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.
The Upper Saranac watershed consists of forests, wetlands, and tributaries such as Mill Brook and Fish Creek that deliver water — and sometimes pollutants — into the lake. While much of the watershed remains forested and relatively undeveloped, water quality can still be influenced by stormwater runoff, eroding streambanks, road salt, and potential nutrient inputs that can contribute to algal growth or low oxygen conditions in deeper waters.
These local influences are part of broader water quality challenges across the Lake Champlain Basin, where excess nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen — from runoff, septic systems, and other sources — are key threats to aquatic health.
Through scientific monitoring like the Environmental Monitoring Platform and the Upper Saranac Watershed Management Plan, USF works with partners to track conditions, understand trends, and guide conservation actions. These efforts help protect water clarity, aquatic habitat, and the lake’s ecological health.
We are grateful for the ongoing partnership and support of the Lake Champlain Basin Program along with the Adirondack Watershed Institute, whose shared commitment strengthens our ability to safeguard the watershed. Together, we are keeping Upper Saranac Lake and surrounding waters clean, resilient, and thriving — for residents, visitors, and future generations.
