Nestled in the southern foothills of the majestic Adirondack Mountains is the Great Sacandaga Lake, the largest man-made body of water in New York State. This is the story of how the people of the Sacandaga Valley had to sacrifice their homes, their farms and their livelihoods for the greater good. It is a story of heartbreak, rebirth and a remarkable engineering project in its own right.
When the need for regulation of the upper Hudson River became obvious, the decision to build a reservoir in the Sacandaga River Valley was an unpopular but necessary solution. Harnessing Nature chronicles the incredible journey of this undertaking including first-hand accounts of valley residents and original documents describing this amazing feat of engineering. For the residents of the Sacandaga Valley, the loss of their homes and communities was devastating. For the residents downstream who had suffered staggering losses from years of flooding, it was long overdue. For those who live along its shores today, it is important to understand the story of the Great Sacandaga Lake.