A glance at a backyard stream or golf course is enough to tell the story: it’s been a dry summer in the Adirondacks.
According to the National Weather Service’s monitoring station at the Adirondack Regional Airport (SLK), located just north of Upper Saranac Lake, rainfall this summer has been well below average—a sharp contrast to the wetter seasons of the past five years.
Record Lows on Upper Saranac Lake
Upper Saranac Lake has now reached its lowest recorded water level since monitoring began in 2011. As of September 4, water is flowing just 2.04 inches over the Bartlett Carry Dam spillway. The previous record low was 2.76 inches in October 2016.
Traditionally, lake levels bottom out in early October, meaning levels could continue to fall through September. By comparison, the highest level recorded since monitoring began was 19.6 inches in May 2011.
For perspective, Lake Champlain is also running low—currently about one foot below its average level for this time of year. In August 2025, it dropped to its lowest point for that month since 1950, exposing rocks, complicating marina operations, and making docking difficult.
Understanding This Summer’s Low Levels
Many lake users have wondered whether the recent reconstruction of the Bartlett Carry Dam contributed to the decline. The answer is no—it’s the weather, not the dam.
The Bartlett Carry Dam has no gate or mechanical system to regulate outflow. Water flows freely over its 175-foot spillway: when the lake is high, more spills over; when it’s low, less does. The reconstruction project did not alter the dam’s crest height, meaning its role in governing lake level remains unchanged.
Instead, natural factors—rainfall, runoff, and evaporation—are driving this summer’s decline. With less rain and sunnier conditions, inflows have dropped while evaporation has increased.
Rainfall Totals: 2025 vs. 2024
Summer 2025 (below average):
- June: 2.53 inches (42% below average of 4.36)
- July: 3.53 inches (13% below average of 4.06)
- August: 1.43 inches (60% below average of 3.56)
Summer 2024 (above average):
- June: 5.82 inches (33% above average)
- July: 6.37 inches (57% above average)
- August: 4.80 inches (35% above average)
Where Things Stand
As of this week, water is flowing just 2.04 inches over the dam spillway—well below the average for this week of 6.15 inches.
Upper Saranac typically experiences about six inches of fluctuation annually. In 2025, variation has already reached nearly 10 inches, from a high of 11.83 inches earlier this year to the current record low of 2.04 inches.
Stay Informed
You can track current lake levels and view historical data anytime on the Upper Saranac Foundation website: USF Lake Level Monitoring
The Upper Saranac Foundation will continue monitoring conditions and sharing updates to help our community understand—and protect—the lake we all cherish.