This week is a reminder to look up—and notice what’s still there, and what’s slowly fading away.

Across much of the world, the night sky is no longer truly dark. Light pollution has grown to the point where more than one-third of people can no longer see the Milky Way from their homes. The stars that once felt constant and familiar are becoming harder to find.

Ice-out on Upper Saranac Lake was officially recorded on April 12, 2026. Ice-in occurred on December 7, 2025, resulting in a total ice cover duration of 117 days—two days shorter than the long-term average of 119 days. This year’s ice-out occurred one day earlier than the historical average date.

The Upper Saranac Foundation is pleased to share that we have been awarded two grants totaling $142,522 through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Invasive Species Grant Program (Round 4).

These awards are part of a $5.1 million statewide investment supporting 51 projects focused on preventing, controlling, and restoring ecosystems impacted by invasive species. USF was one of just five organizations in the North Country selected—highlighting the importance of this work in the Upper Saranac watershed.

The Upper Saranac Foundation (USF) is proud to announce the release of its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting continued efforts to preserve and protect the Upper Saranac watershed.

This year’s report emphasizes a central reality: Upper Saranac Lake does not exist in isolation. Protecting the lake means protecting the entire watershed. Spanning nearly 50,000 acres of forests, wetlands, streams, ponds, and communities, the watershed is an interconnected system where everything that happens on the land ultimately flows into the lake.

The Upper Saranac Foundation (USF) has released its 2025 Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Management Report for Follensby Clear Pond, highlighting measurable progress in the control of Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM).

It has been a cold and snowy winter in Saranac Lake, with approximately 69 inches recorded between November 8, 2025, and February 28, 2026. While slightly below the long-term average, this season has been notable across the Northeast. At Whiteface Mountain, snowfall has exceeded 200 inches.

As March brings longer days, melting snow begins its journey downhill. Snowmelt flows across frozen ground—acting like an impervious surface—creating significant runoff. As it travels through the watershed, it carries a “footprint” of the land into streams and ultimately into Upper Saranac waters.

The Upper Saranac Foundation (USF), in collaboration with the Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI), is pleased to announce the release of the 2025 Upper Saranac Watershed Stewardship Program Report.

Upper Saranac Lake, a 5,000-acre Adirondack gem, is part of the Saranac Lakes–Saranac River sub-basin within the much larger Lake Champlain watershed — the entire land area where rainfall and snowmelt flow downhill into connected streams, rivers, and lakes before eventually reaching Lake Champlain. A watershed includes the land and waterways that drain into a lake or river; what happens on the land in that area directly affects water quality in the lake itself.

If you weren’t able to attend, our partner organization, the Adirondack Lakes Alliance recently hosted an informative and timely webinar:

Wake Sports in the Adirondacks: The Hidden Impacts & Dangers to Our Ecosystems

As wake surfing and wake boarding continue to grow in popularity, so do concerns about their impacts on Adirondack lakes. The specialized boats used for wake sports generate powerful waves designed for recreation—but those same waves can pose significant challenges for lake stewards, shoreline property owners, and communities working to protect fragile ecosystems.

The Upper Saranac Foundation (USF) is pleased to announce the release of the 2025 Upper Saranac Lake Aquatic Invasive Species Management Project (USLAISMP) Report, highlighting more than two decades of sustained, science-driven success in protecting the ecological health and recreational value of Upper Saranac Lake.

Bubbler systems are an effective way to protect docks and boathouses from winter ice damage across the Upper Saranac watershed. When used improperly, however, they can create safety hazards for winter recreation and unnecessary impacts on lake ecology. A few simple practices can help ensure these systems are used safely and responsibly.

The Upper Saranac Foundation (USF) is pleased to announce the release of the State of the Lake Report, a comprehensive, science-based assessment of the water quality and ecological health of Upper Saranac Lake. This report represents years of data collection, analysis, and collaboration with the Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI) and provides an important benchmark for understanding long-term trends in the lake and watershed.