LIHI Certificate #59 - Rice Rips Project, Maine

Rice Rips Project, LIHI #59
Nombre del proyecto Rice Rips
Certificado LIHI No. 59
Plazo del certificado LIHI 9 de mayo de 2020 – 8 de mayo de 2033
Dueño Messalonskee Stream Hydro Associates, una subsidiaria de Essex Hydro Associates, LLC
Estado Maine
Ubicación Located at river mile 7.7 on the Messalonskee Stream, a tributary of the Kennebec River, in Kennebec County, Maine.
Capacidad instalada 1,6 MW
Generación media anual 5,600 MWh
Tipo de instalación modificado de pasada
Comisión Federal de Comercio No. P-2556 emitido en 1999, vence el 30/06/2036

The Rice Rips Project is located on Messalonskee Stream in Waterville, Maine. The project, located approximately 7.7 miles upstream of the confluence with the Kennebec River, is one of four hydropower facilities between Messalonskee Lake presa and the Kennebec. Three of the facilities, Union Gas (LIHI #58), Rice Rips, and Oakland (LHI #60) are licensed together under FERC project No. 2556. The Automatic project (LIHI #72) FERC No. 2555, is located between Rice Rips and Union Gas; the Oakland project is located upstream of Rice Rips, the second hydroelectric project below Messalonskee Lake. Project construction was completed in 1908 and it operated as an unlicensed facility until 1969.

Project works consist of a 220-foot-long Ambersen (buttress) dam with 5-foot-high tableros de flash; a 10-foot-diameter wood stave compuerta that is 2,292 feet long and empties into a surge pond that is 150 feet in diameter; a central eléctrica containing one 1.6-MW vertical Turbina Francis/generator; and a 1.6-mile-long impoundment with a gross storage capacity of 1,000 acre-feet. The dam creates a bypass reach approximately ½ mile long.

The project operates in a run-of-river mode. Operation of the project is dependent on inflow to Messalonskee Lake and discharge from the upstream Messalonskee Lake Presa. When inflow to Messalonskee Lake is greater than approximately 570 cfs, the project is operated as a run-of-river project. When inflow is less than approximately 570 cfs the project is cycled with a maximum impoundment drawdown of 1 foot. The project provides a minimum flow of 15 cfs at all times into the bypass reach. All additional water that does not go through the turbines is discharged over the aliviadero and through the bypass reach. This flow regime is based on recommendation from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP) to assist in improving water quality in the river and protecting aquatic biota.

Las aguas dentro del alcance del proyecto están designadas como Clase C, aptas para la pesca, primaria y recreación de contacto secundario, aquatic habitat, and drinking water supply after treatment. The minimum flow regime minimizes the effect of phosphorus loading to protect aquatic biota habitat. The phosphorus loading and subsequent issues with low dissolved oxygen concentrations are likely caused by effluent from the upstream Union Gas wastewater treatment facility .

Historically, there is little evidence detailing the presence of anadromous species in Messalonskee Stream. Additionally, there is limited rearing and spawning habitat upstream of the Messalonskee Stream projects. However, the 15-cfs minimum bypass flow facilitates downstream movement past the Project. American eel, a catádromo species, is the only migratory species present in the project area. In 2010, the Messalonskee Stream projects began installation of upstream and downstream passage for American eel. These facilities were completed and approved by Maine Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) in 2015, when efficiency testing showed 90-92 percent passage efficiency.

PLUS-Estándar: Downstream passage for American eel is facilitated by voluntary nightly shutdowns from 6 pm to 2 am between September 1 and October 30. MDMR is currently collaborating with the project owner to adjust the timing of these shutdowns to better protect the migrating species. This action constitutes a toda la cuenca estrategia de reurbanización tanto dentro del arroyo Messalonskee como dentro de la cuenca más grande del río Kennebec, donde la restauración de la diádromo fishery began with the removal of Edwards Presa at the cabezaEn 1999, se modificó la marea y se permitió el acceso de los peces a aproximadamente 27 kilómetros del río hasta Waterville, aguas arriba de la confluencia del arroyo Messalonskee. El DMR de Maine emitió el Plan de Gestión del Río Kennebec. Diádromo Enmienda de Recursos de 2020, que actualizó un plan anterior de 1993. La enmienda incluye a la anguila americana por primera vez, con el objetivo declarado de "proporcionar un paso seguro, oportuno y eficaz río arriba y río abajo para la anguila americana en todo su hábitat históricamente accesible".

The project lands consist of 178 acres. The 200-foot boundary zone extending around the Rice Rips impoundment is bordered by a steep gradient and is undeveloped. De pasada operations have minimal effect on shoreline erosion due to the predominantly granite and gravel substrates in the tailrace area.

Threatened or endangered species potentially present in the project vicinity include Atlantic salmon, Northern long-eared bat and black tern. The project area does not provide any suitable habitat for the bat species. Waterfowl surveys of the project area concluded that project operations do not impact habitat or nesting practices for the black tern. The species has been observed nesting in the Messalonskee Lake impoundment but not at the project.

Se han identificado varios recursos arqueológicos del período precontacto en las inmediaciones de los proyectos del arroyo Messalonskee. El propietario del proyecto mantiene un Plan de Gestión de Recursos Culturales y evalúa periódicamente cualquier impacto sobre estos recursos con la asistencia de la Comisión de Preservación Histórica de Maine. La Comisión concluyó que las operaciones del proyecto no están afectando negativamente a los recursos de la zona.

Recreational resources at the project include an ADA accessible fishing platform on Messalonskee Lake, a recreational trail, and a carry-in boat launch for access to Messalonskee Stream. Public access is provided free of charge.

Estado de cumplimiento

En el Certificado actual no existen condiciones específicas para ninguna instalación.

2025: No se identificaron cambios sustanciales ni problemas de cumplimiento. El proyecto se mantiene en cumplimiento según la revisión anual. Continúan los cierres nocturnos durante la temporada de migración de anguilas.

2024: No material changes or compliance issues were identified.  The project remains in compliance based on the annual review.  Nightly shutdowns during eel migration season continue. The project reported one impoundment level deviation due to operator error that was considered a FERC violation.

2023: No se identificaron cambios sustanciales ni problemas de cumplimiento. El proyecto se mantiene en cumplimiento según la revisión anual. Continúan los cierres nocturnos durante la temporada de migración de anguilas.

2022: No se identificaron cambios sustanciales ni problemas de cumplimiento. El proyecto se mantiene en cumplimiento según la revisión anual. Continúan los cierres nocturnos durante la temporada de migración de anguilas.

2021: El informe anual del Certificado vigente aún no ha entrado en vigor. Sin embargo, el proyecto informó que los cierres nocturnos continuarán del 1 de septiembre al 30 de octubre para el paso de anguilas americanas río abajo.

Historial de certificaciones

1 de enero de 2022: El plazo del Certificado LIHI se ha extendido de acuerdo con la Revisión 2.05 del Manual de Certificación LIHI 2.ª Edición emitido el 1 de enero de 2022. Consulte la tabla de instalaciones anterior para conocer el nuevo plazo.

27 de agosto de 2021: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has issued a final decision on the recertification of the Rice Rips Project. The 30-day appeal window closed on August 26, 2021 and no appeals were filed. Therefore, the decision to recertify the project is now final. The new term is May 9, 2020 through May 8, 2028.

27 de julio de 2021: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) has preliminarily approved the Rice Rips Project for a new 8-year term of Low Impact Certification. This decision is preliminary pending the 30-day appeal window. Only those who commented on the initial application during the 60-day comment period are eligible to file an appeal. Such appeal needs to include an explanation as to how the Project does not meet the LIHI criteria. Appeal requests can be submitted by email to comentarios@lowimpacthydro.org with “Rice Rips Project” in the subject line, or by mail addressed to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute, 1167 Massachusetts Ave, Office 407, Arlington, MA 02476. All requests will be posted to the website. The applicant will have an opportunity to respond and any response will also be posted. Requests must be received by 5 pm Eastern time on August 26, 2021. The full applications and review reports are available below. If no appeal requests are received and the decision becomes final, the Certification term for the Project will be May 9, 2020 through May 8, 2028.

3 de mayo de 2021: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) has received a complete recertification application from Messalonskee Stream Hydro Associates for the Rice Rips Project. LIHI is seeking comment on the application. Comments that are directly tied to specific LIHI criteria (flows, water quality, paso de peces, etc.) serán de gran ayuda, pero se tendrán en cuenta todos los comentarios. Los comentarios pueden enviarse a LIHI por correo electrónico a comentarios@lowimpacthydro.org with “Rice Rips Comments” in the subject line, or by mail addressed to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute, 1167 Massachusetts Avenue, Office 407, Arlington, MA 02476. Los comentarios deben recibirse en el Instituto antes de las 5 p. m., hora del Este, el 2 de julio de 2021 para ser considerados. Todos los comentarios se publicarán en el sitio web y el solicitante tendrá la oportunidad de responder. Cualquier respuesta también se publicará. La solicitud se encuentra a continuación.

2 de mayo de 2016: LIHI Executive Director Michael J. Sale, using authority delegated from the LIHI Governing Board, has certified that the Rice Rips Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. P-2556) satisfies the LIHI Certification Criteria. A Preliminary Decision was announced on April 1, 2016, and a 30-day appeal period was open through May 1, 2016. No requests for appeal were received. This Certification Decision includes one facility-specific condition, as follows:

  • Satisfecho en 2020 Condición 1:On the Owner’s Annual Compliance Statements, the Owner will update LIHI on the status of downstream eel passage at the site. The Owner will notify LIHI within 45 days of when DMR determines there is a sufficient number of eel to present in the river to conduct the studies needed to determine the best location to install downstream passage. A summary of those study results, along with a DMR approved plan and schedule for downstream eel passage installation, shall be included in that year’s Annual Compliance Statement.

The effective certification date for the Rice Rips Project is May 9, 2015 for a five (5) year term, which will expire on May 9, 2020.

4 de diciembre de 2015: LIHI has received a comment letter from the Maine Department of Marine Resources in support of the recertification of the Rice Rips project. The comment may be found in the Files section below.

November 24, 2015: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has received a complete application for a new term of Low Impact Certification for the Rice Rips Hydroelectric project.  The application materials can be found in the Files section below. The public comment period for this application closed on January 23, 2015.

19 de junio de 2015: The Rice Rips Project has been granted an extension of the current certificate term. The new expiration date is December 31, 2015.

22 de octubre de 2010: The Rice Rips Project has been certified as low impact for a five year term, effective May 9, 2010 and expiring May 9, 2015.

9 de julio de 2010: El período de comentarios públicos para la solicitud de certificación ha sido cerrado.

9 de mayo de 2010: Messalonskee Stream Hydro Associates has submitted an application for certification of the Rice Rips Hydroelectric Project. A public comment period will remain open for 60 days.

Archivos de certificación

Recertificación 2021

Recertificación 2015

Certificación 2010

Documentos clave