What Adirondack Watershed Institute does

The Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) environmental research and stewardship organization operating as a program of Paul Smith's College in Paul Smiths, New York. Founded in 1989 as the Adirondack Aquatic Institute, the organization expanded into invasive species management in 1999 and merged two initiatives in 2002 to form its current structure. AWI's core scientific asset is the Adirondack Lake Assessment Program (ALAP), a cooperative monitoring program pairing trained community volunteers with professional scientists that has produced 29 years of continuous freshwater monitoring data across approximately 200 lakes and 25 streams, covering roughly one-third of the Adirondack Park's 6-million-acre watershed. The organization also operates the only New York State Department of Health-certified environmental laboratory within the Adirondack Park, providing water quality testing and analysis services.

AWI's commercial activity centers on three primary revenue streams: government contracts (a five-year, $13.24 million DEC contract through December 2027 for boat inspection and decontamination, plus multi-year NYSERDA and LCBP/EPA grants), foundation grants (Overhills Foundation, Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership, and others), and tax-deductible donations as a 501(c)(3). The Boat Stewardship Program deploys up to 120 seasonal stewards at more than 60 boat launches to inspect watercraft and prevent aquatic invasive species spread; in the 2025 season stewards inspected more than 83,300 boats (a 10% year-over-year increase) and performed 3,820 decontaminations. Public-facing programs include Lake Wise and Stream Wise technical assistance for lakeshore property owners, the Wool & Water data-art project, and the Adirondack Climate Outreach and Resilience Network (ACORN). Research divisions cover harmful algal blooms, road salt contamination, climate change impacts, and wildlife (boreal and grassland bird) conservation.

AWI serves a diversified but government-anchored customer base spanning New York State agencies (DEC, NYSERDA), federal partners (EPA via LCBP), regional lake associations, conservation nonprofits (Protect the Adirondacks, Adirondack Lakes Alliance, Upper Saranac Foundation), Paul Smith's College students as a living laboratory, and regional communities and visitors whose economic activity depends on clean water (the Adirondack Park's tourism economy supports over 26,000 local jobs and $1.2 billion in annual visitor spending). Distribution occurs through direct community engagement, on-site stewardship at boat launches, citizen science programs, and educational workshops rather than commercial sales channels.

Name

Adirondack Watershed Institute

Legal name

Adirondack Watershed Institute

Website

https://adkwatershed.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Adirondack Watershed Institute is a non-profit environmental research organization, operated as a program of Paul Smith's College, that conducts freshwater monitoring, invasive species prevention, and watershed education to protect lakes, rivers, and wetlands across the Adirondack Park for state agencies, lake associations, and regional communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Research and Watershed Stewardship Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Quality Monitoring (Surface Water, Stormwater, Drinking Water) (EUAHACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Watershed/Source Water & Raw Water Quality Monitoring (intakes, reservoirs, groundwater) (EUANAJAH), Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK), Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

Keywords

• Freshwater research
• Watershed stewardship
• Water quality monitoring
• Invasive species prevention
• Environmental education

Headquarters

HQ city

Paul Smiths

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts: Multi-year contracts with state agencies including NYS DEC for boat stewardship program ($13.24 million, 5-year contract through December 2027) and NYSERDA for Adirondack Long Term Monitoring Program
2. Grants and Foundation Funding: Grant awards from organizations including Overhills Foundation for water quality research, Lake Champlain Basin Program for data management, and Environmental Protection Fund support
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations accepted as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization affiliated with Paul Smith's College
4. Program Participation Fees: Fees associated with joining monitoring programs like ALAP

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Adirondack Watershed Institute conducts long-term freshwater quality research, runs boat inspection and decontamination stations to prevent aquatic invasive species, and delivers watershed stewardship and education programs across the Adirondack Park. Its core assets are a New York State Department of Health-certified environmental laboratory and the 29-year Adirondack Lake Assessment Program community science monitoring initiative covering approximately 200 lakes.

Product overview

The Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI) operates as a multi-faceted environmental research and stewardship organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and services. At its core is a state-certified water quality laboratory and the Adirondack Lake Assessment Program (ALAP), which provides long-term freshwater monitoring through community science. The organization runs the Boat Stewardship Program with inspection and decontamination stations at 60+ boat launches to prevent invasive species spread. AWI complements its scientific work with public engagement through the Wool & Water data art project, Lake Wise and Stream Wise technical assistance programs, the ACORN climate resilience network, and the annual Adirondack Water Week celebration. Research divisions cover harmful algal blooms, road salt impacts, wildlife (boreal and grassland birds), invasive species, and climate change effects. The organization is a program of Paul Smith's College and serves as a living laboratory for students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adirondack Lake Assessment Program (ALAP) Cooperative water quality monitoring program pairing trained community volunteers with professional scientists to monitor lakes and ponds across the Adirondacks; produces long-term freshwater datasets used to identify how lakes respond to stressors such as nutrient pollution, acid rain, road salt, and climate change.
• Boat Stewardship Program Watercraft inspection and decontamination program staffed at over 60 boat launches across the Adirondack Park to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species; stewards inspect boats, perform decontaminations, and educate visitors about Clean, Drain, Dry protocols (83,300+ boats inspected and 3,820 decontaminations in 2025).
• State-Certified Water Quality Laboratory The only New York State Department of Health-certified environmental laboratory within the Adirondack Park, providing certified water quality testing and analysis services to government agencies, researchers, and partner organizations; located at the Paolozzi Center on Paul Smith's College campus.
• Lake Wise Program Technical assistance program for lakeshore property owners to establish lake-friendly land management practices that protect water quality, reduce erosion and flooding, and enhance wildlife habitat.
• Stream Wise Program Technical assistance program providing guidance to streamshore property owners on best management practices for protecting stream health and water quality.
• Wool & Water Data Art Project Collaborative project using fiber art (knitting, crochet, weaving) to visualize scientific data on water quality conditions and inspire protection of regional waterways.
• Adirondack Climate Outreach & Resilience Network (ACORN) Regional network formed with Paul Smith's College, The Wild Center, and the Adirondack Research Consortium to conduct climate resilience listening sessions and develop a climate resilience roadmap for the Adirondacks.
• Adirondack Water Week Annual celebration event promoting watershed education, community partnerships, and volunteer engagement through events that encourage reflection on the importance of Adirondack lakes, rivers, and wetlands.
• Lake & Stream Monitoring Program Long-term environmental monitoring program collecting water quality data on lake and stream health, focusing on legacy and emerging threats like harmful algal blooms, acid deposition, road salt impacts, and climate change across 94 lakes and 25 streams.
• Road Salt Research Program Scientific research program studying the impacts of road salt on Adirondack lakes, drinking water sources, and critical waterbodies, including monitoring potential lake recovery once best practices are implemented.
• Harmful Algal Blooms Research Research program studying the formation, detection, and impacts of harmful algal blooms (HABs) on aquatic ecosystems, human health, and wildlife in the Adirondacks.
• Wildlife Research Program Research program focused on boreal bird conservation, grassland bird studies, and understanding wildlife population dynamics in relation to climate change and habitat changes in the Adirondack region.
• Invasive Species Information and Management Resources Comprehensive resource covering aquatic invasive species of concern in the Adirondack Park, including Asian clam, zebra/quagga mussels, hydrilla, water chestnut, and spiny water flea, with information on identification, impacts, and management strategies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Inspected 83,300+ boats in 2025 season (10% increase from 2024), performed 3,820 decontaminations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Paul Smith's CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWI is a program of Paul Smith's College, the only four-year college located in the Adirondack Park. The college provides institutional support, student engagement, and living laboratory opportunities. College President Daniel Kelting oversees AWI leadership.
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive-year $13.24 million contract through December 2027 to run boat stewardship program at boat inspection sites across the Adirondack Park.
• New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year contract to collect data for the Adirondack Long Term Monitoring (ALTM) Program.
• Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP)/NEIWPCCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding from EPA to support data framework development and extend Lake Wise program into New York State. LCBP Director Eric Howe noted AWI's engagement with private landowners.
• Protect the AdirondackscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-partner with AWI in the Adirondack Lake Assessment Program (ALAP), one of the region's longest-running freshwater datasets.
• Overhills FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant awards supporting water quality research and monitoring programs.
• Upper Saranac FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Lake Wise implementation and watershed protection collaboration.
• Adirondack Lakes AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLake association network partnership to better protect water health across the region.
• Henry Uihlein II and Mildred A. Uihlein FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year collaboration since 2019 for grassland bird conservation research at Heaven Hill and Uihlein Farm properties.
• Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of Love Your Lakes and Lands event during NY Invasive Species Awareness Week.
• Adirondack Center for Loon ConservationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of community events including Love Your Lakes and Lands; partnership for conservation education.
• The Wild CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost for Adirondack Water Week events and Watershed Experience exhibit; collaboration on youth climate programs.
• Adirondack Mountain ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Paddle with a Scientist programs combining recreation with environmental education.
• Northern New York AudubonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunder and partner for Wool and Water bird-themed fiber art pieces highlighting regional bird species.
• Champlain Valley National Heritage PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding for Wool and Water project celebrating clean water in the Champlain Basin.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies: A leading nonprofit ecological research organization in the Northeast producing long-term datasets on freshwater and forest ecosystems — comparable in scientific scope, nonprofit structure, and emphasis on long-term monitoring.
• Riverkeeper: A large New York–based water-protection nonprofit with patrol, advocacy, and water-quality testing programs; a broader regional incumbent in freshwater stewardship and advocacy with overlapping scientific and public-engagement work.
• Izaak Walton League of America: A national conservation nonprofit focused on clean water, watershed monitoring (Save Our Streams), and citizen science — comparable in citizen-science monitoring model and freshwater conservation mission.

Direct peers

• Hubbard Brook Research Foundation: Supports long-term watershed research and education in the White Mountains of New Hampshire; directly comparable as a long-term freshwater/watershed research and education organization.
• Lake Champlain Basin Program: A federal-state partnership coordinating water-quality monitoring, invasive species control, and stewardship across the Lake Champlain basin; comparable in mandate, programs, and funding mix, and an active AWI partner.
• Protect the Adirondacks: An Adirondack-focused advocacy and research nonprofit; co-partner with AWI on the Adirondack Lake Assessment Program and directly comparable in regional mission and data collaboration.
• Catskill Watershed Corporation: A New York nonprofit administering watershed protection programs for the Catskill system supplying NYC drinking water; comparable in mission, nonprofit structure, and integration of monitoring, technical assistance, and stewardship.
• Upstate Freshwater Institute: An independent freshwater research organization in New York that performs limnological studies, water-quality monitoring, and applied research — a direct functional peer in scale and Northeast freshwater focus.
• The Jefferson Project at Lake George: A Lake George–based sensor-network and monitoring partnership combining research, technology, and stewardship to study a Northeast lake; comparable to AWI's lake monitoring mission and use of long-term data to inform management.
• Darrin Fresh Water Institute (Rensselaer): Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's freshwater research institute conducts lake and watershed monitoring, environmental research, and education in the Adirondack/Lake George region — directly comparable in scientific mandate, lab capability, and academic affiliation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/mjglenno
• Xx.com/ADK_Watershed
• Facebookfacebook.com/adkwatershed
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adirondack-watershed-institute

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Adirondack Watershed Institute