Over the last four years, more than eight tons of the invasive Eurasian water milfoil plant has been removed from Follensby Clear Pond. Following successful aquatic invasive species (AIS) management on Upper Saranac Lake, the Upper Saranac Foundation (USF) has expanded efforts to control AIS in contributing tributaries. In 2023, a total of 495.5 diver work hours removed 2,059 pounds of Eurasian watermilfoil from the pond in 2023.
The Follensby Clear AIS removal project has been funded with support from the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission since its inception in 2020. Follensby Clear Pond is a 495-acre publicly owned pond that feeds Upper Saranac Lake.
While the long-term goal is to eradicate AIS in the pond, returning it to its natural state, the immediate intention is to prevent its spread. Areas of dense milfoil found prior to 2023 have been reduced to moderate densities in the 2023 pre-management survey. The majority of AIS found in 2023 were sparse density levels with randomly located plants throughout the pond.
Since the initiation of the project we have successfully prevented the spread of AIS to nearby AIS-free adjacent Horseshoe, Polliwog, and Green ponds. Each successive year of management has reduced the chance of AIS spread, provided unobstructed recreation opportunities, and has helped restore the pond’s native habitat.
AIS removal in Follensby Clear Pond is consistent with the USF Watershed Management Plan and supports clean water for recreation, sustains diverse ecosystems, and protects tourism and the economic value it brings. This project enhances the USF’s larger watershed protection program that uses a combination of AIS prevention, detection, monitoring, control activities, outreach, and education. The USF has established a clear track record of successful long-term AIS management throughout the watershed which now includes Follensby Clear Pond.
Click Here to read the 2023 Follensby Clear Pond AIS Removal Project Report.