Wells River (VT) Whitewater Access to be Improved under New FERC License

The new hydropower license for the Newbury Hydroelectric Project on the Wells RIver in Vermont requires access impovements to the whitewater takeout. Home to the Wells River Rumble, the new access will improve the current boater take-out — a steep, narrow, poison ivy covered goat path. Under the new 40-year license issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requires, Green Mountain Power, the owner of the hydroelectric dam, develop a Boating Access Plan to improve egress from the Wells River after the last drop on the whitewater run above the dam. American Whitewater, Green Mountain Power, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources and other groups supported improvements to boating boating access during the federal relicensing and Vermont water quality certifaction process. The requirement for improved access was also required by Vermont ANR water quality certification under the Clean Water Act and incorporated into the new federal license. American Whitewater is grateful to all relicensing participants for their support for whitewater boating on the Wells River.

By Robert Nasdor

This post originally appeared on americanwhitewater.org.