LIHI Certificate #23 - Raystown Project, Pennsylvania

Raystown Project, LIHI #23
Project Name Raystown
LIHI Certificate No. 23
LIHI Certificate Term August 11, 2014 – August 11, 2022, extended to March 15, 2023
Owner Allegheny Electric Cooperative
State Pennsylvania
Location Located at river mile 5.5 on the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River, in Huntingdon County in south central Pennsylvania.
Installed Capacity 21 MW
Average Annual Generation 87,889 MWh
Facility Type Modified run-of-river
FERC No. P-2769 issued 1982, expires 2032

Raystown Dam, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), is located on the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River, upstream of its confluence with the Juniata River and further upstream of the Juniata River’s confluence with the Susquehanna River. Raystown Dam and Raystown Lake are located in south central Pennsylvania in Huntingdon County, near the borough of Huntingdon. Construction of the dam began in October 1968 and was completed in October 1973.

The Allegheny Electric Cooperative (AEC) operates the Raystown Hydroelectric Project (William F. Matson Generating Station) at Raystown Lake. The hydroelectric station, completed in 1988, is located at the base of Raystown Dam and is operated in close cooperation with the USACE which gives all flow and temperature regulating instructions to AEC. Constant flow discharges are adjusted on a daily basis to minimize river fluctuations downstream.
The project includes: an intake tower, intake tunnel, penstock, powerhouse, two generating units, and wheel gate. The hydroelectric facilities are separate from the USACE-owned dam.

Raystown Dam, which is 225 feet high, consists of a rolled earth and rockfill embankment with a gated spillway in the right abutment, the top 3.5 feet of ungated spillway being a fuse plug of erodible backfill material. The gated spillway is controlled by two 45-foot-square Tainter gates and is equipped with a warm water outlet system with a 4.75-foot by 6.75-foot slide gate served by inlet ports at three levels. There is a low-level outlet tunnel with two 5.5-foot by 10-foot gates.

The hydroelectric station intake tower has the capability of withdrawing water from different levels of the lake for downstream temperature control. Intake trashrack clear spacing is 3 inches. The concrete tunnel stretching from the intake tower to the powerhouse is 12 feet in diameter, steel-lined, and 930 feet long. The steel penstock is 12 feet in diameter and 550 feet long. There are two power-generating units in the powerhouse, with a combined capacity of 21 MW. Twenty-two adjustable wicket gates control flow through each unit. Flow is also regulated by the closure of two turbine shut-off valves located upstream of the generating units. Flow through the tunnel, penstock, and powerhouse can be regulated by the closure of a 12-foot square wheel gate located in the intake structure.

The project operates in a modified run-of-river mode and is situated at a USACE dam. Flows are controlled by the USACE and the project passes flows as mandated by the USACE. The project provides seasonal minimum flows of 200 cfs from May through November and 480 cfs from December through April. This flow regime was developed and approved in consultation with the USACE and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) to protect fish, wildlife, and water quality.

Waters within the project reach are designated as impaired for human uses due to pH and mercury contamination. While the source of the impairment is not known, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has confirmed that the project is not the cause of the impairments in the project reach. Efforts have been made to mitigate these impairments upstream of the project by constructing limestone ponds, settling ponds, and wetlands to reduce metal concentrations and increase pH. Significant progress has been noted as a result of these mitigation efforts.

Historically, the Juniata River supported bountiful populations of American shad and American eel. Due to the development of four hydroelectric dams on the Susquehanna River in the early 1900s, the species were extirpated from the area around 15 years before the project was complete. Efforts to restore fish passage are being undertaken at several of the downstream dams.

The project lands consist of around 11.5 acres. No lands of significant ecological value exist in the project area.

PLUS-Standard: The Raystown Lake shoreline and adjacent lands are owned by the USACE. All undeveloped lands within a 300-foot area of the shoreline have been dedicated for conservation purposes.

Threatened or endangered species potentially present in the project vicinity include the bald eagle and Virginia mallow. Bald eagles have been observed nesting in the project vicinity. The project has adopted a bald eagle recovery plan to minimize any impact on the species and no impacts are expected for the Virginia mallow as confirmed by the PFBC.

While there are no known cultural or historic resources in the project area, the project consults with the State Historic Preservation Office prior to any construction or ground disturbing activities.

Recreational resources at the project include an Americans with Disabilities Act accessible fishing pier. Other recreation facilities are present but are managed by USACE, not the project. Public access is provided free of charge.

Compliance Status

The Certificate includes the following facility-specific condition:

  • Condition 1: Along with its annual compliance letter, AEC shall include an update on any changes in PFBC’s downstream fisheries management objectives that may have occurred or have been discussed over the past year. AEC shall cooperate with PFBC on any studies related to new coldwater fisheries management downstream of the facility, subject to the fact that the Corps of Engineers will have final say over structural or operational changes at their dam. AEC shall keep LIHI apprised of developments in this area on an annual basis.

2022: No material changes or compliance issues were identified. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review.  For Condition 1, the project reported no changes in management objectives.

2021: There were no reported changes or compliance issues. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review. For Condition 1, the project indicated no changes.

2020: There were no reported changes or compliance issues. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review. For Condition 1, the project indicated no changes.

2019: There were no reported changes or compliance issues. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review. For Condition 1, the project indicated no changes.

2018: There were no reported changes or compliance issues. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review. For Condition 1, the project indicated no changes.

2017: There were no reported changes or compliance issues. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review. For Condition 1, the project indicated no changes.

2016: There were no reported changes or compliance issues. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review. For Condition 1, the project provided a letter from PFBC indicating no change in fisheries management objectives.

2015: Annual reporting for the current Certificate has not yet taken effect.

Certification History

February 22, 2023: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) has preliminarily approved the Raystown Project (LIHI #23) for a new 10-year term of Low Impact Certification. The full application and reviewer’s report are available below.

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 “Raystown Project” in the subject line, or by mail addressed to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute, 1167 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, MA 02476. 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 March 24, 2023.

If no appeal requests are received and the decision becomes final, the Certification term for the Project will be August 11, 2022 through August 10, 2032.

December 6, 2022: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) has received a complete recertification application from Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc. for the Raystown Project. The complete application can be found below.

LIHI is seeking comment on this application. 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 LIHI by e-mail at comments@lowimpacthydro.org with “Raystown Project Comments” in the subject line, or by mail addressed to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute, 1167 Massachusetts Avenue Arlington, MA 02476. Comments must be received at the Institute on or before 5 pm Eastern time on February 4, 2023 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.

February 20, 2015: The Raystown Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2769), LIHI Certificate No. 23 has been determined by the Executive Director, Michael J. Sale to continue to satisfy the requirements of the Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) Certification Program. The Raystown Project is located on the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River, in Huntingdon County in south central Pennsylvania.

In rendering this Certification, the Institute’s Executive Director used authority delegated by the LIHI Governing Board and the unanimous recommendation by the LIHI Governing Board Technical Committee resulting from a full review of the Application Reviewer’s report and all public comments and additional materials provided by the Applicant.  The decision to certify the Raystown Creek Hydroelectric Project is for an 8-year term, effective August 11, 2014 and expiring August 11, 2022.

June 4, 2014: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has received an application for a second term of certification of the Raystown Hydroelectric Project. The current certificate term is set to expire on August 11, 2014, but has been extended to March 31, 2015 to allow for internal review of the application for an additional term. The application materials can be found in the “Files” section below.

January 22, 2007: The Raystown Hydroelectric Project has been certified as low impact for an eight year term, effective August 11, 2006 and expiring August 11, 2014.

August 11, 2006: Allegheny Electric Cooperative has submitted an application for the certification of the Raystown Hydroelectric Project.

Files:

2022 Recertification

2015 Recertification

2006 Certification