Dam Repairs Still Being Planned

Here's a view of how the lake and the dam looked today.











Two boards are out of the spillway and the gate is open a bit as mandated by the State as part of their order to Guilford - concern was the hurricane season and the inability to control the gate and get enough water out in a short period of time.

The MPA President was on the phone quite a bit this week to find out the latest details from all parties involved... Right now - The State has granted Guilford's request to keep the waterlevel up until Labor Day so that we can enjoy the season. (Thank you!) After Labor Day watch the lake waterlevel closely. You may need to take your boats out soon. Guilford has had their engineers out to look at the dam this week, monitoring the situation, calculating the flow and time needed to bring down the lake and waiting for government approval and instructions. The State and the Town of Sutton's Conservation Commission will actually decide the details as to how aggressively (how low and how fast) the water will be taken down, and when that will happen. Guilford is sensitive to the needs and use of the lake by us residents and has asked the government agencies for rulings which best address our concerns to keep the waterlevel as high as possible in the main part of the lake and let the lake fill to normal as soon as possible after repairs are made. Repairs are only expected to take about a week.

Check in here for the latest! I'll let you know when word comes to hitch the boat trailer!

MPA Annual Meeting-Always informative and friendly

Who brought their camera?! I forgot :( Email pictures if you did!

Well, for those of you who didn't venture out today to the Annual Meeting - you missed a lot!
Info, info, info!
Offee and great pastries!
And the great lake friends I only get to see once a year!

Also about the new location ... a number of members complained that Camp Blanchard was too small, too hard to get to on foot for the older members, and too much work to clean. So we decided to try a new location ... the Blackstone National Grill at the golf course was booked through September; someone on the board said St. Anne's church hall would be too hot without air conditioning if the weather was warm; someone else suggested Singletary Rod and Gun but there is a bar there and doesn't it sound like that other lake association in Sutton should meet there?! ... so one of our board members arrranged the Whitinsville Fish & Game's pavillion. Under a great roof, plenty of tables, clean, near a trout stocked pond, plenty of parking, and free too BUT having lived my almost 50 years of life in Sutton, the place my grandmother from Webster Square called "Journey's End", I never would have thought it could take an hour to get to Douglas! and that a right turn could mean a left turn and where numerous gun shots highlight the President report! Did anyone not get lost?? Tell us the details if you did! I think we will be back next year at the Y. Did anyone miss the brownies?

Seriously, it was a good meeting and obvious that this organization is PROACTIVE and on top of EVERY issue of concern to its members. This week I will report on the information brought to the over 50 people attending.

Tomorrow's topic - the upcoming dam repairs and the soon to be LOW water level. Stay tuned!

Annual Meeting - Rain or Shine!

Rain or shine tomorrow's MPA Annual Meeting is happening! This year we are trying a morning meeting over coffee and soda, donuts, muffin and bagels at the Whitinsville Fish & Game in Douglas. There is a large pavilion to accomodate us as well as a large indoor hall if needed. This year's site also offers easy access, cleaner more modern restrooms, and a larger space to accomodate the entire membership!

Give it a try! Take a ride out tomorrow! I'll see you there!

There are a number of ways to get to the facility but our President found this one well marked with great signs and the roads easier to follow: Starting at the Citgo Extra Mart in Douglas follow Route 16 east for 2.9 miles. Turn right onto West Street and go 1.7 miles.Turn right onto Martin Road and go .4 miles turning left on to White Court which is the driveway of the Whitinsville Fish & Game. :))

Weekday Calm!

A photo NOT taken on the weekend!

Water Level To Be Taken Down Another 6 Inches

If you are wondering why the water is running out of the spillway let me tell you. I heard from Guilford Thursday night and he asked me to pass on this information....

Fuddy has been notified by the Guilford office in Maine that the state of Massachusetts has required that the lake be brought down an additional 6 inches and is sending a dam inspector tomorrow, Friday morning, to observe as Fuddy takes out the boards from the spillway. (We are currently down 6 inches below full.) Fuddy says this is an "emergency act" - a precaution- as the gate is broken/jammed closed and heavy rains are expected Sunday. This will take us down an additional 6 inches bringing the total to 12 inches down from full.

We had a good level all summer and really can't complain can we! Remember with the broken gate they could of drained us a month ago!

I know the downstream residents of Steven's Pond will welcome more water!

Have a good weekend!

Annual Meeting - Mark Your Calendar!

With August coming to a close it is time for the MPA Annual Meeting! Mark your calendar and plan to attend.

Saturday, August 26th
10:00 to noon
Whitinsville Fish and Game in Douglas
White Ct. Douglas

Agenda items will include: the dam, the non point source pollution grant, election of officers and directors, and anything you want to talk about!

Coffee, donuts, muffins and bagels are on the menu for this morning meeting.

This new location offers a beautiful pavillion with picnic tables, lawn area overlooking a pond as well as indoor facilities if it rains. Easy access for young and old. Room for the entire membership plus! I'll see you there!

For direction click the title of this post. You can take either Depot St off of the Main St. in Douglas or head west a bit and take Franklin St to White Court. Check the link for the Yahoo Map for best directions.

A Little Story.... Boat Repairs

What do you do when you need to put a new propellor on your boat?

Take the old one off right?! Well, it is not always that easy or that cheap.

We heard a story about a man who came into Consumer Auto Parts for a torque wrench. Seems he is a bass fisherman who was charged $118 by a local garage to put on the new propellor. Next time he will be able to do the job himself for a lot le$$ as he bought a beauty of a wrench with a nice case for only $78.

Boating Safety

Kids, adults who need a refresher!! take the online exam to earn your Boating Certificate.

One of our members pointed out that I shouldn't have left out the obvious boating rules.... boats on the lake at night need lights and tubing and waterskiing is out of the question after dusk until sunrise. Also NO tubing or skiing through the channel.

Common sense helps a lot on the water!

Try the link! http://www.boaterexam.com/usa/massachusetts/

Boating Safety Laws

A few water-related fatalities have hit the news lately so I thought a quick review of some boating basics is in order.

1. Life jackets are required by ALL jet-skiers, ALL water-skiers, ALL tubers, ALL canoer and kayakers from Sept 15 to May 15th, and ALL children younger than 12 years old. No exceptions.

2. Life jackets must be in good condition (no rips or dry rot!), readily accessible if not on you (stowed in the seat is not accessible!), and one for each person onboard. Also check proper size and weight limits.

3. No open containers of alchohol on Manchaug Pond. No drinking ...it is the law.

4. Don't forget a ladder os required for water-skiers, tubers, and swimmers.

5. Registration and numbers for all boats with a motor.

6. Fire extinguisher for those motorboarts over 26 feet with an outboard motor or all inboards.

7. ALL motorboats need an anchor, bailer, and a line. If under 16 feet, a paddle or oar is required.

8. To operate a jet-ski you must be 18 or older. 16 and 17 year olds may complete a Safety Education training and then may operate with this certificate.

9. To operate a motor boat you must be at least 16 years old, or 12 years old with an adult 18 or over on board supervising. Children 12 -15 years old may obtain a Safety Education Certificate to obtain alone

10. Horn or whistle or bell for all boats.

11. Speeds of more than 45 mph are considered excessive. Within 150 feet of a skier, swimmer, marina, or a dock must operate less than 6 mph. Do not operate within 150 feet of a swim beach.

Have a great weekend! Click the title for a link to more info.

Water Level an AMAZING 6 Inches Down From Full!

The report is in... we're only 6" below full! Fuddy calls it "amazing" to remain this constant. He says we were 8" below, but we are up with that last rain and some run-off from the watershed. Of course the gate remains closed with nothing going out except through the crack between the spillway boards. With this heat, we usually get evaporation taking us down, but not yet.

For those of us new to all this, you might ask ... What does Fuddy mean by the term "below full"? Well, Manchaug Pond is considered "full" when the water level is to the top of the spillway boards. If 6" of the board is showing, then we are 6" below full. Simple as that.

Kayak Invasion!

I received a call from Area 5 at 6:30 tonight... "Did you get a picture of that! A kayak invasion of Manchaug Pond!!"

Later down at the shore, this is what I saw coming around the point from Area 5...


...thirty plus kayaks and canoes.

An hour or so later, another group went by. It wasn't an invasion. It was the RI Kayak Association and the Blackstone Valley Paddlers Club who set out on the waters of Manchaug Pond from the state boat ramp for the evening.

MPA Submits s.319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Grant: Manchaug Pond NPS Improvement Project

The Manchaug Pond Nonpoint Source Improvement Project was resubmitted last month in an effort by the MPA to secure state monies to address weed-causing nutrients, bacteria and sediment getting into the lake from the watershed.
Our proposal was one of 16 grant requests received by the State asking for a piece of the $2 million they expect to be available. The MPA is asking for $129,250 - requests this year ranged from $77,768 to $300,000. Last year the requests were lopsided with one heavy hitter asking for $1 million which threw the rest of us out. So providing we get the grant - which we are told looks good! - there is a matching component where the Town of Sutton will provide labor, etc to install a number of storm drains, catch basins, etc and the MPA will provide volunteer hours getting educational information out on animal manure best management practices, septic systems, fertilizers, unpaved roads, and the like to those using the lake and in the watershed.

I'll let you know when we hear!

Board Meeting Last Night

So what were you doing yesterday evening? The MPA Board of Directors held a meeting in Area 5.
Topics on the agenda?
1. the pending sale of the dam
2. forming a watershed district
3. the water level and the broken dam gate
4. the s. 319 Non-point Pollution Grant
5. the annual meeting of the members
6. Sutton's Lake Patrol Program
7. Nomination/election of a new board

A new member came to the board meeting, his Area Representative recommended him as an Area Rep. for Area 4. Elections will be held at the annual meeting.

What to get involved?

Sutton Police Renew Committment to Lake Patrols

Tuesday's Telegram reports the Sutton Police Department is planning to step up their Lake Patrol program on Manchaug, Singletary and Ramshorn Ponds. Two recent lake deaths, one on Quinsig and the other on Stoneville Pond in Auburn, have the police looking to prevent such fatalities on the town's lakes. In recent years, sightings of the police boat have been rare! It was actually the lake associations of the three ponds which years ago asked police to patrol the ponds as the number of boats made the lakes dangerous. The MPA worked with the chief and officers to secure a boat, equipment and funding for officer hours. The MPA also donated $$$$ to get the program started.

Today, the Sutton Police want you follow the boating laws and be ready as they routinely perform safety inspections on the boats they meet. Remember that you need a life jacket (accessable - not stowed away!) for each person, a fire extinguisher and horn, and a ladder if you are swimming, tubing or skiing. Sutton also has an open container bylaw which means no drinking on the lake! They will enforce no matter if you are on the Douglas or Sutton side.

If you see a problem on the lake you wish to report, call the Sutton police at 508-865-4449.

Thanks to an MPA member in Area 5 for the great photo!

Weekend Off.

"There will be no crisis this week... my schedule is full.""

Saw this sign at Yankee Candle, Deerfield, Massachusetts today.

The Dam - "What's Going On?!" Update 5

Fuddy, the caretaker of the dam, just called. The dam gate is shut tight with no water going through. We were losing an inch a day, down 8-9". How did they stop the leak you ask? Well, they tried more sandbags and fabric as I reported earlier today (see previous post!) to block the holes but that didn't work. What did? They took a 12 foot pipe and banged in into place over the broken gate which knocked the gate into a closed position. No flow!

Now Fuddy will control with the boards and the dam owner will deal with it in the fall.

Well done!

The Dam - "What's Going On?!" Update 4

Guilford has called in R.H. White and the divers once again! First thing this morning the teams arrived at the dam to work on reducing the flow. I took these photos less than a half hour ago. I didn't want to get too bold and pesty with the camera so there are no close ups. Seems every third person traveling by stops to ask "What's Going On?!" and "Is it repairable?"

A diver is placing more sandbags and a special fabric around the gate - he was up to sixty bags when we got there but then R.H. White pulled in with more sandbags and a new roll of fabric.

He's hoping less water is flowing and so are we!

Thanks to Guilford for keeping on top of this.

We're Not the Only Ones With Trouble!

I know the waterlevel is going down. Tell your neighbors who don't have internet and read the blog what is going on. I'm working on a newsletter to inform the entire membership. But it looks like we're not the only ones with troubles... yesterday's Telegram reports a lock on the Erie Canal in New York is hung up due to heavy rains which prevented the sloop from the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean II: Dead Man's Chest" from sailing through. Also, I am relieved we don't have a tunnel to share Boston's woes and we have an open container law in Sutton and hopefully residents and lake users with common sense to prevent headlines like Lake Quinsig. Reading the morning paper is not the way to start the day on an upbeat note!

I'll let you know on any development on the dam, but in the meantime we will turn to other topics from the submitted Non-point source pollution grant to daily life on the lake. Have a great day!

The Dam - "What's Going On?!" Update 3

Yesterday our MPA President spoke with Fuddy's boss - Guilford's plant engineer... it is clear the dam remains a priority and serious business with Guilford even though the operation has relocated to North Carolina and in light of this new development with the broken gate. The concern at present is the amount of water flowing out (too much) and the upcoming hurricane season and inability to control the water flow on a daily basis. Without the gate, the water will be controlled buy removing or inserting boards from the spillway. The boards do allow for lowering and raising but just not the daily fine tuning we are used to. Also the gate cannot be fixed until the lake level is drawn down. Divers inspecting the gate and taking measurements last week noted the incredible force of the water in this area making underwater repairs impossible.



I'll keep you posted!

The Dam - "What's Going On?!" Update 2

Fuddy, Guilford's caretaker, called last night to report the sandbags at the dam gate held us at 5" under full over the weekend.( FYI: Whitins Reservoir, the other dam Fuddy watches, lost 1" through evaporation.) After today's reading, if there is a loss of water, Guilford may decided to put additional sandbags to stop the flow further. Fuddy will keep us posted.

Stay tuned!

The Dam - "What's Going On?!" Update

Well, Guilford and R.H. White have been at the dam all day! We checked in with them a little after 7 a.m., a few times during the day and again before 4 p.m. when divers were again coming out of the water.

The news isn't good. Seems there was debris near the gate but that is not what caused the damage - the shaft of the gate is broken. Old age. Can't just order parts for something like that. They have to be made. Guilford has 200 sandbags positioned to reduce the flow of water out of the lake. Fuddy will do his best to keep the water at this level - using the boards to lower in case of heavy rain/flood conditions.
Repairs will be made in the fall when the water level is taken down.

The Dam - "What's Going On?!"

Guilford has called in the professionals to dive down to get a view of the gate as something (a branch?) is preventing the dam gate from closing.

We are 4 inches down from full.

Stay tuned!






By the way... if you have questions or opinions about the water level PLEASE DO NOT call Guilford in Douglas or in Maine. It really does NOT get you anywhere.

Also you should know that while you're calling for Guilford to close the gate, someone else is complaining the water is too high! It doesn't make us look good as a group. Guilford has a mandate from DEP to maintain a flow for the sewerage treatment plants in Douglas and they have their rule curve they have been following for years.

Ask Fuddy or your MPA Area Rep. or Officer or check here for more info.

Water Level 3 Inches Down From Full

Our dam caretaker reports trouble closing the dam, so a little more water than he would like has been going out the gate. He suspects debris from a previous storm is preventing them from closing the gate so divers are being called in to check it out.

Fireworks!

Millbury, Auburn and Northbridge Sunday night; Worcester Monday night and Manchaug Pond EVERY night!




Sorry my camera didn't capture the beauty! Anyone have better - send them in!

How about "Pink Sky at Night, Sailor's Delight"!

My 9 year old daughter took this picture this evening. We are looking forward to a great weekend and 4th of July!! Fireworks, cookouts, marshmallows and campfires, family and friends.

Remember the MPA tradition... the lighting of the flares around the shoreline... July 3rd at 9 p.m.

The Lake and Pet/Animal Waste

Rain yesterday, today and tomorrow. When it is not raining, the air is 100% humidity. Did you know Fuddy did a rain dance? Did you know a couple hundred residents of Whitin Reservoir met at St. Denis Church to talk about their dam and the water level? - not in the hall but upstairs in the church and many prayed for higher water.

Everyone can stop dancing and praying! enough rain!

Seriously, I have a little educational piece for you to check out. I found it while looking for info on dirt roads and nonpoint source pollution. You see, these heavy rains wash sediment into the lake as well as whatever else is found in the watershed: sand and salt off roads, fertilizers from lawns, oils, detergents, as well as bacteria from animal wastes and livestock manures. Check out the "DEP Fact Sheets" under Links in the column on the right. I had to take it out of the post area as it was too big:Educational nonpoint source brochure: Pet waste. January 2003.
It will make you think!

Tomorrow I will tell you about the state grant the MPA has submitted to help protect our water from these sorts of issues/problems.

Town of Sutton Transfer Station Goes to Bags

This week is it to dump that rubbish before the "Pay-As-You-Throw" Program begins at the Sutton transfer station. July 1st you will need a $25.00 1 year sticker/permit to enter the station and dispose of recycleables, bags of rubbish and other items. The town has a long list of "other items" and their fees from $5 for a can of paint to $10. for a chair to $25. for a TV. And the bags.... a big $2.50 for the 33 gallon size (Worcester charges $1, I am told) and $1.25 for the 14 gallon bag. The bags are only available at the Town Hall and the Sutton Center Store/gas station.

With recycling and composting, my household still generates about 6-10 14 gallon bags a week. Thats a good total and $$ per year! Perhaps a compactor for unrecycleable plastics and a shredder to recycle or campfire the office paper!

Another Sunday Visitor for Area 4

Another Sunday morning and we have company! A month ago it was a fox on my door step. This morning a visit from Mrs. Mallard and the twins! You can see the route she took: over the yard of the lake-front cottage, across the road, and on to my lawn. Perhaps the rain has made for few handouts on the lake (or she has had enough of the rain too and longs for dry land!) How many little families are on the lake this season? Anyone counting?

On the serious side... another visitor came in the afternoon - the MPA President. He brought sample legislation and bylaws for me to review for the watershed district effort. We're moving ahead! Check back - I'll keep you posted!

UNANIMOUS! Pursue Watershed District!

A crowded hall was the location of last night's meeting called by the Manchaug Pond Association to discuss the sale of the dam at Manchaug Pond and explore the option of establishing a watershed district. MPA members and other residents along the lake's shore listened to the COLAP speaker and District Clerk of Cedar Meadow Lake Watershed District tell of the sale of his lake's dam, and the 7 years of low water levels held by the new owner to try to get $$ out of the residents.
The MPA President led the meeting explaining the vote of the Board to Directors to point the MPA to the best option for the members and other residents: formation of a watershed district. The MPA has been talking with the mill and their law firm for a few months monitoring the situation and keeping communication open.

Red Sky at Night, Sailors' Delight. NOT!

What a storm came up moments after this red sky showed itself!! Mega wind, hail, rain, thunder, lightning. Whew! Glad our house is one row back as half the back yard, cabanas, etc, blew east into the trees as it is!












(This picture is what you see when you are not waterfront.... before you run down to the lake!)

Membership Meeting June 22 on the DAM!

The dam is going up for sale. Hmmm... That is a big one! I've been on the MPA Board of Directors over 20 years and short of the issue which brought our MPA Founding Father together, the proposed remake of Camp Blanchard to a campground, I have to say that this is just as big an issue to tackle - possibly bigger!

What makes this issue one of the most important? Let's look at past MPA action and results:

* Certainly, the current DEP Storm Drain grant (and watershed survey and water quality testing) we submitted this month is a big one as it will address some weed problems for the long term, and the few high nutrient levels we have seen here and there which concern public health.

* Also, the town management of the Public Boat Ramp was a big feather in our cap as we secured the portable toilets to eliminate the use of Blueberry Island and the other islands as bathrooms. Remember the complains of what used to float in to resident's beaches!!

* That effort also got us the Gatekeeper who closes the ramp when the parking lot is full, eliminating the parking up and down both sides of Torrey Road and an over crowding lake!

* Also, it was the MPA which continually asked the state for channel markers and a sign at the ramp - thank you to the staff at the Douglas State Forest for installing and keeping them painted and repaired.

* Oh yes - police patrols. The MPA was instrumental in getting that effort on the lake - securing a boat, some equipment, and funding for officer time. Use of the lake is down, so weekly patrols are not necessary.

* And of course the weed control efforts: lake level drawndown coordination with Guilford Ind., weed surveys, testing for nutrients from the watershed which promote weed growth.

SO, to get back to the dam and the water rights and why this is such a big issue...

sale of the dam means control of the water level. Too low water = "mud flats" as Fuddy calls it! or swamp - sand and less water for boating and swimming on the lake, dangerous exposed or under the surface rocks. Too high water - flooded property, gurgling septic systems, damage to docks and walls and if too high to yards and homes. Improper timing for lowering the lake level for the winter means more weeds (we lose lake level drawdown as a free, non-chemical control of invasive lake weeds along the shore), and fish and amphibian kills as they hiberate in the mud, docks in ice....

What can you do? Come together Thursday night with other MPA members and learn what your Board of Directors has research as an option for Manchaug Pond and see what other lakes have done when in the same situation!

See you there!

Area 7 - Spring Wildflowers in the Watershed

These photos were taken about two weeks ago in Area 7 along the roadside. Do you know the names of these wildflowers?





Jack-in-the-Pulpit,
Pink Lady Slipper,
Canada Mayflower

On the Water!

Sure felt good to be out on the water! Enough with the rain! The lake is full and we are ready for summer. Bring on the sunshine!

Photo from Area 2

A great photo of a sunset taken from Area 2 by our Vice President. I won't say when - let's just say it is from the archives!

MPA Emergency Mtg June 22!

Our dam is scheduled to be sold. As of Friday it was not yet on the market, but it will go as well as the Guilford mill and the other to dams: Guilboa and Whitin.

MPA President Dave Schmidt and the Board of Directors have been monitoring the situation; speaking directly with Guilford, their law firm, and leading residents of Whtin Reservoir; as well as exploring the options which would best benefit us- the people who live on and near the lake.

Thursday, June 22nd at 7pm at St Anne's Church hall, the MPA is calling a meeting of all members and interested parties to decide what action we need to take.

A guest speaker, the District Clerk of the Cedar Meadows Watershed District, will tell you how the dam on his lake was sold to a private party who proceeded to let the water level down and tried to get $$ from the residents before he would raise the level. This went on for 7 years until they united to form an association and take control of the water rights and the dam through the subsequent formation of a watershed district.

We have an association- the MPA. We have a great working relationship with Guilford. The time is NOW before the dam is sold.

Spread the word and attend this important meeting. It does effect you!

Remember...it wasn't that long ago that the lake was way down...

Water Level Remains Over Full as Raining Continues

Here's a photo of the main gate and spillway of our dam - the water is raging out at full force!

When we are over full, Fuddy will check more than once a day to make sure he has it open enough to have an effect. The past few weeks he has had to take out boards as the lake continues to rise.

Thunderstorm Hits Lake and Puts Us Over Full!

Thursday evening a thunderstorm rolled in and brought rain, hail and the destructive lightning we all dread. The Sutton Girls Softball teams playing at Camp Blanchard canceled the 6 p.m. game with the rain starting about 5:50. A large white pine tree was hit by lightning on Manchaug Road and another strike on Irma Jones Rd started a home on fire with the Manchaug/Sutton Fire Dept. responding within minutes. Our power went out at 6 p.m. and was restored Friday afternoon around 1:00. My cable was just restored this evening ... Thurs.-Sunday. Is that good service? When I called Saturday I was on hold for 1 hour before I got to talk to someone. When I called today I found out I was scheduled for appointment on the 7th ?! Four neighbors called me to compare notes.... we learned that the Cable Company won't send the truck out until 3 homes have called reporting an outage- SIX called but not all were registered as an outage. Ugh!

And the lake... Fuddy reported Saturday morning that the lake was 4 inches OVER full and he is measuring twice a day and watching homes for flooding after having opened the dam a bit. He called again today having opened things up a bit. Remember the drought we were having... the lake was too low! New England weather! Thanks Fuddy for being on top of things on a daily basis!

Memorial Day and Water Level is at FULL!

Our friend Fuddy, the caretaker of Manchaug, Whitins and the Gilboa Dams for the dam owner called yesterday morning to report the water level is at FULL as promised. Saturday the lake was down one inch but came up to the full mark by Sunday morning.
Some laugh and call Fuddy "lucky", but he wants you to know that he is doing what he always has done for the past 22 years. He does credit "Mother Nature" for the rain!

Fuddy further reports that he and 4 others remain at the Douglas mill: an environmental, fireman, electrician, and a mechanic. The mill is quiet with few coming in to check it out.

Our Lake's Dam/Water Rights to be Sold!

Our dam at Manchaug along with the dams at Whitin Res., and Guilboa are to go up for sale with the Guilford Mill. The MPA President has called two emergency Board of Directors meetings to discuss this, the ramifications to us on the shore and watershed of Manchaug, and the best course of action for us to take. If the new company buying the mill does not need water for their manufacturing process than our dam and water rights will be up for sale. A meeting of the entire membership is being scheduled for June. So watch this site and your mailbox for details.

Area 4's Morning Visitor

This morning at 7:00 a.m. my husband noticed a little visitor on our porch: a red tail fox kit! Our visitor is very small, with our cat being taller and longer. We have seen the kit, it's sibling and a parent often crossing the roads in area 4. We heard they were born in a den the parents made under a deck at a home on Torrey Road. A third kit was found hit by a car on the side of the road.

I apologize for the poorer quality of the photo as it is taken through two glass doors and facing the rising sun!

Tell us about your visitors!

Water Level is 5 inches until full!

Here's a photo taken mid-April of the channel. Should we call it "before the rain" and you could look out your window for "after the rain"!

Fuddy (the keeper of the dam!) called this morning pleased to report that Manchaug Pond (or Lake Manchaug as some wish) is only down 5 inches! The boards are all in and the spillway gate is open one inch - and the gates haven't been touched in over a month.

He states that "Mother Nature took care of the dry spell and we will be full by Memorial day!" We came into the spring season with no snow and had an extremely dry season until the recent rains.

While the east coast was flooding, Manchaug was smiling! Keep dancing Fuddy!

Mute Swan visits Manchaug Pond - Wild but NOT Native

The visiting swan is a beauty: large and magestic. Seeing us on the shore while about 100 feet out, it swam immediately to us looking for food. My 9 year old got within 7 feet before it started to hiss. Click on to the title of this post for a link to a Humane Society which details an encounter with "Genghis swan" and their recommendations as to how to handle this large birds. Beware as they will attack and capsize a canoe!

For a little background, the Mass. Department of Fish and Wildlife reports: "The swans you are seeing are mute swans, and like English sparrows and starlings, they are not native to North America, but an introduced species. Originally brought in from Europe and Asia as ornamental waterfowl to grace the ponds of Long Island estates, some escaped to the wild where they became established, spread up and down the coast and are now moving inland. Highly aggressive and territorial, there is evidence that they are displacing native waterfowl and can be destructive to some aquatic habitats, destroying more vegetation than they actually eat.

Unlike native waterfowl, mute swans were not federally protected until Dec. 2001 when a court ruled that mute swans must be granted federal protection under the same Migratory Bird Treaty that protects native swans, the tundra swan, and the trumpeter swan much to the consternation of people who view the mute swan as a destructive interloper."

Water Level and Fuddy's Rain Dance!

Rain yesterday, rain today and rain in the forecast! Go rain!!

Sunday, our friend Fuddy from Guilford(the keeper of our dam), gave me a call to update me on things from his perspective...

Fuddy has been in his position monitoring our dam and the water level on a daily basis for 22 years. He reports this is the worst he has seen it: a dry spring and of course no snow melt to bring us into spring. We started with hurricane Katrina and then a winter which saw snow which melted inbetween storms. With the early melts, I was calling Fuddy to open the dam as the high water level was causing havoc with docks and boats usually high and dry on shore.

Fuddy has had the dam closed for March, April and May or open just a "trickle". He wants you to know he can't do much about the weather (he says it is the Man upstairs!) but did report doing a rain dance last week!

Further Fuddy reports he is still on the payroll with Guilford along with about 20 other employees. Guilford has relocated to North Carolina where the winters are mild making for lower energy costs and cheaper labor. He did say workers from up here had to go south to train the new mill workers. He also reports an envelope company renting the upstairs of the mill, but no buyer yet.

We need alot more rain to get this lake filled. So MPA members keep praying and Fuddy keep dancing! With the rain we can break out the puzzles, hot chocolates, and enjoywatching the trees leaf out!

Noises in the Night

11:10 p.m. Thursday night: Did you hear it.... not a puppy barking, not a duck quacking but something inbetween? The commotion lasted 10 minutes until 11:20 and I had a front row seat! I put the spot light on and there in my neighbors driveway and in the road directly in front of my house there was a small red-tailed fox and another neighbor's calico cat in a stand off! The fox and the cat seemed about the same height but I think the cat was a bigger weight wise!

Living on Manchaug Pond doesn't limit the excitement to the water, our watershed has a great diversity of animals - commonly visible to us all. Stories of fisher cats, deer, wild turkey, black Grey squirrels and "flying" squirrels, fox, raccoon, skumk and possum are everyday - did I leave anyone out?!

Tell us of your encounter with nature here in the watershed of Manchaug Pond

Dam Ownership & the Water Rights

I am sure you have heard the latest "good one"... my neighbor Arline heard it a couple weeks ago at the hairdresser from Harriet of Whitins Res...

"Someone is trying to buy the dams and water rights, drain the lakes and build houses at Whitins and at Manchaug hold us all hostage for big bucks to raise the level."!!!

Good one but NOT funny.

The REAL Scoop is our MPA President has spoken with the dam/mill owner 4 times in the last month and their attorney today. The water rights and the dam at Manchaug Pond have not been sold nor has the mill todate. If any future buyer of the mill needs the water, the rights will be sold with the mill. If the water rights are not needed than the mill wants to do the right/honorable thing. We envision the Town being approached first. In all cases, the MPA is in contact with the mill and the mill is committed to keeping us informed as to the progress on securing a buyer for the mill and the status of the dam.

Further, the Sutton Conservation Commission reports that the proper permits need to be secured when lowering a lake, and any future owner would need to be responsible in that area.

The water level of Manchaug is down due to the lack of rain - no other.

Mumford River Stream Team Survey Opportunity

Here is a message from Nicole Wenger , Stream Team Coordinator for the Blackstone River Watershed Association concerning a community service opportunity surveying the Mumford River (which starts at Manchaug Pond) You can contact Ms. Wenger directly with questions but let the MPA know if you attend a meeting and learn something we can all benefit from!

"Stream Team Survey 2006
Are you looking for an opportunity to make a difference in your community? Do you enjoy spending time outdoors? Would you like to learn more about the plants, animals and natural resources in your backyard? If so, then the Blackstone River Watershed’s Stream Team needs your help!

In collaboration with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Riverways Adopt-A-Stream Program, the Blackstone River Watershed Association will be conducting a river survey along the Mumford River on Saturday May 6, 2006. The data collected from the survey is used to determine which factors are negatively affecting the river (pollution, erosion, trash etc.). Additionally, action plans are created and reported to local town officials. River surveys are an excellent opportunity to learn more about the local resources and a great way to make new friends and build connections within the communities.

The Mumford River is a tributary of the Blackstone River and stretches through the towns of Sutton, Northbridge, Uxbridge and Douglas. Stream teams provide on-going stewardship for the river and work on projects to protect and restore the river and the land adjacent to the river. Participants will receive free river survey training, are eligible to attend free stream team programs on macroinvertebrates, water quality testing, plant and animal identification and orienteering. Additionally, after the initial river survey on May 6th, stream teams can survey their section of the river on their own schedules!

Volunteers interested in learning more about this opportunity or would like to participate are encouraged to bring a family member, friend, neighbor or co-worker to a scheduled informational planning meeting. Together we can help protect, restore and advocate for healthy rivers, resources and communities. For more information or to register, please
contact Nicole Wenger, Stream Team Coordinator, at the Blackstone RiverWatershed Association’s office at 508-278-5200 or via email at brwa@verizon.net. Additional planning meetings for large groups may also be arranged by contacting Nicole.

Mark your Calendar! Planning Meeting – Wednesday, April 5th at 6:30PM – Northbridge Town Hall, Northbridge, MA

Free Educational Programs-Dates/Times/Locations TBA at Planning Meeting

Survey Training Meeting with Massachusetts Riverways-Wednesday, May 3rd at 6:30PM – River Bend Farm Visitor Center, Uxbridge, MA

Stream Team Survey-Saturday, May 6th – 9:00AM – 11:00AM (rain date May 7th)

Nicole Wenger, Science Quest
31 Chestnut Street, Attleboro MA 02703, 508-944-5886
www.mysciencequest.com"

Aerial Photo of the Dam

I happened to stumble on a site which offers an aerial photo of the Manchaug Pond Dam. Just click on to the title of this post and see for yourself! You may also be able to spot your house if it is near the channel!

Deer in the Watershed

This morning at 10 am as we passed Camp Blanchard, my daughter spotted two deer grazing on the lawn in the parking area on the right side of the caretaker's house. I had my digital camera with me but with my husband driving at 35 mph it was just a memory in seconds!

Deer are very common around Manchaug Pond and it's watershed: frequently seen crossing the road, in the woods at the state boat ramp, and occasionally on someone's lawn feeding on the tender shoots or under a fruit-bearing tree. My daughter and I have tracked them down our dirt road to the lake... we imagine for an early morning drink. A couple years ago we had an older fawn in our driveway who in fright quickly retreated to the woods, went down a path to the lake, and continued on to swim the lake crossing the channel and over to the Douglas side.

Keep your eyes open, cameras ready and share with us any wildlife you might see here near Manchaug Pond!

Dam closed tight -2nd Driest March on Record

Not a drop of water has flowed out the dam at Torrey Road this week to allow for the lake to fill for the season and address the lack of rain. The Worcester Telegram reported yesterday that March is the second-driest since record-keeping began in 1892 and the driest since 1915 with just .5 inches of precipitation. Furthermore, winter brought us a little over 64 inches of snow which is just below the average of 67 inches.

Rain is in the forecast for the week and it is April 1st, so let the showers begin!

(Special thanks to our expert damkeeper, Fuddy for a job well done!)