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A Look Under The Ice

Watershed Stories

Keep up with the work of Ausable Freshwater Center (AFC) staff. These stories share information about our stewardship and monitoring work, natural stream restoration, and culvert replacement techniques by highlighting specific projects in the Ausable and Boquet River watersheds of northern New York. They also give you fun facts about the plants and wildlife that live in these watersheds, as well as tips for enjoying responsible, low-impact recreational opportunities.

Jan
04
2024
Thin Ice
If it feels as though the ice in period has grown later over the years, that is because it has. There has been a significant change in the ice on date over the 120-year period of record.
Climate Change
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Nov
29
2023
A Buckthorn In My Side
As we were out conducting Stream Wise assessments for private landowners around the watershed and other field work this year, Ausable River Association staff continuously found three concerning invasive species: buckthorn, honeysuckle, and barberry. Our...
Invasives
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Nov
16
2023
Project Area 2 Is Complete!
After rain and flooding delays in July and August, the construction phase of our work at Project Area 2 (PA2) in Upper Jay on the East Branch Ausable River was completed on November 8. The project addressed nearly 3,000 linear feet of river channel with a toe wood bench along the entire length of the right bank (looking downstream) and seven channel-spanning rock enhancements. Project goals were to reduce the formation of ice jams and alleviate flooding impacts in the Town of Jay. The work provided additional benefits: increased buffers along State Route 9N to absorb floods and ice and increased aquatic and riparian habitat.
Restoration
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Nov
08
2023
That's A Wrap!
We recently wrapped up the fifth year of our watershed tours and wanted to take the time to reflect on another successful year of this program.
Recreation
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Oct
24
2023
What is a lichen?
Lichens can be found almost anywhere. You've probably seen them without even noticing. They grow on a variety of surfaces, from rocks to insects. Lichen is classified as part of the fungal kingdom. But lichens are so much more than any simple category or assumption. They are as unassuming as they are fascinating, easy to overlook or mistake for moss or algae. They are not truly a single entity, but the symbiosis of lichenized fungi and green algae or cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). 
Ecology
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Sep
19
2023
Work Continues at Project Area 2 in Upper Jay
After some early delays due to rain and subsequent high water in the river, we have made considerable progress on Project Area 2 (PA2) in Upper Jay.
Restoration
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Sep
19
2023
Japanese Barberry and Bush Honeysuckles: A Link to Ticks and Best Management Practices
While out looking at riparian buffers on private lands this season, our science staff have been finding an awful lot of invasive shrubs in the understory during our Stream Wise surveys this season. As part of the Stream Wise program, we provide free...
Invasives
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Sep
13
2023
When the River is the School
Over the past year, Ausable River Association staff have partnered with Lake Champlain Sea Grant (LCSG), the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum (LCMM), and the Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI) to bring watershed education programs to 5th and 6th graders...
Stewardship
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Sep
05
2023
What is a Buffer? DIY Stream Stewardship
One of the biggest influences on the health of a stream or river is the vegetation on its banks. The strip of vegetation along a waterbody is called a riparian (meaning streamside) buffer. Buffers play numerous important roles for the river, wildlife,...
Stewardship
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Aug
30
2023
Japanese Barberry and Bush Honeysuckles: Invasive Threats to Adirondack Biodiversity
The Adirondacks are an incredibly biodiverse and rich patch of nature in the United States. At 6 million acres, it is the largest protected forest in the state of New York and the whole country (apa.ny.gov). Many people, from state agencies to non-...
Invasives
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Our mission — is to help communities protect our streams and lakes.
Threats
Threats
The Ausable River is a river on the edge.
Programs
Programs
AsRA is working hard to protect the Ausable River.
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Explore
Explore the recreational resources of the Ausable.
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