Michigan Hydro Project Submits License Application Filing
Published Date: 5/22/2025
Notice
Summary
STS Hydropower and Van Buren Township in Michigan have officially filed a big new license application to keep running the French Landing Hydroelectric Project on the Huron River. This means they’re moving forward with plans to manage the dam and generate clean energy, with key deadlines set for final changes and approvals. Local residents and energy users can expect updates soon, but no immediate changes or costs are happening just yet.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Recreation access maintained and improved
The applicants propose to continue maintaining French Landing Park and project recreation facilities, which include a hand-carry boat access, a pavilion, picnic tables, a boardwalk with a fishing platform, restrooms, and two paved parking areas that together hold 19 vehicles. They also propose to enhance the approximately 1,150-foot portage route and stairs to the put-in site, preserving and improving local public access to the impoundment and river.
Project to remain run‑of‑river operation
The applicants propose to continue operating the French Landing Project in a run-of-river mode so outflow approximates inflow, with minimum and maximum hydraulic capacities of 255 and 880 cubic feet per second (cfs). The notice also states the project averaged 6,919 megawatt-hours (MWh) of generation annually from 2011 to 2024 and that environmental measures for water quality, fish, and cultural resources will continue.
Project boundary acreage changed
The applicants propose to decrease the project boundary from 1,327 acres to 1,279.9 acres. Specifically, they propose revising the impoundment contour from 655 to 652 feet NGVD29 (removing a net total of 48.8 acres), adding 2.4 acres for recreation facilities, adding 0.5 acre for the right embankment, and removing 1.2 acres associated with a non-project substation.
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