New York State Invests $1 Million in Adirondack Watershed Institute Laboratory Expansion
Funding will expand testing capacity, strengthen watershed science, and support student learning opportunities
June 24, 2026, NYS Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Assembly Member Michael Cashman following a tour of the Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI) at the Paolozzi Center holding two AWI t-shirts.
Original Paul Smith’s College press release here
PAUL SMITHS, N.Y. — New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Assemblymember Michael Cashman visited Paul Smith’s College on Tuesday to tour the Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI) and announce $1 million in state funding to expand the institute’s water quality testing capacity.
The funding will support the purchase of new laboratory equipment and infrastructure upgrades that will increase AWI’s ability to process water samples, respond to emerging environmental challenges, and provide scientific data that supports watershed protection efforts across the Adirondack region and beyond.
During their visit, Heastie and Cashman met with College and AWI leadership for an overview of the institute’s work, toured AWI’s state-certified laboratory, and observed a demonstration of a watercraft decontamination station used to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
AWI is a nationally recognized leader in watershed science and stewardship. It operates the only New York State Department of Health-certified environmental laboratory within the Adirondack Park, maintains one of the state’s largest long-term freshwater monitoring programs, and works with lake associations, local governments, state agencies, and community volunteers to protect water resources across the region. AWI also serves as a living laboratory for Paul Smith’s College students, preparing them for careers in environmental science and natural resource management through direct participation in field research, laboratory analysis, and stewardship work.
“We are deeply grateful to Speaker Heastie, Assemblymember Cashman, and our partners in New York State for this investment in the Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute,” said Paul Smith’s College President Daniel Kelting. “This support will help modernize critical research infrastructure, expand our capacity to protect New York’s watersheds, and strengthen our role as a hub for environmental science and workforce development in the Adirondacks.”
The new equipment will help AWI meet growing demand for water quality monitoring and analysis as communities face challenges including harmful algal blooms, road salt contamination, and the impacts of a changing climate. The investment will also support student learning opportunities and strengthen the College’s role as a center for applied environmental research.
“This investment will strengthen our ability to deliver the science, monitoring, and technical expertise that communities across the Adirondacks rely on,” said Maureen Cunningham, Executive Director of the Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute. “By modernizing our laboratory and research infrastructure, we can expand our capacity to address emerging water quality challenges, preserve one of the region’s most important long-term environmental datasets, and provide the information needed to protect the watersheds that support communities and ecosystems across New York.”
As the only four-year college located within the Adirondack Park, Paul Smith’s College combines hands-on education with applied research that addresses real-world challenges facing the region. Investments in the Adirondack Watershed Institute strengthen both the College’s educational mission and its ability to serve communities throughout northern New York through science, stewardship, and workforce development.
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About Paul Smith’s College
At Paul Smith’s College, it’s about the experience. As the only four-year college located in the Adirondack Park in upstate New York, Paul Smith’s provides real-world, hands-on learning in fields such as business and hospitality, culinary management, forestry, environmental sciences and natural resources. We are able to draw on industries and resources available in our own backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. Our community of resourceful, enterprising, supportive and adventurous individuals collectively provide experiential education, student support in the classroom and beyond and meaningful opportunities for our alumni. We pride ourselves on research and advocacy on issues that improve our planet and the lives of the people who inhabit it. Learn more at paulsmiths.edu.
The mission of the Adirondack Watershed Institute is to protect clean water, conserve habitat, and support the health and well-being of the people in the Adirondacks through scientific inquiry, stewardship, and real-world experiences. Learn more at: www.adkwatershed.org
Media Contact
Ben Brosseau, Director of Communications
bbrosseau2@paulsmiths.edu