FirstLight to Begin Annual Drawdown of Candlewood Lake on January 7

NEW MILFORD, Conn. – January 6, 2025 – FirstLight, the owner and operator of the Rocky River Pumped Hydro Storage Station, will initiate the deep drawdown season for Candlewood Lake, which includes Squantz Pond, on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. The deep drawdown, executed in consultation with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Candlewood Lake Authority, will be completed with water levels returning to normal summer operating ranges prior to Memorial Day 2025. The normal summer operating range of the station is from 429.5’-427’, and the deep drawdown will target an elevation of 420’ with a 2’ winter operations pumping and generation range from 420’-418’.