River Report Hydro Kentic Turbines in the Lower???

[jojo wilczewski]

Good Day

As is we do not have enough to talk about, but the next invader is coming to a river near you. It might eat anything in it way?

Taken from the Tonawanda News last week.

Underwater power turbines in Lower Niagara River, Bill Hilts

    The Niagara County Fisheries Development Board held their monthly meeting in Newfane last week and a big part of the discussion revolved around the fact that large underwater turbines- which seem to be headed to the Lower Niagara River- seem to be getting closer to reality. Why is no one letting the fishing community know about this??? It is a shame once again the Lower Niagara seems to be getting the shaft and many groups seem to be willing to let it happen. 

    In a recent correspondance to the NYDEC  press office out of Albany (remember you can't call regional offices anymore for info like this) we were informed some pretty alarming info. When asked if the NYDEC was in discussion with a company on a hydrokentic project in the Lower, this was their reply:"The NYDEC is not in negotiations with ECOsponsible Inc. the company that is researching the feasibility of hydrokentic turbines in the Niagara between the North Grand Island Bridge  and Lake Ontario" said Lisa King " as this project falls under the authority of the Federal Energy Regulary Commision ,FERC, state permits may not be necessary.

    The FERC preliminary Permit holder, (FERC permit # 13840) has begun pre-consulation discussions with various state and federal agencies. However these meetings are not part of the public consulation process, as required by FERC. We did find out that project manager Dennis Ryan @ ECOsponsible Inc. met with NYDEC staff on December 5. On the FERC web site we were able to find out that the company also met with   US Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, US FIsh and Wildlife, The Buffalo Niagara Riverkeepers, but no one from the fishing community. The stake holders who utilize the the resource the most have yet to be contacted by any of the aforementioned agencies or groups.

    As discussions were bantered about at the county's Fisheries Board meeting reprentatives all appointed by county's legislative to provide input on key issues affecting the county's hugh fishing resources, it amazed everyone what we were hearing and how far along in the process they actually were without anyone notifing the Board or seemingly anyone in the fishing community?

    First and formost lets keep in mind that the Lower River is a most precious resource second to none. In the last two years the  US Fish and Wildlife has documented the sucessful spawning of Lake Trout only the third ever where Lake Trout have been found spawning in a river. In addition the Sturgeon has been making a recovery of sorts and FWS has been involved with an extensive study involving tagging and radio telementry.

    A call to the Executive Director of ECOsponsible was not returned. Check out the FERC website for more info on this new assault on the Lower River

   End of article

   Also google hydrokentic turbines/ energy on the Niagara River and start to worry.

    ALA BALA BALA jojout