LIHI Certificate #141 – Mallison Falls Project, Maine

Mallison Falls Project, LIHI #141
Mallison Falls Project, LIHI #141
Mallison Falls Project, LIHI #141
Nom du projet Mallison Falls
Numéro de certificat LIHI 141
Durée du certificat LIHI 5 septembre 2017 – 4 septembre 2027
Propriétaire Presumpscot Hydro LLC, une filiale de Relevate Power LLC
État Maine
Emplacement Windham et Gorham, comtés de Cumberland
River mile 16.4
Rivière Presumpscot
Capacité installée 0.8 MW
Génération annuelle moyenne 4,200 MWh
Type d'établissement au fil de l'eau
Fédération internationale de radio-télévision (FERC) Non. P 2932 issued in 2003, expires 09/30/2053

The Mallison Falls Project is located on the Presumpscot River in the towns of Windham and Gorham, Cumberland County, Maine. The project has been used for a variety of manufacturing purposes since c. 1740. The site was developed specifically for hydroelectric generation in 1900, when several local businesses formed the Mallison Falls Power Company to generate power for their mills. The site was later owned and operated by the Cumberland Power and Light Company, which was later acquired by Central Maine Power Company (CMP). Mr. Lawrence Keddy, owner of the Mallison Corporation, purchased the site in 1955, using the power generated for his Little Falls steel mill. The site was purchased in 1974 by S.D. Warren, later renamed Sappi North America, Inc. On the Presumpscot River there are six hydroelectric facilities between Sebago Lake and the Atlantic Ocean in Portland, Maine. The Mallison Falls project is the sixth hydro project downstream of the Sebago Lake outlet. Upstream of the project, from upstream to downstream, are the Barrage à anguilles (LIHI #137), Gorham Nord (LIHI #129), Dundee (LIHI #138), Gambo (LIHI #139), et Little Falls projects (LIHI #140).

Le projet comprend la barrage, intake canal, centrale, two turbines, and upstream eel passage facilities. The dam is a 358-foot-long, 14-foot-high dérivation structure, consisting of a 113.5-foot-long cut granite déversoir section, a 174.5-foot-long reinforced concrete spillway section, and a 70-foot-long canal headgate structure. The intake canal is 675 feet long, 41 feet wide, and 6 feet deep. The powerhouse contains two vertical Turbines Francis direct connected to generators with a total installed capacity of 0.8 MW. The bypass reach is 675 feet long running between the dam and powerhouse tailwaters, the lower 375 feet of which is backwatered by discharges from the Mallison Falls powerhouse and by the downstream Saccarappa Project which is undergoing decommissioning and removal).

The project operates in run-of-river mode and impounds an 8-acre reservoir. The project provides seasonal minimum flows: 60 cfs from May1 – October 31 and 40 cfs from November 1 – April 31. This flow regime was developed based on studies conducted by Maine Department of Environmental Protection in order to maintain water quality and suitable fish and wildlife habitat.

Waters within the project reach are designated as Class B. This area of the Presumpscot River has historically been impaired for low dissolved oxygen levels. Monitoring conducted by Maine Department of Environmental Protection confirms that increased minimum flows at the project have achieved full attainment of dissolved oxygen standards in the downstream section of the river.

Les barrages en aval empêchent poisson anadrome passage at the project. Upstream passage facilities are required once biological triggers are met. Upstream American eel passage facilities were installed in 2006 and have been updated to provide more effective access for American eel passage. From September 1 through October 31, the project shuts down operations for 8 hours starting at sunset. This facilitates downstream migration of American eel. Shutdowns are coordinated with Maine Department of Marine Resources and US Fish and Wildlife Service to determine the most effective timing. Flows pass over the spillway and ensure safe migration into the bypass reach.

The project property consists of 28 acres not including the impoundment. The project’s operation and flow monitoring plan includes provisions that minimize erosion through impoundment dewatering and re-fill. Further, the state Mandatory Shoreland Zoning Act (municipally enforced) includes protections of all lands within 250 feet of the normal high-water line of any river/great pond, upland edge of defined freshwater zones humides, and lands within 75 feet of the high-water line of certain streams.

Threatened and endangered species potentially within the project property include: Northern long-eared bat, Eastern small-footed bat, little brown bat, brook floater, least bittern, upland sandpiper, Eastern box turtle, and spotted turtle. Activities with the potential to affect the listed species include: removal of large trees that may provide roosting habitat for the bats; exposure/dewatering of the brook floater mussel during significant, prolonged impoundment drawdowns, loss of or fragmentation of habitat due to development for the least bittern, upland sandpiper, and spotted turtle, and direct taking of box turtles for pets. The project owner expressed that none of these activities are planned at the project.

Historic properties at the project include the Cumberland and Oxford Canal. The project owner files a report with the State Historic Preservation Officer and the Penobscot Indian Nation annually, detailing activities conducted under the project’s historic properties management plan.

Recreational resources at the project include a canoe portage trail, formal parking at existing car-top boat access, car-top boat access upstream of the dam, car-top boat launch and take-out next to the bridge pilier, and walk-in angler access to the bypass reach. The project’s recreation use monitoring plan was developed in consultation with state agencies and US Fish and Wildlife Service.

État de conformité

Le certificat comprend les conditions spécifiques à l'établissement suivantes :

Partially satisfied in 2024. Condition 1 : The Owner shall provide LIHI with a copy of the 2018 effectiveness study of the upstream eel passage, along with MDMR and USFWS comments on the study results and comments related to whether additional effectiveness testing is required to confirm that eels are safely passing upstream at the Project. If additional testing is required, the schedule and final results along with agency comments on the report, agency recommendations for modifications, and plans and schedule for any needed modifications to shall also be provided to LIHI.

Condition 2. Le propriétaire doit informer le LIHI des activités suivantes dans la déclaration annuelle de conformité du LIHI :

Partially satisfied in 2024. un) The status of Condition 1 above.

b) L'état des tests d'efficacité du passage en aval des anguilles.

c) Le statut des espèces anadromes en amont et en aval passage des poissons activités du projet et du projet Saccarappa. Les mises à jour doivent inclure des résumés des consultations des agences et des parties prenantes et des recommandations formulées, tout changement dans les plans de passage des poissons par rapport à ceux décrits dans la demande du LIHI, et tout changement dans les exigences de passage ou le calendrier de mise en œuvre des deux projets. Le LIHI se réserve le droit de suspendre sa certification si les agences ne déterminent pas que le passage en toute sécurité au sein du projet est assuré et que ces exigences de passage n'ont pas été levées.

d) Un résumé de toute consultation avec le MIF&W et/ou l'USFWS concernant les espèces répertoriées par l'État ou le gouvernement fédéral identifiées comme pouvant être présentes sur le site et susceptibles d'être affectées par des activités de construction ou des opérations ou activités de maintenance non routinières. Cela comprendrait également les rabattements de retenue qui exposeraient une partie importante du fond de la rivière, entre autres activités non routinières. Un résumé des activités de déclenchement pertinentes et des mesures mises en œuvre au cours de l'année pour protéger ces espèces doit également être fourni.

Condition 3 : The LIHI Certification term will not expire until September 4, 2022 (extended to 2027 with the LIHI Handbook revision in 2022). If upstream anadromous fish passage is not installed at Mallison Falls by May 2021 (the earliest date based on a 2019 passe à poissons operational date at the Saccarappa Project) the Owner shall provide LIHI with a summary of the reasons passage has not yet been installed at Mallison Falls, and a revised schedule for installation based on the information available at that time.

2024: No material changes or compliance issues were identified. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review.  For Condition 1 and 2a the project submitted the 2023 upstream eel passage effectiveness report, thus partially satisfying those conditions (pending final agency comments) .  For Condition 2b, 2c, 2d and Condition 3, the project reported no change in status.

2023: No material changes or compliance issues were identified. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review.  For Condition 1 and 2a, the project reported that 2023 eel passage effectiveness testing was completed. For Condition 2b, 2c, 2d and Condition 3, the project reported no change in status.

2022: No material changes or compliance issues were identified. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review. For Condition 1 and 2a, the project reported installation of an rampe à anguilles extension to improve access to the existing ramp and will conduct further effectiveness testing subsequent to communication with MDMR and USFWS regarding the 3 sites which received modification, Dundee, Gambo, and Mallison. For Condition 2b, the project reported no testing has occurred yet, pending agency consultation. For Condition 2c, the project reported that MDMR conducted trap and tag testing in 2022 at the Saccarappa fishway with another testing year planned for 2023. For Condition 1d, the project reported no activity. For Condition 3, the project reported no change in status pending completion of fishway testing and returns at Saccarappa.

2021: There were no reported changes or compliance issues. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review. For Condition 1 and 2a, the project reported no change in status pending completion of work at Gambo and  agency approval to conduct effectiveness testing in 2023.  For Condition 2b, the project reported awaiting agency response on testing design.  For Condition 2c, the project reported that removal of the Saccarappa dam and fish passage was completed. For Condition 2d, the project reported no activity. For Condition 3, the project reported no change in status.

2020: There were no reported changes or compliance issues. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review. For Condition 1 and 2a, the project reported no change in status pending completion of work at Dundee and Gambo. For Condition 2b, the project reported delays in agency consultation due to agency staff changes and Covid.  For Condition 2c, the project reported that removal of the Saccarappa dam and fish ladder installation was ongoing. For Condition 2d, the project reported no activity. For Condition 3, the project reported no change in status.

2019: There were no reported changes or compliance issues. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review. For Condition 1 and 2a, the project reported no change in status due to high flows that precluded work at Dundee and Gambo. For Condition 2b, the project reported a planned agency meeting for the study. For Condition 2c, the project reported that removal of the Saccarappa dam had begun. For Condition 2d, the project reported no activity. For Condition 3, the project reported no change in status.

2018: There were no reported changes or compliance issues. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review. For condition 1 and 2a, the project reported that upstream passage effectiveness testing was not completed with agency approval pending passage modifications at Dundee and Gambo.  For Condition 2b, the project reported downstream passage effectiveness planning was in progress.  For Condition 2c, the project reported filing with FERC of the Saccarapa project license surrender application. For Condition 2d, the project reported no activity.  For Condition 3, the project reported no change in status.

 

Historique des certifications

1er janvier 2022 : La durée du certificat LIHI a été prolongée conformément à la révision 2.05 du manuel de certification LIHI 2e édition publié le 1er janvier 2022. Reportez-vous au tableau des établissements ci-dessus pour connaître la nouvelle durée.

March 5, 2018 – The 30-day appeal window closed for the preliminary certification decision of the Mallison Falls Hydroelectric Project closed on March 1, 2018 with no appeals to the decision received. The decision is therefore final and Mallison Falls is LIHI Certificate #141. The Certificate term will be September 5, 2017 – September 4, 2022.

30 janvier 2018 – On January 24, 2018, the Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) preliminarily approved Low Impact Certification for the Mallison Falls project. This decision is preliminary pending the 30-day appeal window. Only those who commented in the initial application 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 to  commentaires@lowimpacthydro.org. Les demandes doivent être reçues avant 17 h 00, heure de l’Est, le 1er mars 2018.

7 septembre 2017 – On September 7, 2017, the Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) received a complete application from S.D. Warren Company d/b/a Sappi North America for the Low Impact Certification of the Mallison Falls Project, FERC No. P-2932, located on the Presumpscot River in Maine.

LIHI is seeking comment on the Mallison Falls application for certification. 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 commentaires@lowimpacthydro.org with “Mallison Falls Project Comments” in the subject line, or by mail addressed to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute, 329 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 2, Lexington, MA 02420.  Les commentaires doivent être reçus à l'Institut au plus tard à 17 heures, heure de l'Est, le 7 novembre 2017. à prendre en considération. Tous les commentaires seront publiés sur le site Web et le candidat aura la possibilité d'y répondre. Toute réponse sera également publiée.

Dossiers de certification

Certification 2017

Documents clés