LIHI Certificate #102 - Putts Bridge Project, Massachusetts

Putts Bridge Project, LIHI #102
Nombre del proyecto Putts Bridge
Certificado LIHI No. 102
Plazo del certificado LIHI
 December 20, 2023 –
December 19, 2033
Dueño Central Rivers Power MA, LLC, a subsidiary of LS Power/ Patriot Hydro, LLC
Estado Massachusetts
Ubicación Located at approximate river mile 9.2 on the Chicopee River in the Towns of Wilbraham and Ludlow and City of Springfield in Hampden County, Massachusetts.
Capacidad instalada 3.9 MW
Generación media anual 13,713 MWh
Tipo de instalación Flujo de río
Comisión Federal de Comercio No. P-10677 exempt 1992

The Putts Bridge Project is located on the Chicopee River in the Towns of Wilbraham and Ludlow, and the City of Springfield in Hampden County, Massachusetts. The Project presa crosses the town line between Springfield and Ludlow; the central eléctrica is located in Ludlow. The impoundment extends in a northeasterly direction, bordering Springfield and Ludlow. The Project was originally constructed in 1918 by the Ludlow Manufacturing Company.

Aunque el río Chicopee tiene solo 29 kilómetros de longitud, su cuenca hidrográfica tiene 1870 kilómetros cuadrados, la más grande de todo Massachusetts y la mayor cuenca afluente del río Connecticut. Durante la Revolución Industrial, el río Chicopee se convirtió en un destino muy codiciado para la energía hidroeléctrica, en gran parte por su caída de 79 metros en su curso.

The Putts Bridge project is situated upstream of three other hydroelectric facilities located on the Chicopee River and downstream of two other dams on the Chicopee River as well as other dams on the Ware, Swift and Quaboag Rivers. The two upstream projects are Collins (LIHI-#88), y Puente rojo (LIHI #96). Downstream are Huerto indio (LIHI #112), Chicopee Falls (FERC No. 6522), y Dwight (LIHI-#170).

The project includes a dam, concrete headgate structure, two conduits, forebay, trashrack, intake structure, a powerhouse with two generating units, a tailrace channel, appurtenant facilities.

The dam crosses the Chicopee River in a roughly north-to-south direction, and is a concrete gravity structure approximately 223 feet long by 22 feet high. The northern contrafuerte of the dam is contiguous with the abutment for the Ludlow Avenue Bridge. Adjacent to this abutment are a skimming gate and a deep sluice gate. A 23-foot-long non-overflow section extends from the gate area to the 200-foot-long ojiva aliviadero which extends across the river to the south abutment. A concrete retaining wall extends from the south abutment for approximately 133 feet. The dam creates a 1,700-foot-long bypassed reach.

The concrete headgate structure is adjacent to the northeast abutment of the dam. Six motorized compuertas de entrada, each approximately 12 feet wide by 13.3 feet high direct flow to a double-barreled, underground concrete conduit that extends 647 feet from the impoundment to the forebay. Each barrel of the conduit is 16.5 feet high by 12.5 feet wide.

The forebay is a reinforced concrete structure measuring 40 feet wide by 104 feet long. The forebay is 41.5 feet high, with a 2.5-foot diameter spigot type drain gate at the base, and an 18-foot-wide skimming gate on the north forebay. The trashrack is situated along the western forebay wall, extending from the floor of the forebay. There is a mechanical trash rake mounted on rails along the entire width of the trashrack. Wooden headgates, measuring 14.3 feet square, isolate the forebay from the generating units.

The powerhouse has a concrete substructure with a brick superstructure. It houses two operating units, No.2 and No.3, and one retired unit, No. 4. Unit No.1 was never installed although the turbine pit is there. Unit No.5 is a retired waterwheel exciter. The project has a combined capacity of 3.9 MW. The tailrace canal runs 355 feet from the powerhouse in a westerly direction to where the flow re-enters the Chicopee River.

El proyecto opera en un de pasada mode and impounds a 65-acre reservoir. The project provides a 25 cfs minimum flow to the bypass reach and limits impoundment fluctuations to +/- 0.25 foot. This flow regime was developed in consultation with US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife (MDFW).

Waters within the project reach are designated as Class B and impaired for the presence of invasive water chestnut, E coli and fecal coliform.  Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection confirmed that the project does not cause or contribute to any adverse water quality conditions.

The Chicopee River watershed is not currently the subject of migratory fish management efforts and downstream dams block access; however, American eel is found throughout the Chicopee River system. Resident fish species include bluegill, pickerel, bass, sunfish, sucker, and many more. Though not designed for paso de peces, the minimum flow gate can pass riverine fish downstream over the dam.

The project lands consist of roughly 4 acres. The shoreline consists primarily of shrub and forested humedal but lie outside the project boundary. No lands of significant ecological value are found within the project area.

No threatened or endangered species are potentially present in the project vicinity. Though the Northern long-eared bat has the potential to exist statewide, the project does not contain any critical habitat for the species and the urban environment is unlikely to support roosting trees.

El proyecto en sí es elegible para su inclusión en la lista Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos. Consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office is required before conducting any construction activity with potential to modify existing historic facilities.

Recreational resources at the project include an informal boat ramp and fishing access on the east side of the impoundment. Public access is provided free of charge.

Estado de cumplimiento

El Certificado incluye las siguientes condiciones específicas de la instalación:

Condición 1:  Should the Facility Owner receive notification during the term of this LIHI Certification from either the USFWS or MDFW that upstream and/or downstream passage for anadromous or catádromo fish is required, based on sound science / technical data that has shown that such passage is required at the Putts Bridge Project, the Facility Owner shall forward a copy of that notification and its response to LIHI within 45 days of receipt of the notification.

Condición 2:  Should the Facility Owner determine that ground disturbance or significant changes in project operations are desired during the term of this LIHI Certification that could affect habitat for the swamp dock, the Facility Owner shall conduct studies and filings deemed necessary by the state to determine impacts to swamp dock that may occur in the Project area. LIHI shall be provided copies of agency communications (e.g., approvals, denials, mitigation measures, etc.) associated with such desired Project changes. This information should be submitted as part of the LIHI annual compliance statements.

2024: No material changes or compliance issues were identified. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review.  For Conditions 1 and 2, the project reported no activity.

2023: Annual reporting for the current Certificate has not yet taken effect.a

Historial de certificaciones

3 de enero de 2024: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has issued a final decision on the mid-term recertifications of the Red Bridge, Putts Bridge, Indian Orchard, and Dwight Hydroelectric Projects. These projects are located on the Chicopee River in Massachusetts. The preliminary decision was announced on November 28, 2023 starting the 30-day appeal window. That window closed on December 28, 2023 and no appeals were filed. Therefore, the decision to recertify the projects is now final. The new project term is shown in the table above and the full mid-term review application and review report can be found below.

28 de noviembre de 2023: El Instituto de Energía Hidroeléctrica de Bajo Impacto (LIHI) ha aprobado preliminarmente la recertificación de Bajo Impacto para los proyectos hidroeléctricos Red Bridge, Putts Bridge, Indian Orchard y Dwight, ubicados en el río Chicopee, Massachusetts. Esta decisión es preliminar y está pendiente del plazo de apelación de 30 días. Solo quienes presentaron comentarios sobre la solicitud inicial durante el plazo de 60 días pueden presentar una apelación. Dicha apelación debe incluir una explicación de por qué el proyecto no cumple con los criterios de LIHI. Las solicitudes de apelación pueden enviarse por correo electrónico a comentarios@lowimpacthydro.org Con el asunto "Proyectos del Río Chicopee", o por correo postal dirigido al Instituto de Energía Hidroeléctrica de Bajo Impacto, 1167 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, MA 02476. Todas las solicitudes se publicarán en el sitio web. El solicitante tendrá la oportunidad de responder, y cualquier respuesta también se publicará. Las solicitudes deben recibirse antes de las 5 p. m., hora del Este, el 28 de diciembre de 2023.  The consolidated review report can be found below.  If no appeal requests are filed, the new certification term will be December 20, 2023 – December 19, 2033.

August 17, 2023: Four LIHI Certified projects located on the Chicopee River in Massachusetts received a consolidated amendment to their FERC exemptions on March 13, 2023.  The projects are Red Bridge (LIHI #96), Putts Bridge (LIHI #102), Indian Orchard (LIHI #112), and Dwight (LIHI #170).  The amendment authorized changes in each project’s operations from alcanzando su punto máximo to run-of-river along with changes in bypass reach minimum flows at some projects.  In accordance with Section 5.3.4 of the 2nd Edition LIHI Handbook, Revision 2.05, issuance of a FERC exención amendment that affects the LIHI criteria constitutes a “material change” and triggers a mid-term LIHI Certification review.  New Certificate terms can be granted if the projects continue to satisfy the LIHI criterion, even if the current certification terms have not yet expired. The applicant, Central Rivers Power, MA, LLC (a subsidiary of LS Power/ Patriot Hydro, LLC), has submitted a summary of the operational changes related to the FERC exemption amendment.  Documents are available in the Certification Files Section of each project webpage:

A 60-day public comment period is being opened to allow stakeholders to comment on the submittal. All comments received will be incorporated into the mid-term review report, posted on the LIHI website, and incorporated into the preliminary decision to recertify the projects.  Comments can be submitted to mailto:comments@lowimpacthydro.org with “Chicopee River Projects” in the subject line. Comments must be received by 5 pm Eastern time on October 16, 2023.

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.

8 de agosto de 2019: The decision to recertify the Putts Bridge Hydroelectric Project is final. No appeals were received during the appeal period which closed on July 19, 2019. The new certification term for the Project is from December 20, 2017 through December 19, 2022.

19 de junio de 2019: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has preliminarily approved Low Impact Certification for the Putts Bridge Hydroelectric Project. 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 “Putts Bridge Hydroelectric Project” in the subject line, or by mail addressed to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute, 329 Massachusetts Ave, Suite 6, Lexington, MA 02420. All requests will be posted to the website.  The applicant will have an opportunity to respond and any response will also be posted. Las solicitudes deben recibirse antes de las 5 p. m., hora del Este, del 19 de julio de 2019.  The full application and reviewers report are available below. If no appeal requests are received and the decision becomes final, the Certification term for the Project will be December 20, 2017 for a five (5) year term which will expire on December 19, 2022.

April 8, 2019: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has received a complete application for Low Impact Recertification of the Putts Bridge Hydroelectric Project.  LIHI is seeking public comment on this application.  Specifically, we are interested in knowing whether you think the Project meets the LIHI Low Impact Certification Criteria, as revised in the 2nd Edition Handbook.  Please review the program and criteria in LIHI’s revised Manual y luego revise los materiales de solicitud del Proyecto a continuación. Los comentarios que estén directamente relacionados con criterios específicos de LIHI (flujos, calidad del agua, paso de peces, etc.) serán de gran ayuda, pero se considerarán todos los comentarios. Los comentarios pueden enviarse al Instituto por correo electrónico a comentarios@lowimpacthydro.org with “Putts Bridge Project Comments” in the subject line, or by mail addressed to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute, 329 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 6, Lexington, MA 02420.  Comments must be received on or before 5 pm Eastern time on June 7, 2019 Se considerarán todos los comentarios. Se publicarán en el sitio web y el solicitante tendrá la oportunidad de responder. También se publicarán todas las respuestas.

March 12, 2013: The Putts Bridge Hydroelectric Project has been certified as low impact for a five year term, effective December 20, 2012 and expiring December 20, 2017.

February 18, 2013: El período de comentarios públicos sobre la solicitud ha cerrado.

December 20, 2012: Essential Power LLC has submitted an application for the certification of the Putts Bridge project. Application has been posted and the public comment period has opened.

Archivos de certificación

2023 Mid-term Review

Recertificación 2019

Certificación 2012

Documentos clave