LIHI Certificate #93 - Arnold Falls Project, Vermont

Arnold Falls Project, LIHI #93
Nombre del proyecto Arnold Falls
Certificado LIHI No. 93
Plazo del certificado LIHI February 6, 2017 – February 5, 2027
Dueño Corporación de energía Green Mountain
Estado Vermont
Ubicación Located at river mile 9.7 on the Passumpsic River, a tributary of the Connecticut River, approximately 5.5 miles downstream of the Pierce Mills project.
Capacidad instalada 350 kW
Generación media anual 1,484 MWh
Tipo de instalación De pasada
Comisión Federal de Comercio No. P-2399 issued in 1994, expires 11/30/2034

The Arnold Falls Project is located in northeastern Vermont in St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County, on the Passumpsic River. The presa y central eléctrica were built in 1928 by the Twin State Gas & Electric Company following the 1927 flood which did extensive damage to the original station. Before 1928, the site contained facilities for water-powered manufacturing, including mills and pattern shops. Before these, a natural waterfall existed at the site. The falls bear the surname of Dr. Jonathan Arnold, an early settler and entrepreneur who constructed the first sawmill there in 1787 and a gristmill the following year. In 2009, the existing cuna de madera dams were abandoned in place and replaced with reinforced concrete gravity dams immediately downstream of the timber crib dams.

The project is the fourth dam on the Passumpsic River. Closest upstream is Pierce Mills (LIHI #92). Downstream are Gage (LIHI #94), Passumpsic Project (LIHI #95) and East Barnet (FERC No. 3051), the first dam on the river. The river is 22.7 miles long and a tributary to the Connecticut River, entering just downstream of Comerford Presa (part of the Fifteen Mile Falls Project, LIHI #39). The project is owned by Green Mountain Power (GMP), the first energy utility certified as a Corporación B.

The project includes two concrete gravity dams, a powerhouse with a turbine and generator, bypassed reach, subestación, y aliviadero.

The North Dam is 180-feet-long by 18-feet-high, with a dam crest elevation of 573.0 feet msl. It is topped with 20.4-inch hinged steel tableros de flash. The South Dam is 64-feet-long by 15-feet-high, with a crest elevation of 572.0 feet msl, topped with an inflatable tablero de flash system. The intake is 20-feet-wide with trashracks and a manually operated bulkhead gate. The dam creates a bypassed reach about 300-feet-long.

The powerhouse contains one vertical shaft turbine and a generator rated at 350 kW. The downstream paso de peces facility is located in the sluiceway of the spillway adjacent to the intake.

El proyecto opera en un de pasada mode and impounds a 10-acre reservoir. The project provides minimum flows of 78 cfs through the North Spillway and 33 cfs through the South Spillway when not generating. The flow regime was established via consultation with Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (VANR) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to ensure protection of aquatic habitat.

Waters within the project reach are designated as Class B and impaired for e. coli contamination due to the St. Johnsbury wastewater treatment facility. The project is not responsible for this contamination. Class B waters are managed to achieve aquatic wildlife habitat, aesthetic value, public water supply, and primary contact recreational uses.

While American eel populations were historically plentiful in the Connecticut River watershed, the presence of many dams on the river now prevent passage of the species. The downstream East Barnet Dam and dams on the Connecticut River block passage and USFWS has not requested upstream passage at the project. The project facilitates downstream passage through the sluiceway which provides a 25-cfs flow to a piscina de inmersión. The passage is primarily utilized by resident trout species.

The project lands consist of roughly 10.6 acres. No lands of significant ecological value exist in the project property, as very little outside of the powerhouse and dam is under the project’s ownership. The surrounding land is primarily mixed industrial and commercial buildings.

Threatened or endangered species potentially present in the project vicinity include the Northern Long-eared Bat. Consultation with VANR has determined that project operations do not negatively affect the listed species. The primary concern for the Northern Long-eared Bat is the clearing of trees, of which the species rely on for habitat.

The project infrastructure, including the dams, intake structure, generating units, and powerhouse, is eligible for the Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos. The project operates under a cultural resources management plan, which ensures annual communications with the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation.

Recreational resources at the project include a canoe portage, portage trail, and a handicapped-accessible viewpoint and fishing deck just downstream of the project. The project owner voluntarily revised the Passumpsic River Canoeing and Recreation Guide and provides guided facility tours. 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 materiales ni problemas de cumplimiento. El proyecto sigue cumpliendo con los requisitos según la revisión anual.

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

2018: The project reported installing new directional signage along the canoe portage route and a new picnic bench at the Le Clair site. FERC approved the improvements in 2017. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review.

2017: 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.

August 15, 2018: The decision to recertify the Arnold Falls Hydroelectric Project is final. No appeals were received during the appeal period which closed on August 11, 2018. The new term for the Arnold Falls Project is from February 6, 2017 through February 5, 2022.

July 12, 2018: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) preliminarily approved the Arnold Falls Hydroelectric Project for a new 5-year term of Low Impact Certification. This decision is preliminary pending the 30-day appeal window. Only those who commented in 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 projects do not meet the LIHI criteria. Appeal requests can be submitted by email to comentarios@lowimpacthydro.org with “Arnold Falls Hydroelectric Project” in the subject line, or by mail addressed to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute, 329 Massachusetts Ave, Suite 2, Lexington, MA 02420. All requests will be posted to the website and 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 11, 2018.  The full application and reviewer’s report are available below. If no appeal requests are received and the decision becomes final, the new term for the Arnold Falls Project will be February 6, 2017 through February 5, 2022.

11 de junio de 2018: The Arnold Falls certification term has been extended again to September 30, 2018.

April 3, 2018: The Arnold Falls y certification term has been extended again to June 30, 2018.

November 28, 2017: The Arnold Falls  certification term has been extended to March 31, 2018.

December 30, 2016: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has received a complete application for a new term of Low Impact Certification for the Arnold Falls Hydroelectric project. The application materials can be found in the Files section below. LIHI is seeking public comment on this application.  Specifically, we are interested in knowing whether you think the Arnold Falls project meets the LIHI Low Impact Certification Criteria, as revised in the 2nd Edition Handbook released in March 2016.  Please review the program and criteria in LIHI’s revised Manual and then review the Project’s 2016 application materials posted on the project page. Comments that are directly tied to specific LIHI criteria (flows, water quality, fish passage, etc.) will be most helpful, but all comments will be considered.  Comments may be submitted to the Institute by e-mail at comentarios@lowimpacthydro.org with “Arnold Falls Project Comments” in the subject line, or by mail addressed to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute, PO Box 194, Harrington Park, New Jersey 07640.  Comments must be received at the Institute on or before 5 pm Eastern time on March 4, 2017 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.

December 16, 2016: The Arnold Falls Hydroelectric project has been granted an extension of the current certificate term. The new expiration date is May 6, 2017. See extension letter for explanation below.

September 9, 2012: The Arnold Falls project has been certified as low impact for a five year term, effective February 6, 2012 and expiring February 6, 2017.

April 6, 2012: El período de comentarios públicos sobre la solicitud ha cerrado.

February 6, 2012: The Central Vermont Public Service Corporation has submitted an application for the certification of the Arnold Falls project. Public comment period on application has opened.

Archivos de certificación

2017 Recertification

Certificación 2012

Documentos clave