Dunbar's Cove; by Borden Deal.

The story about the family in US (Tenessee?) when dams were new, hydroelectric power was new, federal projects were new, and engineers were enthusiastic but had to convince the farmers about the land they needed to give, even if they were offered a larger piece elsewhere.

Today we know more about ill effects of dams, but there is no denying the change they brought in around the world. Now, Himaalaya is in danger due to dams in Tibet constructed by China and since the locale is very fragile, very volatile geologically, perhaps a little less development around the world would have been a better example. Hind sight is perfect of course.

And the book is nice.

Early days of nation building in US, with new techniques of engineering and new source of energy, electricity, not to mention irrigation ideas - all this makes dams and canals an imperative; but then the farmers that own and depend on the land that is needed for the dam cannot be just herded off (especially when they are not natives of the land but the right sort of immigrants, the sort that the government consists of till recently) so they have to be convinced with the right sort of arguments, and that too before the deadline for beginning the building of the dam.

It becomes slightly more complex when the engineer is in love with the farmer's daughter. And the problem is solved miraculously by finding the right sort of solutions and replacements.