Bard College Launches New Website Focused on Micro Hydropower in New York State

ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y.— Bard College, supported by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) REV Campus Challenge, announced today the launch of a new website to be a centralized, public resource for exploring sustainable micro hydropower in New York State. The website also documents this process for the Saw Kill Micro Hydropower Project on the Bard Campus, including the installation of real-time water quality monitoring equipment.

“We hope sharing Bard’s story in this way will help other dam owners who are trying to understand their options,” said Bard Chief Sustainability Officer Laurie Husted. “The decision to install a micro hydropower system, improve stream connectivity through dam removal, or safely maintain a dam, requires careful consideration of a number of factors. In general, there is a lack of data documenting the impacts that these practices have on stream ecology and water quality. Every stream and dam is unique, making it difficult to predict watershed-level impacts. The website shows the complexity of the issues around creating a new distributed renewable energy system in New York and aims to inform the owners of the more than 6,000 dams in the state to make holistic, educated decisions.”

“As part of the Saw Kill Project, Bard is monitoring water quality to study the direct and indirect environmental impacts of micro hydropower,” said Emily White, visiting research associate at the Bard Center for the Study of Land, Air, and Water. “By establishing a long-term dataset, we hope to provide evidence to support future conservation decisions regarding dam management. In addition, the framework developed through this project will be useful in the identification of potential short- and long-term water quality impacts (both positive and negative) at other sites.”

The website is organized to streamline and standardize the process for evaluating and implementing a potential micro hydropower site responsibly. The site breaks down the requirements for assessing, implementing, and maintaining a micro hydropower system. Using the Saw Kill Project as an example, lessons learned are provided as a resource for landowners, local governments, and researchers alike.

The MicrohydroNY website will be updated on a regular basis with news about the Saw Kill Project and changes that affect micro hydropower in New York State. Visitors are encouraged to explore the website and sign up for direct emails from MicrohydroNY at microhydrony.org.

Founded in 1860, Bard College is a four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences located 90 miles north of New York City. With the addition of the Montgomery Place estate, Bard’s campus consists of nearly 1,000 parklike acres in the Hudson River Valley. It offers bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and bachelor of music degrees, with majors in nearly 40 academic programs; graduate degrees in 11 programs; nine early colleges; and numerous dual-degree programs nationally and internationally. Building on its 159-year history as a competitive and innovative undergraduate institution, Bard College has expanded its mission as a private institution acting in the public interest across the country and around the world to meet broader student needs and increase access to liberal arts education. The undergraduate program at our main campus in upstate New York has a reputation for scholarly excellence, a focus on the arts, and civic engagement. Bard is committed to enriching culture, public life, and democratic discourse by training tomorrow’s thought leaders. For more information about Bard College, visit bard.edu.

NYSERDA REV Campus Challenge: The REV Campus Challenge promotes clean energy efforts by recognizing and supporting colleges and universities in New York State that implement clean energy projects and principles on campus, in the classroom, and in surrounding communities. nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/REV-Campus-Challenge

(9.30.19)


 

Website: https://microhydrony.org/

This event was last updated on 10-07-2019

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