LIHI Certificate #158 – Chasm Project, New York

Chasm Project, LIHI #158
Nom du projet Chasm
Numéro de certificat LIHI
 158
Durée du certificat LIHI 26 avril 2019 – 25 avril 2029
Propriétaire Erie Boulevard Hydropower, LP, une filiale de Brookfield Renewable Energy Group
État New York
Emplacement River Mile 28.8 on the North Salmon River
Capacité installée 3.35 MW
Génération annuelle moyenne 10,210 MWh
Type d'établissement Au fil de l'eau
Fédération internationale de radio-télévision (FERC) Non. 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 sources 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 déversoir stabilization. Further improvements were made to the centrale including installing a tailrace retaining wall, several new turbines, and civil works updates for installation of a new sous-station. 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 barrage, spillway, intake, steel conduite forcée, 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 Turbine 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 au fil de l'eau 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 débit de 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/loisirs de contact secondaire 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 entraînement 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 zone humide, riverain, 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.

État de conformité

Il n'existe aucune condition spécifique à l'établissement dans le certificat actuel

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: Aucun changement ni problème de conformité n'a été signalé. Le projet reste conforme sur la base de l'examen annuel.

2020: Aucun changement ni problème de conformité n'a été signalé. Le projet reste conforme sur la base de l'examen annuel.

2019: Le rapport annuel pour le certificat actuel n’est pas encore entré en vigueur.

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.

4 septembre 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 juillet 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 commentaires@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. Les demandes doivent être reçues avant 17 heures, heure de l’Est, le 22 août 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 avril 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 Manuel et examinez ensuite les documents de candidature du projet ci-dessous. Les commentaires directement liés à des critères LIHI spécifiques (débits, qualité de l'eau, passage des poissons, etc.) seront très utiles, mais tous les commentaires seront pris en compte. Les commentaires peuvent être soumis à l'Institut par courrier électronique à l'adresse commentaires@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 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 2019

Documents clés