Flooding Issues at FERC Hydroelectric Projects

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) receives a number of inquiries every year regarding localized flooding near the hydropower projects it regulates. This type of flooding differs from emergency flood conditions that may occur near hydroelectric projects. This paper discusses the Commission's review of instances of local flooding near hydroelectric projects. A project emergency, as defined in the Commission's regulations, means an impending or actual sudden release of water at the project caused by natural disaster, accident, or failure of project works. Localized flooding may occur upstream or downstream of a hydroelectric project during high or increasing river flows. This type of flooding is not generally considered a life threatening event. Instances of local flooding are typically associated with projects where development has occurred close to the edge of the upstream reservoir.