LIHI Certificate #112 - Indian Orchard Project, Massachusetts

Indian Orchard Project, LIHI #112
Indian Orchard Project, LIHI #112
項目名稱 Indian Orchard
理海證書編號 112
LIHI 證書期限
 July 19, 2023 – July 18, 2033 (option to extend to July 18, 2036)
擁有者 Central Rivers Power MA, LLC，LS Power/Patriot Hydro, LLC 的子公司
狀態 麻薩諸塞州
地點 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.
裝置容量 3.7 MW
平均年發電量 12,700 MWh
 設施類型  河流的奔流
 聯邦能源監管委員會編號 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 壩 crosses the municipal line between Ludlow and Springfield. The 發電站 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.

奇科皮河雖然只有 18 英里長，但其流域面積卻達到 721 平方英里，是整個麻薩諸塞州最大的流域，也是康乃狄克河最大的支流流域。在工業革命期間，奇科皮河成為特別受歡迎的水力發電目的地，主要是因為其流經的河段落差為 260 英尺。

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 柯林斯 (LIHI #88) 和 紅橋 (LIHI #96). Downstream are Chicopee Falls (聯邦能源監管委員會 No. 6522), and 德懷特 (LIHI #170).
The project works include a cut-stone dam topped with 1.6-foot 閃光板，一個 運河 headgate house, a power canal, an intake structure for two operating 壓力管道, 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 蓋茲 that control the flow from the impoundment to the power canal. There are seven steel 頭 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 頭門 到 壓力水管 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.

該項目運營於 徑流 mode and impounds a 74-acre reservoir.  扣押 level fluctuations are limited to +/- 0.25 feet. The project provides a 144-cfs bypass flow from April 1 – September 30, and 104 cfs the rest of the year. The flow regime was developed in consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife (MDFW).

Waters within the project reach are designated as impaired for invasive water chestnut. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has confirmed that the project is not responsible for river impairment, pending confirmatory sampling.

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.

Historic resources at the project are not included on the 國家歷史遺跡名錄, but are listed in Massachusetts.  Resources include the dam, the powerhouse, and the canal, as well as the non-project Ward Manufacturing Mill/Indian Orchard Mill. The FERC 豁免 requires consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office in the event of construction or modification to historic structures and ground-disturbing activity, and, if necessary, develop and implement a Cultural Resource Management Plan to protect those resources.

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-標準選項： 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.

合規狀態

此證書包括以下設施特定條件：

條件 1: 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 洄游性 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.

條件 2:  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 3 (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.

條件4: The facility Owner shall provide LIHI a copy of the report on the results of the water quality testing to be conducted along with comments received from USFWS and MDEP within 60 days of report finalization. Currently, the report is scheduled to be completed by November 30, 2024. If additional testing or other actions are found to be required as a result of this study, then the plan and schedule for implementing those actions shall also be provided to LIHI.

2024:  No material changes or compliance issues were identified. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review.  For Conditions 1, 2, and 3, the project reported no activity. For Condition 4, the project reported that water quality monitoring planned for 2023 was postponed due to high flows and is expected to be completed in 2024.

2023: 目前證書的年度報告尚未生效。

認證歷史

2024 年 1 月 3 日： 低影響水力發電研究所已就紅橋、普茨橋、印第安果園和德懷特水力發電計畫中期重新認證發布了最終決定。這些項目位於馬薩諸塞州的奇科皮河上。初步決定於 2023 年 11 月 28 日宣布，並開啟為期 30 天的上訴期。該窗口於 2023 年 12 月 28 日關閉，並且沒有提出上訴。因此，重新認證專案的決定現已是最終決定。新項目期限如上表所示，完整的中期審查申請及審查報告如下。

2023 年 11 月 28 日： 低影響水力發電研究所已初步批准對位於麻薩諸塞州奇科皮河的紅橋、普茨橋、印度果園和德懷特計畫水力發電計畫進行低影響重新認證。該決定是初步決定，需等待 30 天的上訴期。只有在 60 天的評論期內對初始申請發表評論的人才有資格提出上訴。此類上訴需要包括有關該項目為何不符合 LIHI 標準的解釋。申訴請求可以透過電子郵件發送至 評論@lowimpactHydro.org 主題行為“Chicopee River Projects”，或郵寄至 Low Impact Hydropower Institute，地址為 1167 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, MA 02476。申請人將有機會回應，任何回應也將公佈。 請求必須在 2023 年 12 月 28 日東部時間下午 5 點之前收到。 The consolidated review report can be found below.  If no appeal requests are filed, the new certification term will be July 19, 2023 – July 18, 2033.

2023 年 8 月 17 日： 位於馬薩諸塞州奇科皮河上的四個 LIHI 認證項目於 2023 年 3 月 13 日收到了對其 FERC 豁免的合併修訂。這些項目分別是 Red Bridge (LIHI #96)、Putts Bridge (LIHI #102)、Indian Orchard (LIHI #112) 和 Dwight (LIHI #170)。該修正案授權對每個項目的運作進行變更 達到峰值 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:

正在開放為期 60 天的公眾評論期，以允許利害關係人對提交的內容發表評論。所有收到的評論都將納入中期審查報告，發佈在 LIHI 網站上，並納入重新認證專案的初步決定中。意見可以提交至 評論@lowimpactHydro.org 主題為「奇科皮河計畫」。 評論必須在 2023 年 10 月 16 日美國東部時間下午 5 點之前收到。

2022 年 1 月 1 日： 根據 2022 年 1 月 1 日發布的 LIHI 第二版認證手冊第 2.05 版，LIHI 證書期限已延長。

2020 年 1 月 6 日： 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 評論@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 手冊然後查看下面該項目的申請資料。與特定 LIHI 標準（流量、水質、 魚道等等）將非常有幫助，但所有評論都會被考慮。意見可以透過電子郵件提交給研究所 評論@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 予以考慮。所有評論都將發佈到網站上，申請人將有機會回應。任何回應也將被發布。

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.

September 19, 2013: 該申請的公眾評論期已結束。

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.

文件：

2023年中期審查

2019年重新認證

2013年認證