The Upper Saranac Foundation’s dive team is back in action for another season, continuing our vital mission to protect local waterways by removing aquatic invasive species (AIS). This year marks a significant leadership transition, as Bryce Davison steps into the role of lead diver, taking the reins from longtime team leader Chris Burnham.
Chris has been the driving force behind USF’s AIS dive operations for over 18 years, guiding the program since the Foundation began operating its own in-house team. Before that, he worked with independent contractors hired by USF for invasive species removal. While Chris will be scaling back to a part-time role in 2025, he’ll remain closely involved, mentoring Bryce through the transition and continuing to lend his invaluable expertise.
Bryce, a Tupper Lake native, was first inspired to pursue AIS management as a teenager after observing Chris at work over a decade ago. Now entering his fourth season on the dive team, Bryce brings local knowledge and a deep commitment to the work.
Joining Bryce and Chris this year are returning diver Abigail Burk and new team members Leena Keal, Kessam Prozeller, and Ryan Sweet. Together, the team will manage AIS in multiple Adirondack waterbodies, including Upper Saranac Lake, Fish Creek Ponds, Follensby Clear Pond, Moody Pond, Lake Placid, Lake Kiwassa, and Friends Lake.
Thanks to the sustained efforts of our dive team, the once-dominant threat of Eurasian watermilfoil in Upper Saranac Lake has been reduced to a rare occurrence. USF’s AIS management program has become a national model for effective, science-based invasive species control, made possible by the passion, dedication, and leadership of our dive team.
