Telegram Reports on Secretary's Decision & Dam Ownership

On July 31st, we reported that Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles released the decision on the dam owner's proposal to breach the Manchaug Pond dam thereby reducing the lake from 380 acres to 201 as "the proponent states in the ENF that, because the dam no longer serves its original purpose, it wished "to divest itself of any and all responsibility and liability for the ownership and operation of the dam." Read proposal for yourself - the link is to the right of this post under "For More Information." It will take you to the town link for the complete document Environmental Notification Form (ENF) #14435. or go to the state MEPA website: http://www.mass.gov/envir/mepa/secondlevelpages/currentissue.htm#rodcert

Today the Worcester Telegram further reports on Secretary Bowles decision, not his requirement that the dam owner prepare a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the scope of their project, changes and loss which would occur if allowed, and mitigation and alternatives but a bold and innovative solution to the dam owner's problem. He states that the proponent (dam owner) "consider the collective costs it will be required to spend on the environmental impacts and including the resolution of any appeals that are taken. I ask that the proponent consider placing this money into an escrow fund for the maintenance and operation of the existing dam. This escrow fund could provide encouragement to a local municipality or nonprofit organization that may consider taking on the responsibility of maintaining and operating the Manchaug Pond Dam while allowing the proponent to divest itself of ownership and operation of the dam."


Further, the article interviews the Sutton Town Administrator James Smith, the dam owner's spokesman Wendy Porter, Douglas Selectman John Bombara, also of Whitin Reservoir Watershed District, and Selectman Scott Medeiros. Ms. Porter is reported in the Telegram as having four parties interested in the ownership of the dam with no "boundaries on what an offer should or should not contain." The article goes on to quote, "I am pleased that three entities have come forward and expressed interest in assuming ownership of the dam. We are optimistic that there will be an owner."

Back lakeside, yesterday found a gentleman approaching shoreline property owners asking many questions about the dam, the waterlevel, owner liability and the mood of lake front property owners, and if any lawsuits were pending. He left the impression he wanted to do "the right thing," generate electricity to fund the upkeep of the dam, and secure a tax write-off for his company. Talk is he's looking at receiving the dam as part of a package with a piece of land he is acquiring near the mill.

Here's the link to the Worcester Telegram article:
http://www.telegram.com/article/20090813/NEWS/908130622

Enjoy the read and the rumor. The lake is quiet with the gray skies of impending rain.

Skies of the Lake

With this hot weather, the lake becomes an even more popular place especially to homes and camps along the shore. The day is spent welcoming family and friends that come to swim and picnic at your home and Manchaug's shores - and being a grandparent can make you and your home even more popular especially with the younger crowd! Such was the case here, so I didn't get the blog entry finished. But yesterday evening's boat ride, and for those of you skiing and tubing and fishing, taking the evening tour around the lake offered a showcase of beautiful skies to view. Let me share a few with you...

The Results are in... Manchaug WON!

Manchaug Pond voted THE MOST SCENIC body of water!

In a recent poll conducted by the Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, 54% of the participants chose Manchaug Pond out of 7 lakes and 1 river!
















Thank you to all those of you who took the time to head over to the Millbury-Sutton Chronicle website to vote for our Manchaug Pond! and thank you to our 3 guest photographers for their submissions of scenic Manchaug Pond!

So What Do You Do Early Sunday Morning?

Sunday morning early before the fishermen arrive at the boat ramp, before the newspaper is delivered, before churches opene their doors... Manchaug Pond is alive!



The mist rolls across the water and the skiers do their barefoot thing.



An the sky changes as a kayaker glides on the calm, mirror-like lake....



and even a hot-air balloon is seen in the distant sky.

Saturday Evening's Sky

Today at Manchaug Pond... A little work, a little rest.

Today the Town of Sutton Highway Department put some time in at the State Public Access Boat Ramp working on the main gate. Seems with time it had settled making it difficult to line up, lock and unlock. They also put more topsoil on the pervious pavers with talk of reseeding in the fall. This neck of the woods sure has been getting a lot of attention!



And later in the evening, the wind died down with a beautiful red sunset finishing the day.

Manchaug's Big Birds -How about this one!

Do you know this one? A few days ago this big bird circled and flew in dipping close to the road in front then going up to land on a neighboring house. Sat on the roof quite awhile looking around and sunning its wings. All was silent in the area including that rooster we often hear in the distance, and the small flock of chickens here went inside their coop.



Look at that distinctive head to help you identify....

Manchaug Pond and Tuesday's Morning Fog

About 6:30 Tuesday morning a fog rolled in to Manchaug Pond and the shoreline neighborhoods were wrapped in white. The water was calm and quiet with no boats on the water. But I said to myself, "Jeez, I can't report that... there are "Those opposed" who would have a field day with us being put a fog!"



But the fog had rolled in and I knew first hand that the MPA had kept its head - stayed on course these past few years working toward a solution to the waterlevel issue and yet not losing sight of our overall mission and other goals and priorities. We are seeing our s.319 grant through - bringing new technology to the watershed to get at the root causes of weed growth and poor water quality. The findings to our latest weed study are in and we continue to broaden our efforts in the watershed with groups concerned about land conservation, coldwater fisheries, wetlands protection, invasives and the river system as well as Manchaug Pond. Stabilization of the waterlevel has been achieved and an awareness of our 380 acre lake exist within the user community, the two towns and at the state level.... and then Joe and Doreen's comment on yesterday's post came in, and the reminder from a friend of the words of a long ago loved poem by Rudyard Kiplings
http://www.everypoet.com/archive/poetry/Rudyard_Kipling/kipling_if.htm

... so let the fog come and settle for a while and let the rains pelt upon us ... we will still be here when it is all said and done and they are long gone.



We are learning a lot about lake, and the watershed and making solid advances for this Great Pond ensuring its preservation for ourselves, the Commonwealth and for future generations.



Future posts will include: controlling geese, results of the weed study, big birds of Manchaug Pond, boating safety, update on the boat ramp rain garden, and anything else that comes along... is there anything you would like to talk about?

Monday Evening on the Water...

Beautiful Day for a Bike Ride

It was finally a beautiful morning and a perfect day for the Pan Mass Challenge which over 5,000 people from around the U.S. participated in to raise money for cancer research. It is a two day ride that starts in Sturbridge and ends up in Provincetown, 192 miles in all. While I was taking my early AM "coffee cup Tour d'Manchaug" kayak trip I could hear people saying "WOW, beautiful lake!!!" or "WOW, nice view!" as they came down Manchaug Rd. Kudos to everyone who participated or volunteered for the challenge and we look forward to seeing you next year! Click on the title of this post to learn more.

Heavy Rains, Runoff a Test for Grant Sitework

The afternoon brought heavy rains to already saturated soils here in the Manchaug watershed. 2 plus inches of rain by the rain gauge lakeside.



Here down past the village on Whitins Road a tree took down wires and made travel a bit dangerous.


But back at Manchaug Pond as we check in on the site work for the stormwater grant at the Public Access Boat Ramp, we see a lot of runoff being caught and filtered.






The Highway department foreman had the original asphalt taken out at the edge putting a greater slope in around the cobblestones to allow the flow off the parking lot into the plunge pools.



We definitely will need plants that can handle lots of moisture and wet roots! Native species have been chosen and ordered from the New England Wildflower Society.



Our MPA s.319 Grant Coordinator and Sutton Town Highway Department Superintendent are already discussing needs on the other side of the ramp parking lot to capture and filter the runoff there. So after this grant is completed next year, the MPA and the town will partner with pen to paper in hand to forge a new grant project to further address water quality and weed growth here on Manchaug.

Furthering the benefits to our water resources, the town is using this technology over at the Marion's Camp Town Beach on Lake Singletary with the planning of 3 rain gardens in the parking lot area.

It Is Out! Secretary Bowles Decision Released by Town

July 7th was the meeting. July 14th was the deadline for comments. July 24th the decision was expected. Here it is! The long awaited decision by state Environmental Affairs' Secretary Ian Bowles has been released by the Town of Sutton website.

Over 30 state agencies, environmental groups and individuals joined the MPA to stand in support of Manchaug Pond and bring to light concerns and devastating impacts of the proposed project to breach the dam: Senator Richard Moore, Reps. Callahan and Kujawski, the Blackstone River Coalition and Mass Audubon, The Bass Federation and the Massachusetts Bass Federation, Douglas Selectman, Town of Sutton, Sutton Conservation Commission, and MassDEP, Mass Department of Fish and Game, Mass Dept of Conservation and Recreation and a number of citizens and attorneys. Secretary Bowles notes "the proposed project has garnered widespread opposition from the public and from officials at both the state and local level."

In the document, it is clear that Secretary Bowles understands the value of this lake to the property owners in the watershed, to up and down stream, to the local communities and to the Commonwealth. He calls for an arrangement "to prevent significant adverse environmental impacts to Manchaug Pond and provide for the continued use of this recreational fishery of state-wide importance by the boating and fishing public."

Further he notes that comments from the "Office of Dam Safety (ODS) state that the dam was in satisfactory condition as recently as December of 2008, and that the ODS has not determined the dam to be in unsafe condition."

Fully outlined by the Secretary's requirement that the dam owner perform a full Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) is the numerous adverse impacts, the need for specific studies identifying the scope of the impacts, the licensing and permitting this would require, and significant mitigation measures. "The project is predicted, by both the proponent and the concerned commenters, to have significant consequences for wetland resource areas, species habitat, and downstream water flows, which many in turn adversely impact nearby water supplies, wastewater treatment facilities and/or septic systems. In addition, commenters have stressed that this dramatic change to the size of existing pond would threaten to severely curtail recreational uses of the Pond, reduce the value of abutting properties, and harm nearby business that rely on this heavily used public recreational resource."



Here's a few examples of the many specific impacts noted and the mitigation required - it just makes the whole project absurd and cost prohibitive:

The MPA presented testimony received from a recent survey of members and other abutters as to current impacts to private wells. In response to that concern, Secretary Bowles stated the dam owner's report should "inventory all public and private water supply wells that could be affected by the permanent drawdown caused by the dam removal. This includes but is not necessarily limited to all public and private water supply wells within a one-mile radius of the Pond. If water supplies are diminished, mitigation should be proposed by the proponent."

Mass Dept of Fish and Game (DFG) "is concerned that the removal of the dam would result in substantial adverse impacts to a recreational fishery of state-wide importance and effectively eliminate the use of the Pond for recreational boating by the Public, while providing limited environmental benefits in return." Fisheries surveys of the Pond reveal the presence of ten species and "of the Mumford River have yielded 21 species and the unnamed tributary to Manchaug Pond is identified as a significant coldwater fisheries resource. The DEIR should fully evaluate the impacts of the proposed project on fishers within the Pond and associated tributaries..."



In speaking of the DFG boat ramp and property on Manchaug Pond, "the removal of the dam would result in lowered water levels and effectively eliminate the ability of the public to launch and retrieve trailered watercraft. In addition, there are numerous other private recreational uses sponsored on or near the Pond." The detailed analysis here should include the identification and impact on current and future recreational public uses of the pond and propose mitigation to offset impacts to recreational interests.



How about a graphic survey of all private or publicly owned and operated water-dependent facilities, including but not limited to: facilities for swimming, fishing, and diving; docks, piers, floats and/or moorings; shore protection structures, headwalls and culverts; and road crossings.



And how about where "the project will result in the elimination of Torrey Road"... lets look at the impacts from its removal to nearby residences, businesses and identify alternative routes, identify current number of vehicles using and specify where this traffic would go in order to provide access within this portion of Sutton and Douglas." And address "ownership of Torrey Road and whether the proponent possesses sufficient rights to eliminate this roadway that is currently used by the public."

We didn't even talk yet about the impact to bordering wetlands, land under water and the permanent loss of 9,147 linear feet of bank, oh the list goes on and on! Read it for yourself!

To the Town website: http://www.suttonma.org/Pages/index

Here's the link to the document itself:
The link to EOEEA Secretary Ian Bowles decision on the proposed removal of the Manchaug Dam http://www.suttonma.org/Pages/SuttonMA_News/014BF165-000F8513


The Manchaug Pond Association remains committed to Manchaug Pond having served as stewards and advocates for the past 40+ years, we expect to continue this work into the future. As suggested by Secretary Bowles, we look to foster the partnerships and identify the arrangements necessary to "prevent significant adverse environmental impacts to Manchaug Pond and provide for its continued use..."

Chronicle Article: "State Requiring Detailed Dam Report"

Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, July 30, 2009

State requiring detailed dam report
SUTTON
BY JOSH FARNSWORTH


The Manchaug Pond Reservoir Corp. has been on the receiving end of a laundry list of complaints from officials and residents in Sutton and Douglas. Last Friday, the state added a lengthy list of its own.

Ian Bowles, Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, stated in a certificate that the Manchaug Pond Reservoir Corp. and its parent company Interface Global must provide a thorough Draft Environmental Impact Report prior to moving forward with the company's plans to divest ownership and liability of the dam.

The company had stated that it was considering breaching or eliminating the dam, which has not been in use since the nearby mills in Douglas closed years ago. Interface Global had filed an Environmental Notification Form to help move the project ahead.

Sutton Town Administrator Jim Smith, who has vehemently opposed the breaching proposal, says the company has a long way to go in satisfying all areas of concern with the state.

"The certificate sets a very high threshold for Interface Global to meet," he said. "In its strongest terms, I believe the answer from the state even questions the need for this proposal."

The 12-page document outlined several areas of concern about the project, most notably the "nearly universal concern about the project's potential environmental impacts, which include a substantial reduction in the pond."

The certificate goes on to list several focus areas for the proponent to consider in the DEIR report, including consequences for wetland resource areas, downstream water flows, impact on nearby property values, and the recreational impact of breaching or eliminating the dam altogether.

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs held a public hearing in Sutton two weeks ago to receive input from various agencies and individuals that could be affected by the project. The office accepted dozens of letters that raised concerns over the issue up until July 14.

Wendy Porter of the Manchaug Pond Reservoir Corp. said at the public hearing two weeks ago that no party or organization with interest in salvaging the dam has stepped forward. Porter said the Manchaug Pond Reservoir Corp. had conversations with the town of Douglas and had attempted to sit down with Sutton, which Smith refuted.


"We have received no offers from anyone on taking ownership of the dam," Porter said at the hearing. "No one has even put a price tag on it. The dam no longer serves the purpose with the intent for why it was built.

"We believe [moving forward with the project] would ultimately result in a net benefit impact."

The Millbury-Sutton Chronicle was unable to reach Porter or the Manchaug Pond Reservoir Corp. for comment before press time on Wednesday afternoon.

Smith said he believes the distance between the state and company demonstrates a need for Global Interface to shift how they approach their situation.

"I think people see this for what it is - a completely ill-fated plan with potential environmental consequences," he said. "In the end, I feel they will waste money trying to comply with what the state wants. They should consider putting money into an escrow account to make the situation more attractive for other parties."

The certificate calls the validity of the project into question as well. Comments received by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs from the Department of Conservation and Recreation Office of Dam Safety stated that the dam remained in satisfactory condition as of December 2008.

"ODS has not determined the dam to be in unsafe condition," states the report. "All feasible project alternatives, including in particular the 'no action alternative,' will need to be comprehensively evaluated."

Following the submission of the Draft Environmental Impact Report to Bowles, the Manchaug Pond Reservoir Corp. will still need to go through multiple steps before final approval from the state would allow the permitting process to begin.

Smith believes the company's project is a long shot in any form to reach final approval, which could take more than a year. He says the "extraordinary demands" placed on the company may be too much to overcome without a local agency stepping in to take over ownership.

"In my opinion, they will fail," he said.

Testimony: Coldwater Fishery

Here is another letter in opposition to the breaching application filed by the dam owner. This testimony was submitted by a family in the watershed of Manchaug Pond to Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles as part of the MEPA process - ENF # 14435


Dear Secretary Bowles,

Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments regarding the future of Manchaug Pond in Douglas and Sutton. As long-standing environmentalists in the community, we consider it of utmost importance to preserve and protect this important body of water and its watershed to the best of our ability.

We own forested property that includes a substantial portion of a tributary to Manchaug Pond. We believe it is the “unnamed tributary” referred to in the enclosed Division of Fisheries & Wildlife letter directed to the Sutton Conservation Commission dated September 15, 2008, as we had requested that Fisheries survey the stream to determine if it was a coldwater fishery. It is and, as you well know, as our climate changes it is critical that we maintain habitat that preserves and protects our native trout species. Another “disconnect” with Manchaug Pond because of drawdown that does not address the long term sustainability of this stream is unacceptable.

We also commend the efforts of the members of the Manchaug Pond Association who have worked diligently through a 319 grant to contain stormwater runoff and drainage problems to improve the overall quality of the pond’s water and aquatic life. The level of Manchaug Pond also helps keep the surrounding water table high and that is also critical to our future when the Blackstone River Valley is once again at the center of a building boom.

We do not support the current proposal to breach the dam and we contend that it is in the best interest of landowners and local and state officials to find a resolution to this problem that will include maintaining a level of water in the pond that continues to support the ecosystem that depends on it.


The members of the MPA extend our thanks to the writers for their testimony, their continued protection of the unnamed tributary/coldwater fishery, and for their significant contribution to conservation efforts in the Commonwealth.

Did YOU Vote Yet!?!

Did you take the Millbury-Sutton Chronicle poll?

Which body of water is the most scenic in the summer?

Dorothy Pond 2
Singletary Lake 4
Ramshorn Pond 1
Manchaug Pond 11
Stevens Pond 0
Howe Pond 0
Blackstone River 3
Brierly Pond 1
Other 2


COME ON NOW! Take a minute and vote! Manchaug Pond received 11 votes as of yesterday. I know I have far more readers than that that tuned in to this blog on Monday.... and given the other ponds didn't receive all the other votes where are you!

Just click on to the title of this post and I will take you there! http://www.millburysutton.com/Current/Sutton/

More importantly, thank you to all of you who took the time to send your letter of testimony to Secretary Ian Bowles in support of Manchaug Pond. Joining the MPA is this effort are our local officials from the Towns of Sutton and Douglas, our state senator and representatives, a number of state agencies and a number of environmental advocacy organizations and friends of Manchaug Pond! Each one of us working together can make a difference! The MPA continues to work to the future of Manchaug Pond.

Ease the Flow Downstream!

Here at Manchaug Pond the water level is going down... fast.



The flow as seen on Parker Road, Sutton:



Let's be thankful it did not rain overnight. The dam at Manchaug Pond and the newly implemented 1930 Rule Curve is dumping enormous amounts of water downstream.



A flood watch was implemented this past weekend at one area business with hourly monitoring of the river required. We have seen the Stevens Pond dam and the dam at Manchaug center act just as they have been designed in order to handle the tremendous flow.

The flow over Stevens Pond yesterday:



The flow in the village of Manchaug - not just a ripple.



And the water over the falls in the village center - calmer than the weekend.



But back on Manchaug Pond, trying to stick to the new rule curve, I am sure has been a challenge for the dam owner. Weekly, if not daily rainstorms, keep bringing the waterlevel up as the dam owner works to take it down the steep slope of the new curve.

While we on Manchaug Pond are happy not to have been flooded with recent rainstorms, there continues to be the nagging yet realistic concern downstream of too much water.

It is ironic that a 1930 rule curve would be employed at this time by a dam owner who never employed the curve in close to half a century of operation. The 1930 curve was designed when the lake was much smaller in size - before the new and improved big dam and big water uses downstream - and not designed with a run of river/natural flow regimes type management in mind. Downstream, during these heavy rains, does not need Manchaug's extra water just because an antiquated graph calls for it.

Perhaps we could hold back a bit to allow Stevens Pond and the Mumford River to adjust.

While You're Waiting... take the online poll!

Did you ever stop and marvel at how beautiful, just how "scenic" the views are here on Manchaug Pond? It truly is a jewel! And so many vistas available to the public - from Waters Farm Living History Museum - the well-published view of "beautiful Lake Manchaug";



from the "officially declared" scenic road - Manchaug Road - which brings you right at waters-edge with the watery expanse of a 380 acre lake, breathtaking scenes of moonlight over the water, and just the play of clouds and water meeting at a ribbon of green foliage;






from Holt Road - the road overlooking the infamous Manchaug Pond dam which gives you a magnificent view down the channel to the setting sun on the western shore...







Not to mention the wonderful opportunities provided for the public to enjoy Manchaug waters - day swimming and camping at the Old Holdbrook Place, boat launching at the public access boat ramp, camping opportunities overnight or all season at King's Family Campground and Lake Manchaug Camping, Day camping, town softball and baseball games for children at the YMCA Camp Blanchard Facility, and oh the events at Waters Farm! Manchaug Pond... And then there are the eagles and wood ducks and herons...How scenic!



Oh yes.. my original reason for posting...
Here's something to do while you are waiting for Secretary Ian Bowles of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to tell us all what the state thinks about the proposal to remove the Manchaug Pond dam...

...take the online poll at the website of the local newspaper placing your vote for THE most scenic body of water!

Visit the Millbury-Sutton Chronicle at http://www.millburysutton.com/(just click the post title to get there!)

Which body of water is the most scenic in the summer?

* Dorothy Pond
* Singletary Lake
* Ramshorn Pond
* Manchaug Pond
* Stevens Pond
* Howe Pond
* Blackstone River
* Brierly Pond
* Other

Now I know all you readers just love a poll, so get on over there and tell those readers what you know!

The Flow Downstream & Flood Control

Sunday morning's flow downstream from Manchaug Pond and Stevens Pond at the waterfall/dam near the former library building in the Sutton village of Manchaug:

More Wildflowers in the Watershed: The Public Access Boat Ramp

Do you see them growing all along the forest floor under the many large Eastern White Pines?



Do you know these two - the white and the yellow?



According to the Connecticut Botanical Society,

this white flower is commonly called an Indian Pipe (Latin name: Monotropa uniflora)

Indian pipe, has no chlorophyll, so it cannot obtain energy from sunlight. Instead, it gets nutrients from organic matter in the soil.

• Family: Indian-pipe (Monotropaceae)
• Habitat: woods, in leafy humus
• Height: 4-10 inches
• Flower size: 3/4 inch long
• Flower color: white
• Flowering time: June to September
• Origin: native



A relative is the yellow Pinesap, Monotropa hypopithys

Pinesap plants that bloom in summer tend to be yellow, while those that bloom in fall are reddish. Pinesap, like its relative Indian pipe has no chlorophyll, so it cannot obtain energy from sunlight. Instead, it gets nutrients from organic matter in the soil.

• Family: Indian-pipe (Monotropaceae)
• Habitat: woods, usually in acid soil
• Height: 4-15 inches
• Flower size: 1/2 inch long
• Flower color: pale yellow to reddish
• Flowering time: June to October
• Origin: native

http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/monotropahypo.html