The Upper Saranac Foundation (USF) will develop and implement a new Lake Management Plan (LMP) thanks to a $68,000 grant from the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s Invasive Species Grant Program.
The grant was announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and is one of 42 projects statewide to receive funding to reduce the negative impacts of invasive species. A total of five North Country organizations were awarded grants this year, and eight programs across the state received nearly $234,000 for lake management planning.
“The objective of the Upper Saranac Foundation’s Lake Management Plan is to formalize a comprehensive review of the state of our lake, with a specific emphasis on invasive species management,” said USF Lake Manager Guy Middleton. “The goal of this management plan is to identify issues affecting the water quality, ecology, and social factors of the watershed, and to outline specific recommendations to protect the lake against current and future threats of aquatic invasive species.
“Our plan will include management related to invasive species including components common in a comprehensive lake management plan, specifically all lake characterization parameters that influence invasive species and/or the ability of lake managers to prevent, detect, and manage invasive species,” Middleton added. “Management plans are now often necessary for applying for future grants.”
The DEC Invasive Species Grant Program is funded by the state’s Environmental Protection Fund. To read the Governor’s full press release on this year’s recipients, visit https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-28-million-grant-awards-combat-spread-invasive-species.