On July 30, the chapter issued a letter outlining it’s position on the Warning System for Releases at Fife Brook Dam to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commision. The letter was based on the board’s review of the situation and input from DRWTU members. Please read the letter here.
The chapter wishes to expose and dispel some myths, scams, lies, and untruths that are currently circulating about the Fife Brook Dam Warning System. The information that follows are truths substantiated with evidence. These are not baseless claims, they are supported with fact and that fact comes straight from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC aka ‘the staff’) within the license renewal award, and from Brookfield Power’s own correspondence and participation in the process.
Truth: Brookfield Power LLC is actively attempting to abdicate responsibility for any warning system for increased flows and has done so throughout the ten plus year history of the FERC relicensing saga.
Evidence: In the license issued by FERC on November 26, 2025, in the Summary of License Requirements, FERC specifies in Article 49 “To enhance the safety of recreational users downstream of the Fife Brook Dam, from April 1 through October 31, when restarting the Fife Brook development powerhouse, this license requires that Bear Swamp Power ramp generation up to 3 MW and hold the generator at 3 MW for 15 minutes before increasing generation to higher levels.”
This was in response to the omission of any proposed ‘ramping’ warning system in Brookfield’s application which is documented here as FERC notes in Ramping Requirements under Article 115 “Under current operation, Bear Swamp Power opens the wicket gates in the turbine and releases generation flow up to 3 MW to avoid sudden increases in flow downstream of the Fife Brook Development. Upon reaching 3 MW, Bear Swamp Power pauses for 15 minutes and then begins ramping the flow release to a desired generation set point, which can be as high as 10 MW. Bear Swamp Power provides the 15-minute pause as an in-water safety measure to alert anglers to rising water levels from a flow release for generation. Several entities express interest in potentially enhancing environmental conditions for aquatic resources while considering how ramping alternatives would affect project generation and recreation downstream of the Fife Brook Development.”
Brookfield revealed their position on ‘ramping’ in the FERC Licensing process as documented by FERC under Article 116 “Bear Swamp Power proposes to discontinue holding the generator at 3 MW for 15 minutes and instead, use only existing flashing warning lights and sirens in the tailrace of the Fife Brook dam to alert recreation users when higher flows are released from Fife Brook dam. Under Bear Swamp Power’s proposal, the magnitude of the change in generation release flows would remain the same, but the rate of change would increase.”
Under Article 120 FERC explains the position it took in awarding the license to Brookfield, “In the final EA, staff concluded that Bear Swamp Power’s proposal to discontinue its practice of holding the generator at 3 MW for 15 minutes before increasing generation to higher output levels would eliminate the existing visible cue of rising water (i.e., inundation of rocks and landmarks, increase in water turbulence, change in water clarity, movement of debris, audible change in flow, shifting waterlines on the bank, temperature change [colder water from dam release]). This visible cue acts as an additional safety measure that provides an observable warning to downstream recreation users who may not see the strobe lights at Fife Brook dam or hear the audible warning siren indicating that water levels will soon rise, which could adversely affect user safety downstream of the dam. In addition, continuing the 15-minute hold would continue to provide time for fish and macroinvertebrates to find refuge as flows increase and would maintain current water quality conditions in the Fife Brook impoundment and downstream of the Fife Brook Development.”
Further evidence that Brookfield intends to abandon it’s responsibility to continue the ramping practice can be found in Brookfield’s letter to FERC dated August 3, 2026: “BSPC believes the record presents a compelling basis for reconsideration of the currently required early warning system. Specifically, there is no documented history of flow-related rescue incidents, operationally induced public safety events, or other demonstrated safety concerns attributable to Project operations downstream of Fife Brook Dam.” On the latter claim, DRWTU invites comment from Town of Charlemont emergency response staff and police.
Truth: As an ‘intervener’ in the relicensing of Fife Brook Dam, Trout Unlimited did join other concerned parties asking for a warning system for the flows.
Lie: Trout Unlimited asked for a warning system with specifications that included alarms, more specifically alarms that hit the 130 db level (hearing loss level) as Brookfield implied.
Evidence: Under article 187 FERC relates the positions of stakeholders regarding the Flow Warning System, “The Franklin Regional Government recommends an improved warning system to effectively provide notice and time for recreation users and downstream anglers in the Deerfield River, downstream of the Fife Brook Development, to avoid the danger of increasing flow releases from the Fife Brook dam. Trout Unlimited recommends installing a flow release warning system using light installations at formal and informal recreational areas.”
Falacy: Brookfield implies that FERC specified warning lights on 50 foot towers with audible sirens in the 120 – 130db range and by referencing ‘warnings for anglers’ implies that this was at the request of Trout Unlimited. The specific parameters that are outlined in Brookfield’s letter to stakeholders of June 3, 2026 are the recommendations of their contractor proposing the system, not FERC, and most certainly not Trout Unlimited (carefully read the Letter to Stakeholders dated June 3, 2026).
Evidence: From Brookfield’s Letter to Stakeholders dated June 3, 2026, “The flow release warning system will feature alarm speaker units that are expected to be exceptionally loud (approximately 120–130 decibels) to penetrate the ambient noise of the river and effectively alert river users of flow changes. The speakers, solar panels, and associated equipment will be mounted on poles approximately 50 feet in height, located as close to the river’s edge as permitting allows, to ensure both audible and visual coverage through strobe lighting. Although typical flow changes occur once daily, they may occur at any time. BSPC’s preference would be to only operate the system during daylight hours.”
Evidence: Under Summary of License Requirements Article 59, FERC orders Brookfield “To ensure the safety of recreationists in the Deerfield River downstream of Fife Brook dam, this license modifies Bear Swamp Power’s proposed recreation facilities management plan to include the following measures: (1) install and maintain warning systems, including audible sirens and flashing strobe light warnings, at project recreation facilities downstream of Fife Brook dam to provide warning of water releases from the dam; (2) install signage at project recreation sites describing the flow releases from Fife Brook dam and the safety warning systems at the sites, including the 15-minute pause at 3 MW; and (3) install either an emergency phone or dedicated Wi-Fi access for emergency communications with a limited range at each of the project recreation sites along the Deerfield River downstream of Fife Brook dam.”
Misleading Statement: In Brookfield’s Letter to FERC dated August 3, 2026 they imply that Trout Unlimited uncategoricly supports Brookfield’s abdication of responsibility regarding early warning systems in the paragraph, “During the 60-day comment period, BSPC received only one comment in support of installing the early warning system required under Article 304. In contrast, the overwhelming majority of stakeholders, representing a broad range of interests—including residents, abutting property owners, municipal officials, local businesses, whitewater outfitters, anglers, tubers, and Trout Unlimited—expressed clear and consistent opposition to the proposal.”
Here is the actual text of Trout Unlimited’s response to FERC on this matter:
“The mission of the Deerfield River Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited (DRWTU) is the protection of the river and its special character, and we have an inherent concern for the safety of anglers and other users of the river. We encourage Brookfield Renewables and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to work together to address the need for an effective early warning system for water releases that will preserve the character and environmental quality of the river and address the concerns of nearby residents and communities. We urge them to consider alternatives to intrusive sirens such as enhanced signage, education, targeted visual warnings, and mobile notifications. DRWTU applauds FERC for requiring Brookfield to continue the 15 minute flow ramping requirement as part of the system.”
The full documents referenced above can be accessed through the links that follow:
FERC License Award dated November 26, 2025
Brookfield’s Letter to Stakeholders dated June 3, 2026
DRWTU’s position on the ‘proposed’ Warning System dated July 30, 2026