Gate Closed: Let the melting begin.

Where the cool cats hang out on Manchaug Pond!

 

Thanks to the photographer who sent this in!

Sacred Sunday - A lake not frozen

Never mind the groundhog! Look at last winter at this time...

Manchaug Boat Ramp on Town Agenda

An agreement concerning the Manchaug Pond state boat ramp has been worked out between MassWildlife and the town of Sutton.  January 17, 2012 the Sutton Board of Selectman reviewed and approved the details as follows:

1. Fee structure of $6 for in state and $12 for out of state users. (no change)
2. User fees collected 24/7 (new- expands from seasonal weekends to daily, year round)
3. Lockbox/honor system for collection (new)
4. Police patrols, with fines for non-payment.

Discussion noted the fees as another revenue source for not only the maintainance of the ramp and quality of the lake but for the maintenance of the dam.  "No dam, no need for the ramp."

The Manchaug Pond Foundation is continuing to work closely with the town on this new arrangement.

Snowfall

Why Did the Turkey Cross the Road?

Why did the turkeys cross Manchaug Road?

..... to get to the Y basketball courts at Camp Blanchard!

Ice Forming

Ice is seriously forming on Manchaug Pond as seen from Area 1 off Manchaug Road at the big rock.

Many are dreaming of ice fishing, hockey, snowmobiling, snowshoe, crosscountry skiing, 4 wheeling and more...

The big picture - Mass Bass Federation Conservation Director Speaks Out

Of interest is the following editorial appearing in the Worcester Telegram written by a friend of Manchaug Pond, Eric Kaplan the Conservation Director of the Mass Bass Federation:

Tuesday, January 10, 2012
 AS I SEE IT

A win for the environment

By Erik Kaplan

The problem is serious. More than 500 power plants in the U.S. belch 48 tons of mercury pollution each year.

During the recent holiday season, most Americans were busy making their lists and checking them twice, and weren’t paying attention to whether Congress was being naughty or nice. Fortunately, President Obama and the Environmental Protection Agency gave us a big dose of holiday cheer — new limits on mercury and other toxic air pollutants that spew out of coal and oil-fired power plants.

Some in Congress are still preparing to deliver the proverbial “lump of coal” not just to our stockings, but to our lungs, to our airways and, most frighteningly, to our children’s brains, by blocking clean air safeguards against harmful air pollution from mercury and other pollutants. But the Obama administration’s action will make it a bit harder for polluters and their allies to threaten our health.

The problem is serious. More than 500 power plants in the U.S. belch 48 tons of mercury pollution each year. That mercury falls into our waterways through rain and snow, washes off the land and builds up in fish and the animals that consume fish — other fish, black ducks, loons, eagles and humans.

Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that is especially dangerous to children and pregnant women. Mercury exposure affects a child’s ability to walk, talk, read, write and learn. Until now, there were no national limits to how much toxic mercury pollution a coal plant could pump into the air. The mercury contamination problem in the U.S. is so widespread that up to one in ten women of childbearing age is likely to have mercury levels in her blood high enough to put her baby at risk for mercury poisoning.

Every angler and hunter knows that a successful outdoor experience depends on a healthy environment. Yet every state has a fish consumption advisory for mercury. Almost half of U. S. lakes and reservoirs have mercury amounts exceeding safe levels. Massachusetts has 125 bodies of water where the fish can’t be eaten at all, or can be eaten only in small amounts and infrequently. Nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury, according to EPA. Who wants to take home a mercury-laden fish for dinner?

The new limits will cut mercury emissions from power plants by 91 percent, acid gas pollution by 91 percent, and particulate matter by 30 percent. These reductions, combined with the forthcoming “cross-state” rule, will translate into $340 billion in reduced health care costs and healthier lives. In addition to mercury and arsenic, power plants emit lead, other heavy metals, dioxin and acid gases that threaten public health. Even in small amounts these pollutants are linked to cancer, heart disease, neurological damage, birth defects, asthma attacks and premature death.

This could prevent up to 11,000 heart attacks and 120,000 asthma attacks a year and save more than 17,000 lives over the next year alone. In fact, the health benefits associated with these updated standards are $59 billion to $140 billion in 2016. This means that for every dollar spent to reduce pollution from power plants, we get $5 to $13 in health benefits.

The truth is simple: Industry leaders and their Washington lobbyists don’t care about our kids; they only care about their bottom line. But for me and for parents everywhere, the bottom line is the health and safety of our kids. We need to protect the clean air and public health policies that work for our families and protect our kids. We need to do everything we can to reduce harmful air pollution from toxics like mercury and arsenic and oppose the big polluters who say our kids aren’t worth the cost of reducing these dangerous emissions. I applaud the Obama administration for taking bold steps to do just that.

Erik Kaplan is the President of the Massachusetts Bass Federation.

 

Sacred Sunday

Ring-necked Ducks visiting Manchaug Pond on New Year's Eve

Ringed-neck Pheasant on Manchaug Pond

You never know what, or who, you will see when you look our your window here in the watershed of Manchaug Pond! Today, walking casually down the road, was a new bird this writer had yet to see this close to the lake:  a ringed-neck pheasant!

He walked down the road, across a neighbors lawn, along the shore to the water's edge, stood on a rock to look around, and then flew across the channel over to the other side.

 

Here's a close up:

Did you know their feathers are used in fly tying!

Winner of Patriots Raffle Has A "Very Good Time"

Our recent fundraiser, the Patriots Ticket Raffle, not only brought in needed funds for our effort to preserve our water level, but also great excitement for those buying and selling tickets as well as the winner and his guests!

4 tickets were presented to the holder of winning ticket # 200 (the last ticket printed!)

Thank you to all who participated and to the Patriots for winning this game!

The Ones Who Made it out Alive!

Here's a photo of a few wild turkeys from a flock of about 40 who ventured up the driveway of a Manchaug Pond home in the Douglas woods a couple days after Thanksgiving.

Thank you to the vegetarian photographer for sending this in!

Manchaug Pond Dam Subject of Grant for Hydropower Study

Sutton Town Administrator Jim Smith reports the town has been awarded the Green Communities' Grant in the amount of $140,000.  Included in the list of items earmarked to benefit from these monies is a feasibility study looking at hydropower at the Manchaug Pond and Stevens dams.

The grant was part of the administrator and selectman's decision and push to align the town's goals with the Green Community initiative. Selectman Geraghty stated the grant was very substantial for a town the size of Sutton.

Past photo of the Manchaug Pond dam with flow from the low level gate.

Past photo of Stevens Pond dam.

Thankful on Manchaug Pond

Turkeys visiting the Old Holbrook Place campground a few years ago.

 

 

 

 

Manchaug Pond from Waters Road - October 2008

Manchaug Pond shoreline - Oct 25, 2008

The covered bridge photo from Sutton Falls Family Camping

SCENES From the MANCHAUG MONSTER MASH FUNdraiser

An early season snow storm and power outage didn't stop this fundraising event from happening for Manchaug Pond !

Thanks to all who attended!

Sacred Sunday's Autumn Colors on Manchaug

PATRIOTS RAFFLE - Ticket #1-5 Available!

   Raffle tickets # 1-5 have just surfaced, unsold and available for the taking! 

Only 200 opportunities to win 4 incredible seats just 8 rows behind Coach Belchick

in the Pats verses Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, December 4, 2011.

If you want a ticket, let us know now before they sell out! Call a board member or 

the MPF secretary directly at manchaugpondsecretary@gmail.com.

Your $20/chance goes to preserve Manchaug Pond  -

specifically earmarked for the dam ownership issue. 

Drawing at the Manchaug Monster Mash event,

Saturday, October 29th. 

Dudley-Gendron Post, Boston Road, Sutton

Monster Mash tickets now on sale - $10/person

Live Band FINAL NOTICE,  food,  prizes for best costumes, raffles and more!

You're sure to leave laughing!

A huge thanks to the MPF Board member who donated these incredible tickets! 

and to our FUNdrai$ing Committee, Event Coordinator and FINAL NOTICE  for a promised super evening.

Just in: Runners Love THE DAM RACE !

Anonymous said...

Fantastic race run by a fabulous group of volunteers!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011 4:44:00 AM EDT

Just received at the post office box:


Dear Manchaug Pond Association/The Dam Race Organizers,


I wanted to send a quick thank you note to express how wonderful your race was on October 15th and how much my family and I enjoyed it!  Everyone was so friendly and welcoming!


The scenery was lovely, the volunteers were extremely helpful (especially the kind gentleman who let us use his RV bathroom!) and it was an outstandingly organized race!  Looking forward to next year's race already!  

L.S. of Sturbridge, Massachusetts

Want to celebrate with us?   

Did you enjoy our Rockin' Spring Fling?

...well, hold this date for the

MANCHAUG MONSTER MASH

Saturday, October 29th 

Dudley-Gendron Post 414
Boston Road, Sutton


 From 7 pm-12 midnight, 

be entertained by the live band, 
FINAL NOTICE. 

 

Prizes for the best costumes, extraordinary raffle items, 
and light fare will be served.

 

$10 admission charge to benefit Manchaug Pond.

AND!!  Special Patriots raffle drawing at the Manchaug Monster Mash:

! WIN ! ~ PATRIOTS RAFFLE ~ ! WIN !

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!

WIN 4 TICKETS ~ $20/chance
 Seating just 8 rows behind Coach Belichick on the Patriots' 50 yard line.

NE Patriots Vs. Indianapolis Colts
Sunday, December 4, 2011 @ 8 pm.

Proceeds benefit Manchaug Pond

Drawing: at the Manchaug Monster Mash!

! WIN ! ~ PATRIOTS RAFFLE ~ ! WIN !  

 

Thank you to our FUNdrai$ing Committee for organizing another great event and activity to benefit Manchaug Pond!

Thank you to our generous donor for these incredible tickets!