Loon Friendly Lakes Certification Program
About the Program
The ACLC’s Loon Friendly Lake Certification Program (LFLCP) promotes community-based environmental stewardship to better protect loons and their aquatic habitats. Adirondack loons face many threats — some natural, and some caused by humans. What we do know is that a healthy lake habitat is critical to support thriving loon populations, and vital for all wildlife. Lake communities are pivotal partners in caring for lake health and preserving critical habitat for loons and other wildlife.
Benefits of the Program
Certification acknowledges the dedication of community members concerned with the health of loons on their lakes.
Certification signals to others that the community takes stewardship of its lake seriously for the benefit of both humans and wildlife.
Loon Friendly Lakes status can help promote positive and responsible behaviors from visitors and locals alike. When lakes are healthy for loons, they are healthy for other species, and when people are informed about how their actions impact the ecosystem and wildlife, everyone can thrive.
How to Earn Certification
Submit a $100 participation fee to help support the ongoing costs of materials and staff time to support this program
Share access to three online training sessions with members of your group
Complete stewardship activities from three categories of actions and submit the Activities Checklist at the end of the season. Activities include tasks like:
From List #1: Foundation Tasks (Complete ALL)
Provide ACLC brochures and educational materials to lake residents and rental properties to educate visitors about loon-safe boating and recreation practice
Place “Help Protect Loons” signage at boat launches
Install and monitor at least one fishing line recycling container at your lake
Monitor loon nests on your lake
From List #2: Community Actions (Complete TWO)
Organize a lake clean-up in your community
Monitor an ACLC-approved nest raft on your lake
Participate in a community science project to gather data for ACLC research, like the NY Annual Loon Census or the Boat Impacts Study
Volunteer to be a Tackle Box Ambassador
Participate in another stewardship program, like APIPP, CSLAP or ALAP
Pitch a Special Project to ACLC staff
and more….
From List #3: Spread the Word Activities (Complete ONE)
Share three social posts about your stewardship activities
Write a guest blog for ACLC
Publish an article
Volunteer to host an ACLC table at an event in your community
The Loon Friendly Lakes Certification Program is meant to be inclusive of all groups who live on Adirondack lakes and want to become better stewards of those lakes for the health of loons and other wildlife and the people who live alongside them. If activities on the Activities Checklist don’t fit your group’s size or capabilities, ACLC staff is happy to work with you to identify ways to take action in your community that are more appropriate. Please don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss!
Past Loon Friendly Lakes Recipients
2025 East Shore Schroon Lake Association (ESSLA)
The Loon Friendly Lakes Certification Program was rolled out in the summer of 2022 with support from the Freed Foundation and Northern New York Audubon with a grant from the Joseph and Joan Cullman Conservation Foundation. This project continues to be funded through 2026 with grants from the Blake Nuttall Ornithological Fund, Glenn and Carol Pearsall Adirondack Foundation, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on behalf of the Bouchard Barge 120 Buzzards Bay Oil Spill Trustees.
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Big Moose Lake - Herkimer Co.
Brantingham Lake - Lewis Co.
Eagle Lake - Essex Co.
Garnet Lake - Warren Co.
Glen Lake - Warren Co.
Lake Clear - Franklin Co.
Lake Luzerne - Warren Co.
Lake Placid - Essex Co.
Lake of the Woods - Jefferson Co.
Loon Lake - Franklin Co.
Loon Lake.- Warren Co.
Otter Lake - Oneida Co.
Rainbow Lake - Franklin Co.
Raquette Lake - Hamilton Co.
Rondaxe Lake - Herkimer Co.
Schroon Lake - Essex/Warren Co.
Sixth & Seventh Lakes - Hamilton Co.
Tripp Lake - Warren Co.
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Big Moose Lake - Herkimer Co.
Brant Lake - Warren Co.
Brantingham Lake - Lewis Co.
Bullet Pond - Essex Co.
Canada Lake - Fulton Co.
Cranberry Lake - St. Lawrence Co.
Eagle Lake - Essex Co.
Friends Lake - Warren Co.
Garnet Lake - Warren Co.
Horseshoe Pond/Deer River Flow - Franklin Co.
Lake Abanakee - Hamilton Co.
Lake Clear - Franklin Co.
Lake Placid - Essex Co.
Loon Lake - Franklin Co.
Loon Lake - Warren Co.
Piseco Lake - Hamilton Co.
Rainbow Lake - Franklin Co.
Raquette Lake - Hamilton Co.
Saratoga Lake - Saratoga Co.
Schroon Lake - Essex/Warren Co.
Sixberry Lake - Jefferson Co.
Sixth & Seventh Lakes - Hamilton Co.
Tripp Lake - Warren Co.
Trout Lake - St. Lawrence Co.
Tupper Lake - Franklin Co.
Upper Saranac Watershed - Franklin Co.
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Big Moose Lake - Herkimer Co.
Garnet Lake - Warren Co.
Friends Lake - Warren Co.
Lake Abanakee - Hamilton Co.
Loon Lake - Warren Co.
Mirror Lake - Essex Co.
Rainbow Lake - Franklin Co.
Raquette Lake - Hamilton Co.
Schroon Lake (East Shore) - Warren Co.
Sixberry Lake - Jefferson Co.
Sixth and Seventh Lakes - Hamilton Co.
Snowbird Lake - Oneida Co.
Star Lake - St. Lawrence Co.
Tripp Lake - Warren Co.
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Augur Lake - Essex County
Big Moose - Herkimer Co.
Brant Lake - Warren Co.
Brantingham Lake - Lewis Co.
Friends Lake - Warren Co.
Loon Lake -Warren Co.
Lake Abanakee - Hamilton Co.
Lake Clear - Franklin Co.
Mt. Arab Lake - St. Lawrence Co.
Eagle Crag Lake - St. Lawrence Co.
Rainbow Lake - Franklin Co.
Raquette Lake - Hamilton Co.
Schroon Lake - Essex Co.
Schroon Lake (East Shore) - Warren Co.
Sixberry Lake - Jefferson Co.
Trout Lake - St. Lawrence Co.