LIHI Certifies Franklin Falls Project (FERC No. 6950) in New Hampshire.
Portland, Maine (December 15, 2011) - LIHI is pleased to announce that at their December 15, 2011 meeting the Institute’s Governing Board determined that the Franklin Falls Hydroelectric Project meets the LIHI Certification Criteria. In reaching its decision to certify the Franklin Falls Hydroelectric Project, the Low Impact Hydropower Institute’s (LIHI) Governing Board reviewed the application for certification, as well as the Application Reviewer’s report. The Project is located on the Winnipesaukee River, in the city of Franklin, Merrimack County, New Hampshire. The Board’s vote to certify the Franklin Falls Hydroelectric Project was unanimous and the Board approves certification for five-years with the following project specific conditions:
Condition No. 1. Hydro Realty Corporation shall develop a system for maintaining records sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the headpond elevation and flow management limitations set forth under the terms of the FERC exemption. Within three months of the date of issuance of the certification, Hydro Realty Corporation shall provide LIHI with a written flow management plan that outlines the systems in place to properly manage flows and headpond levels and to produce compliance records. Prior to filing the plan, Hydro Realty Corporation shall obtain plan approval from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services; written confirmation of the approvals will be filed with the plan.
Condition No. 2. By August 1, 2012, Hydro Realty Corporation shall enter into, and provide LIHI with a copy of, an agreement reached between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game, and Hydro Realty Corporation for providing both interim and permanent safe, timely, and effective downstream passage for American eel, including a description of the planned passage and protection measures and the implementation schedule for design, installation, and operations. Said permanent facilities shall be in place and operational by August 1, 2015, and Hydro Realty Corporation shall notify LIHI within two weeks of completion. In the interim, effective immediately, Hydro Realty Corporation shall institute interim downstream passage which shall consist of nightly shutdowns (dusk to dawn) during rainy nights from August 15 to November 15. Hydro Realty Corporation shall keep a log during this period, showing precipitation and generation information, and provide it to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game by December 31 annually until permanent measures are in place. This interim passage provision shall be included in the aforementioned agreement. In the event that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game determine prior to the installation of permanent downstream passage that the above-described interim downstream passage measure is not providing safe, timely and effective interim passage for out-migrating eels, Hydro Realty Corporation shall implement other reasonable interim measures as requested by these agencies. During the term of this certification, should a resource agency request implementation of upstream passage at the Facility, Hydro Realty Corporation shall so notify LIHI within 14 days and provide LIHI with a copy of the request and its response.