Description: A personal narrative that considers the ecological, social, and human interests around dams in New York's Hudson River Valley.
Brief description: Akiko Busch has taught at the University of Hartford, Bennington College, and the School of Visual Arts. She is the author of several essay collections, including How to Disappear: Notes on Invisibility in a Time of Transparency.
Review Quotes:
"Busch's dedication to understanding these specific dam sites-their histories, the industries they enabled, the ecological consequences of their presence and potential removal-produces a deeply researched portrait of how infrastructure shapes watersheds across centuries." - H-Net Reviews (H-Environment)
"Akiko Busch has brought her personal explorations and conversations with freshwater scientists together in a delightful description of what was lost when small dams were built on tributaries of the Hudson River and what to expect with their removal." - William H. Schlesinger, President, Emeritus, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
"In New York's Hudson Valley, humans have dammed, studied, drained, celebrated, abused, and entirely rerouted the water that flows through the region. In From the Millpond to the Sea, Akiko Busch demonstrates that the ultimate stance we take toward our waterways-in the Hudson Valley and everywhere-reflects the aspirations, expectations, and respect we have for our own lives." - Chip Blake, former editor of Orion