Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation

Programs: The adirondack lakes survey corporation (alsc) was established in 1983 to undertake comprehensive biological and chemical surveys of adirondack waters, to study the water quality and the effects of acid rain, and to disseminate this information and contribute to scientific understanding through studies and outreach. For over 30 years, the alsc has carried out this scientific and technical mission regarding ecosystem acidification in the adirondacks. The alsc is a 501c3 nonprofit organization; it operates out of the new york state department of environmental conservation (dec) region 5 headquarters in ray brook, ny. To conduct its mission, the alsc receives support from three sources: the new york state energy research and development authority (nyserda), new york state department of environmental conservation (dec), and the united states environmental protection agency (epa). Work activities undertaken toward the mission goals are performed by a highly trained staff, which the alsc considers to be its greatest asset. The alsc's history of selecting and retaining key staff has been, and continues to be, critical to the success of the adirondack long-term monitoring (altm) program. The altm program provides for increased understanding of the processes involved in lake and stream acidification recovery through interpretation of the trends across lake classes and for participation in more intensive investigations of these watersheds by acquisition of supplemental data and/or by conducting additional field sampling. The core project monitoring objectives are: continued sampling and analysis of the selected lakes, stream monitoring, analysis of nysdec region 5 and 6 fisheries samples, and supporting cloud water and wet deposition monitoring at two remote sites. The core project also consists of annual summer sampling of other adirondack lakes as part of a cooperative project with the epa under the temporally integrated monitoring of ecosystems (time) project. Data, analytical results and data summaries are posted on the alsc website following appropriate quality assurance/quality control (qa/qc) checks.