The Upper Saranac Foundation (USF) Dive Team has concluded another successful season of aquatic invasive species (AIS) management at Follensby Clear Pond, marking significant progress in the effort to protect the Upper Saranac watershed.
Expanded invasive management efforts at Follensby Clear Pond in 2024 and 2025 were made possible through a $46,380 grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The funding supported nearly 800 diver harvesting hours targeting the invasive Eurasian watermilfoil. Since USF began management efforts at the site in 2020, more than 8.7 tons of the invasive plant have been removed.
“This grant expanded our AIS management to a critical headwater of the Upper Saranac watershed,” said USF Executive Director Guy Middleton. “The additional resources enabled more rigorous efforts to address the spread of invasive plants from this upstream source — a key strategy in safeguarding Upper Saranac Lake.”
As part of the DEC grant, USF partnered with Adirondack Research, which conducted independent surveys to assess the project’s progress. At the conclusion of the 2025 season, no aquatic invasives were detected in Follensby Clear Pond or its neighboring waters — Polliwog, Horseshoe and Green ponds.
“It’s rewarding to see how our monitoring contributes to understanding the health of these lakes and the success of ongoing management efforts,” said Ezra Schwartzberg, director of Adirondack Research.
Managing AIS in upstream waters like Follensby Clear Pond is essential to preventing the spread of invasive species throughout the Upper Saranac watershed and to neighboring waterbodies. The project aligns with the USF’s 2022 Watershed Management Plan, which integrates prevention, monitoring, control, and education to safeguard water quality, native species, and recreational value.
“Over the last two decades, the USF and its partners have made tremendous progress restoring the Upper Saranac watershed,” Middleton said. “Upper Saranac Lake is now nearly free from Eurasian watermilfoil and should remain that way thanks to ongoing monitoring and management. Our focus now extends to neighboring waters like Follensby Clear to ensure invasive species don’t return downstream.”
Follensby Clear Pond is a 495-acre public water body within the Saranac Lake Wild Forest in the town of Santa Clara. Adjacent to Fish Creek Public Campground, it’s a popular destination for both motorized and non-motorized recreation, with numerous campsites and navigable connections to nearby waterways. The USF’s long-term goal is to eradicate Eurasian watermilfoil from Follensby Clear Pond and prevent future infestations throughout the Upper Saranac watershed.
