Carol Treadwell, Ph.D., Executive Director
PO Box 217
Elizabethtown, NY 12932
873-3752
The East Branch of the Ausable River runs through the heart of Keene connecting each of the hamlets with a ribbon of clean, clear water. The Au Sable River Association (ASRA) is a membership supported, not-for-profit organization, created in 1998 to protect and enhance the quality of this valuable resource.
Currently, ASRA is working in two key areas of concern: destruction of river habitat and the introduction of invasive species to the watershed. On the first, ASRA has started an annual tree planting project to restore streamside vegetation and repair collapsing banks. It also continues to assist with the Rivermeade Restoration project, which should come to fruition in the next two years. On the second, it is spearheading the “Stop Rock Snot” campaign in the eastern Adirondacks. This invasive algae coats river bottoms with unsightly beige mats and could threaten the natural beauty of the Ausable.
ASRA also acts as a watchdog on water quality and has secured funding for a septic pump-out cost share. It is also seeking donations to support a watershed-wide water quality and habitat monitoring project. ASRA has several projects not tied to direct funding sources, for example, a Creel (fish) Survey and an ecosystem health-temperature study. Volunteers and donations are needed for all aspects of organizational support, including river clean-ups and tree plantings, river studies, writing grants, graphic design, and financial accounting.
The Ausable River is one of Keene's most important natural resources
ASRA works to protect the beauty and usability of the Ausable
