Upper Saranac Foundation

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What We Accomplished in 2021

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While many of us are struggling with the world’s prolonged state of uncertainty, we at the Upper Saranac Foundation (USF) can be considered a consistent beacon for environmental protection with a focus on water quality.

Reflecting back on some of what was accomplished in the Upper Saranac Lake (USL) watershed, here are just a few of our 2021 highlights:

  • Received over $50,000 in grant funding for the protection of the watershed
  • Continued the reduction aquatic invasive species (AIS) on Upper Saranac Lake to record low levels — from 18 tons in 2004 to a rare plant in 2021, and to levels not seen since its discovery in the early 1990’s
  • Continued the reduction of AIS in Fish Creek Campground – from 9.5 tons in 2016 to 213 pounds in 2021
  • Prevented over 3,000 pounds of AIS from floating downstream past the Fish Creek containment booms
  • Decreased AIS found on boats being taken out of the water at Fish Creek campground by 92% over the last five years through harvesting efforts in and around the campground launch
  • Harvested 7,038 pounds of AIS from Follensby Clear Pond, totaling 13,638 pounds over the past two years
  • Harvested 7,000 pounds of AIS from Fish Creek tributary, upstream of the campground
  • Collected input from nearly 300 individuals to guide and develop a watershed management plan
  • Developed a draft watershed management plan that includes seven primary goals and 58 action items
  • USL and Fish Creek Campground Watershed Stewards inspected 3,936 boats and educated nearly 8,000 visitors about AIS
  • Watershed Stewards performed 186 boat decontaminations at USF’s AIS decontamination station on USL
  • Watershed Stewards intercepted 15 confirmed AIS on boats and trailers
  • Expanded the pollinator gardens at the USL Boat launch
  • 23 volunteers participated in the annual Asian Clam survey, taking nearly 700 sediment samples assuring that these invasive mollusks are not present in USL
  • Maintained the lake’s water levels to a fluctuation of less than 6 inches throughout the summer
  • Actively pursued state funding through grants for the improvement of the Bartlett Carry Dam

To learn more about the Upper Saranac Foundation, visit our web page at usfoundation.net.