Sacred Sunday with Eagles!

Sacred Sunday: Lake Blue

Warning for DOG Owners around Manchaug Pond

Keep an extra special eye on your outdoor pets ...  we have been asked to post this warning as one neighborhood on Manchaug Pond is reporting the loss of four dogs - yes, FOUR dogs who have died within the last week due to anti-freeze poisoning!

Here's some advice:

Besides keeping common hazards such as human medications and household cleaners out-of-paw’s reach, keep your veterinarian’s number handy,  familiarize yourself with the symptoms of poison ingestion—such as vomiting, excessive thirst and difficulty breathing—and, assemble a pet first-aid kit.

Learn more at ASPCA.ORG


Purchases through these links benefit the Manchaug Pond Association.

Manchaug's Ice Breaking UP

Ice still remains on Manchaug Pond even after a few days of spring temperatures and wind.

Cabin Fever? MPA FUNdrai$ing Committee has the answers!

Ready for some fun and an opportunity to raise money for a great cause? Here are a few of the events the MPA Fundraising Committee has lined up for 2011:

• A fun new evening of live music, dancing, cash bar, raffles, snacks and more called Rockin' Spring Fling April 29th at the Dudley-Gendron in Sutton; Only $10 pp, email for tickets! Check out the band's playlist here!

• the BIG ticket BOAT Raffle whose prize has grown bigger and better with it's second year!  Tickets are being printed now and soon will go on sale with a very limited number available.  USA Marine, our sponsor, will bring the boat to the shores of Manchaug for the drawing on June 18th. The free meal of half-a-chicken and all the fixings for ticket holders.  Stay tuned for a photo of the boat - a 2011 pontoon boat or take $10,000 cash.  More info to come!

• the 2nd Annual Boat Decorating Contest for the July 4th weekend (judging on July 3rd) is also being planned - entries can choose any theme, a judges' boat will be added to allow a longer and closer view and there is talk of trophies and categories.

• and Manchaug Pond's 6K The DAM Race scheduled for Saturday, October 15th is also promised!

So mark your calendars, call your neighbors and friends, email for tickets all to have a bit of fun and raise money to preserve Manchaug Pond!






100% of the money raised will be used for the preservation and enhancement of Manchaug Pond. Donations can be made directly to the newly formed 501c3 non-profit Manchaug Pond Foundation and are tax-deductible.

Remembering Summer...

Summer 2010, Blueberry Island, Manchaug Pond

Pack away the snowshoes!

The dramatic seasonal change which occurs at this time each year has begun here on Manchaug Pond. Where this winter the lake provided many opportunities for snow shoeing, ice fishing and snowmobiling, the warmer temps and yesterday's rain and wind are opening up our summer playground.


With considerable melting and run-off from the watershed the lake waterlevel is rising fast!

Rain on the lake

Flying High Above Manchaug Pond

How great are these!!  Once again aerial photographs of Manchaug Pond but this time taken in winter!

Approaching from the southwest.

Looking to the east.

Looking from the north end.

A very special thanks to our aerial guide and flying MPA Board member for giving us a bird's eye view!


Truly AMAZING

Sacred Sunday: Melting

Hearts Abound on Manchaug Pond!

The morning sky is ablaze with reds, orange and pink on this St. Valentine's Day! 

One of our members/photographers sent in the following for your enjoyment today.  On Saturday she wrote:
"Went for a walk in my snow shoes today looking for heart shaped anythings for Valentines Day.
Do you see any hearts? I did not do anything to the photos... I think maybe I got lucky on the last one..."

Have a happy day! 

P.S.  Our FUNdrai$ing Committee is meeting next week.  If you have any ideas, please just comment below, or if would like to join in on the planning of the events and activities please email the secretary so she can give your name and phone number to the committee chairman. 

A calendar highlighting the many photos presented on this blog has been suggested.  What do you think?  Would you buy one to support the Manchaug Pond Foundation's work to preserve the lake?

Sacred Sunday: Snow and Shadows

Just in: our photo and quote for the day:

"Heard the weather... More snow!?!  Surely they can't be serious!"

Snow Load Heavy in the Manchaug Watershed

The heavy snow was more than this old barn could bear.

 

 

If you keep on driving you see high snow banks and narrow roads.

Here's the entrance to the state boat ramp.

Keep on Trucking!

With stormy weather in the forecast, 
here on Manchaug Pond we'll just "keep on keeping on."

Taken from Manchaug Road this evening.

More Stylin Shoes from Manchaug Pond!

More fashion footwear on Manchaug Pond. This time from the north end of the lake.

...seems the neon ice grippers did not help this fellow.

Sacred Sunday: fog and thaw

Another beautiful photo sent in from Holbrook's Campground taken earlier this month.

Public Access - Snowed In!

Here she is all washed, covered up tight, and snug under a blanket of white, waiting for spring. This photo was sent in today from a friend of MPA who enjoys Manchaug Pond through the State Public Access Boat Ramp.

The Sutton Highway Dept. has since sent in the heavy equipment to clear the ramp for all to enjoy winter access.


Thank you to our guest photographer!

SNOW! Before and after the storm at Holdbrook's Campground

Campers! The Old Holbrook's Place sent in these two before and after shots of our latest snowstorm.  Note the level of the snow around the picnic tables. We definitely received a good foot plus of the white stuff!

 

Thanks to all our photographers in the field for giving us these glimpses of the beauty of each corner of the lake.

New Year's fog just a distant memory

As another snowstorm envelops us here on Manchaug Pond, it is facinating to look at these photos taken less than a month ago on New Year's weekend by a long time MPA member and lake resident!

 

Thank you for sending these in! Keep them coming.

Saturday's COLAP Conference

Saturday, representatives from Manchaug Pond's association and foundation once again attended the 24th Annual Lake and Pond Management Conference  held at Worcester State College joining other enthusiastic lake volunteers to learn and share with a network of biologists, lawyers, environmentalists, legislators, and lake residents and advocates.

The day began with the business meeting with election of officers of the umbrella organization for central Massachusetts lake associations:  the Massachusetts Congress of Lake and Pond Associations, Inc (COLAP)  Conference topics and issues this year included nutrient loading and the deadly cyanobacteria, aquatic weed identification, and dam structure to restoration techniques to grants.  Every year, volunteers across the state from the lake associations come together to network, learn and advocate.   In turn these volunteers bring the info back home to their local organizations.

As the sun begins to set today at Manchaug Pond.  Photo taken from scenic Manchaug Road, Sutton

Here's a look at the agenda and the workshops MPA representatives attended:

B. LAKE LAW--Forming Nonprofit Lake Associations (Chapter 501(c)(3) Incorporation), Forming Watershed Districts, and
              Great Pond Issues (Chapter 90),-- Robert Levite, Attorney,
     UMass Extension Service, Mass Watershed Coalition President

C  Introduction to AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES for VOLUNTEER LAKE/POND GROUPS—
                      Jim Straub, DCR Lakes& Ponds P

D. WATERSHED MANAGEMENT, The Big Picture continued, How Nutrient Loading Changes with Development and Realistic Expectations—Ken Wagner, PhD, Water Resource Services LLC

  LOW IMACT LANDSCAPING for Lake and Pond Watersheds: Shrub Buffers, Biorention, Planter Boxes & more—
                         Bob Hartzel, GeoSyntec, Inc.

E. Using the GEIR and DEP Guidance Documents for Lake and Pond
Management Permitting (2 hours) A mock ConCom Meeting dealing
with common/future Lake Projects for New Folks–
   Tom Flannery, DCR Lakes & Ponds Program 
          and Christine Odiaga, DEP Circuit Rider
                                                               
11:30—11:45    Break        

11:45—12:45 Repeated CONCURRENT SESSIONS A,B,C,D
                                          (Choose one of above) 
                             or Continue in Session E
      
12:45—1:45 LUNCH BREAK, EXHIBITS and NETWORKING


1:45—2:45 CONCURRENT SESSIONS F, G, H, J, K,  (Choose One)

F. LAKE LAW --Water & Land Issues, Rights of the State, Rights of
Lakeshore Owners, ConCom Jurisdiction, Permit Extensions Act,
and more! --Glenn A. Wood, Attorney, Rubin and Rudman, LLP

G. WHAT KEEPS the WATER in YOUR LAKES, PONDS &
The DAM from FALLING DOWN?--Understanding the Structural
Components of dams— Phil Moreschi, P.E CFM, VP, Fuss & O’Neill


H. RUNOFF REMEDIES for YOUR LAKE or POND—
RAIN GARDENS and More! –
Donna Williams, Mass Audubon & Blackstone River WA, and
 Ed Himlan,. Exec. Dir., Massachusetts Watershed Coalition

J. EURASIAN WATERMILFOIL CASE STUDY: Evidence from Center Pond that EWM can be effectively managed by continuing the hand-pulling program (begun in 2003) in 2011.—Mercedes Gallagher, Center Pond Weed Project
             
K. FUNDING for LAKE and POND PROJECTS, including an Overview of the 319 and 604b Programs.—
  Jane Peirce, MassDEP 319 Nonpoint Source Coordinator