LIHI Pending Application [ON HOLD] --- (FERC No. 7725) Barton Village Hydroelectric Project, Clyde River, Vermont

Barton Village Hydropower Project (FERC No. 7725)

Portland, Maine (September 9, 2009) – The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) announced today that Vermont Public Power Supply Authority ("VPPSA" or "Applicant") has submitted an Application for LIHI Certification for the Barton Village Project ("Project"). The Barton Village Project is located on the Clyde River, between Pensioner Pond and Charleston Pond (also known as Lubber Lake), within the Town of Charleston, Vermont, approximately 16 miles northeast of Barton Village. The Clyde River, which lies within the St. Lawrence River watershed, originates in Warrens Gore (elevation 1,350 feet mean sea level) as the Pherrins River. It becomes known as the Clyde River at the convergence of the Pherrins with Oswegatchie Brook in the Town of Brighton. From this location, the Clyde River then flows northwesterly for 20 miles to Lake Memphremagog in Newport, Vermont (elevation 682 feet msl). The Clyde River basin at the Project site has a watershed area of approximately 108 square miles.

Project Description

The Barton Village Hydroelectric Project consists of the following existing facilities: (1) a 77-foot-long, 24-foot-high masonry and concrete gravity dam; (2) 1.5-foot-high wooden flashboards extending 57 feet across a concrete spillway; (3) a 187-acre impoundment (Pensioner Pond) at an elevation of 1,140.9 feet msl; (4) a 665-foot-long, 7-foot-diameter steel penstock; (5) two 105-foot-long, 5.5 and 5.8-foot-diameter steel penstocks leading to: (6) a powerhouse containing two turbine/generating units with a total installed capacity of 1.4 MW; (7) two tailraces; and (8) other appurtenances. The Project was originally constructed in the 1890s and has undergone several phases of redevelopment over the intervening period.

The Barton Village Project operates in a run-of-river mode. In addition, Barton Village proposes to repair and upgrade the plant automation system to allow for remote project operation. As part of the plant automation repairs, Barton Village will install, operate, and maintain stream flow and water level monitoring equipment necessary to demonstrate run-of-river operation and record project operations. To meet aquatic habitat, water quality, and aesthetics needs in the bypass reach, Barton Village proposes to maintain a year-round minimum bypass flow of 45 cfs or inflow to Pensioner Pond, whichever is less. The Barton Village Project was issued a new FERC license on June 9, 2004

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 " Barton Village 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 November 9, 2009 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.

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