Traveling on the state Route 12 and 12B corridor from Chenango Bridge to Hamilton, just about everywhere you turn these days, the "Stop the Power Line" signs are on lawns, barns and in windows. No doubt the residents are concerned about what New York Regional Interconnect’s plans are for a large power line to provide downstate residents with more electricity. Residents and politicians have mobilized for a long and expensive battle to keep the power line from being built.

This isn’t the first time residents of an area covering Chenango, Madison and a small part of Otsego counties banded together to stop projects they didn’t want. Back in 1969, the Upper Unadilla Valley Association formed to stop a big dam from being built, as well as the construction of a power line through the area.

The news broke in 1969 that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had proposed to build one of four large dams in the upper Unadilla Valley portion of the Susquehanna River basin for flood control and recreational opportunities in the regions surrounding the reservoirs.

Local residents didn’t consider a dam that would flood their homes, businesses and farmland as an "opportunity" at all. They decided to fight the Corps plan by forming a group of concerned citizens from five local communities: West Winfield, Bridgewater, Unadilla Forks, Leonardsville and West Edmeston. This was the start of the UUVA.

The proposed dam in this area was to be built near West Edmeston, which would have flooded the Unadilla Valley from the Madison-Chenango County line to the upper reaches of the east and west branches of the Unadilla River, essentially submerging communities such as Leonardsville and Unadilla Forks.

In the months following the announcement of the dam, the association met several times. Members contacted their legislators and wrote to regional newspapers suggesting alternative flood-control solutions, such as restoring many small millponds along the Unadilla River and planting trees to promote the in-soak of rainwater. They also stressed the value of the area’s farmland economy, which would be destroyed by the dams.

By July 1970, the Army Corps of Engineers’ plan for the West Edmeston dam had been discarded "because it would destroy too much farmland." The UUVA remained together to call attention to the area of its past and to preserve the rural quality of life and its many treasures, which it still does today.

Once again the association had to spring into political action in November 1992, when New York State Electric & Gas Corp. looked to build a 115-kilovolt power line from Richfield Springs through the Unadilla Valley to Waterville. The line would cross 28 miles of scenic property, including woods, streams and open fields, and cost electric ratepayers $3 million.

For the next five years, UUVA members dug their heels in for another battle to save their valley. This was a tougher and more-expensive battle than fighting the dam.

The UUVA brought in a high-powered lawyer/lobbyist from Washington, as well as a nationally known engineering consultant. UUVA also joined forces with Prudent Residents Opposed to Electric Cable Transmissions (PROTECT), an organization that had dealt with similar energy issues in its fight against the Marcy South line.[an error occurred while processing this directive]

UUVA-PROTECT knew NYSEG had deep pockets to get this power line built, so aside from researching and lobbying, the local team needed to raise money.

In May 1997, the UUVA achieved a legal and political milestone. The state Public Service Commission agreed with valley residents’ arguments by using cost/benefit criteria in evaluating the need for the power line. It was the first time a grass-roots citizens’ group had defeated this type of power-line application.

This weekend: Since we’ve hopefully put away the snow shovels for the last time, we’ll pick up some golf clubs and head to Stamford.

City Historian Mark Simonson’s column appears twice weekly. On Saturdays, his column focuses on the area during the Depression and before. His Monday columns address local history after the Depression. If you have feedback or ideas about the column, write to him at The Daily Star, or e-mail him at simmark@stny.rr.com. His website is www.oneontahistorian.com.