Historic Dam Trades Wooden Boards for Inflatable Tech
Published Date: 6/24/2026
Notice
Summary
Erie Boulevard Hydropower is swapping out old wooden flashboards for a cool new inflatable system at their Beebee Island dam in Watertown, NY. This upgrade will make the dam safer, easier to control, and better for the environment by keeping water levels steady. They’ll lower the water for about six weeks during installation, and the government plans to finish reviewing the project by November 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Temporary 1.0-foot Reservoir Drawdown
The licensee will lower the reservoir about 1.0 foot below the dam crest for approximately six weeks to install the new pneumatic flashboard system. Reservoir elevation will be returned to normal after construction.
Required Veiling Flows Maintained
As part of the project, the licensee will install a sump pump and pipe to provide required veiling flows of 0.5 inch along the top of the dam from May 1 to October 31. The veiling flow measure is positioned behind the pneumatic flashboard plate.
Pneumatic Flashboards Improve Dam Control
The project will replace the remaining 3-foot-high wooden flashboards with a pneumatic flashboard system that uses steel plates and inflatable air bladders. The replacement is intended to enhance operational control of the spillway, improve the dam safety program, increase operational efficiency, and reduce reservoir elevation fluctuations.
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