MORGANTOWN – A group called Save Cheat Lake is asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to fine Eagle Creek Renewable Energy $85,384 per day for three violations of its federal requirements at the recreational facilities at its hydroelectric project.
Lake Lynn Generation, which operates the project, is a subsidiary of Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, which is a subsidiary of Ontario Power Generation, which is publicly owned.
The letter to FERC, dated Sunday and posted on Monday, is signed, collectively, by “residents of West Virginia, Cheat Lake Neighbors and Save Cheat Lake Volunteers.”
The first alleged violation is damage to the kayak lunch dock, which the group says was not removed as part of winter preparations.
“As a result of this negligence, it is now free-floating and bashing into shoreline rocks in the lake’s Rubles Run inlet after recent lake ice ripped the hinges right off the also neglected and rotten wood pier,” Save Cheat Lake said.
The dock, concrete ramp and kayak launches were donated to Lake Lynn/Eagle Creek by the Morgantown Izaak Walton League, the group said, and cost thousands of dollars of public funds. It needs to be rescued, removed and put into locked storage.
“The kayak launches are $1500 each, so $3000 plus the new dock estimated at $2000 for a total of $5,000 is currently ramming against the rip rap rocks and subjected to harsh freeze-thaw cycles due to one reason and one reason only: Eagle Creek’s willful negligence.”
Additionally, the group says, another dock in front of the day-use restroom was not removed and has been torn loose by ice.
In red ink, the group says, “We allege this neglect is in violation of the Federal Power Act and ask for immediate daily financial penalty of $28,618.”
The second alleged violation is trash blowing into the lake water.
“Would you be surprised that Eagle Creek Renewable Energy is yet again not emptying the trash,” it asks FERC. “Dozens of pounds of trash has unnecessarily polluted our waterways because Eagle Creek refuses to change a trash bag. It is nothing new.”
It previously made this complaint in October 2023. Now, Eagle Creek hasn’t changed the trash since October 2025, the group alleges.
“For over 4 months, people put trash on top and the wind comes along and blows it into the water. A perpetual cycle of pollution. This is negligence.”
In red ink, again, it asked for a daily fine of $28,618.
The third violation is removal of the portable toilets.
Lake Lynn previously told FERC it brought portable toilets to the site as an interim measure, while the on-site restrooms are closed because of a leaky water line.
The group told FERC that Eagle Creek has always provided a portable restroom during the fall-to-spring period.
“The public currently has no restroom accessibility when at the remotely located park, which is problematic given there are no other restrooms or even gas stations for miles.”
Eagle Creek data, the group said, shows that 47% of the park’s yearly usage occurs during this period, “so no restrooms during this time has significant negative public impact.”
In red ink, the group said this violates Eagle Creek’s recreation agreement. It asks FERC to levy a $28,618 daily fine.
Each of the three allegations is accompanied by photos illustrating the point.
The group concludes its letter by noting that FERC never responded to its 39-page “Allegations of Willful Negligence and False Statements” submitted last August and reported in detail at the time in The Dominion Post.
