Lower Connecticut River Relicensing Study

Revisionof river system models for updated license conditions

Extensionof the natural hydrologic record

Modelingaquatic habitat suitability indices

Challenge

TransCanada Hydro Northeast is in the process of acquiring a new FERC license for its three most downstream projects in New Hampshire and Vermont: Wilder, Bellows Falls, and Vernon.
The licensing process requires extensive studies to be undertaken regarding current system operations and its effects on the geomorphology, other resource, and aquatic life in the impounded and riverine areas of the three projects.
Operations modeling of the projects needs to be conducted and project-effect indices provided to other study consultants.

VistaDSS™ was set up and validated for TransCanada Hydro generating facilities on the Connecticut River to simulate hourly operations of the system.
In order to adequately capture the effect of the project operations, short river reaches within an hour's travel time were defined in segments for the three projects to be relicensed and then configured in the system.
Rating curves of project-effects-evaluation indices from resource study consultants were defined in the AUTOVistaDSS™ database.

AUTOVistaresults provided information on project effects for evaluation by other study consultants.
AUTOVistaanalysis and processes streamlined the evaluation of project effects on impounded and riverine areas.
AUTOVistaallows analysis of various alternative operating policies to define the effects of changes in operating policy.

507 MWin Connecticut River system
3upper storage lakes
6hydro plants in cascade

Engineering

Canada