SARANAC LAKE — A grant awarded to the Upper Saranac Foundation (USF) will support the management and removal of aquatic invasive species (AIS) throughout the Upper Saranac Watershed and beyond.
The USF received $22,354 in funding from the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission this year to help replace and upgrade aging equipment in its fleet of motorboats.
“Our dive teams and lake monitors work hard to keep our waterways clean and invasive-free,” USF Lake Manager Guy Middleton said.
“We spend a lot of time on the water every summer, which eventually puts a strain on the boats and equipment we use to remove invasives like Eurasian watermilfoil.”
“Dependable boats, engines and diver equipment allows us to effectively complete tasks to manage AIS and provide ongoing successful harvesting services,” Middleton added.
“The equipment purchases made possible through this grant will help further prevent the spread of aquatic invasives, maintain healthy ecosystems and provide economic value through recreation and tourism.”
The USF first initiated its AIS management program in 2004. Since then, over 20 tons of Eurasian watermilfoil has been harvested from the 5,200-acre Upper Saranac Lake, reducing milfoil from a predominant plant to a rare species. The Foundation’s management program has now grown to include work on nearby waters including Follensby Clear and Fish Creek ponds, and the dive team also contracts with other Adirondack lake associations to assist in AIS management.
For more information on the Upper Saranac Foundation and AIS control, contact Guy Middleton at lakemanager@usfoundation.net or visit usfoundation.net.
About the Upper Saranac Foundation
The Upper Saranac Foundation is a nonprofit, science-guided organization seeking to preserve, enhance and protect the natural beauty, environmental quality and recreational enjoyment of the Upper Saranac Lake watershed through selective support of projects related to overall water quality.
The Foundation is funded through tax-deductible donations. Activities include aquatic invasive species prevention and management, lake dam maintenance, monitoring water quality and promoting environmental awareness. For more information, email Guy Middleton at lakemanager@usfoundation.net or visit usfoundation.net.