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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.

Feb
26
2020
Remembering Randy
It was the threat to water quality that really got Preston hooked on the salt issue, Scozzafava said. To Preston, the Ausable River was Wilmington's lifeblood.
Road Salt
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Feb
24
2020
Road Salt Science Is Clear, Time To Take Action
Road salt pollution is a problem we created in our own backyard; it is up to us to address it. Unlike many other environmental problems, we aren't dependent on the federal government or international partners to implement solutions.
Road Salt
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Feb
20
2020
Best Snowshoe Hikes Near Lake Placid
In the winter months, Lake Placid is transformed into a snow sports playground. Snowshoeing is one of the more popular and easily accessible ways to experience the outdoors this time of year. Here are our picks for the five top snowshoe hikes in the Lake Placid area, all of which are free, open to the public, and less than a 10-minute drive from Main Street.
Recreation
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Feb
06
2020
How Do Fish Survive Winter in Rivers and Streams?
To survive through a northern winter in a frozen stream or lake, trout metabolism decreases, enabling them to survive longer between meals. Trout and other stream fish move to areas of better winter habitat, including deep pools and areas with stable ice conditions and slow currents.
Brook Trout
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Jan
09
2020
Adirondack Lake Ice Safety
As a general rule of thumb, ice is safe to walk on when there is 4 inches or more of clear ice. It is important to understand that different types of ice varying in their strength.
Recreation
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Dec
05
2019
How is AsRA engaging youth?
Continued private and grant-funded support of the Ausable River Association allows us to continue to protect the clean water, healthy streams, and diverse habitats of the Ausable watershed by ensuring we can inspire responsible stewardship in our communities and among visitors – kids and adults – through a variety of educational programs.
Stewardship
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Sep
26
2019
Seedlings for Healthy Streams
AsRA is planting trees and monitoring their growth for riparian restoration. Read more about our work with local botanist Steve Langdon as we plan for the success of future river restoration projects on the Ausable River.
Restoration
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Sep
12
2019
2018 Annual Report Summary
Read a recap of AsRA's work and accomplishments in 2018.
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Aug
08
2019
Connectivity for Stream Health
How do we ensure the health of wild streams? Restoring connectivity by replacing or retrofitting undersized, collapsing, or deteriorated road crossings is one essential step. The 4-sided concrete structure in the "before" photo below is slightly...
Restoration
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Jul
31
2019
What causes parallel lines of bubbles to form on lakes?
Langmuir circulation, or Langmuir spirals, causes horizontal lines of bubbles or foam to form on the surface of lakes. Under the right wind conditions, the combination of wave action and shear stress causes spiraling horizontal currents to form near the lake surface. Adjacent cells rotate counter to one another, creating alternating areas of upwelling and downwelling. Air bubbles and other debris get caught in the downwelling areas, forming long lines that run parallel to the direction of the prevailing winds.
Limnology
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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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