LIHI Certificate #82 - Newfound Project, New Hampshire

Newfound Project, LIHI #82
Project Name Newfound
LIHI Certificate No. 82
LIHI Certificate Term May 13, 2021 – May 12, 2031
Owner KTZ Hydro, LLC, a subsidiary of Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, LLC
State New Hampshire
Location Located on the Newfound River, 175 feet above its confluence with the Pemigewassat River in Bristol, New Hampshire.
Installed Capacity 1.5 MW
Average Annual Generation 5,125 MWh
Facility Type Run-of-river
FERC No. P-3107 issued in 1981, expires 10/31/2031

The Newfound Project is located in downtown Bristol, New Hampshire approximately 800 feet downstream from the crossing of Water Street over the Newfound River. The project is located approximately seven miles above the confluence of the Pemigewasset and the Winnipesaukee Rivers which form the Merrimack River. The generally south flowing Merrimack River is New England’s fifth largest river.

The project was developed in 1927 by Public Service Company of New Hampshire which then discontinued its operation in 1948. In the 1970s, interest in domestic energy supply was renewed as foreign oil prices skyrocketed, and the project was purchased by the Newfound Hydroelectric Company in 1981. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a minor license in the same year with support from US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), New Hampshire Fish and Game (NHFG), the New Hampshire Historical Preservation Office, and the New Hampshire Water Supply and Pollution Control Commission (now NH Department of Environmental Services). The project has operated successfully ever since.

The project includes a diversion weir surmounted by wooden flashboards, totaling 10 feet in height; a concrete intake channel; a powerhouse containing two Francis turbine/generating units with a total installed capacity of 1.5 MW; a 6-foot diameter wooden penstock 420 feet long; and a 30-foot-wide tailrace extending 175 feet to the confluence of the Newfound and Pemigewasset Rivers.

The project operates in a run-of-river mode and impounds a 0.23-acre reservoir. The project provides a 12.7-cfs minimum flow through a flashboard notch into the 0.16-mile long bypassed reach. This flow regime was developed in consultation with USFWS and NHFG using results from a flow-observation study completed in 2011.

The waters above and below the project are impaired for mercury resulting from atmospheric deposition. It is not expected that the project is exacerbating this issue. In 2011, the project owner collaborated with New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) to conduct site specific water quality testing. Samples were collected and tested for dissolved oxygen, water temperature, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a. Based on these results, NHDES concluded that the project was meeting water quality standards for support of aquatic life and wildlife. The owner conducted a second sampling during the summer of 2018 which was confirmed by NHDES to meet water quality standards.

Historically, the river in the project reach has not supported anadromous fish species due to numerous downstream barriers on the Merrimack River.  American eel, a catadromous species, has also not been documented upstream of the project dam.  However, the project owner will consult with resource agencies to determine passage measures should fisheries agencies prescribe such measures in the future.

The project lands consist of roughly one acre. The project is located in a highly developed urban area. No lands of significant ecological value exist in the project area due to the small project footprint and developed nature of the area.

In 2016, the project area was assessed for threatened or endangered species potentially present in the project vicinity via the New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau database. This review found no threatened or endangered species or their critical habitat in the project area. The only listed species possibly present is the Northern long-eared bat, for which no critical habitat has been identified within the small project footprint.

No cultural resources have been identified in the project area by the New Hampshire Division of Historic Resources. The project owner currently has no plans to make substantive changes to the project that could lead to the discovery of historic resources, and has committed to developing a mitigation plan should any activities have the potential to affect any historic resources, should they be discovered.

Recreational resources at the project include informal access for fishing. Public access is provided free of charge.

Compliance Status

The Certificate includes the following facility-specific conditions:

Condition 1. The facility Owner shall continue to maintain a minimum flow of 12.7 cfs, or instantaneous inflow if less, through the penstock-bypassed reach for the duration of this new LIHI certification. Any deviations from this release shall be reported to LIHI in annual compliance statements, along with discussion of the cause and actions taken to minimize re-occurrence.

Condition 2. If a fisheries agency requests or prescribes upstream or downstream passage for American eel at the Project during the term of the new LIHI Certificate, the facility Owner shall notify LIHI within 60 days of such action and the steps that the Owner is prepared to take to install appropriate passage at the Project dam. In the event that the Owner notifies LIHI that it does not intend to install appropriate passage, or that the Owner cannot reach an agreement with the resource agency, or agencies, as to the nature of this passage, LIHI reserves the right to modify, suspend, or revoke certification should LIHI determine that the Owner’s position is inconsistent with the LIHI fish passage criteria 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, the project reported no deviations. For Condition 2, the project reported no requests for eel passage.

2023: 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 deviations. For Condition 2, the project reported no requests for eel passage.

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 deviations. For Condition 2, the project reported no requests for eel passage.

2021: Annual reporting for the current Certificate has not yet taken effect.

Certification History

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.

October 25, 2021: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has issued a final decision on the recertification of the Newfound Project located on the Newfound River in New Hampshire.  The 30-day appeal window closed on October 24, 2021 and no appeals were filed.  Therefore, the decision to certify the project is now final.  The new term is May 13, 2021 through May 12, 2026.

September 24, 2021: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) has preliminarily approved the Newfound Project for a 5-year term of Low Impact Certification. 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 “Newfound Project” in the subject line, or by mail addressed to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute, 1167 Massachusetts Ave, Office 407, 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 October 24, 2021. The full application and reviewer’s report are available below. If no appeal requests are received and the decision becomes final, the Certification term for the Project will be May 13, 2021 through May 12, 2026.

June 22, 2021: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) has received a commplete recertification application from KTZ Hydro, LLC for the Newfound Project. This is the second time the project will be reviewed using LIHI’s 2nd Edition Handbook. LIHI developed a streamlined application format for such projects to facilitate review in accordance with Section 6.1 of the 2nd Edition Handbook. This review process verifies the information submitted, considers any public comments received when the application is deemed complete, and assesses whether there have been any material changes at the facility or in the LIHI Handbook that affect compliance with the LIHI Criteria. LIHI is seeking comment on this application, found 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 LIHI by e-mail at comments@lowimpacthydro.org with “Newfound Project Comments” in the subject line, or by mail addressed to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute, 1167 Massachusetts Avenue, Office 407, Arlington, MA 02476. Comments must be received at the Institute on or before 5 pm Eastern time on August 21, 2021 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.

November 1, 2017: The decision to recertify the Glendale Project became final after the close of the appeals period on October 22, 2017.  The certificate terms is from May 13, 2016 to May 13, 2021.

September 22, 2017: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has preliminarily approved recertification of the Newfound Project for a new five-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 comments@lowimpacthydro.org with “Newfound 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 October 22, 2017. The full application and reviewer’s report are available below. If no appeal requests are received and the decision becomes final, the Certification term for the Project will be April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2024.

June 16, 2017:  The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has received a complete application for Low Impact Recertification of the Newfound 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 Handbook and 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 “Newfound 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 August 15, 2017 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.

November 18, 2011: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has certified the Newfound project for a five-year term effective May 13, 2011 and expiring May 13, 2016.

May 13, 2011: Newfound Hydroelectric Company, a New Hampshire limited partnership, has submitted an application for certification of the Newfound Hydroelectric Project located in downtown Bristol, New Hampshire on the Newfound River.

Certification Files

2021 Recertification

2016 Recertification

2011 Certification

 

Key Documents