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A Look Under The Ice

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.

Jul
02
2020
Duke's Divide: The Historic Battle at Trickle Falls
In the early 1980's a battle to change the course of history took place at the Headwaters of the Hudson and Ausable Rivers. In the Adirondack High Peaks Wilderness Area, at a place known as Avalanche Pass, two trail crews toiled, affecting the historic sources of the two great rivers and causing great concern with the hikers visiting there.
Stewardship
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Jun
18
2020
Where in the Watershed is the River Steward?
The 2020 Ausable River Association River Steward program looks slightly different compared to past years, but much has stayed the same.
Stewardship
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May
28
2020
For the Birds: Riparian Birdlife along the Ausable
The riparian zone is the strip of land bordering a stream or river. The ecological communities in this zone are critical in many ways to the health of the river itself by providing flood control, nutrient cycling, erosion control, buffering of runoff (from roads, pastures, croplands, forestry, and urbanization), wildlife habitat, and so much more.
Ecology
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May
21
2020
Impact of Climate Change on Lakes: Ice Cover and Stratification
Climate change is having a variety of impacts on lakes across the world. This article is the first part in a series that will explore the various ways lakes are altered by climate change and what that means for the lakes we all know and love.
Limnology
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May
13
2020
Why Do Streams Meander?
Streams meander to maintain equilibrium – a dynamically stable form and function.
Geomorphology
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Apr
30
2020
Mirror Lake Turns Over This Spring, First Time Since 2016
Spring is an intense period for our water quality monitoring efforts, particularly on Mirror Lake. It's an essential time of year for lakes because it is one of two periods when they turnover, or mix, each year. You may have heard of the term "turnover"...
Road Salt
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Apr
16
2020
When a River Floods, Fish Shelter In Place
As snows melt and April showers fall down across the landscape, streams and rivers rise to flood stage. What about the fish?
Brook Trout
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Apr
01
2020
Whitewater paddling the Ausable watershed
Whitewater paddling is not for everyone. To enjoy it safely you need hours of proper training, a variety of specialized equipment, and a group of experienced people with whom to paddle. Those who have made the investment, however, have something to look forward to during mud season.
Recreation
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Mar
18
2020
Take a Deep Breath, Now, Thank the Diatoms
A group of single-celled organisms ubiquitous in freshwater lakes, streams, rivers, as well as marine environments is responsible for 20-50% of the oxygen you breathe.
Ecology
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Mar
05
2020
Why Do Rivers Flood?
When rain falls somewhere in a watershed, an amazing amount of water moves downhill. More than half of it is retained by soils to be used by plants or it seeps into groundwater storage, where some of it will recharge streams. The rest moves into a series of small then increasingly larger stream channels. Flooding occurs when the flow of water in a stream increases to the point of filling the channel and overtopping its banks. But there's more to it than that.
Ecology
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Our mission — is to help communities protect our streams and lakes.
Threats
Threats
The Ausable River is a river on the edge.
Programs
Programs
AsRA is working hard to protect the Ausable River.
Explore
Explore
Explore the recreational resources of the Ausable.
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