LIHI Certifies Slack Dam on the Black River in Springfield,Vermont
Portland, Maine (October 27, 2011) – At their October 27, 2011 meeting the Low Impact Hydropoer Institute’s Governing Board determined that the Slack Dam Hydroelectric Project meets the LIHI Certification Criteria. The Project is located at the Slack Dam in Springfield, Vermont. The dam is one of five existing concrete gravity dams on the Black River. (Comtu Falls site is immediately upstream, and the Lovejoy site is just downstream.)
In reaching its decision to certify the Slack Dam Hydroelectric Project, the LIHI’s Governing Board reviewed the application for certification, as well as the Application Reviewer’s report. The Board’s vote to certify the Slack Dam Hydroelectric Project was unanimous, and the Board approves certification for the Slack Dam Hydroelectric Project for five-years with the following conditions:
• Upon receipt of certification, Springfield Hydroelectric Company (“Springfield”) must initiate a new round of consultation with the USFWS and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife Department (collectively, the agencies) to determine whether the current downstream passage at its project is appropriately protective, and to report to LIHI by March 1, 2012 as to whether the agencies have deemed it appropriately protective. If the agencies determine that it is not appropriately protective, Springfield shall provide an agreement has been reached with the agencies providing for either fishway modifications or downstream passage effectiveness testing by Springfield in 2012.
• If downstream effectiveness testing is required, Springfield shall report to LIHI by November 1, 2012 on the results of the testing unless a different date is mutually agreed upon by Springfield and the agencies.
• If results do not show adequate effectiveness to be appropriately protective, Springfield shall also report to LIHI as to whether agreement has been reached on fishway modifications that will be implemented and operational by April 1, 2013.
• LIHI reserves right to suspend certification if the above steps are not completed, if no agreement is reached with the agencies; or if required measures to ensure downstream passage is appropriately protective of the Atlantic salmon resource are not made by April 1, 2013.
The effective certification date for the Slack Dam Hydroelectric Project is February 28, 2011 and will expire on February 28, 2016. Any Commenter may submit a letter to the Certification Administrator requesting an appeal within 30 days of the posting of the Certification Decision on the Institute’s Web page. An appeal request must include specific reasons why the hydropower facility should have failed one or more criteria. If an individual or organization did not comment on the initial Application Package, they may not file an appeal. During the time the Project is certified, you may market the Slack DamHydroelectric Project facilities as LIHI certified.
Portland, Maine (February 28, 2011) – The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) announced today that the SpringfieldHydroelectric Company has submitted an Application for LIHI Certification for the Slack Dam Hydroelectric Project (“Project”). The Project is located at the Slack Dam in Springfield, Vermont. The dam is one of five existing concrete gravity dams on the Black River. (Comtu Falls site is immediately upstream, and the Lovejoy site is just downstream.)
The dam is one of five existing concrete gravity dams on the Black River. (Comtu Falls site is immediately upstream, and the Lovejoy site is just downstream.) The project was reconstructed in 1986 and has an installed capacity of 400 KW. Annual energy production has averaged 2,000,000 KWH.
The project is strict run-of-river utilizing 21-feet of gross head, between the headwater and tailwater. There is no bypass reach. The project is served by a 190 square mile drainage area on the Black River, 75% of which is controlled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Flood Control Project in N. Springfield, 4.5 miles upstream. A steel penstock 8’ in diameter and 80’ in length conducts water from the intake to the powerhouse.
The power house is 20’ x 20’ square and houses one horizontal full Kaplan turbine driving a vertical induction generator by means of an internal bevel gear, together with associated hydraulic, mechanical, electrical and electronic equipment. The powerhouse is constructed of reinforced concrete to an elevation greater than the 100 year flood level. A pad mounted transformer connects the station to 3-phase 4,160 V electrical service. A fishway, constructed in 2007 provides for downstream fish passage.
Public Comment - We encourage public comments on this application. Specifically, we are interested in knowing whether you think this project meets our LIHI criteria. Review the program and criteria in greater detail and then review the Project’s 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 (preferred) at: info@lowimpacthydro.org with "Slack Dam Hydropower Project comments" in the subject line; by fax at (206) – 984-3086; or by mail addressed to LIHI, 34 Providence Street, Portland, ME, 04103. Comments must be received at the Institute on or before 5 pm Eastern time on April 18, 2011 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.
NOTE: Portland, Maine (March 29, 2011) - Today the Applicant sent us two photos (taken this morning) of their operational fish chute at Slack Dam.
(Above): fish chute looking downstream.
(Below): fish chute looking upstream
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Portland, Maine (February 28, 2011) – The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) announced today that Springfield Hydroelectric Company has submitted an Application for LIHI Certification for the Slack Dam Hydroelectric Project (“Project”).
Slack Dam Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 8014 )
The project is located at the Slack Dam in Springfield, Vermont. The dam is one of five existing concrete gravity dams on the Black River. (Comtu Falls site is immediately upstream, and the Lovejoy site is just downstream.) The project was reconstructed in 1986 and has an installed capacity of 400 KW. Annual energy production has averaged 2,000,000 KWH.
The project is strict run-of-river utilizing 21-feet of gross head, between the headwater and tailwater. There is no bypass reach. The project is served by a 190 square mile drainage area on the Black River, 75% of which is controlled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Flood Control Project in N. Springfield, 4.5 miles upstream. A steel penstock 8’ in diameter and 80’ in length conducts water from the intake to the powerhouse.
The power house is 20’ x 20’ square and houses one horizontal full Kaplan turbine driving a vertical induction generator by means of an internal bevel gear, together with associated hydraulic, mechanical, electrical and electronic equipment. The powerhouse is constructed of reinforced concrete to an elevation greater than the 100 year flood level. A pad mounted transformer connects the station to 3-phase 4,160 V electrical service. A fishway, constructed in 2007 provides for downstream fish passage.
Public Comments - We encourage public comments on LIHI applications. Public Comments were open for a 60-day period until 5 pm Eastern time on April 18, 2011 to be considered. All comments were posted to the web site and the applicant had an opportunity to respond.
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