Assemblyman Jones Sponsors Adirondack Water Week in New York State, highlighting effort of the Adirondack Watershed Institute and Paul Smith’s College

Paul Smiths, NY – New York State Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateauguay Lake) sponsors a resolution in the New York State Assembly to honor the first week in August as Adirondack Water Week.

This week celebrates the valuable contributions of Adirondack communities in safeguarding their waterways. “I was proud to sponsor a Resolution in the New York State Assembly in honor of Adirondack Water Week,” said Assemblyman Jones. “The Adirondack region is home to so many beautiful and pristine waterways that not only help sustain life in our region but are also enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. This week is about celebrating our waterways and all that they provide us from drinking water to recreation and I look forward to celebrating this important week with the North Country community.”

Adirondack Water Week is a collaboration involving several partner organizations and businesses and features more than a dozen public programs across the region. This year’s Water Week is generously supported by the Lake Champlain Basin Program and Explore Adirondack Frontier and is coordinated by the Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute. The 2023 Adirondack Water Week kicks off on Friday, August 4 and runs through Sunday, August 13 this year.

“We are grateful to Assemblyman Billy Jones who spearheaded the resolution and Governor Hochul for recognizing of the importance of Adirondack waters,” said Zoë Smith, the Executive Director of the Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI).

“The people in the Adirondacks put a tremendous amount of hard work into protecting their lakes, ponds, rivers and streams,” said Tom Collins, organizer of Water Week and Education and Outreach Manager for the Adirondack Watershed Institute. “We are dedicating this year’s Water Week to these community partners, we can’t do this work alone.”

On Thursday, August 10, AWI is inviting the public to join them at their annual Sips and Science at the Hotel Saranac from 6-8pm.  The Adirondack Watershed Award will be presented to a community organization in recognition of its outstanding efforts to care for their lakes and ponds. The event is free, and guests can enjoy light hors d’oeuvres provided. Water-themed cocktails will be available to purchase.

Other events planned include an Eco-Arts Festival at View Arts Center in Old Forge, several guided canoe paddling trips throughout the week, an invasive plant pull along the Ausable River, the annual week-long Maintain the Chain event on the Fulton Chain of Lakes, the annual Adirondack Lakes Alliance Symposium at Paul Smith’s College, and a discussion about the threat of harmful algal blooms by AWI scientist, Brendan Wiltse, Ph. D., at Northwood School’s Hub in Lake Placid on Tuesday, August 8.

All events are open to the general public and a full schedule can be found on the Water Week calendar at adkwatershed.org/adirondack-water-week.

During Water Week, the public is encouraged to embark on their own explorations. After their adventures, individuals can use #adirondackwaterweek on social media for a chance to win a self-guided paddling trip on Lower Saranac Lake, generously provided by Adirondack Lakes and Trails Outfitters.

The mission of the Adirondack Watershed Institute is to protect clean water, conserve habitat, and support the health and well-being of the people in the Adirondacks through scientific inquiry, stewardship, and real-world experiences, adkwatershed.org.

At Paul Smith’s College, it’s about the experience. As the only four-year institution of higher education located in the Adirondack Park in upstate New York, Paul Smith’s provides real-world, hands-on learning in fields such as business and hospitality, culinary management, forestry, environmental sciences and natural resources. We are able to draw on industries and resources available in our own backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. Our community of resourceful, enterprising, supportive and adventurous individuals collectively provide experiential education, student support in the classroom and beyond, and meaningful opportunities for our alumni. We pride ourselves on research and advocacy on issues that improve our planet and the lives of the people who inhabit it. Learn more at paulsmiths.edu »