LIHI Certificate #158 – Chasm Project, New York

Chasm Project, LIHI #158
Nombre del proyecto Chasm
Certificado LIHI No.
 158
Plazo del certificado LIHI 26 de abril de 2019 – 25 de abril de 2029
Dueño Erie Boulevard Hydropower, LP, una subsidiaria de Brookfield Renewable Energy Group
Estado Nueva York
Ubicación River Mile 28.8 on the North Salmon River
Capacidad instalada 3.35 MW
Generación media anual 10,210 MWh
Tipo de instalación Flujo de río
Comisión Federal de Comercio No. P-7320 issued 2015, expires 10/31/2045

The Chasm Project is located on the “North” Salmon River (not to be confused with the Salmon River in Oswego County) near the Town of Malone in Franklin County, New York and is the fourth hydroelectric project upstream from the mouth of the river. From its cabeceras in the Adirondack Mountains, the river flows approximately 50 miles northwest to its confluence with the St. Lawrence River near Dundee, Quebec. The project was originally constructed in 1913 for the sole purpose of energy production. Improvements were made from 1938 to 1997 including installation of steel pipeline saddles, replacement of the steel pipeline, and aliviadero stabilization. Further improvements were made to the central eléctrica including installing a tailrace retaining wall, several new turbines, and civil works updates for installation of a new subestación. There are several other dams on the Salmon River including the Mountain View Project upstream, and Macomb Project (LIHI #159), Ballard Mill, and Whittelsey Project all located downstream.

The Project includes: a presa, spillway, intake, steel compuerta, powerhouse, three turbines, tailrace, and bypassed reach.

The Chasm Falls dam is a 202-foot-long and 32-foot-high concrete gravity-type dam that includes a 100-foot-long spillway section. A steel pipeline 3,355 feet long (begins at 99 foot long, 8 foot diameter steel pipeline reduces to 2,038 foot long, 7 foot diameter, which reduces to 1,243 foot, 6 foot diameter) convey water from the impoundment to the powerhouse. The penstock is above ground for the first 100+ feet downstream of the intake, then buried thereafter. The powerhouse contains three Turbina Francis units with a total installed capacity of 3.35 MW. The tailrace is 850 feet long and about 20 feet wide. The project creates a 4,800-foot-long bypassed reach. Approximately 500 feet downstream from the confluence of the bypassed reach and the tailrace is the Chasm Falls Recreation Area, a seasonal day use area owned and maintained by the project owner. There is also an informal bypassed reach access area near the powerhouse.

The project is operated in de pasada mode and impounds a 22-acre reservoir. The project provides minimum flows seasonally: 15 cfs from May 1 through October 1 and 23 cfs from October 2 through April 30. Project drawdown is limited to 0.25 ft from the crest of the dam when river flows exceed 85 cfs. When flows are less than 85 cfs, project drawdown is limited to 0.1 feet measured from the crest of the dam to support downstream habitat areas. The project also provides a flujo base of 70 cfs, or project inflow if less, through releases from the powerhouse and minimum flow taps. This flow regime was recommended by USFWS and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC).

Waters in the project reach are designated Class C, managed for aquatic habitat, fishing, and primary/recreación de contacto secundario where appropriate. The project operates under a sediment management plan which includes measures to minimize the potential for sediment releases that could impact habitat and populations downstream.

The project is located at the natural hydraulic barrier of Chasm Falls. The upstream and downstream reaches are managed as separate fisheries and passage is not needed. Resident river species upstream of the project include white sucker, small mouth bass, and yellow perch. The downstream reaches support wild brook trout, brown trout, longnose dace, cutlips minnow, blacknose dace, slimy sculpin, and creek chub. Trashracks with 1-inch spacing prevent arrastre into the project penstock and powerhouse.

The project lands consist of roughly 40 acres. The surrounding lands include primarily scattered residences, private recreation areas, summer camps, and forest land managed for forest production and recreation. The Titusville Mountain State Forest is located adjacent to the project impoundment. Consultation with the NYSDEC Natural Heritage Program indicates no lands of significant ecological value exist in the project area or vicinity. The reduced drawdown fluctuations at the project help to protect humedal, ribereño, and littoral habitat and minimize erosion in the project vicinity. The project also operates under an invasive species management plan with provisions for vegetation management, construction operations, and inspection and removal or aquatic invasives that may adhere to the project’s boats and trailers.

Threatened or endangered species potentially present in the project vicinity include the Northern long-eared bat. There are no critical habitats for the species and the project complies with the USFWS 4(d) rule concerning the protection of northern long-eared bat. The rule restricts tree clearing from June 1 to July 31 to protect potential habitat for transient individuals.

Historic properties in the project area include the Adirondack Pulp Mill Site located along the project’s bypassed reach. The site consists of the remnants of a former sawmill that was later converted to a pulp mill. A historic properties management plan was developed for the project in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office, the National Park Service, and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe. This plan includes provisions to ensure the proper stewardship of historic and cultural resources in the project vicinity.

Recreational resources in the project area include the Chasm Falls recreation area with parking and river access trail, designated fishing area, as well as picnic tables and angler/boater access in the upstream William A. King Memorial Park. Public access is provided free of charge.

Estado de cumplimiento

No existen condiciones específicas de la instalación en el Certificado actual

2025: No material changes or compliance issues were identified. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review. The project reported two minor deviations related to icing.

2024: No material changes or compliance issues were identified. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review. The project reported numerous minor deviations related to high flow debris buildup, upstream project unit trips and transmission line trips, none of which were FERC violations.

2023: No material changes or compliance issues were identified. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review. The project reported minor deviations related to icing, none of which were FERC violations.2023: No material changes or compliance issues were identified. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review. The project reported minor deviations related to icing, none of which were FERC violations.

2022: No material changes were identified. The project reported impoundment level deviations, some of which were FERC violations but have since been resolved.  The project is upgrading facility systems to improve impoundment level management.  The project remains in compliance based on the annual review.

2021: No se informaron cambios ni problemas de cumplimiento. El proyecto sigue cumpliendo con los requisitos según la revisión anual.

2020: No se informaron cambios ni problemas de cumplimiento. El proyecto sigue cumpliendo con los requisitos según la revisión anual.

2019: La presentación de informes anuales para el Certificado actual aún no ha entrado en vigor.

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.

4 de septiembre de 2019: The decision to certify the Chasm Hydroelectric Project is final. No appeals were received during the appeal period which closed on August 22, 2019. The certification term for the Project is from April 26, 2019 through April 25, 2024.

22 de julio de 2019:The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has preliminarily approved Low Impact Certification for the Chasm 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 “Chasm 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, el 22 de agosto 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 (pending LIHI #158) will be April 26, 2019 for a term of five (5) years, which will expire on April 25, 2024.

30 de abril de 2019: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has received a complete application for Low Impact Certification of the Chasm 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. Comentarios que están directamente relacionados con criterios específicos de LIHI (caudales, calidad del agua, paso de peces, etc.) serán de gran ayuda, pero se tendrán en cuenta todos los comentarios. Los comentarios pueden enviarse al Instituto por correo electrónico a comentarios@lowimpacthydro.org with “Chasm 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 29, 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.

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