LIHI Certificate #112 - Indian Orchard Project, Massachusetts

Indian Orchard Project, LIHI #112
Indian Orchard Project, LIHI #112
Project Name Indian Orchard
LIHI Certificate No. 112
LIHI Certificate Term
 July 19, 2018 – July 18, 2028 (option to extend to July 18, 2031)
Owner Central Rivers Power MA, LLC, a subsidiary of LS Power/ Patriot Hydro, LLC
State Massachusetts
Location Located at approximately river mile 7.8 on the Chicopee River in the Town of Ludlow and the City of Springfield in Hampden County, Massachusetts.
Installed Capacity 3.7 MW
Average Annual Generation 12,700 MWh
 Facility Type  Limited pond-and-release mode
 FERC No. P-10678 exempt 1992

The Indian Orchard Project is located on the Chicopee River in the Town of Ludlow and City of Springfield in Hampden County, Massachusetts. The dam crosses the municipal line between Ludlow and Springfield. The powerhouse is located in Springfield. The project dam and powerhouse were built circa 1896. The original equipment included horizontal waterwheels that were belt-connected to generators.

Although the Chicopee River is only 18 miles long, its watershed is 721 square miles, the largest in all of Massachusetts, and the largest tributary watershed to the Connecticut River. During the Industrial Revolution, the Chicopee River became a particularly sought-after destination for hydropower, largely because it drops 260 feet over its course.

The project is situated upstream of two other hydroelectric facilities located on the Chicopee River and downstream of three more on the Chicopee River. Upstream are Collins (LIHI #88) and Red Bridge (LIHI #96). Downstream are Chicopee Falls (FERC No. 6522), and Dwight (LIHI #170).
The project works include a cut-stone dam topped with 1.6-foot flashboards, a canal headgate house, a power canal, an intake structure for two operating penstocks, a powerhouse with two operating generating units, a tailrace channel and appurtenant facilities.

The canal headgate structure is a brick structure on a concrete foundation that houses the seven intake gates that control the flow from the impoundment to the power canal. There are seven steel head gates, each 8.4 feet high by 9.4 feet wide. Each gate is equipped with rack and pinion hoists. A minimum flow discharge pipe was installed just downstream of the canal gatehouse. The dam creates a bypassed reach approximately 1,600 feet long.

The power canal extends from the headgates to the penstock intake structure. The canal is approximately 1,300 feet long by 76 feet wide at the gatehouse, narrowing to 52 feet wide at the penstock intake. The inner sidewalls are constructed of cut-granite, and earthen embankments create the outer walls. The canal has a cobble floor. An 88-foot-long canal is on the north wall of the canal, adjacent to the headgate house. The intake structure includes two operating underground penstocks (and two closed in 1970). The powerhouse contains two operating generating units having a combined capacity of 3.7 MW.

The project operates in a limited store-and-release mode and impounds a 74-acre reservoir. It utilizes the useable storage capacity (35 acre-feet) afforded by a 0.5-foot drawdown year-round. The station is operated automatically by float controls. The project provides a 247-cfs bypass flow, or inflow, whichever is less. The flow regime was developed in the late 1980s with concurrence from US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Studies requested by USFWS were conducted in 1999 which confirmed that minimum flows were adequately met via flows passed by upstream dams.

Waters within the project reach are designated as impaired for pathogens, e. coli and fecal coliform, due to sewer overflows. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has confirmed that the project is not responsible for river impairment.

The Chicopee River watershed is not currently the subject of migratory fish management efforts and downstream dams create a barrier to upstream movement. American eel is the only migratory species found throughout the Chicopee River system. While not designed for passage, the minimum flow discharge pipe does permit downstream passage.

The project property consists of roughly four acres of mixed forest and two acres of deciduous forest surrounding the impoundment are potentially Priority or Estimated Habitat for bald eagles. The remaining lands are developed and open water. The project does not plan on disturbing any of the forested areas, but should that change, the project will consult with USFWS and Massachusetts Department of Fish and Wildlife (MDFW) should any such activities become necessary.

Threatened and endangered species potentially within project vicinity include: Northern long-eared bat and bald eagle. The project owner does not plan to cause any ground disturbance or tree removal which could impact critical habitats for listed species. The project has committed to follow guidance from MDFW and USFWS concerning minimization of impacts to the protected species.

Recreational resources at the project include a small boat dock, fishing access point, picnic area, and hiking trails. Public access is provided free of charge where safe.

PLUS-Standard Option: The Owner may seek to collaborate with local recreational interests and abutting landowners on potential options for providing a cartop put-in far enough downstream from the confluence of the bypass and tailrace to minimize hazards from sudden release of flows to the bypass in the event the generating unit suddenly trips offline. If a put-in is installed, whether or not on Project land, the Owner can request a PLUS standard at any time prior to six months before the expiration of the Certification term. LIHI will determine whether or not to award a PLUS standard for recreation and extend the Certificate term for three additional years.

Compliance Status

The Certificate includes the following facility-specific conditions:

  • Condition Satisfied in 2022. Condition 1:  The Owner shall revise the Minimum Flow and Impoundment Fluctuation Plan to reflect the minimum flow gate, incorporating appropriate resource agency comments; and confirm the top-of-flashboard elevation. A copy of the plan shall be provided to LIHI within 60 days of FERC submission. LIHI shall also be provided a copy of FERC’s final approval of the plan within 60 days of its receipt.
  • Condition 2:  Should the Owner receive notification during the term of this LIHI Certification from either the USFWS or MDFW that upstream and/or downstream passage for anadromous or catadromous fish is required, based on sound science / technical data that has shown that such passage is required at the Indian Orchard Project, the Owner shall forward a copy of that notification and its response to LIHI within 60 days of receipt of the notification.
  • Condition 3:  Should ground disturbance or removal of large trees be required during the term of this LIHI Certification that could affect habitat for bald eagles or Northern long-eared bats, the Owner shall consult with MDFW and USFWS to determine impacts to these species that may occur in the Project area. LIHI shall be provided copies of agency communications (e.g. approvals, denials, mitigation measures, etc.) associated with such activities. This information should be submitted as part of annual compliance submittals to LIHI.
  • Condition 4 (optional):  The Owner shall seek to collaborate with local recreational interests and abutting landowners  on potential options for providing a cartop  put-in far enough downstream from the confluence of the bypass and tailrace to minimize hazards from sudden release of flows to the bypass in the event the generating unit suddenly trips offline. If a put-in is installed, whether or not on Project land, the Owner can request a PLUS standard at any time prior to six months before the expiration of the Certification term. LIHI will determine whether or not to award a PLUS standard for recreation and extend the Certificate term for three additional years.

2023: No compliance issues were identified. A material change was identified with FERC’s March 13, 2023 exemption amendment, triggering a mid-term review.  For all conditions, the project reported no activity.

2022: No material changes or compliance issues were identified. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review. The project filed a FERC license amendment request to change to run-of-river operations with reduced minimum flows in the bypassed reaches of all owned projects on the river. The changes were developed in consultation with resource agencies via a settlement agreement and revised agency terms and conditions. Flow changes were based on flow/habitat study results. FERC has not yet acted on the amendment. For Condition 1 (now satisfied) the project submitted an agency-approved operations compliance plan as part of the FERC amendment request. The project reported no changes in conditions 2, 3, and 4.

2021: There were no reported changes or compliance issues. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review. For Condition 1, the project reported revisions to the flow plan were in progress.  For Conditions 2 and 3, the project reported no requests or activities. For Condition 4, the project reported no activity due to Covid-19.

2020: Annual reporting for the current Certificate has not yet taken effect.

Certification History

August 17, 2023: Four LIHI Certified projects located on the Chicopee River in Massachusetts received a consolidated amendment to their FERC exemptions on March 13, 2023.  The projects are Red Bridge (LIHI #96), Putts Bridge (LIHI #102), Indian Orchard (LIHI #112), and Dwight (LIHI #170).  The amendment authorized changes in each project’s operations from peaking to run-of-river along with changes in bypass reach minimum flows at some projects.  In accordance with Section 5.3.4 of the 2nd Edition LIHI Handbook, Revision 2.05, issuance of a FERC exemption amendment that affects the LIHI criteria constitutes a “material change” and triggers a mid-term LIHI Certification review.  New Certificate terms can be granted if the projects continue to satisfy the LIHI criterion, even if the current certification terms have not yet expired.

The applicant, Central Rivers Power, MA, LLC (a subsidiary of LS Power/ Patriot Hydro, LLC), has submitted a summary of the operational changes related to the FERC exemption amendment.  Documents are available in the Certification Files Section of each project webpage:

A 60-day public comment period is being opened to allow stakeholders to comment on the submittal. All comments received will be incorporated into the mid-term review report, posted on the LIHI website, and incorporated into the preliminary decision to recertify the projects.  Comments can be submitted to comments@lowimpacthydro.org with “Chicopee River Projects” in the subject line. Comments must be received by 5 pm Eastern time on October 16, 2023.

January 1, 2022: The LIHI Certificate term has been extended in accordance with Revision 2.05 of the LIHI 2nd Edition Certification Handbook issued January 1, 2022. Refer to the facility table above for the new term.

January 6, 2020: The decision to recertify the Indian Orchard project became final after the close of the appeals period on January 5, 2020 with no appeals filed. The Certification term is from July 19, 2018 – July 18, 2023.

December 5, 2019: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has preliminarily approved Low Impact Recertification for the Indian Orchard 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 comments@lowimpacthydro.org with “Indian Orchard 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 January 5, 2020.  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 will be from July 19, 2018 to July 18, 2023.

September 6, 2019: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has received a complete application for Low Impact Recertification of the Indian Orchard 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 Handbookand then review the Project’s application materials below. 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 comments@lowimpacthydro.org with “Indian Orchard 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 November 5, 2019 to be considered.  All comments will be posted to the web site and the applicant will have an opportunity to respond.  Any response will also be posted.

December 11, 2013: Indian Orchard Hydroelectric Project has been certified as low impact for a five year term, effective July 19, 2013 and expiring July 19, 2018.  The certification was granted with the following compliance obligations:

  • Condition satisfied in 2018. Condition 1. The Indian Orchard project owner, Essential Power LLC, will convene an annual workshop on Chicopee River Hydropower Operations designed to promote better understanding of regulated flows and impoundment fluctuations on the river, and to identify operational flow enhancements that can benefit the dual goals of clean, renewable energy and environmental protection.  This workshop will be a forum for sharing annual operational data from all the projects on the river.  The first such workshop will happen no later than June 2014, scheduled at a time when all the Chicopee hydropower owners and the applicable resource agencies can attend (i.e., FWS, MDFW and MDEP).  A summary report describing the outcomes for this workshop will be provided to LIHI and to workshop participants.  If the workshop is deemed a success, it will be repeated annually.  If it is less than successful, Essential Power may petition LIHI to discontinue it.  LIHI staff will be available to assist with this workshop, if so requested.

September 19, 2013: Public comment period on application has closed.

July 19, 2013: Essential Power LLC has submitted an application for the certification of the Indian Orchard Hydroelectric Project; application has been posted to website and public comment period was opened.

Files:

2023 Mid-term Review

2019 Recertification

2013 Certification