Preserving MANCHAUG POND!

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

2012-02-02T21:48:00.002-05:00

Manchaug Boat Ramp on Town Agenda

2012-01-30T20:32:00.003-05:00

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:

Fee structure of $6 for in state and $12 for out of state users. (no change)
User fees collected 24/7 (new- expands from seasonal weekends to daily, year round)
Lockbox/honor system for collection (new)
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

2012-01-17T11:37:00.000-05:00

Why Did the Turkey Cross the Road?

2012-01-11T21:00:00.000-05:00

Why did the turkeys cross Manchaug Road?

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

Ice Forming

2012-01-11T20:20:00.002-05:00

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

2012-01-11T14:00:00.000-05:00

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

2012-01-01T07:43:00.007-05:00

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

Ringed-neck Pheasant on Manchaug Pond

2011-12-14T22:34:00.000-05:00

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"

2011-12-06T06:27:00.000-05:00

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!

2011-11-29T09:00:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-26T09:27:00.001-05:00

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

2011-11-24T07:53:00.001-05:00


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

2011-10-31T07:20:00.000-04:00

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

2011-10-23T15:47:00.000-04:00

PATRIOTS RAFFLE - Ticket #1-5 Available!

2011-10-22T05:54:00.000-04:00

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 !

2011-10-20T13:31:00.003-04:00

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

2011-10-19T16:08:00.002-04:00

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!

UPDATE: Manchaug Pond Dam

2011-10-18T05:26:00.000-04:00

WORCESTER TELEGRAM
Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Voters OK purchase of Manchaug Dam for $1

SUTTON — Voters at last night’s fall town meeting voted overwhelmingly to allow the Board of Selectmen to purchase Manchaug Dam on Torrey Road for $1.

The dam’s current owner, Hydro Projects North, which is a subsidiary of Interface Inc. of Atlanta, has also agreed to give the town $350,000 for the maintenance of the dam that controls the level of 380-acre Manchaug Pond.

Before the vote was taken by the approximately 200 people at the meeting, Manchaug Pond Association member Andrew Mosher commended the Board of Selectmen and Town Administrator James Smith for their efforts to negotiate the offer that was being considered last night. Mr. Mosher said purchasing the dam was a quality-of-life issue for the people living on the shores of the pond. Other people said the entire town would benefit from the purchase of the dam that was built in 1836.

While the Finance and Warrant Advisory Committee voted 4-1 to back the article, member Robert Recore said he was worried about the town’s liability if the dam was bought. He wondered how long the $350,000 would last and how much it would cost the town if a major incident occurred.

Voters at last night’s 70-minute meeting also voted to spend $32,700 to pay for work at town-owned Marion’s Camp and for an article that would prohibit solar power installations of over 250 kilowatts in residential areas.

— Bill Fortier

* * *

TESTIMONY OF THE MANCHAUG POND ASSOCIATION/FOUNDATION
Presented by Andrew Mosher, Treasurer

Thank you, my name is Andrew Mosher. I live on Putnam Hill Rd and have been a resident of Sutton for approx. 40 years, have my business here, and care very much for this town.

Tonight, I speak for the Manchaug Pond Association and its newly formed non-profit foundation, of which I serve as treasurer. Our organization, 44 years old and 100 members strong, applauds the Board of Selectman in putting forth this article which preserves one of the town's largest and important natural resources - Manchaug Pond.

The beauty and benefits of Manchaug Pond are immeasurable. As a public lake, it offers 380 acres of year-round recreation to all through the public boat ramp, the 3 private campgrounds on its shores and the 4th at its' inlet, and the non-profits of the YMCA Camp Blanchard and the living history museum, and conservation lands of Waters Farm.

The economic contribution in property values of the homes and summer camps along the shoreline and the tourism dollars to area businesses from the over 500 campsites, filled April through November, is significant to say the least.

Environmentally, Manchaug Pond fisheries and the boarding ecosystem and watershed are part of a broader wildlife corridor and trail system which are all dependent on the lake and its waterlevel.

The dam is key to the preservation of Manchaug Pond and Torrey Road, to its vital work as a reservoir for flood control and maintaining a flow to the Mumford/Blackstone River system. It greatly enhances the quality of life for those who come to this corner of Sutton.

The Manchaug Pond Association and Foundation fully supports article 8. We recognize the dam owner's contribution in providing the funds necessary for its future care. We commend Town Administrator Jim Smith and the Board of Selectman for their foresight and hard work in bringing a workable solution to protecting Manchaug Pond for our community and generations to come.

Thank you.

* * *

Sutton Annual Fall Town Meeting
Monday, October, 17, 2011

Warrant Article 8 Sponsor: Board of Selectman

To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Selectman to acquire by gift, purchase, eminent domain or otherwise, for general municipal purposes, on such terms and conditions as the Selectmen deem appropriate, all or any portion of the lands and improvements thereon in Sutton and Douglas presently owned by the Manchaug Reservoir Corporation, which are believed to include the Manchaug Pond Dam (National Dam ID No. MA 00955), as well as lands bordering on, flowed by or beneath the high water mark of Manchaug Pond, and to authorize the Board of Selecmen to enter into all agreements and to execute on behalf of the Town andy and all instruments as may be necessary or convenient to effectuate this acquisition, and further to authorize the Board of Selectmen to seek such authorization and approval of the General Court as is necessary to allow for such acquisition: or take any action relative thereto.

Finance and Warrant Advisory Committee voted 4-1 to recommend passage of this article. this article allows the town to take possession of a dam along with receipt of a $350,000 grant for maintenance and upkeep. The town plans to install hydroelectric capacity on the dam to provide continuing revenue streams. The dissenting vote reflects concerns over costs and liabilities of owning and operating the dam as well as the limited usefulness of the dam to the majority of citizens.

* * *

THANK YOU! to each and every voter

who took the time to come out to Town Meeting

to stand solidly and vote clearly in support

of preserving our beautiful Manchaug Pond!

Thank you RUNNERS! Here's your time

2011-10-15T13:09:00.001-04:00

"This is the best little race we run in a long time!" "What a wonderful spirit!"

Jake Murray 23:08                    1st Place Men's
Eric Shrayer 23:23                   2nd Place Men's
Linda Spooner 24:44                1st Women's
Howard Bottomly 26:16           3rd Men's
Greg Dubell 26:16                     4th Men's
Nicole Salmonsen Gantt 26:48 2nd Women's
Nancy Ryan 27:59                     3rd Women's
Chris Sullivan 28:59
Richard Costa 29:11
Lizette Gomer 29:18
Donna LeBlanc 29:50
Larry Costinos 30:31
Sandra Kuipers 31:09
Jill Bronson 31:55
Michael Frost 32:29
Katie Schmidt 33:49
Michael Andrus 34:11
Tessy Schlemmer 34:50
Laura Turner 35:16
Kathleen Laperle 35:25
Lauren Salmonsen 36:22
Kevin Stockhaus 36:41
Danielle Salmonsen 36:53
Paul Eklund 38:41
Patti Eklund 38:41
Kathleen Rocha 39:41
Kathy Lyons 39:41
Maddie Vega 42:23
Judy Castonguay 50:45
Jackie Isble 51:30
Rose Charpentier 57:27
Lesa Bickford 1:02:41
Kim Mosher 1:02:41
Kandi Schmidt 1:05:10
Timmy Isble 1:05:11
Andrew Biafore 1:06:47
Kate Biafore 1:06:47
Monica Gauthier 1:09:30
Paula DeMeo 1:09:30
Alice Smith 1:12:45

A big and hearty congratulations and thank you to all those who ran, walked, rode in a stroller, cheer'ed us on, donated and volunteers! All to benefit the preservation of Manchaug Pond. (Check in later for photos and more!)

ATTENTION RUNNERS!

2011-10-14T21:15:00.003-04:00

Race Day is here! And the weather forecast is calling for clear skies!

Thank you to those who have registered to run! or walk!

Runners should park at the finish line which this year is at the crosswalk at 19 Holt Road across from Kings Family Campground.

Beginning at 8 am, Knights Limousine will shuttle you to the start at Waters Farm.

Registration for all runners will begin at 8:30 am at Waters Farm. If you haven't registered, you can do so the day of the race!
All proceeds do benefit the Manchaug Pond Foundation and our work to preserve the water level and dam.

Race begins at 9:30 am. Water station at Holbrook's Campground. Restroom facilities at start, water station and finish.

Finish line this year is past the dam around the corner to the crosswalk at 19 Holt Road in front of King's Campground store. Refreshments, music and more.

See you there!

2011-10-13T17:33:00.002-04:00

! WIN ! ~ PATRIOTS RAFFLE ~ ! WIN !

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!

ATTENTION RUNNERS! This comment was left for you.

2011-09-28T22:32:00.000-04:00

"THIS IS JAKE MURRAY AND I'M COMING BACK THIS YEAR!"


2010 THE DAM RACE Men's 1st Place Winner #47 Jake Murray at 24:06

********************************************************************************

At 12 years old Jake Murray captured first place. Join him this year! Run or walk ....

Register by October 1 to reserve your t-shirt!

Download the registration form here and send to MPA, Box 154, Manchaug, MA 01526.

Or use the Paypal button on the right.

See you on October 15th with your running shoes on, or be out there to Cheer us on!

All proceeds to benefit the Manchaug Pond Foundation and our work to preserve the water level and dam.

Runners can park at the finish line at 19 Holt Road, Sutton. Knights Limousine will shuttle you to the start beginning at 8 am. Registration begins at 8:30 at Waters Farm. Participant's number and t-shirt given at registration. Race begins at 9:30 am. Water station and facilities at Holbrook's Campground. Finish line celebration with prizes, refreshments, music and more.

See you there!

Ultralite docks at Manchaug Pond

2011-09-26T19:30:00.000-04:00

A 5 gallon jug comprises the gas tank which gives an hour of flying time.

Note the air filter and carbuerator to the right of the pilot's face.

Pontoons can be removed with wheels to land on the ground.

The pilot of this ultralite is also an airplane mechanic.

Cleanup POSTPONED to SUNDAY

2011-09-23T22:12:00.000-04:00

FALL RAMP, ROADSIDE, SHORELINE AND WEED CLEAN-UP
RAIN!! POSTPONED TO SUNDAY
~~Saturday, September 24th~~
9 to Noon
Meet at the State Boat Ramp.
Garbage bags and gloves provided.

All welcome to join in! Bring your fishing club, scout group, neighbors and friends.

Sacred Sunday: On eagle's wings

2011-09-11T21:59:00.003-04:00

This afternoon, this adult eagle was seen soaring and circling Manchaug Pond.