LIHI Certificate #185 – Upper La Chute Project, New York

LIHI Certificate #185 - Upper La Chute Project, New York

Nombre del proyecto	Upper La Chute
Certificado LIHI No.	185
Plazo del certificado LIHI	August 5, 2021 – August 4, 2031
Dueño	La Chute Hydro Company, LLC, a subsidiary of LS Power/ Patriot Hydro, LLC
Estado	Nueva York
Ubicación	Located at river mile 3.3 on the La Chute River in Ticonderoga, Essex County, NY
Capacidad instalada	4.9 MW
Generación media anual	19,000 MWh
Tipo de instalación	De pasada
Comisión Federal de Comercio No.	P-5760 exempt 1984

The Upper La Chute Project and the Lower La Chute Hydroelectric Project (LIHI #186) are both located on the La Chute River, in the Village of Ticonderoga, Essex County, New York. The La Chute River carries flow from Lake George to Lake Champlain and is approximately 2.5 miles long.

The Upper La Chute Project consists of three dams, Mill A presa (Lake George Salida dam, the control structure for the water surface level of Lake George into the La Chute River), Mill B dam, and Mill C dam. Upper La Chute utilizes the waters of Lake George, a 44 square mile recreational lake in upstate New York, as the cabeceras for the project. The releases from Lake George are set by New York State statute and guidelines and are regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). Flows from Lake George are conveyed 2,300 feet downstream by a steel compuerta 9 feet in diameter to a central eléctrica located near Mill C. The dam forms a bypassed reach approximately 1 mile long. The powerhouse has a single turbine-generator unit rated at 4,900 kilowatts.

The Upper La Chute project operates in de pasada mode and inflows are dictated by flow releases from Lake George. More specifically, operations are detailed in the 1992 Lake George Presa Operating Guidelines for the Upper La Chute Hydroelectric Project, which provides other regulations for the stewardship of the water resources at Lake George and at the project. A continuous minimum flow of 30 cfs in the bypassed reach is provided to support resident aquatic biota.

Waters within the project reach are designated as Class AA-S(TS) at Lake George, Class C(TS) in the bypassed reach, and Class C in the tailwater reach. Lake George is listed as impaired for silt and sediment pollution due to urban and storm runoff as well as erosion. The Lake George Watershed Association has taken many steps to help prevent polluted flows from entering the lake. Class AA waters are best used for drinking water, primary or recreación de contacto secundario, and fishing. Class C waters are best used for fishing. The application of (TS) indicates that the classifications are supportive of trout populations.

The La Chute River in the project vicinity supports a mix of warmwater and coldwater fish species. Of these, several migratory species are found at the project including blueback herring, alewife, American eel, lake sturgeon, landlocked Atlantic salmon, and sea lamprey. Atlantic salmon are maintained via stocking and American eel are similarly supported via stocking. Blueback herring, alewife, and sea lamprey are considered non-native or invasive and thus pose a threat to native species, especially trout and salmon. Passage is not desirable for these species as they could negatively impact native fish populations in Lake George. Downstream passage is provided via a downstream bypass which includes a buried pipe with an underground sluice that carry fish to the bypass reach. Downstream passage is also provided through the minimum flow weir at Upper La Chute.

The project lands consist of just under 500 acres encompassing both the Upper La Chute and Lower La Chute projects. The shoreline in the project vicinity is a mix of deciduous and evergreen forest with residential and commercial properties with ornamental grasses. Some agrarian fields and humedales are also found in the area. The 1992 Lake George Dam Operating Guidelines for the Upper La Chute Hydroelectric Project provides specific provisions regarding the management of water levels in the Lake George watershed.

Threatened or endangered species potentially present in the project vicinity include the Indiana bat and Northern long-eared bat. No critical habitats for either species are found in the project vicinity. Other listed plant and bird species are listed as potentially present though the project does not operate in or impact areas where these species may be found.

Consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office concluded that project operations do not have an adverse impact on historical or cultural resources in the area.

Recreational resources at the project include fishing, boating, and camping access at the Upper impoundment. There is also fishing access in the bypass reach. Public access is provided free of charge.

Estado de cumplimiento

No existen condiciones específicas de la instalación en el Certificado actual

2024: No se identificaron cambios materiales ni problemas de cumplimiento. El proyecto sigue cumpliendo con los requisitos según la revisión anual.

2023: No se identificaron cambios materiales ni problemas de cumplimiento. El proyecto sigue cumpliendo con los requisitos según la revisión anual.

2022: No se identificaron cambios materiales ni problemas de cumplimiento. El proyecto sigue cumpliendo con los requisitos según la revisión anual.

2021: 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.

14 de diciembre de 2021: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has issued a final decision on the certification of the Upper La Chute Project. The 30-day appeal window closed on December 4, 2021 and no appeals were filed. Therefore, the decision to certify the project is now final. The new term is August 5, 2021 through August 4, 2026.

4 de noviembre de 2021: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) has preliminarily approved the Upper and Lower La Chute Projects for 5-year terms 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 “Upper and Lower La Chute Projects” 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. Las solicitudes deben recibirse antes de las 5 p. m., hora del Este, el 4 de diciembre de 2021. The full application and reviewer’s report are available below. If no appeal requests are received and the decision becomes final, the Certification term for each Project will be August 5, 2021 through August 4, 2026.

5 de agosto de 2021:The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has received a complete application for Low Impact Certification of the La Chute Upper and Lower Projects. 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 “La Chute Project Comments” in the subject line, or by mail addressed to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute, 1167 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, MA 02476. Los comentarios deben recibirse antes de las 5 p. m., hora del Este, el 4 de octubre de 2021 Para ser considerado. Todos los comentarios se publicarán en el sitio web y el solicitante tendrá la oportunidad de responder. Las respuestas también se publicarán.