Gearing up for spring on Manchaug Pond!

If you have had enough of ice fishing, snowmobiling, and other winter sports, or have spent the winter just looking out the window longing for summer, take heart! 

The snow and ice are melting fast in and around Manchaug Pond and the Manchaug Pond Foundation has been working all winter on a whole calendar of fun and worthwhile events and projects to involve you and benefit you, the lake, the watershed, and the greater community!

Let's take a look at a few for April:

• Spring issue of SPLASH! our colorful, print newsletter with 8 pages of info is at the printer!  Get on the mailing list by hitting our PayPal donation button for any amount or send a donation to MPF, P.O. Box 154, Manchaug, MA  01526.  Special thanks to our Newsletter Committee: Alice our Editor, and committee members, writers and photographers Andy, Dave, George, Karen, Marty Jo, Wendy, Phyllis, Russ and Paul, Bill L.  Want to join the committee?

• BIG SPRING RAFFLE tickets on sale now!  Get your ticket today with only 100 chances to win a $6,600 Home Theater, the 55" Bose VideoWave III with delivery, setup and installation  OR the CA$H prize of $4,000! Tickets price is $100 and directly benefit Manchaug Pond.  Special thanks to our FUNdrai$ing Committee: Karen our chair, George "Gig" our raffle, and members Andy, Paula, Ted, Mike, Dave, and Phyllis.  There's a seat and a coffee for you at their meetings!

•  Opportunities for YOU TO GET More INVOLVED: 
•  Learn how to take a water sample and do site evaluation once a month as part of a larger river system water quality effort.
• Give a morning of your time on Saturday, April 26 for our Spring Cleanup of Ramp, Roadsides and Shoreline: 9 AM to Noon, State Boat Ramp, Torrey Road, Sutton.  Start with coffee and donuts, work with neighbors and friends, and end the morning with the satisfaction of a job well done!  Rake, pick up paper, boat the shoreline... it's better than a morning at the gym!
• Join a committee or team!  Bring your ideas to help plan the Boat Decorating Contest; develop a learning lake resource "toolbox" for kids of ages; take photos or write for the newsletter; share your time and expertise with us!  We have a place for you just tell us your interest!
• "LIKE" us on facebook @ Manchaug Pond Foundation and post with Manchaug Pond.
• Use GoodSearch on the internet when you search the internet.

Thanks for stopping by!

Today's Cleanup Draws 21 Volunteers!

On this beautiful spring day, beginning with coffee, donuts and a bowl of fresh fruit, 21 volunteers joined forces at the state boat ramp on Torrey Road, Sutton today from 9:00AM to 2:00PM to fan out cleanning the roadsides, ramp and shoreline of Manchaug Pond.

Coordinated by the Manchaug Pond Foundation, the cleanup included trash pick up on roadsides including Lackey Road, Manchaug Road from Central Turnpike to Torrey Road, Torrey Road to Holt Road in Sutton and then on to Oak Street in Douglas.

A team with "heavy equipment" focused on the public boat ramp clearing branches from lawn areas, leaves and other debris from gutters, and trash from the property.

Cooperating in the effort was the town of Sutton Highway Dept. who supplied a town truck for disposal of the trash.

Volunteer hours will count toward our upcoming s. 319 Nonpoint Pollution Grant.


A couple cars also pulled up asking for information on the MPF and how they could join our efforts!  As Sutton residents they loved the lake and enjoyed boating and one local family camps at a Manchaug Pond campground!

If you would like to be on the mailing list - email ManchaugPondSecretary@gmail.com with your name, address and email address and we'll get you on our lists!

 Welcome aboard!

Take Time to Bail the Boat. Please!!

This is the scene at a local Manchaug Pond campground's dock/marina where a boat sank last Thursday spilling gas & oil into the lake.  While the MPF Board of Directors was holding their monthly meeting, the Sutton Fire Department was rushing to the scene.

Please be sure to bail your boat when it rains!

Two days earlier, Lake Singletary was the site of a spill when a boat sank... the story is told that as the owner and a neighbor worked with heavy equipment to bring the boat up, if flipped over ... spilling gas and oil into that lake.

We've had over 2 1/2 " of rain just this afternoon.... Please be sure to check you boat. Bail often.

One spill can have a big impact on the water quality of the lake.

Spring Cleanup a Huge Success!

Saturday's Spring Cleanup was a HUGE success! Less trash collected, more roads covered, more families joining in, and more work completed at the state public access boat ramp!  Thank you to our event coordinator, to all that joined in and to the Town of Sutton Highway Department for the use of the truck and to the Sutton Transfer Station for disposal of the trash collected!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! May 15th Cleanup!

Join the MPA Board of Directors and members for coffee, muffins and donuts, and a little outdoor work to benefit Manchaug Pond on Saturday, May 15th  for our twice a year CLEAN-UP!
 

If you've never participated you'll be surprised as to what we find! These are the big three in roadside trash: McD's, Dunkins, and then bottles of all flavors and strengths!

We hit the road!... by car and on foot with gloves and trash bags. Hit the Boat Ramp!... with wheelbarrows, tractors and leaf blowers and this year with paint brushes (we're going to paint the ramp gate!) and we Hit the shore! in boats to just pile it in.

We'll meet at the state boat ramp on Torrey Rd, Sutton at 9:00 am and work until noon. Come for the morning or come for an hour! Pick the task you like best and bring the buddy you like to work with most! or meet a new friend!

Thank you to the Sutton Highway Dept. for joining us in this effort with the use of the truck and to the Sutton Transfer Station for disposal of the trash collected and the the MassDEP 319 NonPoint Source Pollution Grant for Manchaug Pond.

All groups, clubs and individuals sure are welcome to join in! Gloves, trash bags and refreshments will be provided by the Manchaug Pond Association (MPA).

Autumn Reds at Yesterday's Cleanup

Unfiltered stormwater, throught pipes such as this one, will be the target of future s.319 NonPoint Source Pollution Grant. Water quality up stream and the activities and practices in the watershed are important and contributing factors to the water quality of Aldrich Mill Pond (at Sutton Falls Camping Area) and Manchaug Pond and beyond to the Mumford and Blackstone River systems.

2009 Fall Cleanup a Success!

All for one and one for all! Annual Fall Cleanup 2009 a success! ending with chocolate, blueberry and choc. chip muffins and a box of Joe!


18 volunteers from 11 households cleaned the state public access boat ramp, Manchaug Road from Central Turnpike to Torrey Road, Torrey to Oak St, Shore Road, and Lackey Road as well as the lake shoreline areas which were not cleaned during the spring cleanup event. Whew!

Covering the Shoreline and lake areas:



The public boat ramp:



Along Shore Road and the conservation land:



Also a few invasive weeds not picked up during the Weed Cleanup a few weeks ago also made there way to the truck!



Along Manchaug Road:


Strange finds included a distributor cap and a part to a high tech weather machine or something!



Great job everyone! It was a pleasure working with all of you - we sure covered a lot of area.



(I also was told the story about last week's boating accident from two eyewitnesses. We're working on getting the pics, video and story to you via the blog! Stay tuned.)

Manchaug Pond Needs YOU!

Come on, we want YOU! Lake Cleanup this morning! Rise and shine! :)

See you around 9 at the boat ramp. I bought muffins - the big ones from BJ's.

I have rubber gloves too to keep your gloves clean. If you've never joined us before you'll find the work easy, the company and conversation good, tremendous scenery, and a superb mission/purpose - the care of your Manchaug Pond.

Don't just let the MPA Board of Directors do the work - lend a hand - even for a 1/2 hour!

Tomorrow - Join us for the Annual Clean-up!

Our annual Fall Clean-up is tomorrow morning, Saturday, October 17th from 9 to noon. The town has the truck parked waiting for us to get to work! Our coordinator wants YOU ALL to come join the MPA Board of Directors as we...

Hit the road!



Hit the Boat Ramp!



Hit the shore!



Our annual clean-up targets litter and illegal dumping in and around the lake. 9:00 am to noon. Meet at the Boat Ramp on Torrey Road to get a bag and fan out from there or take a piece of your own shore or a roadside and get to work. If you thought the Weed Cleanup was hard work- you'll find this a breeze! Thursday we spotted two early birds cleaning up Lackey Road and Manchaug getting a head start on the job.

Thank you to the Sutton Highway Dept. for joining us in this effort with the use of the truck and disposal of trash collected.

Your Lake Needs You Next Saturday!

Did you have a good day today? Sure is beautiful around Manchaug Pond!


Next Saturday, plan to spend the morning at Manchaug Pond and have a better day giving back to the lake with people who care for this great natural resource. Join your MPA Board of Directors in giving time to your lake. You and your family and friends can join us as we clean the boat ramp and roadsides around Manchaug Pond of trash from the spring and summer season. We take pride in our lake and want others to do the same. Meet at the State Boat Ramp between 9 and noon. Bring your gloves - we'll provide the bags and the good company as we work together for the lake.

Weed Cleanup Today! 9 to 11

Blue skies, golden sunrise, no wind, low 40's = great day for this first WEED Cleanup!

So get your MPA hooded sweatshirt or MPA fleece vest, a pair of work gloves and boots and a sharp shovel or pitch fork and meet Jim, Ted, Ray, Linda, David and the rest of the crew down at the boat ramp! Come by boat or vehicle. If you don't know what to do, don't worry - come anyway. If you don't think we need you, you're wrong we want YOU there!

Target: new infestations of common reeds, cattails, canary reed grass, and purple loosestrife growing along the shoreline... and if we think the floating waterlillies and watershield are getting to thick we can do some thinning there too! Jim has a truck lined up to haul it all away.

See you there!

Fall in the air! Time for cleanups.

Nighttime temps may be in the 40's with the beginning of the autumn season, but the days remain lovely on Manchaug with sunshine and temperatures in the 70's. This is good weather for cleaning up boats and putting stuff away for the winter season.




If you are looking to do any work along the shoreline or put in a new dock, be sure to check out the local regulation. The MPA will be sending to all members an informational flyer put together by the Douglas Conservation Commission. This flyer was also available at our Spring Social, Annual Meeting and as part of the grant exhibit. You can check the town conservation websites for specific regulations:
http://www.douglasma.org/cdd/concom/regs.htm

http://www.suttonma.org/Pages/SuttonMA_BComm/wet/index

MPA has two cleanups scheduled: This Saturday, September 26th for emergent aquatic weeds and October 17th for trash along the shoreline and area roads and the boat ramp.

All MPA members, campers, and Manchaug Pond users are invited to join us for both events. We will meet at the Public Access Boat Ramp at 9 am and fan out from there. If you can't join us until later, come along and look for the work groups along the shore, roads and at the ramp!

The Weed Cleanup is a new event targeting two new infestations of reeds/cattail beds and on the look out for more purple loosestrife. Our weed survey conducted July 2009 by Lycott Environmental recommends hand harvesting is best with these "pioneer" infestations.



Forecast looks great for Saturday - see you then! Bring gloves, boots, sharp shovels and anything else you may need! Questions? contact us at infoMPA@charter.net and I'll put you in touch with Jim the event coordinator.

MPA Annual Meeting 2009: You! Volunteer Opportunities.

One of our readers wrote:

Anonymous said...

Well said!!!

I would like to hear about upcoming opportunities to volunteer, opportunities where people can join in and help make a difference!
September 02, 2009 6:29 AM

All right Manchaug Pond fans! The lake needs YOU! Here are two opportunities where you can join with other lake lovers to make a difference, a big difference!

The first is new to the MPA but recommended this year by environmental scientist at Lycott Environmental in their 2009 survey of Manchaug Pond. So here we go!

Sept. 26th ~ INVASIVE WEED CLEANUP! 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meet at the State Boat Ramp and spread out from there! This time we are after a new villian in our cleanup- not trash but INVASIVE PLANTS!



A weed, by definition, is a plant out-of-place, unwanted! Invasive tells us it will take over - pushing out the native plants and with our shallow lake, replace acres of water with thick and high reeds, cattails and loosestrife. These plants came in this spring - "hand harvesting... is best used for pioneer infestations. Pulling and cutting is labor intensive and must be done at a time when plants are not producing seeds," the report states. So we will hit the shoreline and start digging and pulling!



Bring your gloves, boots, pitch forks, ice picks and shovels or whatever you like. Jim, our event Coordinator knows first hand what these plants can do to a lake! He is calling for your help..."We need as many able bodied men and women as we can get!" Don't disappoint! See you there!

Second opportunity is our Annual Fall Cleanup scheduled for Saturday morning, October 17th. The MPA organizes this effort, hitting the roadside and shoreline in and around Manchaug Pond to remove trash and debris left from the summer season. Meet at the State Boat Ramp with your gloves. MPA provides the trash bags. See you again!

Photos from the Spring Cleanup!

A few photos from the Spring Cleanup! Sorry I only captured the ramp... roadsides and the lake shoreline also were spruced up. I should have taken a picture of the father/son team in their boat, their rubber boots and the pair that was declared most fashionable! Next year...
















Thanks to the Town of Sutton Highway Dept. for providing the truck and taking care of the trash collected.

Cleanup Keeps a Tally

"Everybody's Runnin on Dunkin and I'm Not Lovin it"



Our 1st Vice President and Cleanup Coordinator got creative this year and brought us a new slogan! She also asked the 23 volunteers to keep a tally sheet of what they picked along the roadside and shoreside, wanting to know where the trash is coming from. As volunteers checked in we found the brands were specific to certain areas. McDonald and plastic bottles were reported popular in the coves; McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, cigarette packs along Manchaug Road, glass vodka bottles at the ramp, etc. Also note the bottle return for Aquafin water in ME and CA but NOT MA.

April 18th MANCHAUG POND ANNUAL CLEAN-UP

SATURDAY, April 18th beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the State Public Boat Ramp, in cooperation with the Town of Sutton Highway Department



and enhanced by our DEP 319 Non Point Source Pollution Grant... MPA members and friends will hit the pavement with gloves and garbage bags in hand to clean the roadsides, break the waves with small boats and long arms to clean the shoreline and take to the turf with rakes to spruce up the ramp all in a Manchaug Pond/watershed-wide cleanup event!

So mark your calendar, call out your Boy and Girl Scout Troop, grab the neighbor and relatives and get out here and join us! Come early, stay late! Come late, leave early! Just come :))

Rain or Shine!

Bags and the dump truck will be provided but you should bring your own gloves, rake, etc. We'll ask the treasurer to pick up a few refreshments.

The educational exhibit made possible by our DEP 319 grant will provide info on lawn and landscape maintenance in a watershed, septic system maintenance, rain gardens and more! Free handouts.


Check the archives for photos of our past spring and fall cleanup events!

Check DEP's site: http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/319rfr09.htm

Section 319 of the Clean Water Act of 1987 established a national program to control nonpoint sources (NPS) of pollution. Each year MassDEP issues a Request for Responses (RFR) for competitive projects to be funded through Section 319 grants.This year's RFR will be issued on or about April 1, 2008. Proposals will be due at 12:00 Noon on June 3, 2008.

MPA Event! Spring Social June 14th

Mark those calendars! Saturday, June 14th at the YMCA Camp Blanchard facility, the MPA is hosting our annual Spring Social where friends and neighbors of Manchaug Pond get together over morning coffee and danish at the start of the season.

This event is just a casual get together to see old friends, catch up on the
latest after our winter hibernation away from the lake. The MPA
President and other officers and members of the Board of Directors will be on hand
to answer questions you might have on the water level, dam and other
issues relating to our lake. Never missing an opportunity, our 319
Grant Coordinator and 1st Vice President, Marty Jo will have our
educational exhibit set up and has asked Donna Williams of the
Blackstone River Coalition to come in and talk with us at 11:00 about
the big picture of our water quality.

Our first social, organized by the Norman's of Area 5, also included a swap where members brought books, puzzles, life jackets and other items they wanted to
give or trade. Your welcome to bring a few items along this year.

Our treasurer will probably have his scissors and a deck of cards for the
50/50 raffle which is always a hit at the Annual Meeting so don't
forget to bring a buck or two or three.

I'll be sure our inventory of MPA shirts and hats are on sale as well.

So mark you calendar, and plan to attend. The coffee is on us!

(Hope
your don't mind me dropping a few names! I usually keep names off the
blog to insure privacy but I do want to give credit!)

Rain and Watershed Run-off Continue

The sun is shining now but this morning, like the last
few days, brought more showers to help bring up the waterlevel.


This photo was taken on Lackey Road in Sutton showing water running down the hill and under Manchaug Road directly to Manchaug Pond. This rain is bringing the lake level up, but not enough for many boat owners around the lake.

The large leafed plant is skunk cabbage. If you travel along Manchaug
Road toward Central Turnpike you'll see the yellow flowers of marsh marigolds growing among the cabbage. These are also found on the Douglas side down Ledgestone Road. Not only is the 4,288 acres of watershed providing precious run-off to raise the level of the lake but it is also filtering a portion of this water. Our 319 nonpoint pollution grant project looks at educating homeowners in the watershed so as to curb activities which adversely impact our lake's water quality. The DEP Healthy Lawns Workshop organized by our 1st Vice President and held this spring is one of many educational efforts the MPA has planned.

The fall 07 and spring 08 clean-up events hauled a couple dump truck
loads of trash out of the watershed with some items - old motors, etc -
not just being unsightly litter but also jeopardizing our water
quality. Having just worked the clean up less than a month ago, I
couldn't believe my eyes when Monday I saw this furnace thing dumped over the banking on Parker Road in Sutton not to mention the McDonald's bags, etc. Ugh!

My husband thought we would need a tow truck or come-a-long to get it out. To my delight this afternoon, I saw it coming down Holt Road in the bucket of a front end loader! My personal thanks to the unknown hero of the neighborhood! You can see the water which flows into Steven's at the bottom of that banking - it was only a matter of time before the oil or whatever other chemicals were in there reached the lake and Mumford River!

Saturday's Clean-up

Last Saturday provided a beautiful sunshine-filled morning for the MPA spring clean-up. Volunteers met at the state boat ramp on Torrey Road to share some conversation over coffee and donut before heading out.

Hitting the streets and shoreline, the usual bottles, fast food cups and food wrappers were found as well as some unique items: a small safe, a rug and a catch of old garden ornaments.



The broken garden statues were found over the side of the road which bordered a wetland area with skunk cabbages and water running toward Steven's Pond. These delicate little wood anenome (Anemone quinquefolia) were found growing around the rubbish down the bank in the transitional area between the road and the wetlands.



The haul was less than our fall clean-up as Manchaug Pond sees far more visitors over the spring and summer than in the winter. Click the title to link back to see photos of the fall. It also gives us an opportunity to survey the watershed and remove rubbish which are sources of pollution. Oil cans found in the area between the dam and Steven's Pond are a prime example.



After the work was done, volunteers gathered round to discuss a little composting and view a new product purchased by a lake resident to start a worm farm.

Spring Clean up 2008 - Sat. April 26th

Mark that calendar! Our 1st Vice President has scheduled a Spring Cleanup of the Manchaug Pond Watershed for Saturday March 26th from 9 am to noon.

Tell a Friend!

A great Community Service project!

Date & Time: Saturday, April 26, 2008
9:00 AM-12:00 PM

Suggested Audiences: Elders, Adult, College, High School, Middle School, Elementary

Location: Public Access Boat Ramp, Manchaug Pond
20 Torrey Road
Sutton, MA 01590

Cost: Free

Sponsored by: Manchaug Pond Association

Description: Join the Manchaug Pond Association and volunteers from the Blackstone River Watershed Association for a major Spring Cleanup Event of the shoreline of Manchaug Pond, the Public Access Boat Ramp in Sutton, and the roadsides of the watershed. Volunteers should bring their own gloves and meet at the state boat ramp on Torry Road. Educational information on septic system maintenance, rain gardens, and healthy lawns and landscapes will be available. See you there rain or shine!
More Information:

Website: http://www.manchaugpondassociation.blogspot.com/
E-mail: MPA319grant@charter.net

Check this and other MPA community events as we list them on the Worcester Telegram Social Web Calendar! http://www.socialweb.net/Events/74651.lasso