The Upper Saranac Foundation (USF), in partnership with Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI), continues to lead in lake management and environmental monitoring with its cutting-edge Environmental Monitoring Platform (EMP). Funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and USF, this autonomous, in-lake station collects high-frequency data on the lake’s physical, chemical, and biological conditions, along with key meteorological metrics.
Moored in 90 feet of water in the South Basin, the EMP collects surface water data every hour and full-depth profiles every four hours. Parameters include temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, chlorophyll-a, and cyanobacterial pigments, as well as air temperature, humidity, wind, and solar radiation. This near-real-time data is transmitted to Paul Smith’s College and displayed on the USF website, making it accessible to scientists and the public alike.
Since its installation in 2017, the EMP has positioned Upper Saranac Lake among a select group of highly monitored lakes, joining the ranks of Lake Champlain and Lake George in deploying such advanced technology. It strengthens one of the Adirondack Park’s longest-running water quality monitoring programs and serves as a critical tool for guiding science-based lake management and engaging the community in watershed stewardship. Long-term goals of the project are to preserve, enhance, and protect our water quality and support a sustainable cold-water fishery.
To explore real-time data or learn more about the EMP, visit: https://adkwatershed.shinyapps.io/UpperSaranacLake/
