MORGANTOWN — Lake Lynn Generation this week submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission information amplifying its request to lower its seasonal minimal Cheat Lake reservoir level by three feet.
Seventeen public comments have been filed regarding that request, uniformly opposing it. The comments have common themes: negative effects on boaters and Cheat Lake residents and on the lakeside economy. Many cite distrust of the company and echo allegations of poor maintenance of the lake and its recreational facilities.
Incidentally, Lake Lynn also this week submitted to FERC its final update to its 2024 recreation plan.
Lake Lynn told FERC that its hydroelectric project tailrace and reservoir dissolved oxygen levels have been decreasing recently due to a lack of precipitation and low reservoir inflows. Lowering the minimum level from 868 feet to no less than 865 feet would increase spillway discharge to address the low dissolved oxygen levels.
This would be a temporary variance, effective through Nov. 1. To accommodate boaters, Lake Lynn told FERC, it would open the winter boat launch at Cheat Lake Park, which allows access during lower lake levels.
The company made a number of points in this week’s supplement to its July 16 request.
Lake Lynn told FERC that the state Department of Environmental Protection supports it, noting again that low oxygen levels have occurred because of low inflow during the months of July through October at the project in past years. It requested and was granted similar temporary variances in September of 2019, 2022 and 2023.
It said that because of recent low inflows, the power plant has not been generating since July 5.
Lake Lynn’s license requires it to release from the project into the Cheat River a minimum flow of 212 cubic feet per second (cfs), or inflow to the project reservoir, whichever is less, with an absolute minimum flow of 100 cfs regardless of inflow. It also must maintain dissolved oxygen at 5 milligrams per liter.
Currently, it said, oxygen levels are decreasing and it’s difficult to maintain the 100 cfs minimum flow while also maintaining reservoir elevation. Its request is an attempt to balance the limited inflows into the lake if necessary.
“If inflows into Cheat Lake increase and Lake Lynn is able to maintain the summer elevation (or close to the summer elevation) of Cheat Lake while also maintaining compliance with the required downstream minimum flow and dissolved oxygen, Lake Lynn will do so to reduce impacts to recreation,” it said.
To remedy competing license requirements, Lake Lynn is proposing in its re-licensing application (the license expires Nov. 30) to develop an Operation Plan with standard procedures for low inflow and oxygen levels.
Public comments
The comments submitted vary from a single paragraph to several pages. Here is a sampling.
“The current water level serves as the foundation for our dock’s placement, and any decrease in water level would disrupt our longstanding setup. This adjustment would not only inconvenience us but also jeopardize the boating experience for the entire summer season. I urge you to reconsider this decision and take into account the significant impact it would have on residents who have relied on the consistent water levels for decades. Lowering the water level at this time would not only disrupt our recreational activities but also cause undue hardship for many families in the community.”
“There is no current threat to oxygen levels. … The published data does not show a trend that even suggests a threat. … The facts and data do not support this request. The power company suggests using an alternate winter boat ramp — this will never work. That boat ramp is not set up to handle the traffic and parking. It is misleading to even suggest it is a viable alternative. Furthermore, the power company’s suggestion that it maintains a public beach, trails and courtesy docks is misleading. They were installed years ago by the public utility company when they owned the dam — since that time they have been poorly maintained and have fallen into disrepair.”
“Owning a home on the lake directly, our docks are already on a steep enough of a decline in order to get into our boats. Dropping it 3 more feet would be not only ridiculously low but would make it impossible to get to the boats! … We have a short boating/fishing season and this would make it even shorter.”
“The winter ramp was not designed, built or able to support hundreds of boat launches and retrievals per day or the associated parking. … Hundreds of citizens pay thousands of dollars per year for dock space on Cheat Lake. Now, for the second time in five years, there is the potential to have to remove their boats at a substantial personal cost due to poor pool management by LLG. … The hundreds of thousands of dollars lost and sacrificed by citizens and businesses should carry significant weight and consideration.”
“If they would maintain the quality of the lake by dredging/clearing up logs, greenery, etc. in a timely manner and not letting the lake become full of vegetation, this would not be necessary at this time.”
“Major consideration should be made to all the revenue spent on boat slips, restaurants, and businesses that survive throughout the summer due to lake patronage. … Whoever filled out this petition clearly has no money invested in the summer business.”
“This request, if granted, would exacerbate the ongoing issues of mismanagement that have plagued the hydroelectric plant since the ownership change. Since Lake Lynn Generation took over the hydroelectric plant, the lake levels have been consistently maintained near their minimum levels. This operational choice has compromised the lake’s resilience and preparedness for periods of low rainfall. Adequate water management practices should prioritize maintaining higher reservoir levels to mitigate the impacts of drought and low precipitation periods, which are not uncommon in the region. … These repeated requests indicate a pattern of inadequate water level management that cannot be ignored.”
“Lake Lynn Generation doesn’t care about the recreational use of the lake, including swimming, boating, or fishing; nor do they care about the damage to the lake shoreline caused by their constantly raising and lowering the water level. All Lake Lynn Generation cares about is that they have enough water to generate electricity so that they can make money.”
Recreation plan
In a section on recreation plan updates, Lake Lynn said that except for Cheat Lake Park lower parking area and the Sunset Beach Marina, recreation facility use is less than 50% of capacity, and it is not proposing any new sites, facilities or amenities. It is working to address peak-date parking issues at Sunset Beach.
It told FERC it is again proposing to remove the fish cleaning station at Cheat Lake Park. “The station is consistently being misused and vandalized, requiring additional maintenance, and is not being used for its intended purpose.” The state Division of Natural Resources supports this proposal.
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