LIHI Certificate #46 - Ashuelot & Lower Robertson Project, New Hampshire

Ashuelot Project, LIHI #46

 

項目名稱 Ashuelot Paper & Lower Robertson
理海證書編號 46
LIHI 證書期限 June 29, 2019 – June 28, 2032 (option to extend to June 28, 2034)
擁有者 Ashuelot River Hydro, Inc.
狀態 新罕布夏州
地點 Located between river mile 2 and 3 on the Ashuelot River in Winchester, New Hampshire, off Route 119 between the village of Ashuelot and the Town of Hinsdale.
裝置容量 TOTAL: 1.71 MW

Ashuelot Papde: 870 KW
Lower Robertson: 840 KW
平均年發電量 TOTAL: 6,500 MW

Ashuelot Paperr: 3,300 MWh
Lower Robertson: 3,200 MWh
設施類型 徑流
聯邦能源監管委員會 不。 Ashuelot Paper: P-7791 exempt 1986
Lower Robertson: P-8235 exempt 1986

The Ashuelot Paper and Lower Robertson Projects are located on the Ashuelot River in the town of Winchester, in southwestern New Hampshire, near the border with Hinsdale, NH. The projects hold separate FERC exemptions (No. 7791 and No. 8235) and were built in 1985 with almost identical designs and equipment. The Ashuelot River flows from its 源頭 in Pillsbury State Park through the towns of Gilsum and Keene to join the Connecticut River in Hinsdale, New Hampshire. Dams upstream of the project include the Ashuelot Park 壩, Surry Mountain Dam, Otter Brook Dam, and Nash Mill Dam. The Fiske Mill 壩 is located downstream.

The Lower Robertson dam is located about 1 mile upstream of Ashuelot Paper and is approximately 125 feet long and 18 feet high. The project has automated level control which maintains pond level during normal flows. There are three sets of Obermeyer 波尖峰 蓋茲: two at 16 feet wide by 6 feet tall, located between the 溢洪道 and the intake structure, and one 76 feet wide by 2 feet tall, located on the spillway. The Lower Robertson impoundment has a surface area of 8.6 acres. The intake structure, 發電站, and tailrace are located at the north end of the dam. The powerhouse has three Flygt turbine units with a total installed capacity of 840 kW. An informal portage trail exists along the left bank of the dam.

The Ashuelot Paper dam is approximately 144.5 feet long and 18 feet high. The project has automated level control which maintains pond level during normal flows. There is a single set of Obermeyer crest gates along the top of the spillway. The Ashuelot Paper impoundment has a surface area of 1.6 acres. The intake structure, powerhouse, and tailrace are located at the south end of the dam. The powerhouse has three Flygt turbine units with a total installed capacity of 870 kW. A portage trail was built in 2010 and has been maintained since.

The projects operate in a 徑流 mode at both developments and are fully automated. Pressure sensors in the impoundments send data to a computer which ensures impoundment levels stay consistent. The project provides a minimum flow of 205 cfs or inflow, whichever is less, from each development to protect downstream aquatic habitat. This flow regime was developed based on consultation with New Hampshire Fish and Game (NHFG) and US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

Waters within the project reaches are designated Class B, though water quality monitoring data was recently collected by recommendation of New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. NHDES provided recommendations for parameters, monitoring locations and frequencies, and quality control practices.

The Ashuelot River is currently targeted for 溯河洄游魚類 restoration. The downstream Fiske Mill project installed upstream passage in 2014 to provide passage for American eel, American shad, sea lamprey, blueback herring, and Atlantic salmon. Upstream 魚道 will be constructed at the projects once certain shad passage triggers are met. Resident fish species include common white sucker, longnose dace, smallmouth bass, tessellated darter, bluegill sunfish, pumpkinseed, redbreast sunfish, yellow bullhead, brown trout, eastern chain pickerel, fallfish, and yellow perch.

Downstream fish passage was installed at Lower Robertson dam in 1999. The passage facility consists of angled trash racks, a fish entrance below the trashracks, a collection box, and a discharge pipe in the tailrace. Additionally, bars are installed annually from April through October 15 on the trashracks reducing the spacing from 1-5/8 inch to 3⁄4 inch. Downstream fish passage was installed at the Ashuelot Paper dam in 2001. Similar to the passage facility at Lower Robertson, the passage facility consists of angled trashracks, a fish entrance below the trash racks, a collection box, and a discharge pipe in the tailrace. Additionally, bars are installed annually from April through October 15 on the trashrack reducing the spacing from 1 and 5/8th inch to 3⁄4 inch.

The project lands consist of roughly 2.5 acres. Most of the land abutting the impoundments is private property and beyond the control of the project. Run-of-river operation minimizes the potential for erosion of the shorelines. The downstream reaches for both sites are very similar: fast moving current in a relatively steep and rocky riverbed, bordered by mixed hard and softwood forest returning from cleared land. The Lower Robertson development is located next to Route 119 on the north side and abandoned mill developments on the south side. The Ashuelot Paper impoundment is forested on both sides of the river. Due to the project’s small footprint, no lands of ecological value exist in the project area.

PLUS-標準型： The project owner voluntarily donated to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests for the preservation of 1,800 acres of forest land in the Ashuelot River headwaters. The donations were: $15,000 in 2008, $5,000 in 2010, and $5,000 in 2014. The land was successfully preserved and is now named the Ashuelot River 源頭 Forest. The project owner intends to continue to support preservation of the Ashuelot River basin with annual donations to selected environmental organizations and causes that were identified as most urgently in need of funding. Recently, donations have been made to projects in the California Brook focus area in Chesterfield (Monadnock Conservancy) and now the Surry Mountain Project in Surry (The Nature Conservancy). The project owner also donates to energy efficiency projects in the region, recognizing that energy waste exacerbates climate change.

Threatened or endangered species potentially present in the project vicinity include the dwarf wedgemussel, Northern long-eared bat, and long-spined sandbur. The mussel species is known to inhabit the Ashuelot River, but based on information from USFWS, not in the project vicinity. No bat hibernacula or roosting sites exist in the project areas, but should any be found, the project has committed to following the USFWS 4(d) rule concerning protection of the species habitat. Historical data from the NH Natural Heritage Bureau indicates that the long-spined sandbur may be present within the project vicinity, but the last siting of the species was in 1952. Generally, the area has been successful in recovering from industrialization. Bald eagles have been observed flying over the project, as well as blue herons. River otters, mink, and beaver sightings are very common.

While the Ashuelot Paper development does not house any cultural resources in its project area, however, the Lower Robertson dam and facilities are of local historical interest. The State Historic Preservation Office has been consulted to determine any impact of construction activities, though none have occurred since the 1980s. Upstream fish passage facilities may be needed in the near future, though the SHPO has indicated that installation of such facilities would have no effect on local historical resources. However, the project must consult with the SHPO to ensure that no adverse impacts will occur should such structures be prescribed.

Recreational resources at the project include fishing and boating access, as well as a portage trail for paddler access. Public access is provided free of charge.

合規狀態

此證書包括以下設施特定條件：

Partially Satisfied 2020, Fully Satisfied in 2023. 條件一： The Facility Owner shall submit copies of the 2019 water quality monitoring report required by NHDES and all correspondence with the agency to LIHI upon completion of the 2019 monitoring period. LIHI reserves the right to additionally condition the Project’s LIHI Certificate or reconsider the certification decision based on the information provided.

Optional, 條件2： If at any time prior to six months before the expiration of the Certification term the Facility Owner implements: a) upstream eel passage at both Projects; and/or extends the current downstream fish passage season at both Projects to November 15, LIHI will review that information and determine whether or not to award a second PLUS standard and extend the Certificate term for two additional years.

2024: No material changes or compliance issues were identified. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review. For Condition 2, the project indicated no activity.

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 still no response from NHDES has been received after four years of repeated effort by the project to obtain a response.  LIHI staff therefore considers the condition satisfied. For Condition 2, the project indicated no activity.

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 still no response from NHDES has been received. For Condition 2, the project indicated no activity.

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 no response from NHDES has been received. For Condition 2, the project indicated no activity.

2020: There were no reported changes or compliance issues. The project remains in compliance based on the annual review. For Condition 1, the project confirmed submittal to NHDES of the water quality monitoring report.  For Condition 2, the project indicated no activity.

2019: 目前證書的年度報告尚未生效。

認證歷史

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。

October 28, 2019: The decision to recertify the Ashuelot/Lower Robertson Hydroelectric Project is final. No appeals were received during the appeal period which closed on October 26, 2019. The new certification term for the Project is from June 29, 2019 through June 28, 2027.

September 26, 2019:  The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has preliminarily approved Low Impact Recertification for the Ashuelot River/Lower Robertson 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 “Ashuelot River/Lower Robertson 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 October 26, 2019.  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 June 29, 2019 for a term of eight (8) years, which will expire on June 28, 2027.

June 11, 2019: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has received a complete application for Low Impact Recertification of the Ashuelot River/Lower Robertson Hydroelectric Projects.  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 然後審查下面的項目申請資料。與特定 LIHI 標準（流量、水質、魚通過等）直接相關的評論將是最有幫助的，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 “Ashuelot River 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 10, 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。

April 8, 2015: The Ashuelot River Hydroelectric Project has been certified for a second five-year term of low impact certification, effective June 29, 2014 and expiring June 29, 2019. In rendering this Certification, the Institute’s Executive Director used authority delegated by the LIHI Governing Board and a full review of the Application Reviewer’s report (available in the Files section below) and all public comments and additional materials provided by the Applicant.

September 4, 2014: The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has received an application for a second term of certification of the Ashuelot River Hydroelectric Project. The application materials are available in the “Files” section below.

2009 年 11 月 20 日： The Ashuelot River Hydroelectric Project has been certified as low impact for a five year term, effective June 24, 2009 and expiring June 24, 2014.

June 29, 2009: Ashuelot Hydro, Inc. has submitted an application for certification of the Ashuelot and Lower Robertson Hydroelectric Projects. A public comment period for the application will remain open for 60 days, until August 30, 2009.

認證文件

2019年重新認證

2014年重新認證

2009年認證

關鍵文件