Little Falls Dam power canal, Presumpscot River, Windham, Maine.
PRESUMPSCOT RIVER
DAM LICENSE HIGHLIGHTS
Details from the Federal Licenses issued October 2, 2003
by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
for five of SAPPI's Presumpscot River Dams.
Anadromous Fish Passage Summary --
Saccarappa Falls Dam -- Upstream passage for Atlantic salmon, American shad,
blueback herring and alewife must be constructed at the dam within two years
after fish passage is constructed at the downstream Cumberland Mills Dam.
Mallison and Little Falls Dams -- Upstream passage for Atlantic salmon,
American shad, blueback herring and alewife must be constructed at both
of these dams within two years after 2,960 American shad or 18,020 blueback
herring are passed in any single year at the downstream Saccarappa Falls
dam.
Gambo Falls Dam -- Upstream passage for Atlantic salmon, American shad,
blueback herring and alewife must be constructed at the dam within two years
after the passage of at least 620 American shad or 3,800 blueback herring
in any single year at the downstream Little Falls Dam.
Dundee Falls Dam -- Upstream passage for Atlantic salmon, American shad,
blueback herring and alewife must be constructed at the dam within two years
after the passage of at least 4,020 American shad or 24,460 blueback herring
in any single year at the downstream Gambo Falls Dam.
Anadromous Fish Passage Details --
Language from the Maine Water Quality Certificate issued April 30, 2003
and incorporated in full within the new federal dam licenses for five of
SAPPI's Presumpscot River dams.
"5. Upstream and Downstream Anadromous Fish Passage
Saccarappa Project
A. The applicant shall install and operate the following upstream fish passage
facilities at the project:
Phase I. A Denil "fish ladder," or other passage facilities of
comparable efficiency in passing the target species, designed to pass at
least 18,000 American shad, 109,000 blueback herring, and 273 Atlantic salmon
annually. These facilities, which shall include a counting, trapping and
sorting facility, must be operational no later than 2 years after passage
is available at the downstream Cumberland Mills Dam.
Phase II. Convert or replace the Phase I passage facilities with a fish
lift, or other passage facilities of comparable efficiency in passing the
target species, designed to pass up to 58,000 American shad, 353,000 blueback
herring, and 426 Atlantic salmon annually. These facilities, which shall
include a counting, trapping and sorting facility, must be operational no
later than 2 years after (1) notification from the Department of Marine
Resources, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and the Atlantic
Salmon Commission of initiation of Phase II restoration above Gambo Dam
and (2) the capacity of the installed Phase I passage facilities has been
reached for any of the target species.
B. The applicant shall install and operate downstream passage facilities
designed to pass American shad, blueback herring, and Atlantic salmon at
the project. These facilities shall be operational concurrent with the completion
of upstream anadromous fish passage facilities at the project or within
2 years following notification by the Department of Marine Resources or
the Atlantic Salmon Commission of sustained stocking of anadromous fish
above the Saccarappa Dam, whichever comes first.
Mallison Falls Project
A. The applicant shall install and operate the following upstream fish passage
facilities at the project:
Phase I. A Denil "fish ladder," or other passage facilities of
comparable efficiency in passing the target species, designed to pass at
least 4,200 American shad, 26,000 blueback herring, and 32 Atlantic salmon
annually. These facilities, which shall include a counting, trapping and
sorting facility, must be operational no later than 2 years after passage
of at least 2,960 American shad or 18,020 blueback herring in any single
year at the downstream Saccarappa Project.
Phase II. Convert or replace the Phase I passage facilities with a fish
lift, or other passage facilities of comparable efficiency in passing the
target species, designed to pass up to 44,000 American shad, 270,000 blueback
herring, and 185 Atlantic salmon annually. These facilities, which shall
include a counting, trapping and sorting facility, must be operational no
later than 2 years after (1) notification from the Department of Marine
Resources, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and the Atlantic
Salmon Commission of initiation of Phase II restoration above Gambo Dam
and (2) the capacity of the installed Phase I passage facilities has been
reached for any of the target species.
B. The applicant shall install and operate downstream passage facilities
designed to pass American shad, blueback herring, and Atlantic salmon at
the project. These facilities shall be operational concurrent with the completion
of upstream anadromous fish passage facilities at the project or within
2 years following notification by the Department of Marine Resources or
the Atlantic Salmon Commission of sustained stocking of anadromous fish
above the Mallison Falls Dam, whichever comes first.
Little Falls Project
A. The applicant shall install and operate the following upstream fish passage
facilities at the project:
Phase I. A Denil "fish ladder," or other passage facilities of
comparable efficiency in passing the target species, designed to pass at
least 3,100 American shad, 19,000 blueback herring, and 15 Atlantic salmon
annually. These facilities, which shall include a counting, trapping and
sorting facility, must be operational no later than 2 years after passage
of at least 2,960 American shad or 18,020 blueback herring in any single
year at the downstream Saccarappa Project.
Phase II. Convert or replace the Phase I passage facilities with a fish
lift, or other passage facilities of comparable efficiency in passing the
target species, designed to pass up to 43,000 American shad, 263,000 blueback
herring, and 168 Atlantic salmon annually. These facilities, which shall
include a counting, trapping and sorting facility, must be operational no
later than 2 years after (1) notification from the Department of Marine
Resources, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and the Atlantic
Salmon Commission of initiation of Phase II restoration above Gambo Dam
and (2) the capacity of the installed Phase I passage facilities has been
reached for any of the target species.
B. The applicant shall install and operate downstream passage facilities
designed to pass American shad, blueback herring, and Atlantic salmon at
the project. These facilities shall be operational concurrent with the completion
of upstream anadromous fish passage facilities at the project or within
2 years following notification by the Department of Marine Resources or
the Atlantic Salmon Commission of sustained stocking of anadromous fish
above the Little Falls Dam, whichever comes first.
Gambo Project
A. The applicant shall install and operate the following upstream fish passage
facilities at the project:
Phase I. No upstream fish passage facilities required.
Phase II. A fish lift, or other passage facilities of comparable efficiency
in passing the target, designed to pass up to 40,000 American shad, 244,000
blueback herring, and 153 Atlantic salmon annually. These facilities, which
shall include a counting, trapping and sorting facility, must be operational
no later than 2 years after (1) notification from the Department of Marine
Resources, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and the Atlantic
Salmon Commission of initiation of Phase II restoration above Gambo Dam
and (2) passage of at least 620 American shad or 3,800 blueback herring
in any single year at the downstream Little Falls Project.
B. The applicant shall install and operate downstream passage facilities
designed to pass American shad, blueback herring, and Atlantic salmon at
the project. These facilities shall be operational concurrent with the completion
of upstream anadromous fish passage facilities at the project or within
2 years following notification by the Department of Marine Resources or
the Atlantic Salmon Commission of sustained stocking of anadromous fish
above the Gambo Dam, whichever comes first.
Dundee Project
A. The applicant shall install and operate the following upstream fish passage
facilities at the project:
Phase I. No upstream fish passage facilities required.
Phase II. A fish lift, or other passage facilities of comparable efficiency
in passing the target species, designed to pass up to 20,000 American shad,
122,000 blueback herring, and 64 Atlantic salmon annually. These facilities,
which shall include a counting, trapping and sorting facility, must be operational
no later than 2 years after (1) notification from the Department of Marine
Resources, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and the Atlantic
Salmon Commission of initiation of Phase II restoration above Gambo Dam
and (2) passage of at least 4,020 American shad or 24,460 blueback herring
in any single year at the downstream Gambo Project.
B. The applicant shall install and operate downstream passage facilities
designed to pass American shad, blueback herring, and Atlantic salmon at
the project. These facilities shall be operational concurrent with the completion
of upstream anadromous fish passage facilities at the project or within
2 years following notification by the Department of Marine Resources or
the Atlantic Salmon Commission of sustained stocking of anadromous fish
above the Dundee Dam, whichever comes first.
All Projects
C. The applicant shall, at least 180 days prior to construction or upon
such other schedule as established by FERC, submit final design and operational
plans for the upstream and downstream anadromous fish passage facilities
required by Parts A and B of this condition, prepared in consultation with
the Department of Marine Resources and the Atlantic Salmon Commission. These
plans shall be reviewed by and must receive the approval of DEP prior to
construction. In reviewing the plans, the DEP will consider the recommendations
of the ASC and DMR.
D. The applicant shall, in consultation with the Department of Marine Resources
and the Atlantic Salmon Commission, conduct a study or studies to determine
the effectiveness of the upstream and downstream anadromous fish passage
facilities required by this condition.
E. The applicant shall, concurrent with the commencement of facilities operation
or upon such other schedule as established by FERC, submit plans for a study
or studies to determine the effectiveness of the upstream and downstream
anadromous fish passage facilities required by Parts A and B of this condition,
prepared in consultation with the Department of Marine Resources and the
Atlantic Salmon Commission. These plans shall be reviewed by and must receive
the approval of DEP prior to implementation. In reviewing the plans, the
DEP will consider the recommendations of the ASC and DMR.
F. The applicant shall, in accordance with a schedule set forth in the study
plan or upon such other schedule as established by FERC, submit the results
of any upstream and downstream anadromous fish passage effectiveness studies,
along with any recommendations for changes in the design and/or operation
of any passage facilities installed pursuant to this condition.
G. The applicant shall be responsible for taking such actions as are needed
to effectively pass anadromous fish upstream and downstream through the
projects, insofar as passage is required in accordance with Parts A and
B of this condition. After reviewing the results of the study, and after
notice to the applicant and opportunity for hearing, the Department reserves
the right to require reasonable changes in the design and/or operation of
the upstream and downstream anadromous fish passage facilities installed
pursuant to this condition as may be deemed necessary to effectively pass
anadromous fish upstream and downstream through the projects.
American Eel Passage --
Adult eel passage at all five dams-- Turbine shutdowns for 8 hours each
evening from Sept. 1 to Oct. 31 of each year, beginning on Sept. 1, 2004.
"Article 406. Beginning September 1, 2004, and annually thereafter,
the licensee shall cease generation at sunset for at least 8 hours per night
from September 1 through October 31, as required by Prescription 3 of Appendix
B. The licensee shall determine the timing of the generation shutdown each
year in consultation with the Maine Department of Marine Resources (MDMR)
and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The purpose of the shutdown
period is to provide out-migrating American eel safe and timely passage
downstream past the project via flows over the project dam."
Juvenile eel passage at all five dams -- Construction of upstream passage
facilities for juvenile American eel within two years of license issuance.
"Article 405. The licensee shall develop and implement an upstream
American eel passage plan. The plan shall include provisions to install,
operate, maintain, and evaluate, as appropriate, upstream fish passage facilities
for American eel at the Gambo Project. The purpose of the plan is to enhance
upstream passage at the Gambo Project and movement throughout the Presumpscot
River drainage. The licensee may prepare a single plan that encompasses
other licensee-owned projects on the Presumpscot River having similar license
conditions and schedules."
Minimum bypass flows --
Gambo Falls Dam-- 60 cfs year round and 100 cfs whenever river water temperatures
exceed 22 C.
"Article 403. The licensee shall release, within 30 days of the installation
of the flow monitoring equipment required by Article 404, a continuous year-round
minimum flow of 60 cubic feet per second (cfs), or inflow, whichever is
less, to the bypassed reach, for the protection and enhancement of water
quality and fisheries in the Presumpscot River, as required by Condition
1.B. of Appendix A. As required by Condition 6.A. of Appendix A, the licensee
shall provide an additional spillage flow of 100 cfs to the bypassed reach
during dry weather conditions to maintain Maine's dissolved oxygen standards
for the Presumpscot River downstream from the Dundee dam."
Mallison Falls Dam -- 60 cfs from May 1 to October 31 and 4o cfs from Nov.
1 to April 30.
"Article 403. The licensee shall release, within 30 days of the installation
of the flow monitoring equipment required by Article 404, a continuous minimum
flow of 60 cubic feet per second (cfs), or inflow, whichever is less, to
the bypassed reach, from May 1 through October 31 and 40 cfs, or inflow,
whichever is less, from November 1 through April 30, as required by Condition
1.B. of Appendix A, for the protection and enhancement of water quality
and fisheries in the Presumpscot River.
Dundee Falls Dam -- 60 cfs from May 1 to October 31 and 40 cfs from Nov.
1 to April 30; and an additional 50 cfs when river water temperatures exceed
22 C."
"Article 403. The licensee shall release, within 30 days of the installation
of the flow monitoring equipment required by Article 404, a continuous minimum
flow of 60 cubic feet per second (cfs), or inflow, whichever is less, to
the bypassed reach, from May 1 through October 31 and 40 cfs, or inflow,
whichever is less, from November 1 through April 30 for the protection and
enhancement of water quality and fisheries in the Presumpscot River as required
by condition 1.B of Appendix A. As required by condition 6.A of Appendix
A, the licensee shall provide an additional spillage flow of 50 cfs to the
bypassed reach during dry weather to maintain Maine's dissolved oxygen standards
for the Presumpscot River downstream from the Dundee dam."
Little Falls Dam -- existing leakage flows at the dam spillway, approx.
26 cfs.
Saccarappa Falls Dam -- existing leakage flows at the dam spillway, approx.
18 cfs.