Did you know that the Village of Saranac Lake partnered with NYSERDA to convert traditional streetlights to energy efficient LED technology? By replacing the conventional streetlights with LED lights, street light energy can be reduced by as much as 65%, generating cost savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

This is a great local example of how small acts of stewardship can provide considerable changes in protecting our resources.

Stewardship is the act of taking care of something that belongs to someone else or the community. The act shows respect, responsibility and gratitude to the land and water that sustain us, and to oneself, friends, family, neighbors and beyond. Stewardship recognizes the interconnectedness of our actions and the impact they have on the community and world. It is also important to acknowledge that not everyone has the resources to enact significant changes, however small acts matter and make a difference. Here are some small acts you can do to be a steward in your community.

Small Acts

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: The energy saved by recycling a glass bottle is equivalent to using a 100 watt bulb for 4 hours.

• Conserve water: A quarter inch of rainfall onto a roof of a single family home can fill three 50-gallon rain barrels.

• Plant native trees and vegetation: Plants help prevent erosion, improve water quality and provide habitat. Planting a single tree will live for decades and provide seeds for a forest.

• Educate and advocate: Learn about environmental issues in your community and speak with your family and neighbors.

• Prevent the spread of invasive species: Brush your boots off before and after a walk. Clean, drain and dry your watercraft.

• Practice responsible recreation: When recreating outdoors, follow leave no trace practices and dispose of your waste properly, stay on designated trails, and leave what you find.

As we start a new year, consider small acts that you can perform to steward our lands & waters for today and tomorrow’s generation. Consider being a steward for your community by becoming a watercraft inspection steward with us! We hire over 100 stewards every summer to help keep Adirondack waters clean from aquatic invasive species.