Old dams present inherent tension in wilderness areas By Zachary Matson The ground beneath the once-flooded Duck Hole in the High Peaks Wilderness was soft underfoot and teeming with life. Monarch butterflies fluttered among … [Read more...] about Do dams belong in places meant to be ‘untrammeled by man?’
dam series
Can dams weather climate change?
By Chloe Bennett Dams have historically helped create drinking water, power and food. In an era of a warming planet, dams could create havoc. In the Adirondacks, more than 500 dams listed by the state Department of Environmental Conservation … [Read more...] about Can dams weather climate change?
Hard-earned lessons to improve dam safety
Responses to crises often advance the cutting edge in dam safety By Zachary Matson During heavy rain in February 2017, concrete collapsed at California’s Oroville Dam, the tallest in the nation. Water pushed through the 3,000-foot-long spillway … [Read more...] about Hard-earned lessons to improve dam safety
In the Adirondacks, town dam owners watch and wait
Municpal dam owners slow to pursue repairs under new state standards By Zachary Matson The towns of Dannemora, Bolton, Indian Lake and Chester each own a high hazard dam rated unsound by state inspectors. Dannemora’s Chazy Lake Dam … [Read more...] about In the Adirondacks, town dam owners watch and wait
A look at the riskiest dams in the Adirondacks
Ten high hazard dams are rated 'unsound,' meaning their safety cannot be assured By Zachary Matson The owners of the Adirondack Park’s 10 riskiest dams—high hazard dams with documented deficiencies—represent an assortment of interests, … [Read more...] about A look at the riskiest dams in the Adirondacks
A dammed park: A look at the Adirondacks’ aging dams
What's the future of the park's 500+ dams? By Zachary Matson During the first quarter of the 1900s, state Conservation Commission leaders eyed the power potential of Adirondack rivers with intense interest, documenting scores of potential dam … [Read more...] about A dammed park: A look at the Adirondacks’ aging dams