FirstLight Update on the Turners Falls Bascule Gate System Incident and Repair Effort
In order to safely make repairs to the Bascule Gate that experienced a loss of hydraulic pressure on June 3, FirstLight will have to temporarily lower the river level in the Turners Falls Impoundment (the river upstream of the dam) to stop the flow of water over the gate and allow it to be accessed safely. FirstLight emphasizes that there is no public safety hazard and there has been no damage to the dam itself; however, the reduced river level will temporarily strand boats near the shoreline and inhibit boat-based recreation and navigation on the river. FirstLight will provide as much advance notice to the community as possible and will make every effort to begin this work after the July 4th weekend, provided that the gate’s current condition remains stable. FirstLight is committed to completing this repair project as quickly as possible to minimize impacts to the community.
As previously reported, on the evening of Tuesday, June 3, FirstLight team members observed a sudden loss of hydraulic pressure in the Turners Falls Dam Bascule Gate system. FirstLight personnel responded immediately, beginning emergency response actions and coordinating with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Health, Safety and Environment professionals, and our Licensed Site Professional.
The gate’s hydraulic system was quickly isolated, and cleanup measures were immediately implemented to address the hydraulic fluid released into the river downstream of the dam. Bascule Gates 1, 3 and 4 continue to operate as intended, and there have been no indications of an ongoing release since the isolation of the Bascule Gate 2 hydraulic system. However, FirstLight is not able to safely access Bascule Gate 2 in its current partially raised position to complete the investigation into the root cause of the incident and enact a repair.
To develop a safe access plan, FirstLight immediately engaged expert engineering resources to assist in the design, engineering, and implementation of a process to secure the gate and make repairs while considering public and worker safety, community disruption, and aquatic habitat. Of the more than half a dozen solutions considered for the fix, all would have required that the water levels in the Turners Falls Impoundment be lowered, and the approach we’ve identified is expected to have the shortest duration impact on the river.
FirstLight continues to actively monitor the area and is communicating with local, state, and federal regulatory agencies throughout this process. We appreciate the understanding and support of the community as we work to safely, swiftly and thoroughly resolve this unprecedented challenge.