Note: This is a fictitious scenario. New York City is not planning to build a new reservoir.

The Delaware and Hudson River watersheds in New York are in a drought. Throughout the fall, there was very little precipitation. The rainfall was well below average. During December and January, when the New York City reservoirs are normally collecting runoff from snowmelt, there was very little snowfall in the area. Due to the lack of precipitation, the New York City reservoirs are only 35 percent full, when normally they would be 65 to 70 percent full.

Scientists have been monitoring the precipitation in the New York City watershed for the past decade. They discovered a slight decrease in the water level of the upstate reservoirs over that time. They have concluded that with the continued decline in precipitation each year, and the increasing population of New York City, they will need another reservoir to supply enough drinking water.

Over the past year, the city has been looking at various locations throughout the Catskill Mountain area. After a great deal of research, the location they chose is a valley near the village of South Kortright. Scientists believe that constructing a reservoir at this location will supply enough water to meet their needs and cause the least amount of destruction and relocation of homes and businesses in upstate New York. The South Kortright Reservoir will be created by damming the West Branch of the Delaware River, just south of the village. New York City officials have determined the water level in the reservoir will be 1600 feet above sea level, meaning that all land below 1600 feet will be flooded.

The State Water Commission (SWC) is the agency with the final say on whether or not a reservoir is built here. You are the group of SWC officials that have to make this difficult decision. Your instructions for making this decision are to take a good look at five major groups that will be affected by your decision: 1. Local residents (farms, homesteads, businesses), 2. Environmentalists, 3. New York City officials and residents, 4. Construction engineers and planners, and 5. The New York State Department of Transportation. You will be assigned to one of the five groups. Think about what problems the reservoir might cause for your group. If those problems are difficult to solve, your group probably won't want the reservoir built.

The Village of South Kortright

South Kortright was settled in 1770 and organized in 1793. Throughout the 1800s and early 1900s, the primary industries in South Kortright were grist mills (where they ground wheat into flour) and saw mills. Surrounding hardwood forests composed of maple, birch, and ash, as well as conifers like hemlock and pine, were logged for timber. Today, the population of South Kortright is about 350, many of whom own small businesses or dairy farms. The village and its two churches, one school, one cemetery, and over 100 homes would be lost.

The city of New York will also own all land within 300 feet of the water's edge (one tenth of an inch on the map), so all residents will be evicted and all buildings located within this boundary will be condemned.

The Activity

Your job is to step into in one of the interested party's shoes and look for solutions to the obvious problems that will arise. Listed on the next page are five of the groups involved in this event. You will be given some questions to think about and answer. There are more concerns than just those listed. If you know of one, discuss it with the rest of the class. If you can think of solutions for each of the problems that concerns your group, then you may wish to build the reservoir. If no logical solutions are in sight, or if you can find a problem with the proposed location of the new reservoir, you must ask the state not to allow the South Kortright Reservoir. Whatever your group decides, be able to give reasons for that decision. Write down your decision and reasons so you can share them with the class.

The Decision

Your group will tell the State Water Commission (your class) what it decided The class makes the final decision on whether to build the reservoir. If your class feels that building the reservoir is a reasonable solution to New York City's water supply problems despite the needs of the local village and its people, then vote in favor of New York City. If you feel that New York City's potential water shortage is a problem that they can solve elsewhere, then rule in favor of the Village of South Kortright.

The Five Groups

1. Local Residents (farmers, business owners, homesteads). These are people and families that live in South Kortright. Many of the families have lived there for generations.

• How would you answer the question, "Where are we supposed to go now?" What would you tell them?
• Think about the moral issues. Is it acceptable to relocate families and destroy a village for the good of a larger population? Should New York City stay away from upstate New York, and solve their water problem some other way? Can they?
• The residents forced to move will be compensated with money by New York City. Can any amount of money make up for the loss of a home where people have lived for their entire lives, and in many cases, for generations?

2. The Environmentalists / Preservationists. These are local organizations working to protect the environment. Local fish and game clubs and hiking clubs are also included.

• This group argues that the new reservoir will result in the loss of pristine forests and streams. Will this reservoir cause habitat destruction for trout and other stream life in the West Branch? What about the wildlife that lives in the forests? There would obviously be no more hunting and hiking on the area if the reservoir is constructed.
• This group has made efforts over the years to restore the natural beauty of the South Kortright area. Will this reservoir ruin those efforts? Will the reservoir detract from the natural beauty?
• The preservationists are opposed to the construction of more large-scale, man-made structures that would disrupt the natural beauty of South Kortright. This reservoir would be the largest man-made structure in this part of the state. How might this dilemma be solved? How would you convince one side to give in to the other?

3. New York State Department of Transportation. This state agency will be responsible for building and maintaining new roadways around the new reservoir. Parts of six roads will be underwater if the reservoir is constructed, so new ones must be planned and built.

• Where are the new roadways going to go? How will they connect with one another? Which roads will not be rebuilt?
• On your map, draw in where you think the new roadways will have to go. Keep in mind that New York City owns the land up to 300 feet from the water (one tenth of an inch on the map), so a road cannot go right alongside the reservoir edge. Also remember the steepness of the land. Look at the contour lines. Roads cannot go straight up the steepest parts of mountains. You can build no more than two bridges, if needed, and you must be realistic about their locations and length.

4. Engineers and Planners. This group of people will ultimately decide on how and when to build the reservoir. They will be responsible for destroying or moving the buildings and how and where to construct the Kortright Dam.

• How much notice should be given to the residents to vacate their homes and find a place to relocate?
• How should the buildings, once empty, be destroyed? Fire? Knock them down and leave the building remains in a pile? Leave them standing, just cleaned out?
• What would you do with the churches? How might you move them to prevent their destruction?
• What about the cemetery? You would have to dig up all of the graves and take them to a new location. On your map, where would you put them? If the whole village wanted to leave the graves in place, would the city allow that?

5. New York City. This group represents both the residents of New York City, and officials of the Board of Water Supply -- the agency in charge of making sure that New York City's residents have a clean and plentiful water supply.

• For what reasons did you choose South Kortright for a new reservoir? Look at the information you have been given and the reservoir location on your map. What is good about this location?
• How would you determine NYC's compensation to the villagers that are forced to relocate? Should NYC pay more for the homes and businesses in South Kortright than they are really worth? Would you provide anything else other than money? What could you give the farmers who are forced off the land they depend on to make a living?
• How important is a clean, continuous supply of drinking water? Picture yourselves living in New York City. How much do you depend on clean water? What would you do if there was no tap water for you to use, for a week, until the drought ended?
• As a New York City resident, if your parents or grandparents lived in South Kortright, would you be willing to sacrifice their land and home for the good of the millions of people in New York City?

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