5 Reasons to Ride for the River
July 18 marks the 10th anniversary of Ride for the River. But this event is more than just a bike ride with friends and family; it’s an opportunity to learn about the Ausable River Association (AsRA) and the difference we’re making for our streams and lakes. And it’s a gathering celebrating the resilience of our communities inaugurated in 2012, the year after Tropical Storm Irene ripped through our communities. So why ride for the river? Here are a few ways your registration dollars make a difference.
1. Healthy Streams
In 2020, we replaced two undersized and deteriorating culverts in the Town of Jay on two native brook trout streams – improving road safety, wildlife connectivity, and stream health. Later that season, in response to an emergency, we surveyed, designed, permitted, and restored the river channel and banks around the primary water main supplying the hamlet of Keene. In 2021, we’re in the construction phase of two large-scale river restoration projects, and in the survey and design phase for eight stream restoration, culvert, and bridge sites in the Ausable and Boquet watersheds.
2. Clean Water
Five continuous monitoring stations and a mid-lake sensor buoy allow us to track road salt levels in Mirror Lake. In the last year, we’ve used grant funds to purchase new winter plows and road salt application tracking technology for the Town of North Elba and the Village of Lake Placid. Our scientists also continue to monitor the water quality of streams and lakes throughout the Ausable watershed every two weeks, year-round, testing key indicators of stream health that allow us to identify changes in water quality.
3. Biodiverse Habitats
Our biologists have developed and tested a custom Ausable upland native seed mix for use in stream restoration and conservation efforts in New York’s Lake Champlain basin. Additionally, our ongoing effort to test native plants has yielded results, and we’ve identified trees and shrubs that provide habitat, prevent erosion, and help cool waters. These projects also create opportunities for teaching volunteers, students, and colleagues how to care for the Ausable and Boquet watersheds. Away from shorelines and in the water, we’re using environmental DNA to identify and inform habitat protection for native Atlantic salmon and trout in the Ausable and Boquet Rivers.
4. Engaged Communities – Enjoying the Watershed
Our river steward maintains ten wader wash stations along the West Branch Ausable River to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. And, we hold invasive species eradication days to remove terrestrial invasive species. In 2020, we hosted a series of nine educational river tours, free to the public, all of which left participants with a better understanding of what threatens our local environment - and what we can do to inspire responsible stewardship in our community.
Our network of Porta-Johns helps ensure a clean and healthy river and provides convenient facilities for travelers and river users. We also host riparian planting workshops, river cleanups to protect habitats and enhance the recreational experiences of paddlers and anglers. And we recently surveyed and provided design assistance to the Town of Keene for a series of small footbridges on Old Mountain Road, in the delicate headwaters of Nichols Brook. Soon, simple low footbridges will enhance use of the trail while protecting these small streams.
5. It Makes You Feel Good
Your participation in Ride for the River is part of our annual investment in improving, restoring and protecting the natural infrastructure of our communities - making them more vital, places to live, work, and play. In 2020 alone, AsRA programs invested over $650,000 in our communities to improve public safety and the health of our streams and lakes.
Ok, there's six reasons.
6. It's Fun
It's true! Riding a bike is really, really fun. Especially when you ride one in the Ausable River watershed. For one, it's incredibly beautiful. But the roads (most of which are low traffic backroads) are also in incredible shape. And when the ride is over, the fun rolls on with a delicious finish line feast catered by Barley Sandwich, tasty beverages from Great Adirondack Brewing and live music.
Plus, since we're hosting the event at Lake Everest Beach (key word: beach) this year, you're more than welcome to go for a swim in the Ausable after the ride.
So there you have it. Sign up today. All those registered by June 30 are guaranteed a free ride t-shirt. The 10th Anniversary of Ride for the River is going to be a lot of fun. Join us.
