Sunset over Upper Saranac Lake (Provided photo — Guy Middleton)

PAUL SMITHS — The second of three public meetings for the Upper Saranac watershed management planning effort is scheduled for Thursday, May 6 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The meeting is hosted by the Upper Saranac Foundation and the Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute. The groups will present preliminary goals for the watershed plan and will facilitate discussions about the recommendations and the future of the watershed. The groups administered a public survey in summer 2020 and held the first public meeting this February.

The Upper Saranac Management Plan builds on decades of monitoring and management activities on the lake and throughout the watershed. USF was awarded a $68,000 grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to develop the plan and has contracted with AWI to assist. The resulting document will define community priorities related to watershed resources and establish the framework for future state funding grant proposals.

“The success of the plan depends on the input from the public,” said Guy Middleton, USF lake manager. “Anyone interested in the future of the Upper Saranac watershed — which includes Lake Clear, Hoel Pond, a portion of the St. Regis Canoe Area, Fish Creek Ponds and Upper Saranac Lake — should join these public meetings.”

“The plan is a guiding document to help protect the quality of the waterways and the future of the watershed,” said Dan Kelting, executive director of AWI. “We want the plan to reflect the concerns of the people who live here and who visit the waterways and lands in the watershed.”

The public meeting will take place online using Zoom. All members of the community who are interested in joining the public information session should register in advance at www.adkwatershed.org/upper-saranac-meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing a link to join the meeting and the list of preliminary goals. Anyone interested in providing input but who cannot make the meeting should email AWI Project Coordinator Zoe Smith at zsmith1@paulsmiths.edu to receive meeting materials.