LIHI Certificate #98 - Weybridge Project, Vermont

Nom du projet Weybridge
Numéro de certificat LIHI 98
Durée du certificat LIHI
 6 février 2017 – 5 février 2027
Propriétaire Société d'énergie de Green Mountain
État Vermont
Emplacement Located at river mile 19.5 on Otter Creek in Weybridge and New Haven, Vermont.
Capacité installée 3.0 MW
Génération annuelle moyenne 13,846 MWH
Type d'établissement Daily cycling in normal and low flows; au fil de l'eau in high flows
Fédération internationale de radio-télévision (FERC) Non. P-2731 issued in 2001, expires 07/31/2031

The Weybridge Project is located in the towns of Weybridge and New Haven, in Addison County, Vermont situated at the tête of a rock-walled gorge where the Otter Creek cascades around a small island. The project forms a compact cluster of buildings and structures around the eastern and western divided falls at the upstream end of the island. Huntington Falls and Beldens developments (part of the Projet Otter Creek (LIHI #128)) are located just upstream and Middlebury inférieur (LIHI #99) is located upstream of those. The Projet Vergennes (LIHI #134) is located approximately 12 miles downstream and is the first barrage on the river upstream of the confluence with Lake Champlain.

Originally constructed in 1922, the project’s initial west crèche en bois dam was replaced by a concrete dam in 1944/1945. Five years later, the west dam was raised, and the east timber crib dam was also replaced with a concrete dam. A second centrale was built, and the original powerhouse was retired in 1951. The project is owned by Green Mountain Power (GMP), the first energy utility certified as a Société B.

The Project includes a concrete barrage-poids 30-feet-high and 302.6-feet-long with an integral powerhouse. The dam consists of two déversoirs: the 150-foot-long west déversoir section, topped with a 6-foot-high hinged steel tableau flash, and abutted by a 20-foot-wide and 10-foot-high Tainter gate; and a 116-foot-long east spillway section topped with an automatically inflated rubber weir.

The powerhouse is integral with the dam and has an intake with 3-inch steel racks. There is one vertical Kaplan turbine generator with a capacity of 3.0 MW. A dérivation structure extends from the downstream end of the dam at Rock Island to another small island at the entrance to the 700-foot-long bypass reach channel, and around another island (Wyman Island), reapportioning the flow in the bypassed (west) and tailrace (east) channels. The diversion structure includes a control weir with journal d'arrêt slots at the downstream end, at the entrance to the west channel. A 15-foot wide by 3.5-foot-high notch in the control weir passes water from the pool formed by the control weir and the diversion structure, downstream into the west channel around Wyman Island.

The project operates as a daily cycling facility during normal and low flow conditions. Cycling is suspended from April 1 to June 15 to protect fish spawning and the project operates in a run-of-river mode when flows exceed its hydraulic capacity. Fluctuations are limited to 3-inches during run-of-river operations and 2-feet otherwise. The project provides a 250-cfs minimum bypass flow when not generating and 125 cfs during generation. Minimum flows are also increased during April and May should the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (VANR) notify the project that walleye have been introduced to this river reach to accommodate walleye spawning. This flow regime was developed in consultation with VANR and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Waters within the project reach are designated as Class B and impaired for E. coli, agricultural nutrients, sediment, and PCB contamination. Class B waters are managed to support high quality habitat for aquatic biota, fish, and wildlife as well as waters that exhibit good aesthetic value. VANR has confirmed that the project does not contribute to the listed impairments.

Migratory fish have historically ascended many of Lake Champlain’s tributaries to access spawning waters. Natural populations of Atlantic salmon were extirpé from the Lake Champlain Basin around 150 years ago. Today, no natural populations of anadromous or catadrome fish are present in project reach. Sections of Otter Creek upstream of the project are a warm-water fishery with northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, brown trout, and rainbow trout, among others. Below the dam is a mixed warm-water and cool-water fishery. Most species found upstream can be found downstream of the project. Resource agencies have not prescribed any upstream passage facilities for the project. Downstream passage is facilitated by the spillway, Tainter gate, or via the turbine, which requires passage through trashracks with 3-inch clear spacing. Passage is also available over the downstream diversion structure and the flow control weir.

The project lands consist of approximately 140 acres. Surrounding lands are primarily forested upland and pasture/hay areas, with some low intensity housing nearby. Project operations are not expected to cause shoreline erosion concerns and no lands of significant ecological value exist in the project area.

Threatened or endangered species potentially present in the project vicinity include the Indiana Bat, Northern Long-eared Bat, Hybrid Thread-leaved Pondweed, Riverweed, Fluted-shell Mussel, Creek Heelsplitter, Giant Floater, and Creeping Lovegrass.

Bat species are not expected to be impacted due to the lack of critical habitat in the area. VANR has determined that the project does not impact any of the listed species.

Historic properties in the project area include the project infrastructure which is eligible for listing on the Registre national des lieux historiques. The project operates under a Historic Properties Management Plan, ensuring annual communication with the Vermont Division of Historic Preservation. Additionally, the project must consult with the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation prior to any construction or land disturbing activities.

Recreational resources at the project include two canoe portages and take-out areas as well as a picnic area. Public access is provided free of charge.

État de conformité

Il n’y a pas de conditions spécifiques à l’établissement dans le certificat actuel.

2025: Aucun changement important ni problème de conformité n'ont été identifiés. Le projet reste conforme sur la base de l'examen annuel.

2024: Aucun changement important ni problème de conformité n'ont été identifiés. Le projet reste conforme sur la base de l'examen annuel.

2023: Aucun changement important ni problème de conformité n'ont été identifiés. Le projet reste conforme sur la base de l'examen annuel.

2022: Aucun changement important ni problème de conformité n'ont été identifiés. Le projet reste conforme sur la base de l'examen annuel.

2021: Aucun changement ni problème de conformité n'a été signalé. Le projet reste conforme sur la base de l'examen annuel.

2020: The project documented completion of flow verification monitoring for the diversion weir, required every five years. Monitoring confirmed proper functioning of the diversion structure and weir, with bypass flows higher than the 100 cfs target. FERC approved the monitoring report in 2020. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review.

2019: Aucun changement ni problème de conformité n'a été signalé. Le projet reste conforme sur la base de l'examen annuel.

2018: Aucun changement ni problème de conformité n'a été signalé. Le projet reste conforme sur la base de l'examen annuel.

2017: 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.

April 15, 2019: The decision to recertify the Weybridge Hydroelectric Project is final. No appeals were received during the appeal period which closed on April 11, 2019. The new certification term for the Project is from February 6, 2017 through February 5, 2022.

March 12, 2019: On March 11, 2019 the Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) preliminarily approved Low Impact Certification for the Weybridge Hydroelectric Project, LIHI Certificate #98 for a new 5-year term. 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 “Weybridge 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. Requests must be received by 5 pm Eastern time on April 11, 2019.  Le dossier complet et le rapport des évaluateurs sont disponibles ci-dessous.

12 novembre 2018 : The Weybridge Hydroelectric project has been granted another extension of the current certificate term. The new expiration date is March 31, 2019.

11 juin 2018 : The Weybridge Hydroelectric project has been granted another extension of the current certificate term. The new expiration date is September 30, 2018.

3 novembre 2017 : The Weybridge Hydroelectric project has been granted another extension of the current certificate term. The new expiration date is March 31, 2018.

26 octobre 2017 : On October 26, 2017, the Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) received a complete application from Green Mountain Power for the Low Impact Certification of the Weybridge Hydroelectric Project, located in Webridge and New Haven, VT (FERC 2731). LIHI is seeking public comment on this application. Specifically, we are interested in knowing whether you think the Weybridge project meets the LIHI Low Impact Certification Criteria. The Weybridge application is subject to review using the Criteria in the LIHI Certification Handbook of 2016.  Please review the program and criteria in LIHI’s 2016 Manuel et examinez ensuite les documents de candidature 2017 du projet publiés 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 “Weybridge Project Comments” in the subject line, or by mail addressed to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute, 329 Massachusetts Ave, Suite 2, Lexington, MA 02420. The 60 day public comment period begins on October 26, 2017. Les commentaires doivent être reçus à l'Institut au plus tard à 17 heures, heure de l'Est, le 26 décembre 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.

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

29 novembre 2012 : The Weybridge Project has been certified as low impact for a five-year term, effective February 6, 2012 and expiring February 6, 2017.

6 avril 2012 : La période de commentaires publics sur la demande est terminée.

6 février 2012 : Central Vermont Public Service (CVPS) has submitted an application for the certification of its Weybridge Hydroelectric Project. Public comment period on application has opened.

Dossiers de certification

Renouvellement de certification 2017-2019

Certification 2012

Documents clés