Green Mountain Power Corporation; Notice of Application Accepted for Filing, Soliciting Motions To Intervene and Protests, Ready for Environmental Analysis, and Soliciting Comments, Recommendations, Preliminary Terms and Conditions, and Preliminary Fishway Prescriptions
Published Date: 2/9/2026
Notice
Summary
Green Mountain Power wants a new license to keep running its Essex No. 19 Hydroelectric Project on Vermont’s Winooski River. The government is now reviewing the application and asking the public to share their thoughts or concerns by April 6, 2026. This process could affect local energy and the environment, so it’s a big deal for nearby communities and nature lovers alike!
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Project to Keep Run‑of‑River Operation
Green Mountain Power proposes to keep the Essex No. 19 project operating in a run-of-river mode and maintain the impoundment surface elevation at 274.7 feet NGVD 29. This keeps the project's current water level settings in place.
Minimum Flow Requirement for Bypassed Reach
GMP proposes to continue releasing a minimum flow of 50 cubic feet per second (cfs), or inflow if less, to the approximately 900-foot bypassed reach below the dam. This sets the baseline flow that will be left in the bypassed stretch.
Seasonal Fishway Release Schedule
GMP proposes to release 100 cfs through the downstream fishway from April 15 through June 30, and from September 15 through December 15. These seasonal flows are meant to support downstream fish passage during those periods.
Shared Trap‑and‑Truck Fish Passage Costs
GMP proposes to provide upstream fish passage around this project and the downstream Chace Mill project by sharing operation and maintenance costs of a trap-and-truck facility with Burlington Electric Department, estimated at $15,000 per year. The cost-sharing is tied to the operation of the facility located at the Chace Mill Dam.
Public Recreation Facilities at Project
The existing project includes public recreation facilities: Overlook Park (parking, picnic tables, restrooms, trail to the bypassed reach), an impoundment access site (parking and trail), a powerhouse access site (parking and trail), and a portage trail between sites. These facilities are part of the project's recreation offerings.
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