• Hiring for Summer 2025

    Do you, or someone you know, have a passion for the Adirondacks, protecting natural resources, or spending time outdoors? We're hiring over 100 seasonal Watercraft Inspection Stewards to prevent the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). Join our team and make a difference!

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  • Paul Smith's College

    AWI is a program of Paul Smith's College, the only four-year college located within the Adirondack Park. To explore the college’s programs and offerings, visit the official Paul Smith's College website.

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  • Support the HAB Lab!

    We have recently launched a campaign to study and respond to harmful algal blooms in Adirondack lakes. We are seeking support from our friends like you to raise $225,000 this year to support the AWI’s HAB Lab.

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  • Adirondack Climate Outreach & Resilience Network (ACORN)

    ACORN’s mission is to work together to identify community-driven solutions that ensure our rural region is proactive in responding to the changing climate. We identify shared projects with the goal of bringing state, federal, and foundation funding to the region to make solutions accessible to everyone.

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AWI’s Mission is to protect clean water, conserve habitat and support the health and well-being of people in the Adirondacks through scientific inquiry, stewardship and real world experiences for students.

Wool and Water

A collaborative project that blends fiber art with scientific information.

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Publications

Learn more about the work of our science team.

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2023 Annual Report

Review our 2023 Annual Report and other publications.

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Upcoming Events

Help us protect and preserve these waters for future generations.

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Blog Posts

Water Column
What are the costs of invasive species to properties?
What are the costs of invasive species to properties?

Preventing the spread of invasive species may seem like a moral and ethical requirement for some lake users. However, the financial benefits make it not only the right thing to do, but also the least expensive. It costs a lot less to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species than it does to manage them once they’re established.

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What happens to fish in the winter? 
What happens to fish in the winter? 

Fish inhabit Adirondack lakes and ponds year-round, with some of the best fishing opportunities occurring during the winter months. To understand fish behavior in winter, we must first consider the water conditions. 

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Shoo, Black Fly, Don’t Bother Me!
Shoo, Black Fly, Don’t Bother Me!

If you have spent a summer in the northeast, you are familiar with the black fly. The dreaded black fly season is noted as the “official” start of the summer in the Adirondacks. These gnat-like insects first emerge around Mother’s Day, and (hopefully) dwindle down around Father’s day.

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Puddle Jumpers #4 - Kevin Kennedy
Puddle Jumpers #4 - Kevin Kennedy

Join us for the 4th episode of Puddle Jumpers, where we celebrate Kevin Kennedy’s 10th year working with AWI in our stewardship program.

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View fullsize We're Hiring for Summer 2025! Snow may be flying, but it's never too early to plan for summer—at least in our book! Do you, or someone you know, love the Adirondacks, enjoy working outdoors, and want to make a difference protecting our waters
View fullsize Join ACORN for a listening session in Potsdam on Thursday, December 5th from 2:00-5:30PM at the Clarkson University Cheel Campus Center Barben rooms (2nd floor). During this session, community members are encouraged to brainstorm and identify key nee
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View fullsize Join Paul Smith’s College and partners at The Wild Center and Adirondack Research Consortium, for a climate listening session at the Whallonsburg Grange this Thursday, November 14th from 2:00-4:30PM. The listening session is designed to gather
View fullsize Today is National STEM Day! At Paul Smith's College, we believe every day is an opportunity to celebrate and promote STEM learning. Today, however, we want to take a moment to highlight the initiatives AWI undertakes to build a scientifically literat
View fullsize For some, seeing snow on the ground stirs excitement for winter. For others, it’s a reminder of the long season ahead. For our team, it’s also a transitional time for Adirondack waters. As fall turns to winter, changes are present in our
View fullsize What happens to fish in the winter? The short answer: they stay put! For the full story on how fish survive the cold months, check out our latest blog post via the link in our bio. #adirondacks #fish #science #watershed #paulsmithscollege
View fullsize Happy Halloween! Each October, our office has a tradition of dressing up as Adirondack lakes for our team meeting. Can you guess which lakes we’re representing this year?