MONROE, CT — Amidst extreme unanticipated rainfall in Western Connecticut and associated flooding in the Lower Housatonic River area, FirstLight assures the community that the Stevenson Dam is structurally secure and operating as it was designed to, adding it is not in danger of failing.
“The Stevenson Dam is not a flood control facility, so it cannot hold back water, meaning what flows down the river must be passed through the dam at the same rate,” FirstLight said in a press release issued late Sunday night.
The following information is from the press release:
Area residents should obey the instructions of emergency service personnel and avoid approaching the dam and the Housatonic River until the gravely dangerous high flows subside.
Heavy rainfall often brings high water levels and heightened river flows on the Housatonic River, causing flooding in low-lying areas, particularly in Lower Housatonic communities.
FirstLight urges vigilance as high water levels and elevated flow rates are extremely dangerous, and the public should avoid the river during periods of heightened flows until river conditions return to normal. When resuming recreation activities on the river, we urge the public to exercise care and caution as extreme weather events can result in increased debris in the water and disrupt existing public safety devices such as boat barrier buoys.
FirstLight takes numerous steps to prepare for and manage high flow events, beginning with the constant monitoring of United States Geological Survey (USGS) Gauges and communication with the National Weather Service River Forecast Center, allowing the team to anticipate, plan, and prepare for the river conditions.
During high flow events, FirstLight operates its Housatonic River hydroelectric facilities under strict protocols approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, per its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license.
It is important to note that FirstLight’s Housatonic River hydroelectric facilities are not flood control facilities and are not capable of holding back water to prevent flooding. Within the constraints of our licenses, FirstLight works to accommodate high flows, and consistently communicates with relevant agencies and local officials and lake authorities to ensure broad awareness of river conditions.
FirstLight teams work around the clock to ensure resources are available to diligently monitor and manage our facilities and the river conditions.
To support the Lower Housatonic community’s need to anticipate and respond to high flows that could potentially bring flooding, FirstLight launched a flood notification system for communities downstream of the Stevenson Dam, which issues emergency notifications when flows exceed a certain threshold and flooding is possible. Learn more and sign up for the Housatonic River Flood Notification System.
For those interested in monitoring flows on the Housatonic River, the United States Geological Survey has a helpful resource – it can be accessed here.
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