FRANC LOGIC August 2020 Low Impact Hydropower Institute’s (LIHI) Stage II Recertification Review for Smoky Mountain Hydroelectric Project (LIHI #18) Table of Contents 1. BACKGROUND ....................................................................................................................................................... 3 2. LITTLE TENNESEE RIVER BASIN ............................................................................................................................. 4 3. ZONES OF EFFECT (ZOEs) ...................................................................................................................................... 6 4. PROJECT HYDROLOGY ......................................................................................................................................... 13 5. PROJECT DESCRIPTION........................................................................................................................................ 13 A. Santeetlah Dam .............................................................................................................................................. 14 B. Cheoah Dam .................................................................................................................................................... 16 C. Calderwood Dam ............................................................................................................................................ 18 D. Chilhowee Dam ............................................................................................................................................... 19 6. REGULATORY SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................... 20 A. Licensing Requirements .................................................................................................................................. 21 B. Compliance Issues ........................................................................................................................................... 22 7. LIHI RECERTIFICATION PROCESS ......................................................................................................................... 23 A. Comment Letters ............................................................................................................................................ 23 B. Agency Correspondence ................................................................................................................................. 24 8. RECERTIFICATION REVIEW .................................................................................................................................. 24 A. LIHI Criterion-Flows......................................................................................................................................... 25 A.1 Santeetlah ....................................................................................................................................................................... 25 A.2 Cheoah ............................................................................................................................................................................. 26 A.3 Calderwood.................................................................................................................................................................... 26 A.4 Chilhowee ....................................................................................................................................................................... 27 A.5 Summary ......................................................................................................................................................................... 27 B. LIHI Criterion-Water Quality ........................................................................................................................... 27 B.1 Santeetlah and Cheoah .............................................................................................................................................. 28 B.2 Calderwood and Chilhowee .................................................................................................................................... 28 B.3 Summary ......................................................................................................................................................................... 29 C. LIHI Criterion-Upstream Fish Passage ............................................................................................................. 29 1 FRANC LOGIC August 2020 C.1 Santeetlah and Cheoah .............................................................................................................................................. 29 C.2 Calderwood and Chilhowee .................................................................................................................................... 30 C.3 Summary ......................................................................................................................................................................... 31 D. LIHI Criterion-Downstream Fish Passage ........................................................................................................ 31 D.1 Santeetlah and Cheoah .............................................................................................................................................. 31 D.2 Calderwood and Chilhowee .................................................................................................................................... 33 D.3 Summary ......................................................................................................................................................................... 34 E. LIHI Criterion-Shoreline and Watershed Protection ....................................................................................... 34 F. LIHI Criterion-Threatened and Endangered Species ....................................................................................... 35 F.1 Santeetlah ....................................................................................................................................................................... 37 F.2 Cheoah ............................................................................................................................................................................. 37 F.3 Calderwood.................................................................................................................................................................... 37 F.4 Chilhowee ....................................................................................................................................................................... 37 F.5 Summary ......................................................................................................................................................................... 38 G. LIHI Criterion-Cultural Resource Protection ................................................................................................... 38 G.1 Santeetlah ....................................................................................................................................................................... 38 G.2 Cheoah ............................................................................................................................................................................. 39 G.3 Calderwood.................................................................................................................................................................... 39 G.4 Chilhowee ....................................................................................................................................................................... 39 G.5 Summary ......................................................................................................................................................................... 39 H. LIHI Criterion-Recreation ................................................................................................................................ 39 H.1 Santeetlah ....................................................................................................................................................................... 40 H.2 Cheoah ............................................................................................................................................................................. 40 H.3 Calderwood.................................................................................................................................................................... 40 H.4 Chilhowee ....................................................................................................................................................................... 40 H.5 Summary ......................................................................................................................................................................... 40 9. RECOMMENDATION ........................................................................................................................................... 41 2 FRANC LOGIC August 2020 1. BACKGROUND The Smoky Mountain Hydroelectric Project (SMHP or Project), formerly known as the Tapoco Project (LIHI #18), consists of four