The Upper Saranac Foundation (USF) is expected to 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 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,” USF Lake Manager Guy Middleton said in an announcement sent to the press. “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 additional grants.”

The DEC Invasive Species Grant Program is funded by the state’s Environmental Protection Fund. The full press release listing this year’s recipients is available online.

The Upper Saranac Foundation is a nonprofit 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 water quality. The Foundation is funded through tax-deductible donations. Activities include Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) prevention and management, lake dam maintenance, monitoring water quality and promoting environmental awareness.

More information is available online, or by emailing Guy Middleton at lakemanager@usfoundation.net.