About The Adirondack Watershed Institute
The Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI) is a program of Paul Smith’s College (PSC) that began in 1989 as the Adirondack Aquatic Institute, a local water quality monitoring program. In 1999, the program expanded to include invasive species management, and in 2000, the College launched the Watershed Stewardship Program as a separate initiative focused on invasive species prevention. Both programs grew rapidly and, in 2002, Paul Smith’s College recognized the value of uniting their efforts. The two initiatives merged to form the Adirondack Watershed Institute, which has since evolved into a leading regional voice for clean water, healthy ecosystems, and thriving communities.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Adirondack Watershed Institute is to protect clean water, conserve habitat, and support the health and well-being of people in the Adirondacks through scientific inquiry, stewardship, and real-world experiences for students.
Vision Statement
Our vision is that the lakes, rivers, and forest of the Adirondacks support clean water, healthy ecosystems, and vibrant communities whose citizens are inspired and empowered to protect the natural environment.
Adirondack Park
With globally unique wetlands, thousands of lakes and ponds, and over 30,000 miles of rivers and streams, the waters of the Adirondack Park are extensive and diverse and provide a range of ecosystem services for both residents and visitors. There are multiple justifications for focusing resources on saving and protecting this special place from the environmental and socioeconomic threats to our aquatic resources. The justification is most clear from a socioeconomic perspective, as the Adirondack Park's aquatic resources help form the backbone of the regional economy. Visitors expend over $1.2 billion dollars annually and tourism provides employment for over 26,000 residents. Clean and abundant water is a main ingredient of the tourism package that attracts visitors to the Adirondack Park, as over 85 percent of visitors' desire waterside lodging and approximately 70 percent want to swim, fish, or boat while visiting the Adirondacks. The Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute conducts work focused largely on conserving and protecting aquatic resources and thus AWI plays a critical role in protecting the environmental and socioeconomic vitality of the Adirondack region.