Draft License Application Volume II of II Part 1 - Exhibit E Lowell Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2790) December 2, 2020 Prepared by: Prepared for: Boott Hydropower, LLC Manchester, New Hampshire Draft License Application Volume II of II (Part 1) Lowell Hydroelectric Project This page is intentionally blank. ii | December 2, 2020 Table of Contents Lowell Hydroelectric Project Table of Contents Exhibit E Environmental Report (18 C.F.R. § 5.18) .............................................................................. E-1 E.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. E-1 E.2 General Description of the River Basin (18 C.F.R. § 5.18 (b)(1)) ................................................ E-6 E.2.1 Drainage Area and Length of River ..................................................................................... E-6 E.2.2 Tributary Rivers and Streams .............................................................................................. E-6 E.2.3 Topography ......................................................................................................................... E-6 E.2.4 Dams and Diversion Structures within the Basin ................................................................ E-9 E.2.5 Wetland and Vegetative Cover.......................................................................................... E-10 E.2.6 Climate .............................................................................................................................. E-11 E.2.7 Major Land and Water Uses .............................................................................................. E-11 E.2.8 Economic Activities ........................................................................................................... E-12 E.3 Cumulative Effects (18 C.F.R. § 5.18(b)(2)) .............................................................................. E-13 E.3.1 Resources That Could Be Cumulatively Affected ............................................................. E-13 E.3.2 Geographic Scope ............................................................................................................. E-13 E.3.3 Temporal Scope ................................................................................................................ E-13 E.4 Compliance with Applicable Laws (18 C.F.R. § 5.18 (b)(3)) ...................................................... E-14 E.4.1 Section 401 of the Clean Water Act .................................................................................. E-14 E.4.2 Endangered Species Act ................................................................................................... E-14 E.4.3 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation Management Act ............................................ E-14 E.4.4 Coastal Zone Management Act ......................................................................................... E-15 E.4.5 National Historic Preservation Act ..................................................................................... E-15 E.4.6 Wild and Scenic Rivers and Wilderness Act ..................................................................... E-16 E.5 Project Facilities and Operation (18 C.F.R. § 5.18(b)(4)) .......................................................... E-17 E.5.1 Maps of Project Facilities within Project Boundaries (18 C.F.R. § 5.18(b)(4)(i)) .............. E-17 E.5.2 Project Location and Facilities Overview (18 C.F.R. § 5.18(b)(4)(ii)) ................................ E-17 E.5.3 Existing Structures Created Before Project Redevelopment ............................................ E-20 E.5.4 Structures Constructed During Project Redevelopment ................................................... E-24 E.5.5 Estimated Average Annual Energy Production (18 C.F.R. §5.18(b)(4)(v) ........................ E-28 E.5.6 Estimated Dependable Capacity (18 C.F.R. §5.18(b)(4)(v) .............................................. E-30 E.5.7 Current and Proposed Project Operations (18 C.F.R. §5.18(b)(4)(vi) .............................. E-30 E.5.8 Pneumatic Crest Gate Operations .................................................................................... E-30 E.5.9 Proposed Project Operations (18 C.F.R. §5.18(b)(4)(vi) .................................................. E-34 E.6 Proposed Action and Action Alternatives ................................................................................... E-35 E.6.1 Summary of Existing Measures ......................................................................................... E-35 E.6.2 Summary of Proposed Measures ...................................................................................... E-36 E.7 Environmental Analysis by Resource Area ................................................................................ E-38 E.7.1 Geology and Soil Resources ............................................................................................. E-39 E.7.2 Water Quantity and Quality ............................................................................................... E-55 E.7.3 Fish and Aquatic Resources ............................................................................................. E-79 E.7.4 Terrestrial Resources ...................................................................................................... E-106 E.7.5 Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species ................................................................... E-138 E.7.6 Recreation and Land Use ................................................................................................ E-146 E.7.7 Aesthetics and Socioeconomic Resources ..................................................................... E-167 E.7.8 Cultural Resources .......................................................................................................... E-179 E.8 Economic Analysis ................................................................................................................... E-191 December 2, 2020 | iii Table of Contents Lowell Hydroelectric Project E.9 Consistency with Comprehensive Plans .................................................................................. E-192 E.9.1 Federal Plans .................................................................................................................. E-192 E.9.2 Massachusetts Comprehensive Plans ............................................................................ E-193 E.9.3 New Hampshire Comprehensive Plans .......................................................................... E-194 E.10 Consultation Documentation .................................................................................................... E-195 E.11 Literature Cited ......................................................................................................................... E-196 Table of Figures Figure E.1-1. Lowell Project Location Map ............................................................................................... E-2 Figure E.2-1. Merrimack River Watershed and Major Subbasins............................................................. E-8 Figure E.5-1. Lowell Hydroelectric Project Canal System Map – Existing Facilities .............................. E-19 Figure E.7-1. Lowell Project Topographic Map Showing Existing Project Boundary ............................. E-40 Figure E.7-2. Lowell Project Topographic Map ....................................................................................... E-41 Figure E.7-3. Lowell Project Topographic Map ....................................................................................... E-42 Figure E.7-4. Lowell Project Topographic Map ....................................................................................... E-43 Figure E.7-5. Lowell Project Topographic Map ....................................................................................... E-44 Figure E.7-6. Lowell Project Topographic Map ....................................................................................... E-45 Figure E.7-7. Lowell Project Topographic Map ....................................................................................... E-46 Figure E.7-8. Merrimack River Watershed Bedrock Geology ................................................................. E-48 Figure E.7-9. Lowell Project Soils Map ................................................................................................... E-52 Figure E.7-10. Lowell Project Soils Map ................................................................................................. E-53 Figure E.7-11. Lowell Project Soils Map ................................................................................................. E-54 Figure E.7-12. USGS and STORET Water Quality Sample Locations ................................................... E-63 Figure E.7-13. Water Temperature Data Collected at USGS Gage 01100000 Merrimack River BL Concord River at Lowell, MA on the Merrimack River, 1998 – 2004 ...................................................... E-65 Figure E.7-14. Dissolved Oxygen Data Collected at USGS Gage 01100000 Merrimack River BL Concord River at Lowell, MA on the Merrimack River, 1998 – 2004 ..................................................................... E-65 Figure E.7-15. Dissolved Oxygen Percent Saturation Data Collected at USGS Gage 01100000 Merrimack River BL Concord River