MPF effort "most incredible outdoors story of 2013"

Article on Manchaug Pond Foundation:  December 31, 2013 Worcester Telegram

Outdoors: Saving of Beaton Farm in Sutton offers inspiration of what's possible

Mark Blazis Outdoors

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  For me, the most incredible outdoors story of 2013 was the improbable saving of Beaton Farm.

Phyllis Charpentier, secretary of the Manchaug Pond Foundation, president David Schmidt, and treasurer Andrew Mosher proved to be the tireless inspiration behind the spectacular wild land's preservation. Charpentier shared for the first time last week the unlikely sequence of events and "the rest of the story" that led to its miraculous, last-minute rescue from the bulldozer.

With no local board or commission, state agency, land trust or other conservation group willing or able to save the farm, the town of Sutton left it up to the Manchaug Pond Foundation to try to raise the needed $1.925 million in just 90 days. Buoyed by its recent victory after a six-year fight to save the dam, which preserves beautiful 380-acre Manchaug Pond, the foundation, with naïve optimism, hoped to save the farm, too.

During the long dam battle, the foundation strengthened itself, learned how to fight, broadened its scope from a lake association to a nonprofit and forged a strong relationship with Sutton's town leadership, which proved critically important.

Charpentier said Holy Cross had a purchase-and-sales agreement in place that would have developed and changed forever the spectacular hillside of Manchaug Pond's west cove. The plan was to secure the 100-plus acres, end current agricultural use, demolish the existing stable and construct a two-story, 60-bed facility with dining hall, conference rooms and chapel. Whatever was wild would have been at best park-like. The stage was set for a David-against-Goliath contest.

Charpentier recalls the Feb. 11 meeting of the Sutton Planning Board:

"Where Holy Cross architects, lawyers and a priest impressively presented plans for the property. The stable tenant and neighboring residents countered with concerns over the loss of the agricultural use and spectacular views, as well as increased traffic problems for the tiny neighborhood."

The battle might well have ended that night. But the Sutton Planning Board unanimously recommended to the Board of Selectman the preservation of this Chapter 61 A land if alternate funding for its purchase could be found. So began the emotional roller coaster of envisioned success and the reality of funding failure.

Despite great effort, the nearly $2 million needed couldn't be raised. On March 12, the town administrator was going to have to recommend that the selectmen go with the Holy Cross proposal.

For Charpentier, it was figuratively the bottom of the ninth, two out, two strikes. Fans were leaving, and the stadium lights were dimming. But the foundation persisted, inserting itself with greater involvement and asking for more time to raise funds. At the March 16 public hearing, the Board of Selectmen voted to give the foundation the right to purchase if it succeeded, a shocking reprieve.

I sometimes wonder about fate. When by total chance I learned about the Beaton Farm's imminent demise, I had just come from viewing development in my town of Grafton. I was incensed by the bulldozing of a beautiful wild parcel where I used to hunt and bird-watch. Feeling Sutton's pain, I passionately wrote a column, hoping to find donors to save the farm. The power of the pen never ceases to amaze me.

Charpentier recalls the amazing morning after the May 14 column appeared: "The story resulted in a frenzy of calls from potential donors as far away as California! Ted Williams of the Grafton Land Trust & Norcross Foundation, and Lois Fay of Common Ground added their advice and encouragement. And then came the winning home run, hit by a 'white knight,' who came out of nowhere. Despite no previous knowledge of or ties to the lake or property, he offered funding without restrictions — other than maintaining his anonymity. His stunning seven-figure donation made Manchaug Pond Foundation the little team that could."

I'd personally like to shake that gentleman's hand — if I knew who he was. Only a few people, pledged to secrecy know his identity, and that's the way he'd like it. But I know what he is, and what he's done. He's the hero who preserved a beautiful part of our wild world forever.

Out of all the turmoil and anguish in the battle to save the Beaton Farm emerged several lessons. One is that there's a great difference between truly wild land and that which is built on, paved and structured to permanently alter the view, landscape and wildlife. We can be architecturally sensitive and try to minimize our human footprint, but once we build, land is no longer wild. Although Holy Cross would have been a good tenant, for Charpentier and the Manchaug Pond Foundation their plan was unacceptable. Hopefully, Holy Cross one day will get its retreat without diminishing any of our dwindling wild lands.

But the biggest lesson, Charpentier feels, "is about how regular people like us can sometimes do extraordinary things. Driven by a great cause, we can occasionally win even against overwhelming odds." Conservation groups and lake associations throughout the state should be inspired by this victory.

Happy New Year to all who continue to fight to save our wild land. May we have more successes to celebrate in 2014.

Contact Mark Blazis at sports@telegram.com.

A Turkey Vulture on Holt Road Sutton

This week a large turkey vulture, with a large fish in its talons, blocked traffic on Holt Road in Sutton on the shores of Manchaug Pond.

Mute Swan Nesting at Stevens Pond

This spring, while we were all looking to the Beaton Farm in the northwest, working to make this conservation dream a reality for Manchaug Pond...  a new lake neighbor flew in to our southeast, making Stevens Pond their home: a pair of Mute Swans.

In the cattails on the end of Stevens Pond by the shoreline bordering Parker Road, Sutton, they built their nest some time ago. Would anyone from Stevens Pond give us a report as to the status of the nest with the rise in waterlevel?

You should know that mute swans are not native to North America and considered an invasive species.   MassWildlife reports they were: "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 found in many inland waters. 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."

"Mute swans are protected under state regulations and may not be hunted. They are not protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty as they were placed on a long list of exotic bird species that removed protection under this treaty.  MassWildlife can issue permits in certain situations to addle eggs and destroy mute swans."

Sacred Sunday: Safe and Sound on Manchaug Pond!

To our surprise, the little family of ducks went swimming by this late morning on Manchaug Pond.  They made it!

Read about our first encounter in a cove here and about their later adventure over the flashboards of the Manchaug dam here.

Healthy Lake Signs

One of the signs of a healthy waterbody such as Manchaug Pond is the existence of Mayflies.  Short lived, they mature and emerge in June then molt, mate, the females lay eggs and finish their life cycle just in a couple of days.  They are a very important ingredient in the food chain for fish and birds.  Contrary to what they may look like, they do not sting or bite.

It is a welcome sign that spring has arrived when we see them each year!

A Mother Duck's Dilemma

Wednesday evening, four young male mallards swam back and forth in the water a few yards out from the dam.

 A female duck stood on the top flashboard clearly in distress - quacking and pacing.

 

On closer look, over the flashboards was the reason(s) for her concern.  There over the side in the culvert box were her ducklings - at least 9 of them.

The tiny babies couldn't make it back up over the 3 feet or so of flashboards.  The only other alternative was to go downstream to Stevens Pond but they refused to follow their mother as she called from the edge of the 15 ft drop down at the end of the culvert box.  Back and forth they swam from the drop at the end of the culvert to the insurmountable wall of flashboards.

... A boater came by with a hopeful solution... dropping a long plank over the flashboards a ramp was made for all to walk up and hop back into the pond.    Did they make the journey?  With daylight waning, that remains an unknown. 

The boater returned the next morning to find only the plank - no signs of the older brothers, the mother,  or any of the duckings.

If anyone sees this family of mother and 9 babies, either on Manchaug Pond or on Stevens, please let us know.  She was photographed earlier in the week here swimming in the shade and safety of a Manchaug cove.

Mother and baby ducklings

Mother Mallard and duckings in a cove on Manchaug Pond! She was seen out in the open lake yesterday when the water was choppy and crowded with boats. Does anyone have a count as to how many babies?

Just hanging out at the Manchaug Dam - Eastern Painted Turtle!

Commonly seen sunning themselves on rocks or logs along the shore and in the coves of Manchaug Pond are sun turtles otherwise known as the Eastern Painted Turtle, Chrysemys picta picta.

Here's more information from Connecticut Wildlife:

These turtles are highly aquatic. They prefer shallow, slow-moving streams and rivers with muddy bottoms and weedy shallow ponds. 

Eastern painted turtles nest in May or June. A female digs a flask-shaped nesting cavity, about 4 inches deep, in sandy soil in a warm, sunny spot. She lays 2 to 20 elliptical eggs. After laying she may push leaves and grass over the spot to camouflage it. One of the rare times a painted turtle leaves the water is to locate a nesting site. Females are vulnerable to being run over if they cross roads to find a good spot. They can produce 2 to 4 clutches annually in warmer climates, but produce 1 to 2 farther north. Incubation takes 10 to 11 weeks. Most of the hatchlings overwinter in the nest and come out in spring, usually at night. When they emerge they head for water. It is believed that the increased reflection of light from water surfaces into the night sky is what guides newly emerged turtles to water. Female turtles reach sexual maturity at 4 to 8 years, males at 2 to 4 years. An eastern painted turtle's lifespan is over 30 years. 

The gender of baby painted turtles is determined by the temperature of the eggs during a particular stage of development. This is common for many turtle species. Low temperatures and high temperatures seem to produce all females while moderate temperatures produce all males. The temperature within a natural nest can vary, so a clutch can produce mixed gender babies. 

 These turtles hibernate for the winter buried in mud on the bottom of lakes, ponds or streams. These turtles are active for more of the year than many freshwater turtles, but in New England will spend at least 4 months in hibernation. Painted turtles are active during the day and sleep on the river bottom at night. They spend many hours of the day basking in the sun on partially submerged rocks or logs. 
Turtles cannot regulate their body temperature internally and must warm themselves in the sun. The turtles often bask in the morning, spend some time hunting food, then return to bask again in the afternoon. You often see several turtles piled atop one another on a favorite basking spot.

Painted turtles are omnivorous but young turtles tend to be more carnivorous while older turtles eat more plant matter. 

Unlike most turtles, painted turtles shed the scales, or scutes, on their shells. One can sometimes see one with scutes that appear to be in the process of flaking off. 

Click here for more information from Wikipedia.

Sunday Telegram Tells Beaton Farm Story

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Group races to save Sutton landscape

A robin takes flight from a fence post on land the Manchaug Pond Association wants to save from development. (T&G Staff/RICK CINCLAIR)
 
The Manchaug Pond Foundation is racing to raise $1.32 million by July 16 to buy the Beaton Farm Property overlooking Manchaug Pond. (T&G Staff/RICK CINCLAIR)

By Susan Spencer TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
susan.spencer@telegram.com

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SUTTON —  There is hardly a more classic rural New England landscape than in Sutton.

Rolling hills unfold in a patchwork of fields and stone walls. Weathered barns stand against the wind. Orchards, dairy and horse farms dot knolls sloping to sparkling ponds.

That view — and the town's cultural heritage — is changing, as open space succumbs to development.

Selectman Michael A. Chizy, who serves as board chairman, has lived in town almost 60 years.

“Where cornfields used to be, now there's houses,” he said.

Another quintessential parcel, the 100-acre Beaton Farm Property that was once part of historic Waters Farm, overlooking Manchaug Pond, may be the next to be developed.

The current owner, who has received property tax benefits for 73 acres on the site under the state Chapter 61A program for agricultural land, plans to sell the property. Under state law, when land comes out of agricultural, forestry or recreation space protection, the town has the right of first refusal to buy the land.

Selectmen agreed April 16 that the town was not in a position to purchase the parcel, but assigned the nonprofit Manchaug Pond Foundation to act on its behalf to try to raise $1.32 million by July 16, the deadline set by law, to buy the 73 acres.

“Taxes have gone up,” Mr. Chizy said. “People can only afford so much. I don't think the town would purchase it (if money couldn't be raised privately).”

The College of the Holy Cross has submitted a $1.9 million proposal to purchase the full 100 acres, including 73 acres under Chapter 61A, plus roughly 26 acres along the pond in Douglas, on which to build a 30,000-square-foot retreat center.

Ellen M. Ryder, director of public affairs for Holy Cross, said, “It is so beautiful. It's what attracted us to it in the first place.”

She said that retreat and contemplation are an integral part of a faith-based education. The college used to hold one-day or overnight retreats, often conducted in silence, at a facility in Narragansett, R.I., but that site was no longer available. Since the 1980s, students and staff have had to travel at least an hour to other locations.

Phyllis M. Charpentier, corresponding secretary for the Manchaug Pond Foundation, said the group has nothing against the college.

But she wants to preserve the scenic open space that is enjoyed by visitors from all over, the historic quarry in the woods that once supplied Blackstone Valley mills with stone, the pristine trout ponds and brooks that run through the property to 875 feet of shoreline on Manchaug Pond, and the working stables that house 19 miniature horses.

“If we do not succeed, everything will be sold: the house, the barn, 26 acres abutting the pond and the fields,” Ms. Charpentier said. “We're looking to keep it undeveloped so the streams feeding Manchaug Pond stay as they are now. It's the last quiet cove.”

Marty Jo Henry, Manchaug Pond Foundation's first vice president, said the land was a priority habitat for endangered species and served as a wildlife corridor linking Sutton State Forest and Douglas State Forest. She has photographed bald eagles, osprey and heron soaring overhead there.

“It's a big stopping point for migrating ducks heading up to Canada,” Ms. Henry said.

The stone-wall-bordered overlook at the top of the fields, with a panoramic vista of the 380-acre Manchaug Pond below, provides an ideal viewing spot for bird watchers and others, including wedding couples who have portraits taken there.

That “viewshed” was highlighted a dozen years ago in the master plan for Waters Farm, a living-history farm preserved to portray 19th-century agrarian life. The Waters homestead, which was built in 1757 by Stephen Waters and is on the National Register of Historic Places, is across the road from Beaton Farm and looks out onto the fields and hillside to Manchaug Pond.

National Park Service Ranger Chuck Arning said, “You'd like to see the way it might have been in the 1800s.”

He cited passages from the Waters Farm master plan: “This amazing view is a powerful experience for the first-time visitor because it is so unexpected and so dramatic. The view is evocative of how the land may have looked more than 250 years ago — regardless of its actual appearance. The momentary sensation of being in another time anchors Waters Farm in the mind of the visitor as an important place, a place where you can feel connected to the past through the power of this unique setting and experience. Preservation of views should be a primary goal.”

But preservation takes money, time and a lot of hard work.

“The problem is, we need such a large amount of money in such a short time,” said Andrew J. Mosher, Manchaug Pond Foundation treasurer.

“The situation the foundation finds itself in, scrambling to pull together funds to purchase open space before it is sold for development, isn't uncommon, according to Rob Warren, Massachusetts director of protection and policy for The Nature Conservancy.

“I think it's important for people to understand that lands that are enrolled in Chapter 61 programs are not permanently protected lands. That's at the discretion of the landowner,” he said.

Mr. Warren said that because these properties typically become available on short notice, many land trusts work with landowners ahead of time to get them thinking about placing their property in permanent protection, through conservation restrictions, donation or sale to a conservation organization.

Towns that have adopted the Community Preservation Act, which Sutton has not, may be in a better financial position to acquire open space. The Community Preservation Act creates local funds, through a surcharge of up to 3 percent on real estate levies, for preserving open space and historic sites, promoting affordable housing and developing outdoor recreation facilities.

Open space committees can also plan strategically for land acquisition.

“Any of that sort of foresight is helpful, Mr. Warren said. “Having planning in place ahead of time helps a community respond. The 'white knight' is a true rarity,” he said, referring to a donor who swoops in to help buy land.

He added that towns should be aware of the economic benefits of protecting land, which costs far less over time than providing services for developed parcels, despite the additional tax revenue.

Contact Susan Spencer at susan.spencer@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanSpencerTG.

Beaton Farm Property ...

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Outdoors: Hoping someone can save this land from development by July

Mark Blazis Outdoors

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Today’s column was supposed to be about great fishing — the first big surge of stripers, mackerel, squid, the Canal, Barnstable Harbor, huge flocks of terns feeding over bait, tired casting arms, local mayfly hatches, and shad runs.

That news is temporarily on hold for a much more urgent matter. A Sutton wildlife treasure is on the precipice of development. It’s the bottom of the ninth for Beaton Farm. Without immediate intervention — i.e., $1.325 million — we’re going to lose it forever.

July 16 is D-Day. Without someone coming to the rescue and having all formalities completed by that date, Holy Cross stands ready to take over the land — and build on it.

In lieu of what could or should have been done long before now, we need a deus ex machina — a wealthy benefactor or a conservation rescue team from the DCR, MassWildlife, MassAudubon, the Nature Conservancy, a land trust or Trustees of Reservations — to again step in at the proverbial last minute, as some have done so many times in the past. But most public and private organizations are now cash-strapped. Many Wall Streeters and Dow manipulators could do it, but they live in a different neighborhood. It’s sad that local steps were not taken in time to address a moment like this.

Some residents tell me it’s a pity conservation leadership was never persuasive or had enough foresight in Sutton to establish a land trust, as neighboring towns like Grafton successfully have done to step in when urgent cases arise.

I’ve heard desperate suggestions that the town of Sutton could yet agree to purchase the land and then create a limited development so there would be no new taxes and the majority of the land could be saved. The town of Grafton did so with the Hennessey Farm not long ago. It’s not a perfect solution, in that frontage land is generally sacrificed. But at least with that scenario, a majority of the wild land could be preserved.

Because of inaction, though, the continued existence of Beaton Farm — “the jewel of Sutton,” as many residents lovingly refer to it — is now improbable. The land may well be a Hopeless Diamond. The unique, nearly 100-acre property with 875 feet of shoreline on Manchaug Pond has a breathtaking hilltop view. The town of Sutton, having recently spent money on a new school, allegedly didn’t care to further increase residents’ taxes to save the land for its future generations. Many share that without selectmen leading the way, there remains little hope.

Residents have told me that the land is crying out for preservation for future generations. Manchaug Pond Foundation’s Phyllis Charpentier writes that its hilltop overlook of stonewalls, fields and forest provides a stunning scenic view of the lake. Its network of streams and small ponds are cold-water fisheries habitat for native brook trout and tributaries, which feed the lake. I know it has turkeys and deer. The late Brad Beaton, former owner and hunter, was a great steward of that land.

A large portion of the farm, I’m told, is priority habitat for endangered species as designated by the state Natural Heritage Endangered Species program. Located in the Lake Manchaug Greenway and Wildlife Corridor, the Beaton Farm is a valuable wildlife link that presently prevents fragmentation between the Sutton State Forest, Purgatory Chasm State Park and Douglas State Forest. Large, contiguous tracts like these properties are even more valuable in their collective totality, exponentially increasing their wildlife’s security and productivity. When contiguous areas of this magnitude area diminish in size, their wildlife value diminishes proportionately.

Charpentier further notes that this property directly abuts the 120 acres of Sutton conservation land on the Waters Farm, a 1757 homestead on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

The Sutton Board of Selectman assigned the Manchaug Pond Foundation the town’s right of first refusal to purchase 73 acres held under Chapter 61A. To save the farm, the foundation needs to raise $1.3 million and close by July 16 — or, as Charpentier fears, “the entire property will be lost forever to development. Should we fail, Holy Cross has signed a purchase-and-sales agreement with an initial 30,000-square-foot facility planned.”

Anyone capable of helping save this land should immediately contact the Manchaug Pond Foundation president David Schmidt at (508) 981-3820 or treasurer Andrew Mosher at (508) 865-6242.

Timing is everything. According to Ken Crater of the Grafton Land Trust, if the Trust for Public Land had been contacted earlier — before the town assigned its right of first refusal — it could have tried to engineer a solution, assuming Sutton would consider making an investment.

Crater suggests the best hope now may be to work with Holy Cross, encouraging the school to preserve conservation land and buffers to the pond in the permitting process. The crusade to save this land now needs some real Crusaders to do the right thing for our local wildlife and future generations.

Let’s go ’Saders!

Contact Mark Blazis at markblazis@charter.net.

Local Newspaper Headline: Beaton Property goes to Manchaug Pond Foundation...for now

Beaton Farm homestead overlooking Manchaug Pond.

Yes, you read it right! The ball is in our court!

We have the once in a lifetime opportunity to preserve up to 100 acres directly abutting Manchaug Pond! The Beaton Farm Property is the most significant parcel of property in our watershed, after the dam, to Manchaug Pond and the area.

Check out the Millbury-Sutton Chronicle's April 25th report of the public hearing: the developer's proposal, testimony from the neighborhood,  the MPF, and the unanimous vote of the Sutton Board of Selectman to assign a right to purchase to the community.

Beaton Property goes to Manchaug Pond Foundationn...for now 

Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, April 25, 2013

Beaton property goes to Manchaug Pond Foundation…for now

BY TOM REILLY

The Board of Selectmen unanimously voted at their April 16 meeting to assign dozens of acres a right of first refusal to the Manchaug Pond Foundation (MPF).
A public hearing under Massachusetts General Law 61A was held to discuss whether or not the town would act to purchase the Beaton property, located on Waters Road adjacent to Waters Farm, assign those rights to a qualified third party or else allow the land to be purchased by The College of the Holy Cross as a retreat center. There are five parcels, a total of approximately 100 acres involved, some of them in neighboring Douglas. The price of the entire property is set at $1.925 million, though the town’s right of first refusal extended only to about 70 percent of the land up for sale.
The Beaton land is classified as agricultural under Chapter 61A meaning it can only be used for agricultural uses and in return the owners pay a lower tax rate. When land comes out of 61A in order to be sold, the municipality has the right of first refusal. MPF has 90 days to act or the land goes to Holy Cross.

West cove's 875 ft of shoreline will go to the developer.

Town Administrator Jim Smith said he has been working with MPF, a nonprofit public charity, for a few months in hopes the town could assign its rights, which would not develop the land. However, the MPF has been unable to put together the necessary resources, said Smith. He told the selectmen the Holy Cross plan would have “a minimal impact on the property and will work hard to be a good neighbor.”
The college’s lawyer, Robert Longden of Bowditch and Dewey, said the college told the town in January it wanted to establish a religious retreat center on the land though at that time it had yet to develop specific designs, waiting until the town decided on what it would do with its right of first refusal. He noted the college would work closely with the appropriate town agencies if the time came but wanted to give everyone present some idea what the completed project might look like.

Today's Beaton Farm equestrian center which would be lost. 

Longden showed a map of the property, currently owned by Carolyn Beaton, noting only two of the parcels are classified as 61A-agricutural, what he called “the heart of this property,” a total of 69 acres. Two of the other parcels are in Sutton and the remaining one is located in Douglas. The Board’s decision was to decide whether or not to act on the town’s right to purchase those two parcels for $1.325 million.
Longden said the College’s plan was to construct a retreat center on the property. Part of this is going on retreat, where students can spend time in “contemplation, prayer and reflection.” Longden said Holy Cross does not have an adequate location for this on its Worcester campus.
Showing a preliminary design of the retreat center, Longden pointed out it would use only a small portion of the property. He said the college desired to preserve most of the site in its natural condition, which was exactly the type of atmosphere a retreat center needed.
There would be one main building containing a chapel, kitchen, dining hall, meeting rooms and other space. There would be several connecting additions with 50 bedrooms and a maximum of 60 beds for those taking part in the retreats. The front of the building would be heavily glassed and face toward the pond .
“All of this is designed to be compatible with the site, compatible with the property, to preserve the natural look of the property and to fit in with it and to also be compatible with the neighborhood in terms of its architectural design,” Longden observed. The entire square footage of the building and additions would be about 30,000 square feet.
The existing driveway would continue to exist, running down to where the horse farm is today. A parking lot for 20 vehicles would be built there and another circular driveway would lead down to the retreat center.
Longden said a meeting was held at Waters Farm with abutters back on Jan. 19 and some of their input was taken into consideration as well as other input received since that time. One thing he came away with was the sense the view of Manchaug Pond from Waters Farm and Waters Road is very important and the college was dedicated to preserving that view as a part of its plans. The retreat center was located in a place where that view would not be disturbed.
He also said he had been told about a parking area on Waters Road where new married couples liked to come and have their pictures taken with Manchaug Pond in the background. Even though this would become private property if the land was sold to Holy Cross, Longden said the college would still welcome people to come to that site for pictures.
Longden said he did not yet know how often the site would be used during the year, but currently the College conducts 50 retreats at other locations during the year and expects that number to increase. He said the condition of the site would encourage people to walk in the woods and along the shore, enjoying the quiet beauty.
He told the selectmen and residents he saw the retreat center as a very benign use of the Beaton property and one in keeping with the character of the neighborhood. The students visiting there would be under supervision by academic leaders. Most of the transportation would be done via vans and students would rarely drive their own cars. One abutter expressed a concern the construction vehicles coming onto the site would damage Waters Road, but Longden said the necessary machinery would be the same as for building houses thanks to the design and should have no impact.
Selectman Ken Stuart said he was trying to keep the emotion out of this, but “we think of this land as ours,” thanks to its close association with Waters Farm. He said if the town was in a better financial condition, “I would be the first to jump up and say, ‘we want this land.’”
Stuart said he would come right out and say what he thought was on everyone’s mind—it was a retreat center but there were college students involved. He expressed a concern with traffic on Waters Road at places where it was hard for more than one car to pass at a time. Longden said there could be no more than 60 people on site for an overnight retreat, citing the number of beds. He also told Stuart these students were on a supervised religious retreat and in no way were they there to “have a good time.” He said there would not be a lot of traffic generated by this facility. “People come here for a retreat and they stay there,” said Longden. “They don’t come to the retreat and go out and party at night and then come back.”
Longden said the plan was to have the retreat center secluded from the road with new trees added to screen the parking lot as well. He said there would not be few maintenance vehicles and food service trucks using the road. He also noted the site would not be inhabited when there were no retreats taking place.
Selectman Michael Chizy said his concern was the college might look to expand. Even when the town acquired Waters Farm, it had only been given to the town under the sponsorship of the Conservation Commission so as to resist the temptation to make too many changes, Chizy noted. He said if there was any money available, he would want to hold on to the Beaton property.

* * *
 

Let's not just save the Beaton Farm Property "for now"
. . .  but forever!"

Today's Earth Day. Do Something Meaningful!

Resident raccoon, Beaton Property on Manchaug Pond

Yes, it's Earth Day...

Want to do something meaningful?

... Something of benefit where you live, work and play?

... Something right here, for right now?

Make a donation to MPF for the Beaton Property.

Protect 875 ft of shoreline and 100 areas of significant wildlife habitat.

Please do it today!  Paypal or to MPF,  P.O. Box 154, Manchaug, MA  01526


Thanks to our resident photographer who captured this perfect photo of a Beaton Property resident raccoon!

All donations are fully tax-deductible. Make them in memory or in honor of someone you love.  A letter recognizing your contribution will be sent upon receipt.  Thank you!

100 acre Beaton Property can be saved! Town assigns "right of first refusal" to MPF

At an April 16th Public Hearing, the Sutton Board of Selectman voted to assign their "right of first refusal" on 73 acres of agricultural lands protected under Chapter 61A to the Manchaug Pond Foundation.

Chairman Michael Chizy called the property "a jewel of Sutton" noting its beauty as seen from the property's edge on Waters Road as it overlooks the 100 acres of rolling pasture, forested land, and the abutting Manchaug Pond.

WHAT?  A purchase and sales agreement signed with Holy Cross College for the entire near 100 acres, the horse barns, and family homestead looks to remove the main barn and training rink with preliminary plans to construct a 30,000 sq. foot building complex to house faculty, students and staff for overnight retreat events. (Watch the video of Holy Cross' presentation)

WHY?  The action taken by the Board of Selectman looks to protect one, if not THE most significant parcels, for Manchaug Pond from sale and development: the 73 acres of agricultural land used primarily as an equestrian training center and a miniature horse rescue stable is part of a larger piece totaling about 100 acres in Sutton and Douglas.

Of importance to the mission of the MPF in its protection of the 380 lake,  is the property's 875 feet of shoreline fisheries; the steep, forested slopes which bring water directly to the lake; numerous streams and 3 small ponds that are coldwater fisheries for brook trout which drain into the lake; a large area of state designated Priority Habitat for endangered species encompassing the waterfront area; the acreage directly abuts conservation land preserved as Waters Farm; and the fact that it is located in the Lake Manchaug Greenway and Wildlife Corridor which is a larger wildlife corridor initiative aimed at linking the Douglas State Forest and Sutton State Forest at Purgatory.

HOW?  The Town of Sutton has given their right to purchase the property to Manchaug Pond's non-profit 501(c)(3). This is a tremendous opportunity to save a significant parcel of property on Manchaug Pond and prevent a large development, as the MPF now become the "buyer" in the purchase and sales agreement.

WHEN?  Now!  We need to raise a little over $1.9 million for the total 100 acres and close the deal in less than 90 days.  No small task, but definitely worth the try. We received our first pledge of $100,000 from a single donor this week getting us off to a great start!

WHERE?  Right here - you and me!  Spread the word!  The MPF Board of Directors is asking everyone to help make this happen!  A fundraising thermometer on the right side of this blog will tract our weekly efforts. We hope all readers will consider making a donation to this cause - no amount is too small as we race the clock!  Use the Donate button for paypal and credit card donations or send your check to MPF, P.O. Box 154, Manchaug, MA  01526.

MPF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity. All donations are fully tax-deductible. Memorial and honorary donations are welcome as well as matching employer gifts. 

Thank you and check back for more on the Beaton Property!

Where the cool cats hang out on Manchaug Pond!

 

Thanks to the photographer who sent this in!

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!

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!

Sacred Sunday: Deer in the Watershed

Thanks to our newest photographer for sending in today's photo!

Sacred Sunday: Who was up at 4 a.m.!

 

Once the south end of the lake bedded down at 3:00 a.m. - the music amplifiers off, the dogs stopped barking, a car alarm was quieted, and the conversation ended -

silence engulfed the area so that after 4:00 the "who, whooing" of the owl was heard.

Barred Owl

The photographer notes "this Barred Owl said it didn't give a hoot about the Bald Eagles!"

Quess Whooo ?

Can you guess the star of the next blog post?   If you loved the photos of the eagles, you're going to love this next picture sent in by a friend of Manchaug Pond. Looking like a primordial forest, this wooded area abutts the southern end of Manchaug Pond.

Let's break for a commercial:
 
Help build our new organization!


Your purchases from Amazon, of Kindle, and through Goodsearch benefit the Manchaug Pond Foundation, a non-profit 501c3 organization recently formed and approved by the IRS to protect and enhance Manchaug Pond and its watershed.  Membership, donations, and your participation in fundraising events help build the foundation so we can achieve our goals in the protection of the lake and its watershed. Thank you for your support!

   stay tuned for another awesome photo...