FirstLight: Interim repairs at Turners Falls dam complete

TURNERS FALLS — FirstLight Hydro Generating Co. has completed interim repair work at the Turners Falls Dam, the company announced Friday.

The hydropower company began an investigation into the Turners Falls dam’s bascule gate pistons this August following two hydraulic leaks since early 2022. A 1-gallon leak that occurred in March, as well as a 300-gallon leak in February 2022, were each been attributed to faults in four separate pistons. FirstLight, which owns the dam, had enacted “mitigation practices” in response, such as tightening up packing on the affected pistons, installing absorbent booms around each piston and regularly checking the booms to see if they need replacement, Claire Belanger, a company spokeswoman explained previously. A more permanent solution could not immediately be pursued due to a variety of environmental conditions, such as an abundance of snow and ice and recent high flow rates in the Connecticut River, she noted.

“We expect to have a decision on a permanent solution toward the end of the year,” Belanger said Friday.

The recent remediation work included a detailed inspection of the dam’s eight pistons; replacement of the packing and cylinder head o-rings on all but pistons 7 and 8, which were replaced in 2022; repair of chroming on pistons 1 through 6 that showed signs of pitting; and repair of heaters within the pits of all pistons.

FirstLight intends to identify a cause for both leaks as part of its ongoing investigation and repair process. Belanger said the company will provide more detail as it emerges.

Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-930-4231 or jmendoza@recorder.com.