MassWildlife Working on Manchaug Pond!

Mass Wildlife/Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game are out on the lake taking a survey of our fisheries.  With this year's waterlevel they are able to take their boat into the coves!

Thank you to the 3 MPA directors and 1 member who called in the info and sent this photo.  More are on the way!

Boaters! Watch the water for...

 Do you see it?

DIVER-DOWN Flag

What does it mean?

According to the  Official Massachusetts Boating Handbook it is required equipment.   "All persons scuba diving, skin diving, or snorkeling must display a red and white divers flag. Divers or snorkelers must remain within 100 feet of the divers flag.


If possible, vessel operators not engaged in the diving operation should stay at least 100 feet from a displayed flag. If not possible, vessel operators must reduce speed to no more than three miles per hour. Two types of flags are used to indicate diving activity.


Divers Flag: A rectangular red flag with a white diagonal stripe, at least 12 x 15 inches in size and constructed of rigidly supported material. This flag must be displayed on a vessel or surface float and must extend a minimum distance of three feet up from the surface of the water.


Alfa Flag: A blue and white International Code Flag A (or Alfa flag), flown from a vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver. This flag indicates that a vessel is involved in a diving activity. The Alfa flag may be displayed in addition to the divers flag but does not replace the divers flag.

Sacred Sunday: Sunset sky!

Sutton Police Lake Patrol Program - Boat Safety Education on the Water

Sutton Lake Patrol Program speaking with boaters and personal watercraft operators on Saturday afternoon as part of an ongoing boater education and safety program.

If you didn't click the Calendar of Events tab - this is what you are missing!

July

Fourth of July Weekend ~  BOAT DECORATING CONTEST

and LIGHTING OF THE SHORELINE

BOAT DECORATING CONTEST  
Judging at 3:00 p.m.,  
Saturday, July 3rd

The MPA invites you to participate in a Boat Decorating Contest for the Fourth of July weekend! 


Ca$h prize$ will be awarded for the best decorated boats!

You only need to register if you would like to be judged. Anyone is welcome to join in at no charge. Spectators are welcome!

1. Pick any theme from patriotic to wherever your imagination takes you! Keep it simple or come up with an elaborate plan with costumes and accessories for your vessel, crew and guests!   (Remember safety first! Do not exceed your boat's capacity, and be sure decorations do not obstruct your vision.)
2. Register your boat if you want to be judged in the contest. (see below to register.)
3. Display your number (assigned when you register) prominently on the starboard side and readable from the judges' station on shore. 
4. Meet at 3:00 p.m. Saturday near Blueberry Island for judging.  Boat # 1 will begin the contest, proceeding slowly and safely past the judges' station at the northern end of the lake in a counterclockwise direction allowing all vessels to be viewed twice by the panel of judges.

July 4th Weekend 2009

To Register: email or call in the captain's name, telephone #, boat name, make/model, and theme 
to manchaugpond.bronson@gmail.com or 508-234-9239.  You will be assigned a number which YOU MUST prominently display on the starboard side so it is in full view and readable for the judges on shore.

LIGHTING OF THE SHORELINE 
at 9:00 p.m., Saturday, July 3rd

 The tradition of lighting the shoreline is longstanding here on Manchaug Pond! At 9:00 p.m. on Saturday evening, set your flares aglow at your beach or shoreline.  Flares are available from your MPA Area Representative or purchase at cost at the local campground store.  $3. each or 2 for $5.00.

No Storm on Manchaug Pond!

A heron flys in the heat and sunshine of the blue, cloudless skies of Manchaug Pond.

Psst! Check out the Calendar of Events tab for the MPA's latest bit of fun for Manchaug Pond!


and Hey! What did you think of that fancy newsletter? Next on comes out the beginning of September with an August 15th deadline... Want to place a classified ad? get on the mailing list? submit an article?
Email manchaugpondsecretary@gmail.com and I'll forward you to an MPA volunteer!


Thanks for supporting the MPA's work to preserve Manchaug Pond!

And the Winner of the 50/50 Raffle at the MPA Spring Social was...

Ron McCrohan with his 10 of diamonds!  Ron took home $85.00, as did the MPA!

Congratulations Ron!

(Thought you'd like to hear about another winner at Saturday's event!)

And the Winner of this year's BOAT RAFFLE is ...

Ticket # 99!  Congratulations to Don and Marilyn Klocek!  The 2010 winners of the MPA Boat Raffle/$8,000 Giveaway!

MPA Fundraising Committee co-chairman and Master of Ceremonies, George Cammuso, gets the last two ticket holders on the phone to see if they want to split the winnings or go for broke! (one was visiting the state of Maine, the other on his way to the airport!)

Deciding to go for it all, Mr. and Mrs. Klocek edged out David and Beverly Gravison - holders of ticket #79 - as the duck bearing the winning # 99 was pulled out of the pool.
















The day was a huge success with attendees enjoying the beautiful weather, good company, and a hugely delicious barbecued chicken dinner at the Camp Blanchard boat house on the shores of Manchaug Pond.

Special thanks to the YMCA for use of the facility, to USA Marine for providing a prize boat on site the day of the event, and to all those who purchased a ticket, sold tickets, and attended the event which raised $12,000 to benefit the formation of a 501c3 foundation for the preservation of Manchaug Pond.

It was great fun for a great cause with the co-chairmen promising to make it an annual event!

MPA SPRING SOCIAL & Reverse Drawing of the 2010 BOAT RAFFLE/$8,000 GIVEAWAY!

I'm writing and posting photos, so check back later!

Sacred Sunday: Last Night's Sunset - the end of a great MPA day!

The Grand Prize Awaits 1 Lucky Winner Here on Manchaug Pond!

Traveling to the MPA Social - Watch for Cyclists!

Seems Manchaug Road will be a popular place this Saturday!  MPA's Annual Spring Social is not the only event planned.... seems we will be sharing the road with over 300 cyclist who will be competing in the 1st annual Purgatory Road Race bicycling race.

So expect delays and please drive cautiously!  Cyclist will be racing from Whitins Road to Manchaug Road to Lackey and Putnam Hill.  Check back here later as I am checking with officials to determine if there will be any detours or one-ways. The Boston-based cycling team, Green Line Velo, is hosting the competition and their forum tells of an expected 300 cyclists.

Update:  Lackey Road will be a one-way heading north up the hill.

BOAT RAFFLE Tickets are a Hit!

SOLD OUT!!!  The FUNdrai$ing Committee co-chairman reports with just a month of promotion all 100 tickets have been sold.  As we are still getting requests for tickets, the MPA Board of Directors deeply appreciates the community's support of this event and our work to preserve Manchaug Pond!

Next is the DRAWING & Celebration:  this Saturday, June 19th at the YMCA Camp Blanchard facility.  Weather permitting we will be down at the boat house along the shore of Manchaug Pond.

Our Co-chairmen, George and Kevin, who brought this idea to the MPA, promise a good time for this year's social:

• at 11:00 we begin with coffee and conversation and an introduction to the 501c3 FOUNDATION. 
• 11:30 the REVErSE DRAWING will give a few laughs as the numbers are pulled and checked off as we climb toward the winning ticket!  
• by noon, you'll be enjoying a lake side menu of barbecued chicken, red bliss potato salad, tossed garden salad, a roll and butter, and the traditional Helen's Bakery brownies for desert. Rumor has it Chef Paul is bringing a large pot of his legendary seafood chowder. A 50/50 raffle for a buck will add to the fun! Also you'll have an opportunity to buy your flares for the July 4th and Labor day weekends' Lighting of the Shoreline, and purchase or order a new MPA T-shirt.
• for the children you'll find a table of play dough, crafts, sidewalk chalk and more!
• and the winning ticket.... lets have a poll!  What do you think the winner will decide?  Check later (right column) for an opportunity to vote or comment below.

  With calls coming in today asking for tickets,  we are promising to do it again next year!  With only 100 available, our President asked sellers to focus first on the lakeshore community, family and friends, then other users of the pond, sports clubs, business and the world!  All to benefit Manchaug Pond!

Sacred Sunday: Keeping the Children in Line!

Thank you to our guest photographer who took this one May 21, 2010 on Manchaug Pond.

Set to Break a Record...16 yr. old Sailor Rescued at Sea

Since it has been raining much of the day on Manchaug Pond, lets turn to the Indian Ocean for a story of skill, determination and courage... the story of a young woman out to set a world record for sailing around the world.

This week, two thousand miles off the coast of Australia a storm took the mast of her sailboat, "Wild Eyes" making a rescue at sea necessary. Click on the title of this post to read more of her story on the personal blog of 16 year old sailor Abby Sunderlund. Below are a few photos from her blog.

Heron Enjoying the Sunshine and Quiet of the Lake

It is raining on Manchaug Pond but...

why the umbrella on the channel marker ?

Biological Indicators of Watershed Health: HEX HATCH 2010

As the rain comes down the Mayflies (Hexagenia) are hatching! Flying in large numbers just above the water causing fish to jump and the swallows to dive!



Last year it happened June 10th, with our 1st Vice President blogging it here and her neighbor reporting it as the largest hatch he had seen in his 75 years on the lake.

She wrote:
"One of the best indicators of the health of a lake are the bugs that call it home. Last night there was a significant Hex hatch (Hexagenia a.k.a. Mayfly) and this morning I counted over 120 that were resting on the screens and doors of my house. According to my neighbor Harry, this is the largest hatch he has seen during his 75 years on the lake. These Mayflies are a great indicator that our lake is healthy.

Mayflies are loved by Trout as well as the local Robin who has been plucking them off the deck."

Click in the title for a link to the EPA Bioindicators information.

Have you looked out your window lately? Moose in Sutton!

---

Can you believe it?!  This moose was caught on camera in Sutton just about 2 weeks ago on the south side of Central Turnpike!

Mass Wildlife says when you see a moose to stay a respectful distance away and enjoy the sight of this magnificent animal! I'd like to add to that advice: Don't approach BUT get the camera, zoom it, take the photo and then be sure to email it to me so I can put it on the blog!!

Click here for more info from  MassWildlife's Living with Moose


This moose sighting so close to home brings to mind the importance of open space as wildlife corridors. A past president of the MPA worked with the Metacomet Land Trust to begin the Lake Manchaug Greenway and Wildlife Corridor, an effort which seeks to establish a wildlife corridor just south of the area this moose was found which links the Douglas State Forest with the Sutton State Forest and Purgatory Chasm.

Here's a look at the Metacomet map below of Sutton's protected lands - Manchaug Pond is on the lower left side straddling the Douglas and Sutton line. 

A huge thank you to the photographers who captured the moose on film and emailed it to me!

Did you see us in the Telegram today?! C4 Outdoors

"A very special boat raffle is being held to benefit the preservation of Manchaug Pond, a favorite fishery of many local bass anglers...."  Mark Blazis, Outdoors columnist, Worcester Telegram June 8, 2010.

A HUGE thanks to Mr. Blazis for his kind words today promoting our first fundraiser for the Manchaug Pond Foundation.  It is truly an honor to be included in his column with the many educational pieces about Massachusetts wildlife and the anecdotes of the many people who work and enjoy the woods and waters of our communities.

Thoughts on the Raffle - with ONLY 10 TICKETS AVAILABLE !

Here's a heads up for all you faithful readers:  there are ONLY 10 RAFFLE TICKETS LEFT - yes, only 10! - so if you've been meaning to email me about getting a ticket you had better do it right now!   When the list of supporters/participants is posted - and your name or company is not listed - don't say you didn't have a chance!

So here we go - email:
ManchaugPondSecretary@gmail.com   or    infoMPA@charter.net or call George at 774-280-2328.

If you are in the area, we'll deliver your tickets.   If you are not,  just let me know and we'll hold your ticket. You can put your check, made payable to "Manchaug Pond Association", in the mail to MPA, P.O. Box 154, Manchaug, MA  01526.  I'll send you your free chicken barbecue ticket and your raffle ticket!

We have received some wonderful responses and support!  Here's a few comments: 


"This isn't about winning a boat, its about supporting the lake."

"My husband and I enjoy going to Manchaug Pond and would like to purchase
raffle tickets and attend the barbeque."

"I need a ticket this time around so I'll be on the list for next year!"


"Only 100 sold - I like those odds!"

"I'm onboard now!"


"If (we) did win, we would donate it right back to the MPA -
a good cause that could use some money :-)  That's the spirit of the event!"

"Can you do a blog entry on the sale of tickets?     I want to call out the people who live on the lake .....help the association help them ....we all are here for everything this lake has to offer.   EVERYONE needs to be part of this ...  It's not about the boat, it's not about the $8,000,  it's about OUR Lake...
 
"I am buying one to be patriotic..."

"This is such a wonderful thing you are doing... I used to camp on Manchaug Pond when I was a young girl and had to buy a ticket when I read it in the newspaper." 

"I need 2 and it would be nice if I won that boat!"


Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket to our first major fundraiser!   Keep tuning in for more details on ticket sales,  supporters, and the winner!

Sacred Sunday: Just Duckie!

Water Quality? Here's results for the entire Blackstone River system

Check out Manchaug Pond on the Blackstone River Coalition's water quality map.  Be sure to check out different years and times of year, the inlet and outlet.

http://zaptheblackstone.org/interactive_map/index.php

Manchaug Pond is the headwaters of the Mumford River which is a tributary of the Blackstone River.



JUNE IS NATIONAL RIVERS MONTH!