Adirondack Lake Assessment Program: 2023 Report

Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute

Mikala L'Hote, Michale Glennon, Joline Hall, Sara Kelly, Chelsea Smith, Lija Treibergs, Connor Vara, Elizabeth Yerger, and Brendan Wiltse

The Adirondack Lake Assessment Program (ALAP) is a research and monitoring collaboration between scientists and volunteers. Collaborations such as ALAP expand opportunities for scientific data collection and provide citizens with the benefit of knowing they helped advance the understanding of Adirondack lakes. ALAP is a cooperative effort between Protect the Adirondacks (PROTECT) and the Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI). The objectives of ALAP are to: (1) develop a long-term water quality database for Adirondack lakes and document historical trends in their limnological condition, (2) provide a repository for water quality data that multiple stakeholders can use to make informed decisions, and (3) engender lake stewardship by providing opportunities for citizens to participate in scientific monitoring. This report provides readers with background information on lake science, a regional analysis of the current water quality characteristics of Adirondack lakes, and a synthesis of current and historical water quality data for each of the participating lakes.