Plan to build hydro dams in Black River hits a snag

The state Department of Environmental Conservation asked the company to conduct a more thorough study of the breached dams in Great Bend and Felts Mills.

Erie Boulevard wants to amend its license with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to include the two sites. In doing so, it would skip a three-part study that typically takes two years to complete.

The company's proposal irked DEC and at least one environmental group.

"The department will likely require studies over a season or more," DEC spokeswoman Maureen Wren said. "Based on the information presented by Erie Boulevard, we weren't sure they were ready to do that."

Erie Boulevard, which is a subsidiary of Brookfield Power Corp., Toronto - the former Brascan Corp. - announced its plans after Black River Felts Mills LLC filed applications with FERC in November for exclusive rights to study the dams.

Bruce R. Carpenter, executive director of New York Rivers United, Rome, said Erie Boulevard is trying to skirt the application process.

"When Black River filed their applications, these people realized they could lose those sites," he said. "They talked with their lawyers and came up with this plan to move further along in the process."

However, in February he said the company hopes to start building within a year and wrap up the projects in the summer of 2008 at the latest.

Mrs. Wren said DEC wants Erie Boulevard to study a number of environmental issues, including what effect the dams would have on recreation, fish spawning areas and water quality.

Mr. Carpenter said the company's most recent study of the Black River was done eight years ago, which is too old considering the scope of the project.

"They're asking us to let them do the studies post filing, and I'm not willing to do that," he said.

Meanwhile, Black River Felts Mills, which is a subsidiary of Black River Energy LLC, Charlotte, N.C., said it would study the project for about two years before starting building in 2009. The parent company operates a 55-megawatt steam plant on Fort Drum.

While FERC issues hydroelectric licenses, DEC holds a trump card. Ms. Wren said to receive a license, DEC must first issue a water quality certificate.

If FERC and DEC agree to open Erie Boulevard's license and include the two sites, local municipalities will have a chance to renegotiate land settlements they signed about 10 years ago.

The company operates six hydroelectric dams on the Black River from Herrings to the city of Watertown. Five of those dams - Sewalls Island, two in the village of Black River and one each in Deferiet and Herrings - are part of the license it wants to open.

That would bode well for the city, which has been trying to make Sewalls Island and the Black River more accessible for recreational activities.

Downtown Development Specialist Christine E. Hoffman said the existing license doesn't allow the city to negotiate a new deal for 15 more years.