named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Invasive Species Monitoring
Partners with organizations like the Adirondack Watershed Institute and APIPP to monitor for emerging threats including zebra mussels, hydrilla, spiny waterflea, and hemlock woolly adelgid.
Milfoil Control Project
Directly targets Eurasian watermilfoil through hand-harvesting, benthic matting, and suction harvesting across infested areas of Chateaugay Lake, focusing on high-spread-risk zones.
Public Education and Prevention
Runs outreach campaigns on "Clean, Drain, and Dry" protocols, proper bait use, and species identification to prevent the spread of invasive species.
activities · 1 group
What they do
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Lake Invasive Species Management 4 activities
- Annual Eurasian watermilfoil control on Chateaugay LakeConducts annual invasive species management through hand-harvesting, benthic matting, and suction harvesting to remove Eurasian watermilfoil from Chateaugay Lake, with over 200 tons removed to date and 12 tons removed in 2022 alone. Activities focus on maintaining navigable boating lanes and reducing milfoil density in heavily infested areas.
- Buoy deployment for navigation and awarenessDeploys marker buoys in Upper and Lower Chateaugay Lakes to designate milfoil-free boating lanes and mark dense Eurasian watermilfoil beds, improving navigation safety and public awareness of infested areas. Installed new buoys in the inlet to Lower Chateaugay Lake in 2021.
- Curlyleaf pondweed removalRemoves curlyleaf pondweed from multiple locations in Upper and Lower Chateaugay Lakes as part of broader aquatic invasive species control efforts.
- Mapping and monitoring of invasive aquatic plantsSupports annual and periodic mapping of Eurasian watermilfoil bed locations, size, and density on Chateaugay Lake, including a full shoreline survey conducted in 2021 to inform treatment planning and measure ecological impact.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$93K
Contributions & grants$82K89%
Program service revenue——
Investment income$4K4%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$38K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$169K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$169K
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -7.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 1
- THEODORE ELSASSER — DIRECTOR
relationships · 12
Who they work with
- Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program Partner — Partners with CLF to track and manage invasive species in the Adirondack Park region.
- Adirondack Watershed Institute Partner — Collaborates on milfoil mapping, surveys, and data collection for Chateaugay Lake.
- Adirondack Watershed Institute Partner — Collaborates with CLF to monitor and respond to invasive species threats in the Chateaugay Lake watershed.
- Chateaugay Lakes Arts Association Partner — Former nonprofit organization representing the lake community that provided major support to the Milfoil Control Project.
- Chateaugay Lakes Association Partner — Partner organization collaborating with CLF on coordinated efforts to address Eurasian milfoil and other environmental threats to Chateaugay Lake.
- Invasive Solutions Dive Company Partner — Contracted to perform selective hand harvesting of Eurasian watermilfoil and other aquatic invasives in Chateaugay Lake.
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Collaborated with CLF on milfoil control at the public boat launch; received a start-up grant from New York State in 2008 for this work.
- PayPal Network — Accepts donations through PayPal platform.
- Town of Bellmont Partner — Contributed to the Milfoil Control Project as one of the surrounding towns supporting CLF’s efforts.
- Town of Dannemora Partner — Contributed to the Milfoil Control Project as one of the surrounding towns supporting CLF’s efforts.
- Town of Ellenburg Partner — Contributed to the Milfoil Control Project as one of the surrounding towns supporting CLF’s efforts.
- donors Partner — Financial supporters contributing to invasive species control efforts
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Coordinated Multi-Partner Response Modelmethodology: coordinated_partnership_responseBy mobilizing a broad-based, coordinated partnership approach, the foundation enhances the scale and sustainability of invasive species response, because collaboration across stakeholders increases resource pooling, information sharing, and consistent action across jurisdictions.
- Prevention through Early Detection and Public Engagementmethodology: invasive_species_preventionBy combining early detection of invasive species with public education and protocols like Clean, Drain, and Dry, the foundation prevents new introductions and slows spread, because recreational users are critical vectors whose behavior can be modified through outreach and clear practices.
- Selective Removal with Native Species Preservationmethodology: selective_removal_with_native_preservationBy using trained divers to selectively remove invasive species like Eurasian milfoil, the foundation maintains ecological balance, because this method minimizes collateral damage to native aquatic plants and supports overall lake ecosystem resilience.
- Targeted Source Control with Natural Force Considerationmethodology: source-control_prioritizationBy prioritizing treatment of heavily infested areas that serve as sources for milfoil spread, the foundation reduces reinfestation risk and improves long-term control, because addressing these high-leverage points limits downstream dispersal via natural forces and human activity.