Thank you to everyone who has signed the petition so far, we’ve reached 800 signatures and counting. Your support continues to make a difference.

A Turning Point for Martin Dunham Reservoir

Here are three graphics that illustrate the potential future options for Martin Dunham Reservoir. Each one is designed to help you better visualize what the landscape could look like under the different scenarios being considered.

For over a century, Martin Dunham Reservoir has been a beloved part of life in Rensselaer County. Constructed in 1911 to serve as a critical water source for the City of Troy, it has since evolved into one of the region’s most treasured natural resources. Located within Grafton Lakes State Park, the reservoir is a hub for swimming, kayaking, hiking, fishing, and outdoor recreation, a place where generations have connected with nature and with one another.

Now, that legacy faces a crossroads.

At a public meeting held on June 11, three future management options for the reservoir were presented. Each one carries significant consequences for the landscape, recreation, environment, and identity of our community.

Three Scenarios, Three Outcomes

Full Rehabilitation
This option would fully upgrade the dam to meet modern safety standards while keeping the lake and its recreational functions intact. The dam would be structurally reinforced, the spillway improved to handle extreme storms, and monitoring systems added for safety. While this is the most expensive option—estimated at $20 million—it is the only one that preserves the reservoir as it exists today.

Partial Removal with Stream Restoration
This approach would remove a portion of the dam and regrade the lakebed to create a restored stream and wetland corridor. The transformation would unfold over years, beginning as a muddy plain and slowly evolving into a semi-natural wetland. While this reduces hazard potential and costs less ($9.6 million), it permanently eliminates lake-based recreation and fire suppression access.

Partial Removal without Restoration
The least expensive option ($6.1 million) would breach the dam without any ecological planning or restoration. The basin would be left to erode naturally, creating potential downstream sediment risks and leaving a degraded landscape. Recreation would end, and fire access would be lost. Many residents have voiced strong opposition to this option, calling it a step away from responsibility.

These options are more than just technical proposals, they represent fundamentally different visions for what kind of place Martin Dunham Reservoir will be in the years to come.

Community Voices Are Being Heard
The public response has been swift and passionate. A petition at www.savedunham.org has already collected 800 signatures, with support growing daily.

This week, your voice has a direct channel.

Rensselaer County Legislators will be meeting tonight to hear from the public and vote on a resolution urging New York State to preserve the reservoir. The resolution, filed by Legislators Bruce Patire, Jeff Wysocki, and Dan Casale, reflects the concerns raised at the recent Tamarac School District meeting. It has earned the full support of Chairwoman Kelly Hoffman and the entire Majority Caucus.
This is your chance to speak directly to elected leaders, to ensure the community’s voice shapes the reservoir’s future.

Public Forum Information
Wednesday, July 2nd at 6:00 PM
Rensselaer County Legislature Chambers
99 Troy Road, East Greenbush, NY

According to the public notice, the public is welcome and encouraged to attend and speak.

Why This Matters

Martin Dunham Reservoir is more than a body of water, it’s a shared landscape that connects people, history, and ecology. Its loss would not only change the park’s physical appearance, but alter the cultural and recreational fabric of our region.
Whether you fish from its shores, hike its trails, draw water for fire protection, or simply value quiet time by the lake—your input matters.

Join us in standing up for a future that preserves what we cannot replace.
For more information and to add your name to the growing list of supporters, visit www.SaveDunham.org.

This publication is provided for general informational and advocacy purposes only. It does not represent official government positions or legal advice. All views expressed are those of the author and are based on publicly available sources as of the publication date. For official project details, refer to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation or the appropriate regulatory agencies.

All images © Google Earth and Airbus. Simulated visualizations intended for educational purposes only. Not official renderings.