Today at Waters' Farm Days

Full Day Put in at the Dam

Here's how the wall/channel is looking tonight! We'll watch that in the next few days to show the drop in water level.

The flow from the gate is a roar of white water!

This "screen" was removed with the use of a crane today. When in position it stands in front of the gate to prevent logs and other debrie from hitting the gate, clogging it or traveling through and downstream. Tonight it lies chained and locked waiting to go back in place. Note its companion, the sandbag.


Well, the dam owner is to be commended for its efforts in keeping the water level up so that we could enjoy the lake this summmer. We also applaud the 22 years of daily service Fuddy has given them and us in monitoring the dam and water level. And today, the beginning of the repairs began - we are told that a coffer/temporary dam may be put into place so that the waterlevel will not have to be taken down so low. don't hold me to it though as with all the permits and agencies involved, things can change daily! We again thank the dam owner for all the specialists they have brought in to do the job right and to address the requirements of local, state and federal governments.

Waiting for a Crane!

Word on the dam has it that the workers are waiting for a crane to be brought in to lift the broken part of the gate out of the water. Workers expect that it will be out by the end of the day!

Watch the water flow then! Hear the roar!

Keeping you posted!

The Diver Has Arrived!

Here's a couple photos for you all so that you can take a look for yourself.


The diver is in the water as I write this. See the bubbles in the water-the diver is in the water under those bubbles, see the hose the man on the dam wall is guiding - this goes from the truck carrying air to breathe, warm water to keep his body warm and wires for communication from the truck, etc. to the diver. The company always has a man in the back of the truck with the communication -radio and camera, telling the one, two or more men on the dam how to assist the man in the water. The diver's first task is to remove the sandbags and sheets of kevlar fabric which were used to block the flow earlier in the season when the gate broke.

A good number of vehicles are on the road.
Our MPA photographer reports that unlike other times when work has been done on the dam, the Sutton Police are there directing traffic, officials from the town and state are there overseeing things, and the Sutton Rescue Squad is present. The Town Highway Department also has their superintendent there as he has been instructed by the state to keep the dam at Steven's Pond (the next pond down) fully open to prepare for the increased flow.

Stay tuned! I'll give you the official status report from the dam owner later in the day.

Water Level - The Rush is On!

Monday - No divers. Boards still in.
Tuesday - Caretaker of the dam, Fuddy, called to report he was not sure when R.H. White and the divers would be opening the broken gate as they has other pressing work.
The rest of the spillway boards were taken out so the water should go down considerably - about 12 inches more. Here's yesterday's photos.


Wish I had a digital camera which brought the movement and roar of this water!

Weds. - Fuddy called again to report still no word on when the divers would be here, but Manchaug Pond remains a few inches about Whitin Reservoir which doesn't have a broken gate! We did well this season with a great water level!

I'll keep you posted :)

Water Level Update

Email from a Board Member: "If the lake is to be taken down as previously stated of 15' feet or more, the loss of marine life, problems with wells and the possible leaching of septic, is a very real concern. Surely there has to be some method of water level containment in close proximity to the dam that would allow the work to be done. I would like to hear your thoughts and comments."

Response from the MPA President: "I have been in contact with the spokesman for the dam owner. I have expressed our concerns regarding shallow wells and septic systems. We, the MPA Board of Directors, have drafted a letter faxed and mailed this letter. The dam owner has hired an engineer to put together a proposal of the project and present it to Con-Com and the DCR (Dam Safety). Our letter of concern will be present at the proposal. Last conversation I had with the spokesman for the dam owner was the water level will only to be dropped 5' below the spillway or 9' not 16'. I was assured they will contact all abutters via mailing or hand delivery to the abutters property."

Info from a Sutton Conservation Commission member: "A rep for the dam owner was at the Con Comm meeting last Wed. to secure the drawdown permit from the Town, which we gave them. I requested specifically that they inform all the residents around the Pond and the Army Corps of Engineers and to provide Con Comm with copies of all the permits they also needed from DFW and Office of Dam Safety."

Hope you enjoy this evening's photos.

More on the Water Level!

The dam owner reports today that divers will be brought in on Monday to open the broken gate in order to bring the water level down to an extremely low level to allow for repairs to be made. This opening of the gate is in addition to the boards taken out of the spillway.

It is highly recommended that residents get their boats out of the lake this weekend.

MPA a Winner! Grant Proposal is Funded!

The MPA has received congratulations from the state that our Manchaug Pond Nonpoint Source Improvement Project was recommended for funding! This project will bring storm drains, catch basins, retention gardens, educational programs and much more to the watershed of Manchaug Pond. It is a matching grant funded by the state and matched by the town with work done to the roadways around the lake and at the boat ramp and educational efforts by the association.

Why did we file? Well, it was the recommendation of Lycott Associates who conducted a survey of the weeds and did a water quality survey testing the water coming into the pond from runoff from the watershed. It was the way to go to protect the water quality now and head off weed growth in the future.

Go get'um MPA!

Water Level Coming Down

The aggressive draw down of the lake water level has begun in order to make repairs to the gate. Just got the call from the dam owner: 2 boards are being removed this morning from the spillway which will take the water level down 12 more inches this week. Next Monday this will be repeated.

I'll keep you posted.

Abandoned Not Adrift

The MPA has received information that this yellow boat, adrift in the channel, was brought in by the boat ramp this week. Dumped. Abandoned. If it floats by, could someone get the old numbers off the side (if they have been removed, they are probably still readable) and give the Sutton Police a call.

The boat is not the only "dumping" taking place at the boat ramp... since Sutton went to the bag "Pay-as-you-throw" system at the transfer station, a pick-up was seen dumping plant material/branches in the woods, and larger amounts of litter are being left behind.

If you see it, report it.

Send the message there will be NO dumping at Manchaug.

Adrift

"Will the owner of the yellow and white boat, please move their vehicle!" Just kidding! If you know who owns this boat, give them a call.



It is adrift in the causeway/the old dam. With the lake calm this morning, it is resting peacefully against/on the rocks.

Water Level at 14 Inches Down From Full

We are in good shape for having a broken gate on the dam - 14 inches down from full as of this morning! Whitin Reservoir, another dam controlled by Guilford, is down 12" without a broken gate.

Guildford reports that only 3 boards have been taken off the spillway and they are waiting for the state Office of Dam Safety to tell them when to take another board out.

The MPA has expressed to Guilford's headquarters our concern that a significant drop in the water level will negatively effect wells and septic systems. They are talking with the state and conservation commission about putting up a temporary structure to minimize the impact.

Keeping you posted :)

Fishing Manchaug Pond

Thursday night's catch included 5 nice white perch and about 50 kivers! My husband says he rarely catches white perch so was quite happy. He used worms from the flower beds and the compost pile for bait. All were put back into the lake to catch another day. Nothing was biting Friday or Saturday evening.


Talking about fishing brings to mind the bass tournaments and the boat ramp. You can tell our boat ramp gatekeeper is off for the season (Memorial Day - Labor Day) as twice this week we have heard the roaring voices of the bass fisherman coming through the causeway before 7 a.m. A quick check of the ramp reveals only 7 cars from RI one day and 10 from RI and MA this morning. They are a loud chatty group for so few!

It was only a few years ago that the MPA invited the then Sutton Police Chief John Hebert to our annual meeting and a member asked that the boat ramp be open at 7 a.m. rather than 6 a.m. The Chief agreed that the booming count off of fisherman at 5 on a Sunday morning should be delayed to 7.

Stormdrain Grant - still waiting to hear!

We are still waiting to hear about the awards for the s. 319 Non point Source Pollution Grants -aka Stormdrain Grant.

This will allow/fund the town to put in stormdrains, catch basins, bioretention gardens and the like along Manchaug Road, the boat ramp, and Oak St. and provide educational efforts for those living and working in the watershed.

A View from Area 7

Today's View of the Dam and the Flow

The flow looks the same to me as it has been all week.

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!