When the Goodnough Dike was put in place, the waters of the three branches of the Swift River became not so swift as, along with the Windsor Dam, it blocked the flow and created the Quabbin Reservoir. Much was swallowed up as the waters rose. Besides the lost towns of Enfield, Greenwich, Prescott and Dana, many landscape features disappeared below the surface including small brooks and ponds. One body had the prescient name of Sunk Pond and is in the middle of this shot. Morton Pond was to the right.
I love the Quabbin Watershed and am happy to have it to explore and make images, but am always cognizant of the folks and other lives that were uprooted (yes, many trees too) in order for Eastern Massachusetts, mainly Boston, to have drinking, manufacturing, lawn and other use water.
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Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
Very nice B&W of the Quabbin, It saddens me as well whenever a lake is built as I know that much habitat is lost and homes and people are displaced. Here in Texas the lakes are generally nice fishing spots and tournaments are held. Some of the lakes now have attracted bald eagles that are again nesting in Texas. We have one or two breeding pair at the lake not far from my house, The birds are on the other side of the lake and I have not seen them. And as you mention folks need water so…
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Yes, folks do need water and as the top of the chain dwellers we come first when it’s a choice between us and nature. Fishing is allowed at the Quabbin but just in certain zones. Management always considers water conservation ahead of all other considerations.
Thanks, Yvonne.
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Steve, this is a very striking image. I love the lighting. It really keeps me exploring the scene, from the foreground rocks, along the coast on the left, over the lighter distant clouds, to the reflections of the clouds, and back to the rocks. Great choice using B&W.
Regarding the uses of land, there are always those compromises. They created a beautiful scene, but at a cost. There are benefits to the changes, but it’s always difficult to balance that with the costs. On a much smaller scale I know of a local example here of a local wetlands park that used to allow nature (and mankind) to do what it will, which slowly shifts the environment over time allowing non-native plants to take over and affecting water levels and quality as silt and other debris accumulate. Then they changed their stance and decided to restore the wetlands to the hemi-marsh it had been in the ’70s-’80s, part of which involved installing a dam so they could adjust the water level throughout the year to manage the marsh and allow certain wildlife a better environment to thrive. Of course, favoring some wildlife that thrived in the ’70s-’80s does come at the cost of other wildlife that had been moving in as the wetlands changed over time. Which is better? I can’t say. There are tradeoffs either way. I miss some of the features that are now gone, but there is potential to what they’ve done.
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Years ago I read Playing God in Yellowstone which goes a long way to discuss humans attempting to control the environment…in this case wolves… and the unintended consequences of our actions. There are always unintended consequences. I am in no position to pass judgement on anyone but think quite often the planet is better off without our ministrations. Nature fends for itself pretty well without us.
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It’s a striking photograph and a handsome scene.
This summer we’ve noticed one positive water-related change around N.Y. — more parks and cities installing permeable pavements. It’s a small thing, but reduces the need for watering, and probably more important, reduces the flow of contaminated water into storm sewers, etc. and then into waterways. If we’re going to experience more “extreme” weather and cloudbursts, this is a good step
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I will have to look into permeable pavement. Hadn’t heard about that before.Sadly, I don’t think there’s much “if” about extreme weather any more.
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The rocks in the foreground seem to be pointing to the distant light. and I like the way the light’s reflected in the clouds. Everything seems so placid — except for those clouds.
It’s interesting to think of all the history that lies beneath that water. The Houston reservoirs that were so much in the news during our recent flood meant the end of a couple of towns, too. They were very small, but they had histories, and people who loved living there. Still, two disastrous Houston floods — 1929 and 1935, I think — made controlling the bayous critical. There were a lot of surprised people during Harvey — people who didn’t have a clue that there had been floods here long before there were freeways or overbuilding.
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Unfortunately, I think most people are not aware of their surroundings’ histories so surprise will come to many. With modern forecasting and updated building codes, at least the possibility of the tragedy of Galveston, 1900 will not be repeated.
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This is such a striking image! I love long views with something to ground me in the foreground, and I love a sense of spaciousness – it’s all here. And the mystery of the light, that you worked with and processed so finely. There’s a reservoir in New York I used to visit that I loved, a beautiful place like this, but it came with the same story – villages and towns were destroyed to make the reservoir, so the big city (NYC) could have its clean water.
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As a child, my family would spend some of summer in my grandparents cabin in Northville, NY overlooking the Great Sacandaga Lake (formerly the Sacandaga Reservoir when we were there) and I wonder if that is the one you are speaking of? As an adult, I camped along the West Sacandaga River in Wells, NY.
Thank you for the kind critique, Lynn.
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No, much closer to the city, in the Catskills – the Ashokan Reservoir in Ulster County.
Oh, the Adirondacks! We lived in Syracuse when I was in grade school and went on a summer road trip once, that included Fort Ticonderoga, and other places between there & Syracuse. As an adult, I stayed at a wonderful bnb near Wells, 7 years ago. I had such a great time!
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At least when I was there last, which was over 30 years ago, the entire Adirondack Park was available to camp wherever you planted your tent, as long as you found a local Ranger and registered if staying for more than overnight. I camped right on the edge of the river which was a delightful experience. Didn’t even mind when the whitewater tubers drifted by. People, not taters. 🙂
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