Upper Saranac Foundation

05/26/2026

Upper Saranac Lake shows clear evidence of road salt contamination, with 2024 surface-water chloride concentrations approximately 45 times higher than those measured in comparable regional waterbodies not influenced by roadway runoff.

When scaled to the lake’s total volume, this equates to an estimated 2,000 metric tons of dissolved salt. The dominant source of this contamination is road salt applied to paved roads throughout the watershed.

Chloride concentrations in Upper Saranac Lake are approaching thresholds at which measurable ecological changes may begin to occur, underscoring the need for proactive management and mitigation efforts.

https://www.adirondackcouncil.org/support-the-road-salt-right-to-know-act/?fbclid=IwdGRjcASBhThjbGNrBIGFCmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHkCP9Zpl2H-PN6rV2VPVrVp0G4O_zZgYvIztNSF_-FmdZ9VZfDd8IYJOTLM9_aem_HmK-uPXhKqc5ISj4VPAvRQ

By Justin A. Levine – Senior Communications Specialist Thursday, May 21, 2026 New York has an excellent opportunity this year to pass a common-sense law that will help people, infrastructure, and the environment. The Road Salt Right to Know Act in the state assembly and senate would require highwa...

05/26/2026

Rollins Pond, a tributary feeding into Upper Saranac Lake, provides important ecological connections within the Upper Saranac watershed.

Protecting tributaries like Rollins Pond helps protect the long-term water quality and natural character of Upper Saranac Lake.

05/22/2026

Citizen Scientists Needed for Adirondack Boat Impacts Study

The Upper Saranac Foundation is partnering with the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation to recruit volunteer citizen scientists for a new study examining how boating activity may affect water clarity and shoreline conditions on Adirondack lakes.

Building on a successful pilot study conducted by ACLC interns last summer, the project is now expanding to community participation. Volunteers will help collect information on boat traffic, boat types, wave activity, and water clarity to better understand whether increased boating pressure—including wave-producing wake boats—is contributing to shoreline erosion and reduced water clarity.

To support the project, ACLC is offering a free online training session on Thursday, June 4 from 5:00–6:00 PM. Participants will learn how to identify and categorize boats, measure wave height, conduct simple water clarity observations, and submit data to researchers.

This effort aligns closely with Upper Saranac Foundations designation as a Loon Friendly Lake, recognizing ongoing community stewardship and conservation efforts to protect loons and aquatic habitat. Through collaboration with ACLC, the Upper Saranac Foundation continues to support loon monitoring, research, education, and watershed stewardship initiatives throughout the region.

Interested in participating? Register for the free training here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/dQMyE51lSyuegGNHCyN8bQ

05/20/2026

05/15/2026

Michele Curry argues that New York needs an institutionalized system for water quality protection from aquatic invasive species.

05/14/2026

The Upper Saranac Foundation (USF) is pleased to announce that we have been awarded a grant of $11,815 through the Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program to support Strengthening Organizational Capacity Through CRM Modernization.

This award will fund the acquisition and implementation of an integrated, cloud-based Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) system designed to enhance organizational effectiveness by modernizing our data infrastructure in support of watershed protection.

By improving how we manage information and engagement, this investment will allow USF to better track relationships with supporters, strengthen donor stewardship, improve communications, and enhance our ability to share timely science-based information related to water quality and ecosystem health. Ultimately, this improved capacity will support more effective stewardship of the Upper Saranac watershed.

Strong organizational systems are essential to sustaining long-term environmental protection efforts. With enhanced tools to support collaboration, outreach, and strategic decision-making, USF will be better positioned to advance its mission of protecting the water quality, natural beauty, and ecological integrity of Upper Saranac Lake and its surrounding watershed.

We are grateful to the Lake Champlain Basin Program for recognizing the importance of capacity-building investments that help local watershed organizations operate more effectively and sustainably.

We look forward to sharing updates as implementation moves forward and appreciate the continued support of our community, partners, and donors who make this work possible.

05/14/2026

It was inspiring to see so many passionate lake and water quality advocates gathered at the New York State Federation of Lake Associations Annual Conference, Shared Lakes: Shared Responsibilities, held this past week in Lake George.

Guy Middleton, Executive Director of the Upper Saranac Foundation, co-presented alongside Scott Ireland, Executive Director of the Adirondack Lakes Alliance, on the topic of wake sports and their impacts on lake health.

The presentation explored the design and operation of wake boats, the environmental concerns associated with wake-enhanced recreation, current and potential impacts on lake ecosystems, and strategies communities can pursue through education, policy, and stewardship. The Upper Saranac Foundation’s education and outreach efforts were highlighted as a model for other lake associations working to protect water quality and preserve the character of their lakes.

It was especially meaningful to collaborate with so many valued partners, including the Adirondack Watershed Institute, Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation, Adirondack Council, and Protect the Adirondacks.

We are grateful for the opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and strengthen our collective voice in support of healthy lakes and resilient ecosystems throughout the Adirondacks and beyond.
We look forward to continuing this important work together.

05/08/2026

Tributaries of Upper Saranac Lake

05/06/2026

Real-Time Environmental Data from Upper Saranac Lake

The Upper Saranac Environmental Monitoring Platform is back in the water and once again delivering near real-time meteorological and water quality data to the public—offering a continuous view of changing lake conditions. The platform has transformed how Upper Saranac Lake is observed, capturing high-frequency information on its physical, chemical, biological, and meteorological characteristics.

Moored in 90 feet of water in the lake’s South Basin, the platform builds on a long-standing monitoring program in the Adirondacks, enhancing both the precision and accessibility of data collection. From temperature and weather conditions to key water quality indicators, the system provides a steady stream of information that supports ongoing research and informed lake management.

This platform is one component of a broader, long-term monitoring effort. In collaboration with the Adirondack Watershed Institute at Paul Smith’s College, the Upper Saranac Foundation continues to track water quality trends through a dataset spanning more than 30 years. This work is complemented by stream monitoring throughout the watershed, helping to identify nutrient and pollutant inputs before they reach the lake and providing critical insight into how land use and runoff influence water quality.

That record highlights both progress and emerging challenges. Encouragingly, key indicators of eutrophication—particularly total phosphorus—have declined over time, and overall lake productivity is now relatively stable. These improvements are attributed in part to reductions in phosphorus discharge from the NYS Fish Hatchery.

At the same time, water clarity has decreased despite stable productivity, suggesting that other factors—such as recovery from acidification—are influencing lake conditions. The lake has become less acidic over time, and its buffering capacity has improved, signaling continued recovery from historic acid deposition.

Salinization, however, remains an increasing concern. Salt concentrations continue to rise as road salt accumulates in the watershed and enters the lake through runoff and groundwater. In some areas, levels now exceed thresholds harmful to aquatic life, with potential implications for nearby drinking water wells.

By pairing real-time lake monitoring with tributary stream data and decades of long-term records, the Upper Saranac water quality monitoring strengthens our ability to understand change, respond to emerging threats, and guide science-based stewardship.

Explore the live data and learn more on our website.
https://adkwatershed.shinyapps.io/UpperSaranacLake/