

No Flooding at Manchaug Pond

Can't guarantee what is happening downstream, but I can tell you the water is rising on Manchaug Pond this rainy season!



Here's a look at the Manchaug dam today... notice anything ?


No flooding and flashboards are in! :)

Sacred Sunday

Posting and a Poll

This week sure flew by!

If you scroll down, you will see I completed a few quick posts from earlier in the week which I never found time to complete.

I have also added a little poll which you'll find on the right-hand side of the screen. A couple informal discussions came up between MPA officers and again at a recent MPA committee meeting about the use of Facebook and Twitter by businesses to communicate to their clients - I thought maybe we could explore the preferences of our readership here. Please feel free to comment after you vote. Your input is read and brought back to the Board of Directors.

And you can find us at:
http://www.manchaugpond.org/Welcome.html

USDA Forest Service Live EAGLE Web Cam

Head to the Cascades Mountains and Deschutes National Forest in Oregon to watch the nesting activities of a pair of bald eagles via this live web cam:

http://www.fs.fed.us/outdoors/naturewatch/eaglecam.html


Remember the nest is in a different time zone so you may be view at night if you check in too early!

Ice Still Floats on Ramshorn and Whitins

During that beautiful warm weather last week while Manchaug Pond was fully open - not a chunk of ice to be seen- Whitin Reservoir (Douglas) and Ramshorn Pond (Millbury/Sutton) still had a large ice floa.

Below is a shot of Whitins Reservoir:

Sacred Sunday: A Still Manchaug Pond

Sacred Sunday

Other blogs have Wordless Wednesday where just a photo is posted with not text... but for us here on Manchaug Pond there seems to be plenty to say and report during the week.

So I thought it would be most appropriate if we dedicated, Sunday, the traditional day set aside for God, for family and for shared worship, rest and relaxation, for these special entries of just photos and no talk.

So our next post will begin, Sacred Sunday, where the beauty of Manchaug Pond speaks for itself.

A Taste of Summer

The rain brought the waterlevel up to were many could get a boat to their dock and the warm spring weather had us taking boats out from under their winter cover. With not a drop of wind in the morning most days this past week, we have seen a few canoes and kayaks out as well as a fisherman or two from the state ramp.

An Owl's Call This Still Morning

Four mornings has seen the lake calm and smooth like a mirror with not a ripple. Earlier today, the sound an owl could be heard calling, calling in the darkness.

Did you hear it? Was it the call of the Great Horned Owl... listen

http://www.owlpages.com/sounds/Bubo-virginianus-8.mp3

Heads up! An Adult Bald Eagle is Circling Manchaug Pond!

Just heard an adult eagle is in the sky circling the waters near the state boat ramp!

Waterlevel is Up

The rain and runoff, in just a few days, has brought us to ice-out and late summer waterlevels. Two kayaks just came up the channel to enjoy the peace and beauty of Manchaug Pond in today's springtime sunshine and temperatures. We are looking forward to flashboards in April 1 to capture those "April showers" to bring us up to historical levels which will keep shoreline, coves and wetlands in water. Maintenance of our waterlevel is in the hands of the dam owner and is being overseen by the state.

Here's a look at the lake this afternoon...


at the dock:


at the wall:


at the big rock:



ice-out: n. The thawing of ice on the surface of a body of water, such as a lake.

Stormwater Flowing in Manchaug Pond Watershed

It continues to rain bringing stormwater through the hillsides in torrents to the lake.

No ice remains on the lake. The wall of the channel is mostly submerged.

The Manchaug Dam looks safe and sound.

Rain and Run-off

Rain continues, wind from the east is rising, and water is running in fast and furious streaming through the woods and along the roadsides.

Swans on the Ice

Snowdrops in bloom in the garden

Manchaug Pond from the Hills of the Watershed

Spring is in the Air!

If this warm weather continues, you'll soon be able to use those gifts you found under the tree!

Many found today a great day to polish their car, work on the boat and do a little yard work. We'll be in the water before you know it!

manchaugpond.org

Do you have some time?

Try the MPA's newest effort. Click onto http://www.manchaugpond.org/

This website is still being developed but I am sure you will enjoy the many photos and informative links we have up already.

Let us know what you think!

Eagle on the Pond! 11:45 am

Photo just in from Area 3 of a juvenile eagle! The first photo is as it was taken - not cropped. The young photographer reports the bird sat in that tree for the longest time looking straight at her - not bothered at all by her movements.

Migrating Ducks

Again, it is time to get the binoculars out and the bird book as the fancy ducks have arrived.