LIHI Certificate #67 - Stillwater Project, Maine

Stillwater Project, LIHI #67
项目名称 Stillwater
LIHI 证书编号 67
LIHI 证书期限 2020 年 6 月 1 日 – 2030 年 5 月 31 日（可选择延长至 2033 年 5 月 31 日）
所有者 Black Bear Hydro Partners, LLC，布鲁克菲尔德可再生能源集团的子公司
状态 缅因州
地点 Located at river mile 2.4 on the Stillwater Branch of the Penobscot River in Old Town, Maine.
装机容量 Total: 4.179 MW

发电站 A: 1.929 MW

Powerhouse B: 2.25 MW
平均年发电量 Total: 21,153 MWh

Powerhouse A: 9,764 MWh

Powerhouse B: 11,389 MWh
设施类型 径流式
联邦能源管理委员会 不。 P-2712 issued in 1998, expires 03/31/2048

The Stillwater Project is located on the Stillwater Branch of the Penobscot River in the town of Stillwater in Penobscot County, Maine. The project is located at a former logging and milling site, near the City of Old Town. The site was developed into an operating hydroelectric facility in 1902 by the Orono Pulp and Paper Company. A second 发电站 (now Powerhouse A) was constructed on the south side of the 坝 in 1932, and by 1942, the original powerhouse was abandoned, with the remains still visible on the southeast portion of the dam. Powerhouse B was constructed in 2013. The new downstream 鱼道 facility and 鳗梯 began operations in 2014 and 2016, respectively.

The Penobscot River basin is New England’s second largest river system with a drainage area of 8,570 square miles. The basin includes the East and West Branches of the Penobscot River, the Piscataquis River, the Sebec River, the Pleasant River, the Mattawamkeag River, the Passadumkeag River, the Stillwater Branch and the main stem of the Penobscot River. The project is one mile upstream of the Orono Project (LIHI #66) and several miles downstream of the Gilman Falls 坝 （部分 Milford Project, LIHI #113). With removal of the Veazie Dam in November 2013, there are no longer any dams on the Penobscot River downstream of the Orono Project which discharges about 800 feet upstream of the confluence of the Stillwater Branch and mainstem Penobscot River. Removal of the Veazie and Great Works dams was a key feature of the nationally recognized restoration of the Penobscot River.

The Stillwater project is a component of the Penobscot River Restoration Agreement. The overall intent of the Agreement is to provide enhancements to the Penobscot River’s environmental resources, and lower and minimize the influence of the Owner’s hydroelectric projects on those resources while maintaining the levels of renewable hydropower generation from the river. The restoration effort is one of the largest river restoration projects in our nation’s history. In an unprecedented collaboration, a diverse group of stakeholders worked together to restore 11 species of sea-run fish to the Penobscot River, while maintaining energy production.

The Stillwater Project consists of a main concrete 重力坝, about 1,720 feet long, consisting of 13 sections of various heights. Powerhouse A contains four turbine-generator units with a total capacity of 1.929 MW. Powerhouse B contains three turbine-generator units with a total capacity of 2.25 MW. The Stillwater Project has an upstream eel passage channel in the west channel of the 0.6-mile-long bypassed reach at Powerhouse B.

该项目采用 径流 mode and impounds a 191-acre reservoir. The project provides a minimum flow of 70 cfs in the east channel and 1-2 cfs in the west channel. These flows promote bypass reach habitat for migratory and resident species and to enhance upstream eel passage. This flow regime was developed as part of the Settlement Agreement with consultation from the parties involved including Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Penobscot Indian Nation.

Waters within the project reach are designated Class B, suited for fish propagation and survival, as well as primary contact recreation. The Stillwater Branch of the Penobscot River is not listed for any impairments. The project owner conducted water quality monitoring following the construction of Powerhouse B which indicated that project operations are not adversely impacting water quality in the river reach.

海洄游动物 species present in the Penobscot River include alewife, Atlantic salmon, American shad, sea lamprey and American eel. Historically, the Penobscot River supported larger runs of American shad, blueback herring, Atlantic sturgeon, shortnose sturgeon, rainbow smelt, tomcod, and striped bass.

There is no upstream passage for 溯河洄游鱼类 since fish collected at the Orono fish lift are trapped and trucked to a location upstream on the mainstem Penobscot Rive. This is because it was determined to be more beneficial for overall fish restoration of the river basin to concentrate the upstream passage in the Penobscot River mainstem.

The Project does have upstream eel passage via a permanent, flow-through concrete channel which is approximately 6 ft wide and 36 ft long with a bristle-brush floor and provides a 1.5-cfs conveyance flow seasonally. It is located at the small bedrock island about mid-river of the 泄洪道, not far from Powerhouse B. The original eel ladder at Powerhouse A was removed when the current one was installed. This upstream eel passage ladder is operated at a minimum from June 1 to August 31 annually.

The Powerhouse A downstream fish bypass facility is located at the left side of the intake (looking downstream) between the forebay wall and 1-inch clear space trashracks and consists of a low-level entrance and a surface entrance both of which flow into a 2.83-foot-wide bypass 水槽 that discharges into the tailwater through a 36-inch-diameter conduit pipe. Subject to suitable river conditions, the Powerhouse A fish bypass is operated from April 1 to December 31 annually, with a total combined flow of 70 cfs. From April 1 to August 15, the flow is provided entirely through the surface entrance. From August 15 to November 15, the flow is balanced with a 40/30 cfs split between the surface entrance and low-level entrance to enhance downstream eel passage. The flow then reverts back to surface entrance flow only from November 15 to December 31 (or ice-in of the headpond).

Powerhouse B also has1-inch clear space angled trashracks to minimize fish 夹带, and a downstream fish passage facility consisting of a combination of an opening in the 闪光板 in the forebay near the trashracks (for 2 weeks during the downstream Atlantic salmon smolt migration) and a 4-foot-wide fish bypass opening in the forebay wall. A 4-foot square downstream eel passage facility is installed at the base of the trashracks. Both fish bypasses discharge to a 瀑布水潭 that empties into a flume which runs along the west side of the powerhouse to the tailrace. Subject to suitable river conditions, the Powerhouse B fish bypass is operated from April 1 to December 31 annually with a total combined flow of 70 cfs. From April 1 to August 15, the flow is provided entirely through the surface entrance. From August 15 to November 15, the flow is balanced with a 40/30 cfs split between the surface entrance and low-level entrance to enhance downstream eel passage; operation of the fish bypass then reverts back to surface entrance flow only from November 15 to December 31 (or ice-in of the headpond). The double-regulated unit nearest the downstream fish passage facility at Powerhouse B is operated as first on and last off to provide attraction to the downstream fish passage.

The project lands consist of 4.7 acres. Lands under project ownership are limited to those housing project facilities, with no control of nearby shoreline. No lands of significant ecological value exist in the limited project boundary.

Threatened or endangered species potentially present in the project vicinity include Atlantic salmon, yellow lampmussel, brook floater, tidewater mucket, Northern long-eared bat, little brown bat, eastern small-footed bat, big brown bat, red bat, hoary bat, silver-haired bat, tri-colored bat, and several rare plant species. Ongoing efforts to restore river connectivity for the listed aquatic species have yet to confirm the effectiveness of the passage facilities at the project. The facilities are not likely to adversely impact these species, but effectiveness of passage is still under review. The mussel species are not expected to be impacted by normal run-of-river operations. Similarly, the bat species are not likely to be impacted as limited shoreline management activities occur. The project has committed to adhering to the US Fish and Wildlife Service 4(d) rule concerning bat roosting site protection should any construction or tree-cutting occur at the site. Consultation with the Maine Natural Areas Program (MNAP) identified the presence of several state plant Species of Special Concern, in the project area. The species has been previously observed in the area and led to the development of a Sensitive Plant Protection Plan. The plan has helped to preserve critical habitat for the species and MNAP has stated it has no concerns related to project impacts on the species.

缅因州历史保护委员会的咨询得出结论，项目区域不存在历史、考古或文化资源。如果在该地区发现任何潜在资源，必须咨询州历史保护办公室和部落历史保护办公室。

Recreational resources at the project include a canoe portage trail. Public access is provided free of charge.

合规状态

该证书包括以下针对设施的特定条件：

条件 1： 设施所有者应向 LIHI 提供一份机构信函副本，其中记录了机构可能为鳗鱼上游通道和/或下游通道制定的数字性能标准 洄游性 标准发布后 60 天内，对影响斯蒂尔沃特项目的佩诺布斯科特河流域的物种进行审查。

条件2： 如果本项目需要进行额外的上游鱼类通道研究，则应在适用的合规声明中向 LIHI 提供实施计划和时间表、研究结果以及机构和 PIN 对此的评论。如果进行研究，LIHI 保留根据研究结果和对上游通道有效性的评估修改此条件的权利。

条件3： 在年度合规声明中，设施所有者应通知 LIHI 已实施的行动（经各机构和 PIN 同意），以解决鲈鱼和美洲鳗下游通行问题：

一个）   在为解决 FERC 2020 年 3 月 6 日信函中指出的三个问题而召开的会议结束时，设施所有者应提供最终协议的摘要。其中应包括向 FERC 提交的解决这些问题的文件副本、实施计划和时间表、研究结果以及机构和 PIN 对其的评论。如果所有者不同意进行所有要求的修改，则应提供这些决定的理由。
b)   如果发生研究或修改，LIHI 保留根据研究结果和对下游通道有效性的评估修改此条件的权利。

条件4： 在年度合规声明中，设施所有者应通知 LIHI 已实施的行动（经各机构和 PIN 同意），以解决大西洋鲑下游通道问题：

一个）   生物意见制定的现行大西洋鲑下游通道性能标准是否有任何变化，或者是否需要在 2023 年截止日期之前根据《濒危物种法》进行正式磋商。还应提供作为任何正式磋商的一部分所采取行动的状况。
b)   如果在 LIHI 认证期限内，无法在 NMFS 规定的现有或任何新时间范围内满足当前或新的性能标准，LIHI 保留修改、暂停或撤销证书的权利。
c)   如果在 LIHI 证书到期之前，设施所有者收到 NMFS 的同意，认为下游大西洋鲑鱼的现行或修订数值性能标准已得到满足，从而确认下游通行安全有效，则设施所有者可以要求 LIHI 考虑延长认证期限，以满足《受威胁和濒危物种标准》下的 PLUS 要求。

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 changes.  For Condition 4, project reported For Condition 4, the project reported that the planned Atlantic salmon smolt downstream passage study was postponed until at least 2025 due to ongoing Maine DOT bridge construction upstream.  Due to the delay, the project continued to operate in the spring of 2024 in accordance with the adaptive management measures contained in the Biological Opinion regarding spill during smolt outmigration.

2023: No material changes or compliance issues were identified.  The project remains in compliance based on the annual review.  For Conditions 1, 3 and 4 the project reported no changes.  For Condition 2, the project submitted an upstream internal efficiency study of the upstream eel passage facility conducted in 2022.

2022: No material changes or compliance issues were identified.  The project remains in compliance based on the annual review.  For Conditions 1 and 4 the project reported no changes.  For Condition 2, the project submitted a plan to conduct an upstream juvenile eel PIT tag efficiency study in 2022.  For Condition 3, the project submitted results of the 2016 downstream eel passage study reanalysis.  

2021: 当前证书的年度报告尚未生效。

认证历史

2022 年 1 月 1 日： LIHI 证书期限已根据 2022 年 1 月 1 日发布的 LIHI 第 2 版认证手册 2.05 版延长。有关新期限，请参阅上面的设施表。

2021 年 4 月 26 日： The decision to recertify the Stillwater Project became final after the close of the appeals period on April 17, 2021 with no valid appeals filed. The Certification term is from June 1, 2020 through May 31, 2025.

2021年3月18日： The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) has preliminarily approved recertification of the Stillwater Project for a new 5-year terms 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 “Stillwater 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. 请求必须在 2021 年 4 月 17 日东部时间下午 5 点之前收到。 完整申请和审核报告如下。如果没有收到上诉请求且决定成为最终决定，则该项目的认证期限为 2020 年 6 月 1 日至 2025 年 5 月 31 日。

2020 年 12 月 1 日： The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has received a complete application for Low Impact recertification of the Stillwater Project. The complete application can be found below. LIHI is seeking public 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 the Institute by e-mail at comments@lowimpacthydro.org with “Stillwater Project Comments” in the subject line, or by mail addressed to the Low Impact Hydropower Institute, 1167 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington MA 02476. 评论必须在 2021 年 1 月 30 日东部时间下午 5 点或之前收到，才会被考虑。 所有评论都将发布到网站上，申请人将有机会作出回应。所有回应也将发布。

February 12, 2017:  The 30-day appeal period ended with no appeals received. Therefore, the Stillwater Project LIHI Certification is final and the effective certification date for the Stillwater Project is June 1, 2015 for a five (5) year term, which will expire on June 1, 2020.

January 18, 2017: On January 13, 2017, LIHI Executive Director Shannon Ames, using authority delegated from the LIHI Governing Board, has issued a Preliminary Certification Decision that the Stillwater Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. P-2712) satisfies the LIHI Certification Criteria.  This certification decision is based on authority delegated from the LIHI Governing Board.  The certification includes four facility-specific conditions, as follows:

  • 2018 年条件满足。 条件 1.  The Owner shall notify LIHI within 30 days of receipt of USFWS certification of the downstream anadromous 鱼道 and of the up and downstream eel passage facilities as required by the Lower Penobscot River Multiparty Settlement Agreement. This certification requires affirmation that a) the facilities were designed and installed as prescribed, b) the facilities are ready for routine operation as evidenced by approved Operating Manuals and electronic data collection systems and c) one year of testing and any required “fine tuning” has been completed. If such USFWS certification is not received by the end of 2017, the Owner shall provide LIHI documentation as to why the certification has not been received and the plan and schedule to remedy deficiencies identified by USFWS preventing such certification.
  • 2018 年条件满足。条件 2。  If the requirement for re-initiation of studies of downstream passage of juvenile alosine species occurs within this LIHI certification period, the Owner shall notify LIHI within 60 days of receipt of such study re-initiation. This notification shall include the study schedule including the expected report issuance date. A copy of the final report, along with agency comment as to whether or not the testing results prove that safe downstream passage has been demonstrated, shall be provided to LIHI within 60 days of issuance of the final report.
  • 条件 3.  The Owner shall notify LIHI within 60 days of receipt of USFWS, NMFS and MDMR acknowledgement that the standards specified in the Biological Opinion for safe downstream passage of Atlantic salmon have been met. Currently, effectiveness testing should be completed by 2018 based on the three-year testing requirement, unless advancement to the third level flow enhancement sequence is found to be necessary. Should this occur, the Owner shall notify LIHI in the annual compliance report as to the new date by which such continuing testing to meet passage standards is expected to be completed.
  • Condition satisfied 2019. 条件4.  The Owner shall provide LIHI a summary of the results of the 2016 quantitative downstream effectiveness study for American eel, along with comments received from USFWS, NMFS and MDMR as to whether or not the testing results prove that safe downstream passage for American eel has been demonstrated. Also, the Owner shall provide a summary of the annual American eel upstream passage results, along with confirmation that any changes to the passage facilities recommended by the resource agencies have been implemented or are scheduled for implementation. The noted upstream and downstream passage results shall be provided within 60 days of report finalization.

根据 LIHI 2 第 4.2.5 节的规定nd Edition Handbook, the Preliminary Certification Decision, along with the Application Reviewer’s report and (if prepared) report of the Executive Director, will be posted on the Institute’s Web page for 30 days.  Notice of the posting will be provided to all individuals or organizations that commented on the initial Application Package. Any Commenter may submit a letter to the Executive Director requesting an appeal within the 30-day period, which begins on January 20, 2017 and ends on February 20, 2017.  The appeal request must state specific reasons why the hydropower facility should have failed one or more criteria.  Only individuals or organizations that commented on the initial Application Package may file an appeal.  Further information about the LIHI appeal process is available in the LIHI Handbook, available at https://lowimpacthydro.org/certification-program-html/. If no appeal is requested within the 30-day period, the Executive Director will issue LIHI Certification for the facility and post a notification of certification on the Institute’s website.  Once final, the effective certification date for the Stillwater Project is June 1, 2015 for a five (5) year term, which will expire on June 1, 2020.

2015年12月11日： The Low Impact Hydropower Institute has received a complete application for a new term of Low Impact Certification for the Stillwater Hydroelectric project.  The application materials can be found in the Files section below.

该申请的公众意见征询期于 2016 年 2 月 12 日结束。

2011年1月28日： The Stillwater Hydroelectric Project has been certified as low impact for a five year term, effective June 1, 2010 and expiring June 1, 2015.

2010 年 8 月 2 日： The public comment period for the application for certification has been closed.

2010 年 6 月 2 日： Black Bear Hydro Partners has submitted an application for the certification of the Stillwater Project. Public comment period will be open for 60 days.

认证文件

2020 年重新认证

2015 年重新认证

2012 Certification – Stillwater B (formerly LIHI #110)

2010 Certification – Stillwater A

重要文件