MAINTAIN THE CHAIN
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SUPPORT FUTURE MTC EVENTS!
An annual volunteer event comprised of self-directed, environmentally-focused improvement projects dedicated to
preserving the beautiful lakes and watershed of the Fulton Chain of Lakes and Adirondack Park.
Isabella and Nolan Boon began sprucing up the area around their Fourth Lake camp more than a decade ago. What began as a family tradition has evolved into a widespread community event consisting of environmentally-focused improvement projects known as Maintain the Chain (MTC). The event focuses on preserving the watershed and lakes of the Fulton Chain of Lakes and Adirondack Park. Support MTC events & start your family tradition today!
The 6th Annual MTC Event (July 1, 2026 - August 31, 2026) is right around the corner! See photos of projects completed by our MTC participants and get inspired! Participants who complete and submit photos of a project will receive a free MTC beach towel. Registration will open in the Spring of 2026.
Join us for a FREE educational lecture series this summer!
Speaker: Denise Silfee, Director of Education and Communications, Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation
Topic: "Are Loons on Thin Ice with Climate Change?"
Date: Thursday, July 9, 2026
Time: 5 - 6pm
Location: Old Forge Library
Speaker: Ray Letterman, Emeritus Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University
Topic: "Taming the Flow - How Dams Shaped the Fulton Chain of Lakes."
Date: Thursday, July 30, 2026
Time: 5- 6 pm
Location: Old Forge Library
Building a Better Environment—Together!
Litter on the Ice, Pollutes for Life!
Thanks to the Town of Inlet Highway Department and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation for collaborating with MTC to help protect the Fulton Chain of Lakes during the winter months.
Outdoor recreation enthusiasts who choose to enjoy the ice, at their own risk, are encouraged to pick up any garbage or loose debris and dispose of it in the new trash receptacle at the Fourth Lake boat launch site. Larger items, such as blown tracks taken from the ice, can be placed next to the unit.
The Town of Inlet Highway Department will maintain the site periodically. A special thank you to Shawn Hansen, Inlet Highway Superintendent, for all of his help with this project, and thank you to John Kalil for the great idea!
Protecting the Common Loon
Lead fishing tackle is a leading cause of adult loon mortality, with ingestion of a single sinker or jig causing fatal poisoning within a few weeks.
The Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation, with support from MTC, has created hundreds of lead-free tackle boxes to teach children about the dangers of lead fishing tackle for wildlife. This summer, the Center will expand its outreach with fun, kid-friendly programs where these free tackle boxes will be given out to encourage safer, wildlife-friendly fishing practices.
Winner of the 2025 MTC "Best Project" Award!!!
Brian McKittrick went above and beyond to protect the ADK. He spent multiple days cleaning up the bottom of various lakes around the park, and his enthusiasm for helping our cause was heartfelt.
Thank you to ALL of our 2025 MTC participants who helped MTC protect the Adirondacks! See more photos of our incredible participants by visiting our MTC 2025 Event page.
Secchi Disk Readings - 2025 MTC results
Water clarity is an indicator of the impact of human activity on our lakes. If water clarity is measured throughout the season and from year to year, trends can be observed. Diminishing water clarity can signal an early warning sign that human activity is negatively impacting the health of our lakes. MTC participants obtained water clarity measurements along the Fulton Chain of Lakes using Secchi disks. View the measurements our participants collected on the map below. Read a detailed report highlighting our Secchi disc results.
Map of the Fulton Chain of Lakes showing the locations of the 2025 Secchi disk measurements. Clicking on a dot in the online map displays the initials of the participant(s) or team that made the measurement, the date and time, and the measured transparency at that location in meters of depth.
By clicking the donate button, you will be redirected to the LivingADK website. Follow the instructions to donate, and THANK YOU for your support! Please visit our MTC Donation page for additional information and to see if you qualify for a free T-shirt or baseball cap with your donation. All proceeds fund future MTC events!
Stay informed!
Learn about ADK events and read the latest news from prestigious ADK news outlets by visiting "Headlines from Around the Park."
We aim to share important ADK Park information with our website visitors. We do not claim these articles as our own.
Weather Updates
Be prepared! Check the weather before heading out on the lake, going for a hike, or working on an MTC self-directed, environmentally focused improvement project.
The FCLA was founded in 1968 with a mission to protect the waters of the Fulton Chain of Lakes in New York's Central Adirondacks.
MTC was founded by the Boon family and members of the FCLA in 2020 with the goal of engaging the community in an effort to protect the lakes and watershed of the Fulton Chain of Lakes in New York's Adirondack Park.
Fulton Chain of Lakes Association membership.
Sponsors, Supporters, and Endorsers of the Maintain the Chain Event
Fulton Chain of Lakes Association
Town of Webb
Town of Inlet
Adirondack Council
Adirondack Watershed Institute (of Paul Smith’s College)
Sixth and Seventh Lakes Improvement Association
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