Seneca Lake is the largest body of fresh water wholly contained within the New York State. Its beauty is breathtaking, its water resource invaluable. But it has one other fairly unique physical feature. Under the lake are salt caverns, huge underground hollow expanses. A company called Crestwood is eyeing the caverns as a storage facility and transport hub for fracked gas.

This methane expansion project is advancing in the face of a global climate crisis and in the face of unparalleled public opposition and unresolved questions about geological instabilities, slip strike faults, and possible salinization of the lake, which serves as a source of drinking water for 100,000 people.

On this expedition we are joined by scientists familiar with the region’s unique geology and local activists who are fighting the proposed infrastructure project.