Loon Friendly Lakes Certification Program

an Environmental Stewardship Program for Lake Communities in the Adirondacks

What is the loon friendly lake certification 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.

Working together, Adirondack residents and visitors can help minimize and address many of these challenges to better protect Adirondack loons and the lakes they share with us and other wildlife. This program provides lake associations and other interested groups with supplies, trainings and project support to help their lakes continue to support breeding loons for years to come.

All groups seeking certification MUST complete a registration form - both returning and new groups.

how does my lake earn Loon Friendly Lake Certification?

To earn certification, Loon Friendly Lakes participants are asked to complete the following:

• $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 - these trainings are available to increase understanding of loon natural history and behavior and threats to loon survival. They will focus on learning more about loons generally, as well as special topics and feature guest speakers when possible. We ask that at least one person from your group try to attend each training.

• Complete stewardship activities from a list provided to all participating groups. In 2025, the list of activities will be larger and will give participants more choices about how to earn certification. Activities include tasks like:

  • 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

  • Organize a lake clean-up in your community

  • Monitor an ACLC-approved nest raft on your lake

  • Participate in a biodiversity survey

In 2025, ACLC is partnering with other Adirondack Park stewardship initiatives to offer even more options for how to earn Loon Friendly Lake Certification. Healthy lake ecosystems benefit the whole community, so we support a whole-community approach to stewardship. This year, if groups participate in CSLAP, ALAP or APIPP, this will count towards Loon Friendly Lake Certification as well. More information coming soon!

Small actions make a big difference to the loons on your lake!

We look forward to continuing to build this program!

We are eager to work with our LFLCP partners to receive feedback and continue to build this program in ways that help increase our impact for protecting Adirondack loons and the ecosystems they depend on.

The Adirondack Loon Friendly Lake Program was developed with support from the Freed Foundation and Northern New York Audubon with a grant from the Joseph and Joan Cullman Conservation Foundation.

This project is funded through grants from the Blake Nuttall Ornithological Fund, Glenn and Carol Pearsall Adirondack Foundation, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service on behalf of the Bouchard Barge 120 Buzzards Bay Oil Spill Trustees.