By August 2025, the Martin Dunham Reservoir has been drawn down more than 10 feet, revealing cracked mud flats, drying shorelines, and the slow disappearance of a place that once defined Grafton Lakes State Park. Once a thriving recreational lake and vital stormwater buffer, Dunham now sits diminished, its waters receding under the weight of uncertainty.
This video shows the reservoir as it stands today, lowered, exposed, and slipping away. New York State Parks has proposed demolishing the dam and replacing the lake with an engineered wetland, a plan that has raised serious concerns about downstream flood risk, habitat loss, and what the future holds for one of the region’s most beloved public spaces. Many believe the waters will never rise again, that this drawdown is the first step in reducing the long-term costs of liability, not a temporary measure.
Locals and concerned citizens from around the region are pushing back. They’re calling for a full hydrologic impact study and downstream flooding assessments before any irreversible action is taken. They’re demanding transparency, science-based planning, and recognition of the reservoir’s cultural, ecological, and recreational value. Join the effort to save Dunham.
Sign the petition: www.savedunham.org
Filmed and produced by John Bulmer | Nor’easter Films / John Bulmer Media
Location: Grafton Lakes State Park, Rensselaer County, NY
© 2025 Nor’easter Films / John Bulmer Media. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution of this video is prohibited. The views expressed are those of the creator and do not represent any official agency or organization.