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2023 season kicked off with over 150 visitors, the viewing of 15 eagles, and lots of exciting activity for visitors to enjoy New Milford, CT – January 6th, 2023 – FirstLight Power, the owner and operator of the Shepaug Hydroelectric Power Station in Southbury, opened the Shepaug Bald Eagle Observatory for the winter on December…
Read moreNew Milford, CT – FirstLight, the owner and operator of five hydroelectric facilities along the Housatonic River, today announced the rollout of an enhanced Flood Notification System for the communities below, or downstream of, the Stevenson Dam in Monroe, Connecticut. The Lower Housatonic River occasionally experiences floods due to poor weather and the thawing of…
Read moreCandlewood Lake — FirstLight, the owner and operator of the Rocky River pumped hydroelectric station, will initiate the drawdown season for Candlewood Lake, which includes Squantz Pond, after December 1, 2022 as weather conditions allow. The drawdown, executed in consultation with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,…
Read moreLake Lillinonah – Beginning on October 26, 2022 FirstLight will conduct a drawdown of Lake Lillinonah at the Shepaug Dam to conduct its maintenance and inspection activities. The normal summer operating range of the station is from 200’-195.5’ and the drawdown will target an elevation of 191’. The drawdown will lower lake levels to minimum pond…
Read moreDear Candlewood Lake Community Leaders, For more than a decade, FirstLight has voluntarily restricted our operations at the Rocky River Pumped Hydro station, largely shutting the facility down each year from the spring to the fall. This lost opportunity came at a substantial cost to our company, but we did so anyway to prevent the…
Read moreNorthfield, MA – April 22, 2022 – FirstLight Power today announced the company’s 2022 spring and summer recreation plans for Franklin County. With most federal and state pandemic-related restrictions lifting, most of the outdoor and recreational areas that FirstLight manages will be fully operational for the first time in two years. “We are looking forward to welcoming visitors back to…
Read moreNew Milford, CT – FirstLight Power issued the following statement today in response to the flood situation along the Housatonic River in Western Connecticut: “Last night, parts of Western Connecticut received substantial amounts of rainfall, which has led to a flood situation along parts of the Housatonic River. The National Weather Service forecast, which FirstLight…
Read moreDue to Covid related staffing issues we have decided to temporarily close the Shepaug Eagleview until January 17th. All reservations prior to that date will be cancelled and those who have a reservation will be contacted. We truly apologize for any inconvenience and hope to reopen soon.
Read moreAn unexpected issue at the Rocky River Pumped Hydro Station has delayed the annual planned drawdown of Candlewood Lake. Unfortunately, what would normally be a very short-term maintenance repair has stretched into a much longer outage due to supply chain delays and Covid-related staffing shortages with our vendors. We expect the station to be repaired…
Read moreFor Immediate ReleaseSeptember 17, 2021 FirstLight Annual Drawdown of Candlewood Lake, Lake Lillinonah, and Lake Zoar Candlewood Lake – FirstLight Power (FirstLight), the owner and operator of the Rocky River pumped hydroelectric station, will conduct a drawdown of Candlewood Lake, which includes Squantz Pond. In consultation with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection,…
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