• 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!

    Apply

  • Boat Wash Stations

    Boat wash stations are open May 24th-September 1st. To find up to date information on locations and hours, visit the link below.

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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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  • 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.

    Donate

  • 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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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.

Stitching Water’s Story with Fiber Art

Learn more about Wool and Water, from the TEDx stage!

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Publications

Learn more about our work in science and stewardship.

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Community Engagement

Would you like one our team members to speak or attend your event? Please fill out the form below.

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Upcoming Events

Help us protect and preserve these waters for future generations.

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Blog Posts

Water Column
Harmful Algal Blooms 101
Harmful Algal Blooms 101

Harmful Algal Blooms in the Adirondacks typically develop under sunny, warm weather conditions with low wind activity. Warm temperatures and sunlight increase growth rates, and calm conditions allow the cyanobacteria to rise and congregate at the surface without being mixed into the water column by wind and wave energy. When these factors combine with sufficient nutrient levels, they create the perfect environment for blooms to occur.

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Nitrogen in Our Watersheds
Nitrogen in Our Watersheds

In the Adirondacks, nitrogen has historically entered Adirondack lakes and ponds through acid deposition, otherwise known as acid rain. Acid rain primarily occurred when large scale industry in the midwestern United States released excessive amounts of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) as a byproduct of production.

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What is a Secchi Disk?
What is a Secchi Disk?

If you’re familiar with oceanography or limnology, perhaps you’ve heard of a Secchi Disk. Otherwise you’re probably imagining something like a CD or frisbee, and you wouldn’t be too far off. A Secchi is a flat, weighted, disk like instrument, lowered on a tether to measure light penetration and transparency, a proxy for turbidity, in bodies of water.

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Adirondack Lake Ice Observation Network
Adirondack Lake Ice Observation Network

Lake ice is essential to Adirondack culture. On any given day when lakes are frozen over, you can see anglers, ice skaters, snow mobilers, and more covering the frozen lakes. It is also hard to imagine having winter without the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival. None of this is possible without lake ice.

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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?