Watershed Stories

Keep up with the work of Ausable Freshwater Center (AFC) staff. These stories share information about our stewardship and monitoring work, natural stream restoration, and culvert replacement techniques by highlighting specific projects in the Ausable and Boquet River watersheds of northern New York. They also give you fun facts about the plants and wildlife that live in these watersheds, as well as tips for enjoying responsible, low-impact recreational opportunities.

Apr

2024

Why Wood is Good for Streams

Wood is essential to the health, structure, and biodiversity of streams in our region.

Restoration

Apr

2024

From Seeds to Streams- AsRA Launches Ausable Conservation Nursery

A view of the Uihlein Foundation’s greenhouse and future site of the ACN high tunnel.The Ausable River Association is excited to announce the launch of its newest program, the Ausable Conservation Nursery. Located on land owned by the Henry Uihlein...

Restoration

Mar

2024

A Walk Around Mirror Lake

One of my favorite walks when I want to get outside but not into the woods is the 2.5-mile loop around Mirror Lake. The path is paved and well maintained, making it a great option for poor weather days and mud season. I've walked this loop dozens of...

Limnology

Feb

2024

Cold Weather Control: Knock these Invasive Plants Out this Winter!

If you're familiar with our blogs, you're probably aware of invasive species and the risks they pose to our ecosystems. These non-native plants and animals overtake niches occupied by native species and, if they are allowed to proliferate, ultimately...

Invasives

Jan

2024

Fun with Geomorphology: What Is Stream Order?

Stream order is used in hydrology and geomorphology to classify the hierarchy of a river's tributary network. Segments of streams are given a numerical value that increases as more tributaries converge downstream to create larger streams and rivers. Stream order is related to many of the natural characteristics that we observe within the Ausable watershed and across the region.

Geomorphology

Jan

2024

How Do Ice Jams Form?

Ice jams form when the amount of ice moving in the river exceeds the river channel's transport capacity – its ability to move materials downstream. The process begins when cold winters create thick bank to bank ice on streams. Bank spanning surface ice...

Ecology

Jan

2024

Thin Ice

If it feels as though the ice in period has grown later over the years, that is because it has. There has been a significant change in the ice on date over the 120-year period of record.

Climate Change

Nov

2023

A Buckthorn In My Side

As we were out conducting Stream Wise assessments for private landowners around the watershed and other field work this year, Ausable River Association staff continuously found three concerning invasive species: buckthorn, honeysuckle, and barberry. Our...

Invasives

Nov

2023

Project Area 2 Is Complete!

After rain and flooding delays in July and August, the construction phase of our work at Project Area 2 (PA2) in Upper Jay on the East Branch Ausable River was completed on November 8. The project addressed nearly 3,000 linear feet of river channel with a toe wood bench along the entire length of the right bank (looking downstream) and seven channel-spanning rock enhancements. Project goals were to reduce the formation of ice jams and alleviate flooding impacts in the Town of Jay. The work provided additional benefits: increased buffers along State Route 9N to absorb floods and ice and increased aquatic and riparian habitat.

Restoration

Nov

2023

That's A Wrap!