Jun. 17—dbeard @dominionpost.com MORGANTOWN — Lake Lynn Generation has submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission responses to some public comments about its actions taken at Cheat Lake in response to last summer’s drought.
The comments concerned Lake Lynn’s state Water Quality Certification application and were submitted to the state Department of Environmental Protection as part of the company’s FERC relicensing process. FERC released Lake Lynn’s submission on Monday.
One commenter told DEP about Lake Lynn lowering the level of Cheat Lake several times. “The outcome was drastic. The lake levels were the lowest I have experienced in the 12 years of living in this area and enjoying the lake.”
Lake Lynn lowered the level in order to maintain required dissolved oxygen levels to sustain aquatic life below the dam.
But the commenter told DEP, “The extremely low lake water levels had very negative effects on water resources, fish and wildlife, recreation, boating, critical habitats, wetlands, and marina businesses. Some boats were actually sitting on mud because the lake levels were so low.”
The commenter suggested that FERC require Lake Lynn to add oxygenation equipment at the dam. “This is the best way to protect Cheat Lake, our community, a recreational asset to WV, and the businesses that rely on the lake for success.”
Another commenter told DEP, “It’s critical that we protect Cheat Lake’s viability as a recreational and public access site. It is an integral part of the attraction of Morgantown and its private and public enjoyment of one of the few lakes in West Virginia. Please tread lightly and be cognizant of the environmental impact.”
In response, Lake Lynn told DEP it takes all of the public concerns seriously. “Lake Lynn understands the public’s concerns regarding lower reservoir levels and their impact on Cheat Lake recreational use, particularly during late summer 2024.”
The company again said that because of the drought and low Cheat River inflows, it couldn’t maintain summer pool elevation while also meeting the required minimum downstream flows to support aquatic life.
“When inflow into the reservoir is less than the required outflow, the water level drops, much like a bathtub drains if more water exits than enters.”
Lake Lynn told DEP it voluntarily suspended hydroelectric generation on July 5, 2024, well before the reservoir dropped below the normal summer pool elevation on Sept. 7. “This action reflects Lake Lynn’s operational priority to reduce or suspend power generation before deviating from required reservoir elevations.”
The company again said it has to balance the competing needs for downstream minimum flows, ecosystem protection, reservoir elevation, and recreational use.
During its new license term, Lake Lynn said, it proposes to develop an Operations Plan that will include “the appropriate balancing and prioritization of these operational requirements, in consultation with resource agencies. This plan will enhance transparency and document how reservoir levels will be managed.”
Regarding the suggestion the FERC require oxygenation equipment at the dam, it told DEP that its hydroelectric project meets dissolved oxygen standards 99.5 % of the time.
Dissolved oxygen deviations are infrequent, short in duration, and minor in magnitude, with no observable or reported impacts on downstream aquatic health, it said.
Required minimum flows, it said, help regulate and support habitat for all life stages of aquatic organisms including smallmouth bass, sauger, channel catfish, and gizzard shad.
“A reduction in the minimum flow would negatively impact not only these fish species but also the integrity of the entire downstream ecosystem.”
It concluded, “Lake Lynn consistently meets water quality standards, and there is no need to add dissolved oxygen-enhancing technologies. … The proposed Operations Plan will provide for the correct prioritization of sometimes competing operational requirements.”