Village of Saranac Lake: FERC Scoping Period Notice for Lake Flower Dam Hydroelectric Project Relicensing (Project No. 8369-050)

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has opened a public scoping period for the relicensing of the Lake Flower Dam Hydroelectric Project (Project No. 8369-050), located on the Saranac River in Franklin and Essex Counties, New York. The applicant, the Village of Saranac Lake, filed a subsequent license application on September 30, 2025. The project includes a 134-foot-long, 33-foot-high dam with a 200-kilowatt Kaplan turbine-generator and an impoundment covering 1,455 acres. FERC is soliciting written public comments on the scope of environmental issues to be addressed under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on April 27, 2026. The Commission will use these comments to determine whether to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) or a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Village proposes to continue run-of-river operations, maintain a minimum downstream flow of 55 cubic feet per second, preserve existing recreational facilities, and add a new whitewater park (Boothe River Park) downstream of the dam. The Village also proposes new environmental management plans covering invasive species, bats, bald eagles, impoundment drawdown, and operational compliance monitoring. Resource areas under review include geology and soils, aquatic and terrestrial resources, threatened and endangered species, recreation and aesthetics, cultural resources, and developmental resources. Comments may be submitted electronically via FERC's eFiling system or by mail to FERC's Washington, DC or Rockville, MD offices.

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