The Upper Saranac Foundation recently joined the “Sips and Science: Love Our Lakes” event held at the Hotel Saranac, celebrating a shared commitment to protecting Adirondack waters. The free community event was well attended by lake stewards, scientists, families, and residents from across the Park, all eager to learn more about how to care for the lakes we love.

Halloween on Upper Saranac Lake took a terrifying twist…

It was a dark and misty Halloween night on Upper Saranac Lake. The moonlight shimmered across still waters, and a haunting fog rolled through the bays. Campers told ghost stories by their fires, unaware that beneath the calm surface, a far more chilling tale was unfolding…

“On Lower Saranac, milfoil is so abundant I see it everywhere,” said first-year diver Lena Keal, whose parents have a boat moored there. “On Upper Saranac, it’s now so rare it’s increasingly hard to find.”

The Upper Saranac Foundation invites you to “Sips and Science: Love Your Lakes” on Tuesday, October 28, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Hotel Saranac Grand Ballroom in Saranac Lake.

This free, family-friendly evening celebrates Adirondack lakes while exploring the environmental challenges that impact their health. Enjoy engaging presentations, interactive exhibits, and activities for all ages.

A new study released by the Lake George Association (LGA) reports that the aquatic herbicide ProcellaCOR, commonly used to control Eurasian watermilfoil, can persist in lake sediments for more than a year—raising fresh concerns about its long-term ecological impacts.

This year’s fall foliage in the Adirondacks arrived earlier than usual, and while the hillsides around Upper Saranac Lake remain beautiful, the colors are more subdued than in many previous years. The unusually dry summer of 2025 placed stress on regional forests, altering the natural processes that produce the vibrant reds and purples typically associated with peak autumn.

On a beautiful summer evening at the historic Bartlett Carry Club, the Upper Saranac Foundation (USF) hosted a special Donor Appreciation Reception to honor the generous supporters who made the successful restoration of the Bartlett Carry Dam possible.

As summer comes to an end, the Upper Saranac Foundation (USF) urges all watershed users to be vigilant for the presence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) on our lakes. HABs are excessive growths of cyanobacteria (commonly called blue-green algae) that can degrade water quality and threaten the health of people, pets, and wildlife. While not all blooms produce toxins, some can release harmful compounds that may cause skin, eye, or respiratory irritation—and in more serious cases, liver or neurological damage.

Governor Kathy Hochul has signed new legislation making it easier and more affordable for property owners to upgrade failing or outdated septic systems. This critical program is designed to protect water quality, reduce pollution, and enhance public health across New York State—including in the Upper Saranac watershed.

Learn More at a Free Septic Workshop

Upper Saranac Lake has now reached its lowest recorded water level since monitoring began in 2011. As of September 4, water is flowing just 2.04 inches over the Bartlett Carry Dam spillway. The previous record low was 2.76 inches in October 2016.

The Upper Saranac Foundation (USF) has partnered with Dr. Nina Schoch and the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation in a vital effort to monitor and protect common loons in the Upper Saranac watershed. This collaboration is part of a broader initiative to track the health of Adirondack loons and study the long-term impacts of mercury contamination in the region.

The day began early at Back Bay, where Watershed Stewards welcomed Upper Saranac Lake Bass Tournament participants arriving as early as 5:30 a.m. Before the first line was cast, stewards were already hard at work inspecting boats and trailers — many of which had just come from Lake Champlain, a waterbody known to harbor numerous aquatic invasive species (AIS) not yet found in Upper Saranac. High-pressure, hot-water decontaminations were performed on vessels as needed to ensure Upper Saranac Lake remained protected.