October 21, 2020: The decision to certify the Stewarts Bridge Project became final after the close of the appeals period on October 17, 2020 with no appeals filed. The Certification term is from June 25, 2020 – June 24, 2025.

September 17, 2020: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) preliminarily approved Low Impact Certification (pending LIHI #171) for the Stewarts Bridge Hydroelectric Project located on the Sacandaga River in New York.

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 “Stewarts Bridge 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 17, 2020. 
The full application and reviewer’s report are available below. If no appeal requests are received the certification term will be June 25, 2020 through June 24, 2025.

June 26, 2020: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has received a complete application for Low Impact Certification of the Stewart’s Bridge 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 “Stewart’s Bridge 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 25, 2020 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.

Project Description:

The Stewart’s Bridge Project (FERC No. 2047) is located at river mile 3 on the Sacandaga River in the town of Hadley, Saratoga County, New York. The Sacandaga River is a tributary to the Hudson River.   Great Sacandaga Lake (FERC No. 12252) controls 1,044 square miles of the drainage area that contributes to the hydroelectric projects on the Hudson River. Discharges from the reservoir are regulated by the Hudson River Black River Regulating District.

The project works include a 1,646-foot long by 112-foot high earthen dam with a concrete gated spillway. The dam was constructed in 1951. The dam impounds a 480-acre reservoir which extend about 3 miles upstream to the tailwaters of the E.J. West project at the Conklingville Dam. Water is conveyed through a 216‐foot‐long steel penstock to the main powerhouse. A 275‐foot‐long penstock connected to the main penstock conveys water to the minimum flow powerhouse which was constructed in 2013. The main powerhouse contains one vertical Francis turbine with a capacity of 30 MW and the minimum flow powerhouse contains one axial flow unit with a capacity of 2.55 MW.   The FERC project boundary covers 700 acres (210 acres of land and 490 acres of water).

The project operates with a 1.0‐foot impoundment fluctuation limit. A base flow between 300 and 350 cfs is required year round based on the reservoir elevation. The project generates approximately 126,105 MWh annually and operates as a peaking facility in tandem with E.J. West.

Files:

• Stewarts Bridge LIHI Application_Stage I Final