Stream Wise

What is Stream Wise?

Stream Wise is a program that engages streamside property owners in the Lake Champlain basin to enhance and protect vegetated stream buffers, increasing flood resiliency and benefiting water quality and natural habitat.

This program takes steps to support healthy streams and build community resilience that can range from stopping a harmful practice, to doing nothing and letting nature heal with ecological succession; or actively stabilizing soil, planting native species, and other practices to restore natural structures and functions of a riparian ecosystem.

Do you think you have the best buffer in your neighborhood? Is your stream nice and shady? Stream Wise awards and recognizes private landowners that maintain wide buffers of native plants along the sections of the rivers and streams that they own to foster stream health and resiliency throughout the Lake Champlain basin, in rural, suburban, and urban areas.

Do you live in the Saranac River Watershed or know someone that does?

AWI will be conducting Stream Wise Assessments in the Saranac River watershed. This region covers Saranac Lake, Bloomingdale, Vermontville, Redford, Saranac, and the greater Plattsburgh area. If you live in the Chazy watershed, please reach out, as we might be able to assist.

Explore a map of the region by launching the interactive map below.

Get involved!

If you own streamside property, ask about our free property assessment and awards program. Reach out to an AWI team member to have your stream assessed and see if you are Stream Wise! Please make sure to include Stream Wise in the subject line.

Learn more about the Stream Wise project by following the link below.

 FAQs

  • Get in contact with us by emailing an AWI team member at info@adkwatershed.org and put Stream Wise in the subject line. We will follow up with the next steps!

  • Find your property by using this interactive map of the Lake Champlain Basin.

  • Get in touch! If you don’t live in the Saranac River watershed and still would like to participate, submit an inquiry.

  • We can help! Visit the Stream Wise Page for more information on how you can make changes to your property to improve your buffer and protect clean water.

  • In addition to insight on your property, you will be eligible for free plants and trees, and will also receive an award sign.

  • Our team will work with you to find a time to conduct an in-person assessment. During the assessment, our team notes considerations for protecting water quality, which includes looking at vegetation, erosion impacts, and other parameters. We will also conduct a digital assessment to give further insight on your property.