PAUL SMITHS — The Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute is recruiting landowners with streamside property to participate in Stream Wise, a new voluntary program that promotes and recognizes good stream stewardship.

AWI received funding from the Lake Champlain Basin Program to serve as a local Stream Wise host organization for the region. In this role AWI works closely with landowners in the Saranac River watershed providing free stream assessments, resources and technical assistance for property owners to help protect and restore healthy waterways.

“Healthy rivers and streams provide habitat for fish and wildlife, support clean water, offer protection against floods, and are a source of relaxation and recreation,” said Tom Collins, AWI’s education and outreach manager and Stream Wise coordinator. “Landowners who participate in Stream Wise get access to a variety of useful practices related to stream health including planting native vegetation and pollinator species, recommendations for invasive species management, creating buffers and more.”

AWI will is offering free Stream Wise assessments in the Saranac River watershed which includes portions of the towns of Santa Clara, Harrietstown, North Elba, St. Armand, Brighton, Franklin, Black Brook, Saranac, Beekmantown, Dannemora and Plattsburgh.

The Stream Wise Assessment Protocol for properties on streams and rivers is based on research conducted on riparian buffer programs, regulations and guidelines for Vermont, New York and Quebec under a grant sponsored by the Lake Champlain Basin Program.

For more information, visit https://streamwisechamplain.org.