Erie Boulevard Hydropower L.P.: FERC Application to Replace Wooden Flashboards with Pneumatic System at Beebee Island Hydroelectric Project

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has accepted for filing an application by Erie Boulevard Hydropower L.P. (a Brookfield Renewable entity) to amend the operating license for the Beebee Island Hydroelectric Project (Project No. 2538-106), located on the Black River in Watertown, Jefferson County, New York. The amendment is classified as a non-capacity change, meaning it does not alter the project's power generation capacity. The applicant proposes to remove the existing 3-foot-high wooden flashboard system sitting atop approximately two-thirds of the dam crest and replace it with a pneumatic flashboard system. The current wooden flashboards fail annually — and often multiple times per year — due to high river flows, causing operational and safety problems. The proposed pneumatic system uses steel plates supported by inflatable air bladders that can be raised or lowered in response to operational needs or flood events, providing far greater reliability and control. Installation requires a temporary reservoir drawdown of approximately 1.0 foot below the dam crest for about six weeks. No new ground disturbance is anticipated, minimum flow releases will remain unchanged, and any turbidity impacts during installation will be managed through best management practices. The change is expected to improve dam safety, reduce reservoir elevation fluctuations, and enhance environmental stability downstream. Public comments, protests, and motions to intervene must be submitted to FERC by April 29, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. New York State Department of Environmental Quality water quality certification under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act is also required, with the applicant needing to file evidence of that certification request within 60 days of this notice.

AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.