FLOW 2008Oct. 7-9, 2008San Antonio, TX
Housatonic River Case Study Housatonic River Case Study
Robert GatesFirstLight Power Resources Services
FLOW 2008Oct. 7-9, 2008San Antonio, TX
Housatonic River Project in a Nut Shell
• 5 hydroelectric developments • 3 largest lakes in Connecticut• Thousands of residents live along the lakes and
river• Recreational & Environmental assets are
extensive• 300 Giga-Watts of annual power• FERC license expiring in 2001
FLOW 2008Oct. 7-9, 2008San Antonio, TX
Relicensing: An Indoctrination By Fire
• Idealist & environmentalist• Northfield Mt. Pumped Storage Station• Fishways along the Connecticut River• Doing the “Right Thing” everyday• Saw relicensing as opportunity
FLOW 2008Oct. 7-9, 2008San Antonio, TX
Historical issues, relationships with recreating entities Public stewardship & responsibility to provide a balance of competing
interests. Relationship with Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Preparation of an application to relicense the Project developments
Relicensing represented a majoreconomic threat to the Project
The use of instream flow studies were for the protection of Project economic value while reducingProject impacts
Results were used in the quest for equitable balance of competing resources
Impetus for instream flow decision:
FLOW 2008Oct. 7-9, 2008San Antonio, TX
Historical Relationships & Public Stewardship
• Worked unselfishly to help boating & fishing interests in facilitation of shared use (up through the 1980s at Trout Management Area)
• Worked with CT DEP & local river enthusiasts to develop an Air & Water Model to drive powerhouse releases (circa 1995 at TMA)
• Performed lake drawdown for weed control on a volunteer basis
• Operated an American Bald Eagle Viewing program voluntarily
• Hunting programs voluntarily• Provided a continuous minimum flow at Falls Village
voluntarily
FLOW 2008Oct. 7-9, 2008San Antonio, TX
Science:
Sufficient science was applied to make informed decisions Great cooperation between agencies, NGOs, and Applicant
Scientific methods were agreed to by all parties Relevant parties consulted on study plans Target species were agreed to and evaluation parameters were set Study team decision making was still rather difficult due to the subjectivity of interpretation with agencies looking for areas where more flow was justified & the Applicant was looking for the opposite
FLOW 2008Oct. 7-9, 2008San Antonio, TX
Flow Studies IDF ~ FV and upper BB bypass reaches and d/s of Stevenson dam
FLOW 2008Oct. 7-9, 2008San Antonio, TX
Public Dialogue: Falls Village – Extensive polarization
Bypass Flow: Boating; Agencies vs. Applicant Development Flow: Boating vs. Fishing
Fishing; Agencies vs. Applicant Bulls Bridge – Extensive polarization
Bypass Flow: Boating vs. Agencies; Fishing;& Applicant Development Flow: Boating vs. Fishing; Agencies
Fishing; Agencies vs. Applicant Rocky River – Agencies & Applicant, together as problem solvers
Shepaug – Agencies & Applicant, together as problem solvers
Stevenson – Somewhat polarized Development Flow: Fishing; Agencies & Applicant
FLOW 2008Oct. 7-9, 2008San Antonio, TX
Agencies made their orders; determinations; & prescriptions
IFIM consensus was not reached; DEP prescribed Run of River
Boating interests lost on all fronts
Fishing interests won significant improvements
Applicant lost less than anticipated
The use of IFIM and IDF helped stakeholders to weigh various flow impacts make reasonable judgments
“Neither 401 nor fishway prescription appealable, so became part of the license issued by FERC”
Relicensing Outcome
FLOW 2008Oct. 7-9, 2008San Antonio, TX
Relicensing: Public Process as an Art
• Polarizing by self-interest• Bridge gap by identifying party interests &
priorities (empathetic approach)• Prioritize your own wants & needs• Know your breadth of power within the
regulations• Use of consultants and relationships to help
weave a path to gain positive results• Maintain dignity of stakeholders while moving
towards solution
FLOW 2008Oct. 7-9, 2008San Antonio, TX
Lessons Learned
Positive working relationships helped to bridge interest gaps
Gain commitment on the front end for working to consensus so that the sciencecan help frame reasonable solutions
Applicability to other Projects?
Public process is public process
Many of these issues happen at other locations, but each needs tailoring
Instream Flow Analyses are important indicators for quantification of impacts and opportunities for settlement