s 

333.91 

M26prar 

2001 



2001 ANNUAL REPORT 

to the 

GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA, UNITED STATES, 

SASKATCHEWAN AND MONTANA 



TATE DOCUMENTS COLLECTION 

DEC V 2002 

MONTANA STATE LIBRARY 

1515 E. 6th AVE. 
"^LENA, MONTANA 59620 



by the 



POPLAR RIVER 

BILATERAL MONITORING 

COMMITTEE 



COVERING CALENDAR YEAR 2001 




RIVER 



October 2002 



MONTANA STATE LIBRARY 



3 0864 1001 6672 



2001 ANNUAL REPORT 



to the 



GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA, UNITED STATES, 
SASKATCHEWAN, AND MONTANA 



by the 



POPLAR RIVER BILATERAL MONITORING COMMITTEE 
COVERING CALENDAR YEAR 2001 



October 2002 



Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee 



Department of State 
Washington, D.C., United States 



Governor's Office 
State of Montana 
Helena, Montana, United States 

Ladies and Gentlemen: 



Department of Foreign Affairs 
and International Trade Canada 
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada 

Saskatchewan Environment and 
Resource Management 
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada 



Herein is tiae 2 1 st Annual Report of the Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee. This report discusses 
the Committee activities of 2001 and presents the proposed schedule for the year 2002. 

During 2001, the Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee continued to fulfil the responsibilities 
assigned by the governments under the Poplar River Cooperative Monitoring Agreement dated September 
23, 1980. Through exchange of Diplomatic Notes in March 1987, July 1992, and July 1997, the 
Arrangement was extended. The Monitoring Committee requested another extension through 2007. 

The enclosed report summarizes current water-quality conditions and compares them to guidelines for 
specific parameter values that were developed by the International Joint Commission imder the 1977 
Reference fi-om Canada and the United States. After evaluation of the monitoring information for 2001, the 
Committee finds that the measured conditions meet the recommended objectives. The Committee notes that 
the flow-weighted concentration of total dissolved solids in streamflow in the East Poplar River at the 
International Boundary remains close to the long-term objective of 1,000 milligrams per litre, but did not 
exceed the objective in 2001. 

Based on UC recommendations, the United States was entitled to an on-demand release of 370 dam^ (300 
acre-feet) fi-om Cookson Reservoir in 2001. A volume of 385 dam^ (312 acre-feet) was delivered to the 
United States during this period. In addition, most daily flows in 2001 met or exceeded the minimimi flow 
recommended by the UC. 

During 2001, monitoring continued in accordance with Technical Monitoring Schedules outlined in the 
1 992 Annual Report of the Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee. 



Yours sincerely. 



Robert Davis 

Chairman, United States SectifJh 



Richard Kellow 
Chairman, Canadian Section 



Chairman, United States SectifJh Chairman, Canadian Section 

Japk^tults Chuck Bosgoed / 

Member. United States Section Member. Canadian Section 



Chuck Bosgoed 
Member, Canadian Section 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Highlights for 2001 iii 

1.0 Introduction 1 

2.0 Committee Activities 2 

2.1 Membership 2 

2.2 Meetings 2 

2.3 Review of Water-Quality Objectives 3 

2.4 Data Exchange .....4 

3.0 Water and Air: Monitoring and Interpretations 6 

3.1 Poplar River Power Station Operation 6 

3.2 East Poplar River 6 

3.2.1 Streamflow 6 

3.2.2 Apportionment 7 

3.2.3 Minimum Flows 7 

3.2.4 On-Demand Release 8 

3.2.5 Water Quality 9 

3.2.5.1 Total Dissolved Solids 10 

3.2.5.2 Boron 14 

3.2.5.3 Other Water-Quality Variables 17 

3.3 Groundwater 19 

3.3.1 Operations 19 

3.3.2 Ground- Water Monitoring 21 

3.3.2.1 Saskatchewan 21 

3.3.2.2 Montana 25 

3.3.3 Ground-Water Quality 27 

3.3.3.1 Saskatchewan 27 

3.3.3.2 Montana 31 

3.4 Cookson Reservoir 32 

3.4.1 Storage 32 

3.4.2 Water Quality 34 

3.5 Air Quality 34 

3.6 Quality Control 34 

3.6.1 Streamflow 34 

3.6.2 Water Quality 35 

ANNEXES 

1 .0 Poplar River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, Canada-United States Al 

2.0 Poplar River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, Technical 

Monitoring Schedules, 2001, Canada-United States A2 

3.0 Recommended Flow Apportionment in the Poplar River Basin A3 

4.0 Metric Conversion Factors A4 



TABLES 

Table 2. 1 Water-Quality Objectives 5 

Table 3. 1 Recommended Water-Quality Objectives and Excursions, 2001 Sampling 

Program, East Poplar River at International Boimdary 18 

Table 3.2 Water-Quality Statistics for Water Pumped from Supplementary 

Water Supply Project Wells 27 

Table 3.3 Water-Quality Statistics for Water Pumped from Salinity Confrol Project 

Wells Sampled at the Discharge Pipe 28 

Table 3.4 Cookson Reservoir Storage Statistics for 2001 32 

Table 3.5 Sfreamflow Measurement Results for July 16, 2001 35 

Table 3.6 East Poplar River Joint Water-Quality Sample Results for August 14, 2001 36 

FIGURES 



Figure 3.1 Discharge during 2001 as Compared with the Median Discharge from 

1931-2000 for the Poplar River at International Boundary 6 

Figure 3.2 Flow Hydrograph of the East Poplar River at International Boundary 8 

Figure 3.3 Cumulative Volume Hydrograph of On-Demand Release 9 

Figure 3.4 TDS Concenfration for 2001 Grab Samples from East Poplar River at 

International Boundary 1 1 

Figure 3.5 Three-Month Moving Flow- Weighted TDS Concenfration for East Poplar 

River at International Boundary 1 1 

Figure 3.6 Five- Year Moving Flow- Weighted TDS Concenfration for East Poplar River 

at International Boimdary 13 

Figure 3.7 Daily TDS Concenfration, 1990 to 2001, East Poplar River at International 

Boimdary 13 

Figure 3.8 Boron Concenfration for 2001 Grab Samples from East Poplar River at 

International Boundary 15 

Figure 3.9 Three-Month Moving Flow-Weighted Boron Concenfration for East Poplar 

River at International Boimdary 15 

Figure 3.10 Five- Year Moving Flow- Weighted Boron Concenfration for East Poplar 

River at International Boundary 16 

Figure 3.11 Daily Boron Concentration, 1 990 to 2001 , East Poplar River at 

International Boundary 16 

Figure 3.12 Supplementary Water Supply 19 

Figure 3.13 Pumpagefrom Salinity Confrol Project 21 

Figure 3.14 Drawdown for Hart Seam Aquifer as of December 2001 23 

Figure 3.15 Cone of Depression in the Empress Sands Due to the Salinity Confrol Project 

as of December 2001 24 

Figure 3.16 Hydrograph of Selected Wells: Fort Union-Hart Coal Aquifers 25 

Figure 3.17 Hydrograph of Selected Wells: Alluvium and Fox Hills Aquifers 26 

Figure 3.18 Total Dissolved Solids in Samples from Montana Wells 31 

Figure 3.19 Cookson Reservoir Daily Mean Water Levels for 200 1 and Median 

Daily Water Levels, 1981-1991 33 



HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2001 

The Poplar River Power Station completed its eighteenth full year of operation in 2001. The two 
300-megawatt coal-fired units generated 4,354,900 gross megawatt hours (MW/h) of electricity. 
The average capacity factors for Units No. 1 and 2 were 74.6 percent and 88.4 percent, 
respectively. The capacity factors are based on the maximum generating rating of 305 MW/h for 
both Unit No. 1 and Unit No. 2. 

Monitoring information collected in both Canada and the United States during 2001 was exchanged 
in the spring of 2002. In general, the sampling locations, fi-equency of collection, and parameters 
met the requirements identified in the 2001 Technical Monitoring Schedules set forth in the 2000 
annual report. 

The recorded volume of the Poplar River at International Boundary fi-om March 1 to May 31, 2001 
was 4,790 dam'' (3,880 acre-feet). Based on International Joint Commission (IJC) recom- 
mendations and the assumption that the recorded flow is the natural flow, the United States was 
entitled to a minimvim discharge on the East Poplar River of 0.057 cubic metres per second (m^/s) 
(2.0 cubic feet per second (ftVs)) for the period June 1, 2001 to August 31, 2001 and 0.028 m^/s 
(1.0 ft^/s) for the period September 1, 2001 to May 31, 2002. The minimum flow of 0.028 m^/s 
(1.0 ft^/s) for the period January 1 to May 31, 2001 had previously been determined on the basis of 
the Poplar River flow volume for March 1 to May 31, 2000. Except for August 7, 1 1, and 12, daily 
flows in 2001 met or exceeded the minimum flow recommended by the IJC. 

In addition to the minimum flow, the IJC apportionment recommendation entitles the United States 
to an on-demand release to be delivered on the East Poplar River during the twelve-month period 
commencing June 1. Based on the runoff volume of 2,080 dam^ (1,690 acre-feet) recorded at the 
Poplar River at International Boundary gauging station for March 1 through May 31, 2000, the 
United States was entifled to an additional release of 370 dam'' (300 acre-feet) fi-om Cookson 
Reservoir during the succeeding twelve-month period commencing June 1, 2000. Montana 
requested this release to be made between May 1 and May 31, 2001. A volume of 385 dam^ (312 
acre-feet), in addition to the minimum flow, was delivered during this period. 

The 2001 five-year total dissolved solids (TDS) flow- weighted concentrations were below the 
long-term objective of 1,000 milligrams per litre (mg/L). The maximum monthly value calculated 
in 2001 was 948 mg/L, which was less than in 2000. Boron concentrations for 2001 continued to 
remain well below the long-term objective of 2.5 mg/L. 



lU 



1.0 INTRODUCTION 

The Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee was authorized for an initial period of five years by 
the Governments of Canada and the United States under the Poplar River Cooperative Monitoring 
Arrangement dated September 23, 1980. A copy of the Arrangement is attached to this report as Annex 
1. Through exchange of Diplomatic Notes, the Arrangement was extended in March 1987, July 1992, 
and July 1997. The current extension expires in March 2002. A more detailed account of the historical 
background of the Monitoring Arrangement is contained in the 1990 Annual Report of the Poplar River 
Bilateral Monitoring Committee. 

The Committee oversees monitoring programs designed to evaluate the potential for transboundary 
impacts fi-om SaskPower's (formerly Saskatchewan Power Corporation) coal-fired thermal generating 
station and ancillary operations near Coronach, Saskatchewan. Monitoring is conducted in Canada and 
the United States at or near the International Boundary for quantity and quality of surface and ground 
water and for air quality. Participants fi-om both countries, including Federal, State and Provincial 
agencies, are involved in monitoring. 

The Committee submits an annual report to Governments which summarizes the monitoring results, 
evaluates apparent trends, and compares the data to objectives or standards recommended by the 
hitemational Joint Commission (IJC) to Governments, or relevant State, Provincial, or Federal 
standards. The Committee reports to Governments on a calendar year basis. The Committee is also 
responsible for drawing to the attention of Governments definitive changes in monitored parameters 
which may require immediate attention. 

A responsibility of the Committee is to review the adequacy of the monitoring programs in both 
countries and make recommendations to Governments on the Technical Monitoring Schedules. The 
Schedules are updated annually for new and discontinued programs and for modifications in sampling 
frequencies, parameter lists, and analytical techniques of ongoing programs. The Technical Monitoring 
Schedules listed in the annual report (Annex 2) are given for the forthcoming year. The Committee will 
continue to review and propose changes to the Technical Monitoring Schedules as information 
requirements change. 



2.0 COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES 
2.1 Membership 



The Committee is composed of representatives of the Governments of the United States of America and 
Canada, the State Government of Montana, and the Provincial Government of Saskatchewan, hi 
addition to the representatives of Governments, two ex-officio members serve as local representatives 
for the State of Montana and Province of Saskatchewan. 

During 2001, the members of the Committee included: Mr. R. Davis, U.S. Geological Survey, United 
States representative and Cochair; Mr. R. Kellow, Environment Canada, Canadian representative and 
Cochair; Mr. J. Stults, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Montana 
representative; Mr. C. Bosgoed, Saskatchewan Environment, Saskatchewan representative; Mr. C.W. 
Tande, Daniels County Commissioner, Montana local ex-officio representative; and Mr. J.R. Totten, 
Reeve, R.M. of Hart Butte, Saskatchewan local ex-officio representative. 



2.2 Meetin2s 



The Committee met on August 28, 2001, in Helena, Montana. Delegated representatives of 
Governments, with the exception of the two ex-officio members from Montana and Saskatchewan, 
attended the meeting. In addition to Committee members, several technical advisors representing 
Federal, State, and Provincial agencies participated in the meeting. During the meeting, the Committee 
reviewed the operational status of the Poplar River Power Station and associated coal-mining activities; 
examined data collected in 2000 including surface-water quality and quantity, grotmd-water quality and 
quantity, and air quality; established the Technical Monitoring Schedules for the year 2002; and 
discussed proposed changes in water-quality objectives and the possibility of replacing the flow- 
weighting method currently used to compute total dissolved solids and boron. 



2.3 Review of Water-Quality Objectives 

The International Joint Commission in its Report to Governments, titled "Water-Quality in the Poplar 
River Basin", recommended that the Committee "periodically review the water-quality objectives with 
the overall Basin context and recommend new and revised objectives as appropriate", hi 1991, an action 
item from the annual Committee meeting set in motion the review and revision of the water-quality 
objectives. 

In 1993, the Conmiittee approved changes in water-quality objectives recommended by the 
subcommittee that was formed in 1992 to review the objectives. The Committee also discussed the 
water-quality objectives for 5-year and 3-month flow-weighted concentrations for total dissolved solids 
and boron. Although the Committee agreed that calculation procedures to determine flow-weighted 
concentrations are time consuming and probably scientifically questionable, no consensus was reached 
on alternative objectives or procedures. 

In 1997, the Committee agreed to suspend the monitoring and reporting of several parameters. The 
parameters affected were: dissolved aluminum, un-ionized ammonia, total chromium, dissolved copper, 
mercury in fish tissues, fecal coliform, and total coliform. The Committee also agreed to other minor 
revisions for clarification purposes. For example, changing the designation for pH from "natural" to 
"ambient". 

In 1 999, the Committee replaced the term "discontinued" with "suspended" in Table 2. 1 . 

The Committee decided this year to suspend the monitoring of dissolved mercury and total copper. This 
decision to suspend these parameters was based on data indicating concentrations or levels well below 
or within the objectives. Current objectives approved by the Committee are listed in Table 2. 1 . 

Another responsibility of the Committee has included an ongoing exchange of data acquired through the 
monitoring programs. Exchanged data and reports are available for public viewing at the agencies of the 
participating governments or from Committee members. 



2.4 Data Exchange 

The Committee is responsible for assuring exchange of data between governments. The exchange of 
monitoring information was initiated in the first quarter of 1981 and was an expansion of the informal 
quarterly exchange program initiated between the United States and Canada in 1976. Until 1991, data 
were exchanged on a quarterly basis. At the request of the Committee, the United States and Canada 
agreed to replace the quarterly exchange of data with an annual exchange effective at the beginning of 
the 1992 calendar year. Henceforth, data will be exchanged once each year as soon after the end of the 
calendar year as possible. However, unusual conditions or anomalous information will be reported and 
exchanged whenever warranted. No unusual conditions occurred during 2001 which warranted special 
reporting. 



Table 2.1 Water-Quality Objectives 



Parameter 


Present 
Objective 


Recommendation 


New Objective 


Boron - total 


3.5/2.5' 


Continue as is ~ re-evaluate 


To be determined 


TDS 


1500/1000' 


Continue as is - re-evaluate 


To be determined 


Aluminum, dissolved 


0.1 


Suspend* 


... 


Ammonia, un-ionized 


0.02 


Suspend* 


— 


Cadmium, total 


0.0012 


Continue as is 


0.0012 


Chromium, total 


0.05 


Suspend* 


.„ 


Copper, dissolved 


0.005 


Suspend* 


— 


Copper, total 


1 


Suspend* 


... 


Fluoride, dissolved 


1.5 


Continue as is 


1.5 


1 Lead, total 


0.03 


Continue as is 


0.03 


Mercury, dissolved 


0.0002 


Suspend* 


._ 


Mercury, fish (mg/kg) 


0.5 


Suspend* 


... 


Nitrate 


10 


Continue as is 


10 


Oxygen, dissolved 


4.0/5.0^ 


Objective applies only during 
open water 


4.0/5.0^ 


SAR (units) 


10 


Continue as is 


10 


Sulfate, dissolved 


800 


Continue as is 


800 


Zinc, total 


0.03 


Continue as is 


0.03 


Water temperature (C) 


30.0^ 


Continue as is 


30.0^ 


pH (units) 


6.5^ 


Continue 


6.5^ 


Coliform(no./100mL) 








Fecal 


2000 


Suspend* 


... 


Total 20000 Suspend* 


Units in mg/L excqjt as noted. 

1 . Five-year average of flow-weighted concentrations (March to October) should be <2.5 boron, < 1 ,000 TDS. 

Three-month average of flow-weighted concentration should be <3.5 boron and <1500 TDS. 

2. 5.0 (minimum April 10 to May 1 5), 4.0 (minimum remainder of year - Fish Spawning). 

3 . Natural temperature (April 1 to May 1 5 ), <30 degree Celsius (remainder of year) 

4. Less than 0.5 pH units above ambient, minimum pH=6.5. 



•Suspended after review of historic data found sample concentrations consistently below the objective. 



3.0 WATER AND AIR: MONITORING AND INTERPRETATIONS 

3.1 Poplar River Power Station Operation 

In 2001, the two 300-megawatt coal-fired units generated 4,354,900 gross megawatt hours (MW/h) of 
electricity. The average capacity factors for Unit No. 1 and 2 were 74.6 percent and 88.4 percent, 
respectively. The capacity factors are based on the maximum generating rating of 305 MW/h for both 
Unit No. 1 and Unit No. 2. 

3.2 East Poplar River 

3.2.1 Streamflow 

Streamflow in the Poplar River basin was below normal in 2001. The March to October recorded flow 
of the Poplar River at International Boundary, an indicator of natural flow in the basin, was 5,540 cubic 
decametres (dam^) (4,490 acre-feet), which was 55 percent of the 1931 to 2000 median seasonal flow. 
A comparison of 2001 monthly mean discharge with the 1931-2000 median discharge is shown in 
Figure 3.1. 



O ■ -Median of Monthly Mean Discharge for 1931-2000 
-O^ Monthly Mean Discharge for 2001 




Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep 



40 



35 1 
o 

I 
I 

25 I 



30 



20 I 
o 

15^. 



10 



Oct 



Figure 3.1 Discharge during 2001 as Compared with the Median Discharge from 
1931-2000 for the Poplar River at International Boundary. 



The 2001 recorded flow volume of the East Poplar River at International Boundary was 2,510 dam'' 
(2,030 acre-feet). This volume is 80 percent of the median annual flow since the completion of 
Morrison Dam in 1975. 

3.2.2 Apportionment 

In 1976 the International Souris-Red Rivers Engineering Board, through its Poplar River Task Force, 
completed an investigation and made a recommendation to the Governments of Canada and the United 
States regarding the apportionment of waters of the Poplar River basin. Although not officially adopted 
by the two countries, the Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee has adhered to the Apportion- 
ment Recommendations in each of its annual reports. Annex 3 contains the apportiorunent 
recommendation. 

3.2.3 Minimum Flows 

The recorded volume of the Poplar River at International Boundary from March 1 to May 31, 2001 was 
4,790 dam"' (3,880 acre-feet). Based on IJC recommendations and the assumption that the recorded flow 
is the natural flow, the United States was entitled to a minimum discharge on the East Poplar River of 
0.057 cubic metres per second (m''/s) (2.0 cubic feet per second (ft^/s)) for the period June 1, 2001 to 
August 31, 2001 and 0.028 m^/s (1.0 ft^/s) for the period September 1, 2001 to May 31, 2002. The 
minimum flow for the period January 1 to May 31, 2001 was 0.028 m^/s (1.0 ft''/s), determined on the 
basis of the Poplar River flow volume for March 1 to May 31, 2000. A hydrograph for the East Poplar 
River at International Boimdary and the minimum flow as recommended by the IJC are shown in Figure 
3.2. 

Daily flows during 2001 met or exceeded the minimum flow recommended by the IJC throughout the 
year except for August 7, 1 1, and 12, when daily flows fell slightly below the recommended minimum. 




0.01 



><>>c c-s raoaatt 






O O $ S 
Z Z Q 9 
CO »^ O) r* 



2001 



Figure 3.2 Flow Hydrograph of the East Poplar River at International Boundary. 



3.2.4 On-Demand Release 



In addition to the minimum flow, the IJC apportionment recommendation entitles Montana to an on- 
demand release to be delivered on the East Poplar River during the twelve-month period commencing 
June 1. Based on the runoff volume of 2,080 dam^ (1,690 acre-feet) recorded at the Poplar River at 
International Boundary gauging station during the March 1 to May 31, 2000 period, Montana was 
entitled to an additional release of 370 dam^ (300 acre-feet) from Cookson Reservoir during the 
succeeding twelve-month period commencing June 1 , 2000. Montana requested this release to be made 
between May 1 and May 31, 2001. A volume of 385 dam^ (312 acre-feet), in addition to the minimum 
flow, was delivered during this period. A hydrograph showing cumulative volume of the on-demand 
release request and on-demand release delivery made at the East Poplar River at International Boundary 
is shown in Figure 3.3 



450 



S 400 
i 350 



300 



O 250 



200 



1 100 



■ 350 



-On-Demand Release Delivery 
■On-Demand Release Request 




2001 



Figure 3.3 Cumulative Volume Hydrograph of On-Demand Release. 

3.2.5 Water Quality 

The 1981 report by the IJC to Governments recommended: 

For the March to October period, the maximum flow-weighted concentrations should not exceed 3.5 
milligrams per litre (mg/L) for boron and 1500 mg/L for IDS for any three consecutive months in the 
East Poplar River at the International Boundary. For the March to October period, the long-term 
average of flow-weighted concentrations should be 2.5 mg/L or less for boron, and 1000 mg/L or less 
for TDS in the East Poplar River at the International Boundary. 



For the period prior to 1982, three-month moving flow-weighted concentration (FWC) for boron and 
total dissolved solids (TDS) was calculated solely from monthly monitoring results. Since the beginning 
of 1982, the USGS has monitored specific conductance daily in the East Poplar River at the 
International Boundary, making it possible to derive boron and TDS concentration using a linear 
regression relationship with specific conductance. Thus, the three-month FWC for boron and TDS for 
the period 1982 to 2001 was calculated from both the results of monthly monitoring (grab samples 



10 

collected by both Canada and the United States) and the statistical analysis of daily specific conductance 
readings collected by the USGS. 

The Bilateral Monitoring Committee adopted the approach that, for the ptirpose of comparison with the 
proposed IJC long-term objectives, the boron and TDS data are best plotted as a five-year moving FWC 
which is advanced one month at a time. 

Prior to 1 988, long-term averages were calculated for a five-year period in which 2.5 years preceded and 
2.5 years followed each plotted point. Beginning in 1988, the FWC was calculated fi"om the five-year 
period preceding each plotted point. For example, the FWC for December 2001 is calculated fi-om data 
generated over the period December 1995 to December 2001. The calculations are based on the results 
of samples collected throughout the year, and are not restricted to only those collected during the months 
bracketing the period of irrigation (March to October) each year. 

3.2.5.1 Total Dissolved Solids 

TDS is inversely related to streamflow at the International Boundary station. During periods of high 
runoff such as spring fi-eshet, TDS decreases as the proportion of streamflow derived fi-om ground water 
decreases. Conversely, during times of low streamflow (late summer, winter) the contribution of ground 
water to streamflow is proportionally greater. Because ground water has a higher ionic strength than the 
surface water entering the river, the TDS of the stream increases markedly during low flow conditions. 

TDS grab-sample data collected by Environment Canada and the USGS in 2001 are shown in Figure 
3.4. The TDS ranged fi"om 881 mg/L on March 23 and May 30 to 1,055 mg/L on January 26. The 
proposed short-term objective for TDS is 1,500 mg/L. A time plot of the three-month moving FWC for 
TDS is presented in Figure 3.5. 



11 



Figure 3.4: TDS Concentration for 2001 Grab Samples from East Poplar River 
at International Boundary 



1100 



^,_^ 


1050 


!> 




fc. 


1000 


«] 




s 




5 


950 


•g 




■^ 


900 


(!j 




o 


850 


?! 




o 




1- 


800 



«> mfih 



750 



♦ 1030 



♦ 1030 



♦ 986 



♦ 965 



♦ 978 



♦ ddd 



♦ 968 



♦ 929 ♦934 



♦ 881 ♦ 881 



Figure 3.5: Three-Month Moving Flow-Weighted TDS Concentration for East 
Poplar River at International Boundary 



1600 




12 

The TDS objective has not been exceeded during the period of record. On inspection of the plot, it is 
apparent that the three-month moving FWC has been increasing gradually, year by year, up until the 
spring runoff of 1997, when an exceptionally heavy snowmelt contributed sufficient water of low ionic 
strength to the river and the reservoir to dilute the accumulated salts built up in the system. Dissolved- 
solids concentrations in 2001 decreased from January through the spring runoff period and then 
gradually increased through December to near the concentration observed at the beginning of 2001 . 

The five-year moving FWC for TDS (Figure 3.6) did not exceed the long-term objective of 1,000 mg/L 
in 2001 . The maximum monthly value calculated in 2001 was 948 mg/L, which is less than the previous 
year maximum monthly value of 972 mg/L. 

The daily TDS values, as generated by linear regression from the daily specific-conductance readings, 
from January 1990 through December 2001 are shown in Figure 3.7. The data show an abrupt drop in 
TDS corresponding to the snowmelt runoff occurring during the spring of each year. 

Note: There were no daily conductance data from September 13-30, 2001 and from October 1-24, 
2001, inclusive. Therefore, the monthly representation samples used for September and October 2001 
were the means calculated based on the recorded partial data for these two months. No gaps or voids 
werefilled. 

The relationship between TDS and specific conductance applied to data collected from 1975 to 2001 is 
as follows: 

TDS = (0.626 X specific conductance) + 31.542 
(R^ = 0.85, n = 555) 



13 



1200 



1000 



^ 



800 



^ 600 



ffl 400 



200 



Figure 3.6: Five- Year l\^oving Flow-Weighted TDS Concentration for East Poplar River 
at International Boundary 





/ 


ong 


Ten 


nO 


iject 


ve 












































































r 






V/— 


^ 










^ 




/■ 


















~\. 


[L 



























































































































































































































rv*" fJ= ^ iO' ^* ^ ^ ^ ;&' ^ %<* <^ ^ <S' <§' <§> 4> <i^ (S^ ^ q^ <^ ft* <^ <§> cs'i qO o*^ c?' 
>?>o vji.o ^<^o >,*o ^*o ^j^o v?.o v?.o >,*o ^>o ^*o ^*o ^*o v,*<^ ^*^ >,*o >j>o ^^ />' / / / / / /^' / /■- ^<!,^- / 



1600 



1400 



1200 



Figure 3.7: Daily TDS Concentration, 1 990 to 2001 ; East Poplar River at International 
Boundary (regression-derived data) 




cP # a^ ji"- # <i^ J> ^ o^ o|» Jp ^ J' rf> ftA j^A jj* jj% jjQ j^ jp jp j^N »N ^ 
^1^ >j» ^<^ ^^ >j!.<^ 5^ ^*<> >s» ^<iJ> ^>» ^,^<^ >j» ^,^<> vj^ ^^o Nt> ^^o vj> ^*o >j» ^<,r /^ /■ ^<» / 



14 

3.2.5.2 Boron 

Figure 3.8 shows that during 2001, boron concentrations in the East Poplar River at International 
Boundary varied from 1.32 (May 30) to 2.01 mg/L (December 10). 

The three-month moving FWC for boron for the period of record is shown in Figure 3.9. The short-term 
objective of 3.5 mg/L has not been exceeded over the period 1975 to 2001. It can be seen that the data 
derived from grab samples and that derived from regression with specific conductance are similar, with 
the highs and lows in some degree of correspondence. This suggests that the regression generation of 
boron and TDS values is, in general terms, a valid procedure despite problems which arise from 
attempting to generate representative concenfration and flow data for an entire month, based on a limited 
number of samples. 

The five-year moving FWC for boron displayed in Figure 3.10 remained well below the long-term 
objective of 2.5 mg/L. From mid- 1993 to the end of the data period there is a distinct drop in the 
computed boron concentrations. 

It is apparent that TDS is better-correlated with specific conductance than is boron. Boron is a relatively 
minor ion, and does not in itself contribute to a large degree to the total load of dissolved constituents in 
the water. Accordingly, it appears likely that the standard deviation of dissolved boron (relative to the 
long-term mean boron concentration) may be greater than that of the major cations (sodium, potassium, 
and magnesium) and anions (sulphate, bicarbonate, and chloride) around their respective long-term 
mean concenfrations. Daily boron concenfrations for the period January 1990 through December 2001 
are shown in Figure 3.11. 

The relationship between boron and specific conductance applied to data collected from 1975 to 2001 is 
as follows: 

boron = (0.0012 x specific conductance) - 0.034 
(R^ = 0.58, n = 555) 



15 



Figure 3.8: Boron Concentration for 2001 Grab Samples from East Poplar River at 
International Boundary 



2.2 



» 1 .99 



-<> 2.01 



^1.8 

-§- ♦ 1.65 
S 1.6 



♦ 1.83 



» 1 7A 



♦ 1.85 



♦ 1.86 



♦ 1.77 



♦ 1.72 



I 1.4 



1.2 



♦ 1.43 



♦ 1.48 



♦ 1.32 



0.8 



^ 



Figure 3.9: Three-Month Moving Flow-Weighted Boron Concentration for East Poplar 
River at International Boundary 




16 



Figure 3.10: Five-Year Moving Flow-Weighted Boron Concentration for East Poplar River 
at International Boundary 



2.5 



& 1.5 



0.5 











































L jng- Ten 1 01 >jec ive 
































































































r 


y— 






■^ 




^, . 


Vw_ 


— 




















r^ 




p~ 














/ 
















































^ 






- 























































































sf >/ ^*0 ^-2?^ >,^0 v,*^ ^*0 v,*^ ^*^ >,*<> >?^0 >;e.O v,*0 >,*^ v,*0 v,# ^-zJ^ v.-J.^ ^-2.^ >,*<> ^^^ ^^^ >,*<> v,*0 ^,*0 ^^^ >,*<> >,*<> ^^O 



Figure 3.11: Daily Boron Concentration, 1990 to 2001; East Poplar River at international 
Boundary (regression-deri\«d data) 




0.00 



J" J^P Ji^ <i^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^^ J' ^ 4> ^ <#> ^ ^ ^ <§> ^ ^ ^ # pN o^ jJV 



17 
3.2.5.3 Other Water-Quality Variables 

Table 3.1 contains the multipurpose water-quality objectives for the East Poplar River at hitemational 
Boundary, recommended by the International Poplar River Water Quality Board to the IJC. The table 
shows the number of samples collected for each parameter and the number of times over the course of 
the year that the objectives were exceeded. In the table, multiple replicate samples collected during the 
annual quality control exercise are treated as a single sample, but where an objective was exceeded in a 
replicate sample, this is charged against the single sample noted. As the table shows, all parameters were 
within the appropriate objectives. 



18 



Table 3.1 Recommended Water-Quality Objectives and Excursions, 
East Poplar River at International Boundary (units in mg/L, 


2001 Sampling Program, 
except as otherwise noted) 


Parameter 


Objective 


No. of Samples 


Excursions 


USA 


Canada 


Objectives recommended by IJC to Governments 1 


Boron - dissolved 


3.5/2.5 (1) 


6 


6 





Total Dissolved Solids 


1,500/1,000(1) 


6 


6 





Objectives recommended by Poplar River Board to the IJC 1 


Cadmium - total 


0.0012 


2 


6 





Fluoride - dissolved 


1.5 


6 


6 





Lead - total 


0.03 


2 


6 





Nitrate (as N) 


10.0 


6 


6 





Oxygen - dissolved 


4.0/5.0 (2) 


6 


6 





Sodium adsorption ratio 


10.0 


6 


5 





Sulphate - dissolved 


800.0 


6 


6 





Zinc -total 


0.03 


1 


6 





Water temperature (Celsius) 


30.0 (3) 


6 


6 





pH (pH units) 


6.5(4) 


6 


6 





( 1 ) Three-month average of flow-weighted concentrations should be <3.5 mg/L boron and <I ,500 mg/L TDS 

flow-weighted concentrations (March to October) should be <2.5 mg/L boron and <1 ,000 mg/L TDS. 

(2) 5.0 (minimum April lOtoMay 15), 4.0 (minimum, remainder of the year). 

(3) Natural temperature (April 10 to May 15), <30 degrees Celsius (remainder of the year). 

(4) Less than 0.5 pH units above natural, minimum pH = 6.5. 


Five-year average of 



19 



3.3 Ground Water 

3.3.1 Operations 

SaskPower's supplementary supply continued to operate during 2001. The majority of groimd-water 
production occurred during the fall to spring period. This is a typical operational pattern for the project 
and is done to minimize water losses. However, pumping was maintained through the 2001 summer 
period due to low spring runoff. In 2001, ground-water production increased to 5,307 dam"' from the 
2000 total of 4,907 dam^ total. Production from 1991 to 2001 has now averaged 5,051 dam^ per year. 
Prior to 1991, the wells used for supplementary supply were part of a dewatering network for coal- 
mining operations. This resulted in the high production levels experienced in the early to mid 1 980's. 
With the drought of the late 1980's and early 1990's, it was evident that there was a continued need for 
ground water to supplement water levels in Cookson Reservoir. Consequently the wells were taken over 
by SaskPower for use as a supplementary supply. 



Poplar River Power Station - Suppiementary Supply 




1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 



Figure 3.12 Supplementary Water Supply 



20 

SaskPower has an approval for the supplementary supply project to produce an annual volume of 5,500 
dam^/year. This approval was extended by Sask Water in 1996. Future revisions to the approval will 
likely include conditions requiring termination of pumping (with the exception of wells supplying 
domestic users) when the reservoir is above a specified level. 

SaskPower's supplementary supply well network currently consists of 21 wells with a total of 10 
discharge points. No wells were added or deleted from the well field during the year. 

hi addition to the supplementary supply, SaskPower also operates the Soil Salinity Project, which is 
located south of Morrison Dam. The project was initiated in 1989 to alleviate soil salinity which had 
developed below the dam. The salinity project consists of a network of production wells which 
discharge into the cooling water canal, which in turn discharges to Cookson Reservoir. Operation of the 
salinity project continued in 2001 with production of 819.4 dam"' of ground water. This was greater than 
the 2000 production level of 675.9 dam^, but still below the average annual production of 880 dam^/year 
since the project inception in 1990. Production remains below optimal levels due to ongoing mechanical 
problems in the production wells. An ongoing well rehabilitation program is expected to restore 
production to the levels achieved in the early 1 990's. 

Approximately 58 percent of the total volume pumped came fi"om wells PW87103 and PW87104 which 
are located on the east side of the river and the remainder was produced fi-om PW90109 and PW90107 
on the west side of the river. 



21 



Poplar River Power Station - Salinity Project 



1200 
1100 
1000 

I"" 

I 800 

700 

n 

3 

u 

c 600 

1 500 




» 400 



200 

100 



1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1996 1999 2000 2001 2002 
Year 



Figure 3.13 Pumpage from Salinity Control Project 

3.3.2 Ground-Water Monitoring 

3.3.2.1 Saskatchewan 

In 1996 nineteen new piezometers were installed in the Hart Coal Seam and a further eighteen 
piezometers from the Frenchman aquifer testing program were added to the supplementary supply 
monitoring network that year. With these extensive additions, no new piezometers have been added to 
the monitoring network since that time. Currently, about 1 80 piezometers are monitored as part of this 
project. 



Figure 3.14 shows the drawdown in the Hart Coal seam for as of December 2001. Note that SaskPower 
determined an error in their contouring for previous years. The drawdown contours on revised maps for 
1999 and 2000 are similar to the contours for December 2001, with the 1-m drawdown contour 
extending approximately 1 kilometer south of the International Boundary. The revised drawdown 
contours do not show significant changes in the cone of depression for the past several years, suggesting 



22 

that the system has approached a semi-equiHbrium condition. Consequently, minor drawdown 
fluctuations in response to climatic and production variations can be expected. 

SaskPower has undertaken a comprehensive evaluation of their entire piezometer network (including 
water level and water-quality piezometers). This evaluation involved compilation of geologic and 
hydrogeologic data and a computer model of the area. SaskPower has asked Sask Water and 
Saskatchewan Environment to review the study. It is their hope that they can reduce their current 
monitoring levels from approximately 450 piezometers to about 150 piezometers. Sask Water intends to 
review and comment on the report prior to September 2002. 

The goal of the Salinity Project is to lower ground-water levels in the Empress sands below Morrison 
Dam to approximately pre-reservoir levels. This is equivalent to roughly two to three metres of 
drawdown, and was achieved by the end of 1995 and again by the end of 1996. However, reduced 
production over the past six years and increased recharge from higher reservoir levels and precipitation 
has led to a significant contraction in the project's cone of depression. Although groimd-water 
withdrawals increased over those experienced in 2000, the 2-mefre drawdown contour remains limited 
to a relatively small area. Figure 3.15 shows the cone of depression in the Empress Sands as of 
December 2001. There appears to be some inconsistencies which will have to be further examined. 



23 




Figure 3.14 Drawdown for Hart Seam Aquifer as of December 2001 



24 




EXPLANATION 
• PUMPWELL 
A EMPRESS 



Figure 3.15 Cone of Depression in the Empress Sands Due to the Salinity Control Project as of 
December 2001 



25 



3.3.2.2 Montana 

Water-levels in monitoring wells (6, 7, 9, 13, 16, 17, 19, and 22) that penetrate the Fort Union 
Formation and/or Hart Coal Seam were rising during 1997 and 1998, and have leveled off or dropped 
slightly during 1999, 2000, and 2001. Hydrographs of selected Fort Union/Hart Coal wells (6, 7, 17, 
and 1 9) are shown in figure 3.16. 



Hydrograph of Selected Wells 

Fort Union - Hart Coal Aquifers 




^"^"^^^^^^.^^^'^^ 




i;:^: ^^'izi^^^-^'it^iw^t 


i««, *^fta C X- *^^^ i ""'* l^s.m. 


r ■'\^^-^^rK^'2'^^t^, f^'-^'-^ 


|2448 ^.ln^-p 









-Well 6 
-Well 7 
-Well 17 
-Well 19 



F-flbapepep<^epapflpcpS^o>oo>o>a>o>aio>5Qo 
ccccccccccccccccccccccc 



Figure 3.16 Hydrograph of Selected Wells - Fort Union-Hart Coal Aquifers 



26 

The potentiometric surface in the Fox Hills/Hell Creek artesian aquifer (well 1 1) has shown very little 
fluctuation or change throughout the 23-year (1979-2001) monitoring period. 

Water levels in monitoring wells (5, 8, 10, 23, and 24) that penetrate the alluvial and/or outwash aquifer 
show considerable fluctuation due to seasonal and/or pumping changes; however, they rose during the 
period 1996 to 1998 and leveled off during 1999, 2000, and 2001. Hydrographs of selected alluvial 
wells (10, 23, and 24) and Fox Hills well (11) are shown in Figure 3.17. 



Hydrograph of Selected Wells 

Alluvium and Fox Hills Aquifers 



-3- 2430 — ^ 



\ 


ii 


^ 


: 1 


1 ; ; 1 : 


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= 1 ' 


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s s 


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-Wall 10 
-Well 11 
-Wall 23 
-Well 24 



Figure 3.17 Hydrograph of Selected Wells - Alluvium and Fox Hills Aquifers 



27 



3.3.3 Ground-Water Quality 
3.3.3.1 Saskatchewan 

The water quality from the Supplementary Supply Project discharge points has been consistent with no 
trends indicated. A summary of the more frequently tested parameters during 2001 is provided in Table 
3.2. Statistical averages of the results since 1992 are included in this table. 



Table 3.2 Water-Quality Statistics for Water Pumped from Supplementary 
Water Supply Project Wells* 





2001 Average 


1992 - 2001 Average 


pH (unit) 


8.1 


7.9 


Conductivity ()aS/cm) 


1,423 


1,310 


Total Dissolved Solids 


997 


903 


Total Suspended Solids 


3.5 


10.3 


Boron 


1.2 


1.2 


Sodium 


199 


177 


Cyanide (p-g/L) 


<2 


<2 


Iron 


0.15 


0.24 


Manganese 


0.04 


0.1 


Mercury ()U,g/L) 


<0.1 


<0.1 


Calcium 


71 


72 


Magnesium 


51 


53 


Sulfate 


250 


271 


Nitrate 


0.059 


0.10 



♦All units in mg/L, unless otherwise noted. Sampled at Site "C3" on Giratd Creek. 



28 



Average water-quality results from the common discharge point for the Salinity Control Project for 
2001, plus an average of the 1992-2001 results, are provided in Table 3.3. Results have remained 
relatively consistent since 1992. 



Table 3.3 Water-Quality Statistics for Water Pumped from Salinity Control Project Wells 

Sampled at the Discharge Pipe"* 





2001 
Average 


1992-2001 
Average 


pH (units) 


7.6 


7.4 


Conductivity (^S/cm) 


1,361 


1,406 


Total Dissolved Solids 


943 


976 


Boron 


1.5 


1.6 


Calcium 


87 


101 


Magnesium 


57 


60 


Sodium 


148 


147 


Potassium 


7.0 


7.4 


Arsenic ()J.g/L) 


0.2 


5.7 


Aluminum 


<0.10 


0.07 


Barium 


0.03 


0.03 


Cadmium 


<0.001 


<0.001 


Iron 


3.6 


4.1 


Manganese 


0.13 


0.14 


Molybdenum 


<0.005 


0.002 


Strontium 


1.5 


1.8 


Vanadium 


<0.006 


0.003 


Uranium (|lg/L) 


<0.5 


<0.1 


Mercury (|lg/L) 


<0.05 


0.11 


Sulfate 


270 


308 


Chloride 


6.4 


6.1 


Nitrate 


0.171 


0.13 



*AII concentrations in mg/L, unless otherwise noted. 



29 

Ground-water quality in the vicinity of the ash lagoons can potentially be affected by leachate 
movement through the ash lagoon liner systems. The piezometers listed in the Technical Monitoring 
Schedules are used to assess leachate movement and calculate seepage rates. Piezometric water level, 
boron, and chloride are the chosen indicator parameters to assess leachate movement. 

The ground- water monitoring program was expanded in 1994 as a result of Ash Lagoon #3 South 
construction. In total, 20 new pneumatic piezometers and 28 new standpipe piezometers were 
completed within their target zones. Testing of these piezometers began in 1995. The limited data so 
far do not show any unusual or unexpected values. 

Piezometers C867A, C868A and C871A are completed immediately above the liner system, within the 
ash stack of Ash Lagoon #1. The 2001 monitoring results continue to suggest confirmation of the trend 
first observed in 1993 that the boron concentration decreases with depth within the ash stack. The effect 
of ash thickness on leachate quality is, however, not completely understood. 

The chemistry of water immediately above the liner systems is therefore expected to differ fi-om the 
surface water of the lagoons. Meaningful information is only available from piezometers installed 
within Ash Lagoon #1 where ash has been deposited for many years. New piezometers C886A, C887A, 
C890A and C893 A have been completed above the liner system of new Ash Lagoon #3 South and are 
now being monitored. Monitoring of these piezometers in 2001 supports the theory that boron levels 
decrease with depth within the ash stacks. Future monitoring of all piezometers completed above the 
lagoon liner systems will continue with the piirpose of confirming the boron trend noted above and to 
improve the understanding of leachate quality and flow fi-om the ash lagoons. 

The piezometric surface measurements for the oxidized till continue to show the presence of a ground- 
water mound beneath the ash lagoons. The mound extends from the west side of the Polishing Pond to 
the east side of Ash Lagoon No. 2. Isolated ground-water mounds have developed within the area of the 
oxidized ground-water mound. Piezometers located in the oxidized till suggest limited leachate activity. 
No seepage activity is evident in the unoxidized till. 



30 

The greatest changes in chloride and boron concentrations within the oxidized till have occurred where 
piezometric levels have changed the most. Although increasing water levels do not automatically 
suggest that the water affecting the piezometers is leachate, changing piezometric levels do suggest 
ground-water movement. Oxidized till piezometers C868B and C869B located in the middle of the 
lagoons, between Ash Lagoon No. 1 and No.2, have shown increased piezometric levels but no chemical 
information to suggest leachate influence. On the west side of the Polishing Pond, the boron levels have 
changed only slightly in the oxidized till piezometers C728A and C728D, where the chloride levels have 
changed more significantly. The chloride level for C728A has decreased from 403 mg/L in 1983 to 253 
mg/L in 2001. The chloride level for C728D has increased from 185 mg/L in 1983 to 397 mg/L in 2001. 
Although these piezometers are close in proximity and installed at the same level, they are being 
influenced by different water. Chloride results for C728A suggest initial seepage and it is to be expected 
that over time the same observation will be seen in C728D. 

The piezometric surface of the Empress Gravel indicates a regional flow from northwest to southeast 
below Morrison Dam. As a general observation. Empress piezometers respond to changing reservoir 
levels. Results for the Empress layer do not indicate seepage activity with the majority of the analyses 
showing little real change in boron or chloride results. 

Sand lens piezometers C712B, C766 and C767 are located between the Polishing Pond and the cooling 
water canal. C767 is located on the top of dyke G and C766 and C712B are located at the toe of dyke G. 
These piezometers have historically been of interest as the sand lens provides a preferential pathway for 
leachate migration of boron concentrations. C766 shows an increasing frend up to October 1988 with a 
peak of 43.0 mg/L in 1995 April. Since 1995 the boron levels have declined modestly and have 
remained between 25 and 38 mg/L. 

Up to April 1988 the boron concenfration for C767 was increasing and peaked at 49.4 mg/L. Since this 
peak the boron concenfration steadily decreased to the end of 1991 where it leveled off near 5 mg/L and 
has since remained with one exception, a concenfration of 1 1 .7 mg/L in October 2000. 

Piezometer C712B has been monitored for several years. Historically, boron levels were below 1 mg/L. 
From 1992 to 2001, boron levels have remained relatively steady around between 12 and 20 mg/L. 



31 



3.3.3.2 Montana 

Samples were collected from monitoring wells 7, 16, and 24 during 2001. Well 7 is completed in Hart 
Coal, well 16 is completed in the Fort Union Formation, and well 24 is completed in alluvium. No 
significant changes in TDS were observed in monitoring wells. Changes in total dissolved solids with 
time for the above wells are shown in Figure 3.18. 



Total Dissolved Solids 




Figure 3.18 Total Dissolved Solids in Samples from Montana Wells. 



32 

3.4 Cookson Reservoir 

3.4.1 Storage 

On January 1, 2001, Cookson Reservoir storage was 33,000 dam^ or 76% of the full supply volume. 
The 2001 maximum, minimum, and period elevations and volumes are shown in Table 3.4. 

Inflows into the reservoir were below normal in 2001. A release was initiated in May to meet the 
recommended Poplar River basin demand release for the 2000-2001 apportionment year. No releases 
were required to maintain the recommended apportionment target flow at the International Boundary for 
the remainder of the year. 

In addition to runoff, reservoir levels were augmented by ground-water pumping. Wells in the 
abandoned west block mine site supplied 5,307 dam^ to Girard Creek. It is estimated that approximately 
70% of this flow volume reached Cookson Reservoir. Wells in the soil salinity project area supplied 
819 dam^ 



Table 3.4 Cookson Reservoir Storage Statistics for 2001 



Date 


Elevation (m) 


Contents"" ■'*""''^ 
(dam^ 


January 1 (Minimum) 


751.57 


33,000 


April 16 (Maximum) 


752.65 


40,720 


December 3 1 


751.65 


33,520 


Full Supply Level 


753.00 


43,410 



33 



The Poplar River Power Station is dependent on water from Cookson Reservoir for cooling. Power 
plant operation is not adversely affected until reservoir levels drop below 749.0 metres. The dead 
storage level for cooling water used in the generation process is 745.0 metres. The 2001 recorded levels 
and associated operating levels are shown in Figure 3.19. 



2001 Cookson Rassrvoir 
Dally Mean Witw Laval* 











Full 


Supply 1 


evel 
















(^, 















_ — 20( 


1 








</ 






















Me( 


Ian Leve 




Minimi 


n Desirf 


d Opera 


ngLeve 










































Minimi 


nUseat 


le Stora< 


e Level 



























































29400 
19t00 



Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun 



Aug Sap Oct Nov Dec 



Figure 3.19 Cookson Reservoir Daily Mean Water Levels for 2001 and Median 
Daily Water Levels, 1981-1991 



34 

3.4.2 Water Quality 

The period from 1987 to 1993 saw very low volumes of surface-water runoff to Cookson Reservoir. 
Consequently, total dissolved solids (TDS) in the reservoir increased steadily from approximately 780 
mg/L to over 1,800 mg/L. Since 1993, higher runoff volumes have improved reservoir water quality. 
Since 1997, the TDS levels in the reservoir have generally remained below 1,000 mg/L. The average 
TDS level in Cookson Reservoir in 2001 was 762 mg/L, up slightly from 2000 but still well below past 
levels. 

3.5 Air Quality 

SaskPower's ambient SO2 monitoring for 2001 recorded no values greater than Saskatchewan 
Environment's one-hour average standard of 0.17 ppm and three values greater than the 24-hour average 
standard of 0.06 ppm, which occurred consecutively on May 8. Meteorological data shows that the 
wind on May 8 was strong from the south and southwest, which indicates that the exceedances were not 
likely caused by plant emissions, rather, they were caused by either monitoring equipment problems or 
emissions from diesel-powered farm equipment in the immediate area. The ambient SO2 monitor was 
replaced in January 2001. The 2001 geometric mean for the high- volume suspended-parti culate sampler 
was 22.0 p,g/m^ and 2001 was the tenth consecutive year of below-average particulate readings. There 
were two exceedances of the Saskatchewan provincial standard of 120 ng/m"'/24 hours. Both 
exceedances occurred in May, during spring seeding, and agricultural activities may have been the cause 
of the high particulate results. Meteorological data supports this condition. 

3.6 Quality Control 

3.6.1 Streamflow 

Current-meter discharge measurements were made at the East Poplar River at International Boundary 
site on July 16, 2001 by personnel from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Environment Canada 
(EC) to confirm streamflow measurement comparability. Data from the two current-meter discharge 
measurements are shown in Table 3.5. The measured discharges compared well with each other, but 
varied about +9.0% from the theoretical discharge computation of 0.057 m''/s for the 90° V-notch weir 
due to poor measuring conditions. 



35 



Table 3.5 Streamflow Measurement Results for July 16, 2001 



Agency 


Time 
CST 


Width 
(m) 


Mean 
Area 
(m') 


Velocity 
(m/s) 


Gauge 

Height 

(m) 


Discharge 
(m^/s) 


EC 


1035 


1.4 


0.159 


0.390 


1.588 


0.062 


USGS 


1030 


1.3 


0.150 


0.411 


1.588 


0.063 



3.6.2 Water Quality 

Quality-control sampling was carried out at the East Poplar River at International Boundary on August 
14, 2001. Participating agencies included the U.S. Geological Survey, Environment Canada, and 
SaskPower. 



Sets of triplicate samples were split from USGS sampling chums and submitted to the respective agency 
laboratories for analyses. Field procedures were identical to those used since 1986. Sample results are 
shown in Table 3.6. 



36 





















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ANNEX 1 



POPLAR RIVER 



COOPERATIVE MONITORING ARRANGEMENT 



CANADA-UNITED STATES 



Al -1 



September 23, 1980 

POPLAR RIVER COOPERATIVE MONITORING ARRANGEMENT 

I. PURPOSE 

This Arrangement will provide for the exchange of data collected as described in the attached 
Technical Monitoring Schedules in water-quality, water quantity and air quality monitoring 
programs being conducted in Canada and the United States at or near the International Boundary 
in response to SaskPower development. This Arrangement will also provide for the 
dissemination of the data in each coimtry and will assure its comparability and assist in its 
technical interpretation. 

The Arrangement will replace and expand upon the quarterly information exchange program 
instituted between Canada and the United States in 1976. 

n. PARTICIPATING GOVERNMENTS 

Governments and government agencies participating in the Arrangement are: 

Government of Canada: Environment Canada 
Government of the Province of Saskatchewan: 

Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management 
Government of the United States of America: United States Geological Survey 
Government of the State of Montana: Executive Office 

m. POPLAR RIVER MONITORING COMMITTEE: TERMS OF REFERENCE 

A binational committee called the Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee will be 
established to carry out responsibilities assigned to it under this Arrangement. The Committee 
will operate in accordance with the following terms of reference: 



Al-2 



A. Membership 

The Committee will be composed of four representatives, one from each of the participating 
Governments. It will be jointly chaired by the Government of Canada and the Government of 
the United States. There will be a Canadian Section and a United States Section. The 
participating Governments will notify each other of any changes in membership on the 
Committee. Co-chairpersons may by mutual agreement invite agency technical experts to 
participate in the work of the Committee. 

The Governor of the State of Montana may also appoint a chief elective official of local 
government to participate as an ex-officio member of the Committee in its technical 
deliberations. The Saskatchewan Minister of the Environment may also appoint a similar local 
representative. 



B. Functions of the Committee 

The role of the Committee will be to fulfil the purpose of the Arrangement by ensuring the 
exchange of monitored data in accordance with the attached Technical Monitoring Schedules, 
and its collation and technical interpretation in reports to Governments on implementation of the 
Arrangement. In addition, the Committee will review the existing monitoring systems to ensure 
their adequacy and may recommend to the Canadian and United States Governments any 
modifications to improve the Technical Monitoring Schedules. 



1. Information Exchange 

Each Co-chairperson will be responsible for transmitting to his counterpart Co-chairperson on a 
regular, and not less than quarterly basis, the data provided by the cooperative monitoring 
agencies in accordance with the Technical Monitoring Schedules. 



Al -3 



2. Reports 



(a) The Committee will prepare a joint Annual Report to the participating 
governments, and may at any time prepare joint Special Reports. 

(b) Annual Reports will 

i) summarize the main activities of the Committee in the year under Report and the 

data which has been exchanged under the Arrangement; 

ii) draw to the attention of the participating governments any definitive changes in 
the monitored parameters, based on collation and technical interpretation of 
exchanged data (i.e. the utilization of summary, statistical and other appropriate 
techniques); 

iii) draw to the attention of the participating governments any recommendations 
regarding the adequacy or redundancy of any scheduled monitoring operations 
and any proposals regarding modifications to the Technical Monitoring 
Schedules, based on a continuing review of the monitoring programs including 
analytical methods to ensure their comparability. 

(c) Special Reports may, at any time, draw to the attention of participating 
governments definitive changes in monitored parameters which may require 
immediate attention. 

(d) Preparation of Reports 

Reports will be prepared following consultation with all committee members and 
will be signed by all Committee members. Reports will be separately forwarded 
by the Committee Co-chairmen to the participating governments. All annual and 
special reports will be so distributed. 



Al -4 



3. Activities of Canadian and United States Sections 
The Canadian and United States section will be separately responsible for: 

(a) dissemination of information within their respective countries, and the 
arrangement of any discussion required with local elected officials; 

(b) verification that monitoring operations are being carried out in accordance with 
the Technical Monitoring Schedules by cooperating monitoring agencies; 

(c) receipt and collation of monitored data generated by the cooperating monitoring 
agencies in their respective countries as specified in the Technical Monitoring 
Schedules; 

(d) if necessary, drawing to the attention of the appropriate government in their 
respective coimtries any failiire to comply with a scheduled monitoring fimction 
on the part of any cooperating agency under the jurisdiction of that government, 
and requesting that appropriate corrective action be taken. 

IV. PROVISION OF DATA 

In order to ensure that the Committee is able to carry out the terms of this Arrangement, the 
participating governments will use their best efforts to have cooperating monitoring agencies, in 
their respective jurisdictions provide on an ongoing basis all scheduled monitored data for which 
they are responsible. 

V. TERMS OF THE ARRANGEMENT 

The Arrangement will be effective for an initial term of five years and may be amended by 
agreement of the participating governments. It will be subject to review at the end of the initial 
term and will be renewed thereafter for as long as it is required by the participating governments. 



Al -5 



ANNEX 2 



POPLAR RIVER 



COOPERATIVE MONITORING ARRANGEMENT 



TECHNICAL MONITORING SCHEDULES 

2001 

CANADA-UNITED STATES 



A2-1 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 

PREAMBLE A2 - 3 

CANADA 

STREAMFLOW MONITORING A2 - 5 

SURFACE-WATER-QUALITY MONITORING A2 - 7 

GROUND-WATER PIEZOMETERS TO MONITOR 
POTENTIAL DRAWDOWN DUE TO COAL SEAM DEWATERING 

NEAR THE INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY A2- 1 

GROUND- WATER PIEZOMETER MONITORING 

- POWER STATION AREA A2 - 1 2 

GROUND-WATER PIEZOMETER MONITORING 

- ASH LAGOON AREA 

WATER LEVEL A2 - 14 

WATER QUALITY A2 - 17 

AMBIENT AIR-QUALITY MONITORING A2 - 22 

UNITED STATES 

STREAMFLOW MONITORING A2 - 25 

SURFACE-WATER-QUALITY MONITORING A2 - 27 

GROUND-WATER-QUALITY MONITORING A2 - 29 

GROUND-WATER LEVELS TO MONITOR POTENTL\L 

DRAWDOWN DUE TO COAL SEAM DEWATERING A2 - 3 1 



A2-2 



PREAMBLE 

The Technical Monitoring Schedule lists those water quantity, water-quality and air quality 
monitoring locations and parameters which form the basis for information exchange and 
reporting to Governments. The structure of the Committee responsible for ensuring the exchange 
takes place is described in the Poplar River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement. 

The monitoring locations and parameters listed herein have been reviewed by the Poplar River 
Bilateral Monitoring Committee and represent the basic technical information needed to identify 
any definitive changes in water quantity, water-quality and air quality at the International 
Boundary. The Schedule was initially submitted to Governments for approval as an attachment 
to the 1981 report to Governments. Changes in the sampling locations and parameters may be 
made by Governments based on the recommendations of the Committee. 

Significant additional information is being collected by agencies on both sides of the 
International Boundary, primarily for project management or basin-wide baseline data purposes. 
This additional information is usually available upon request fi"om the collecting agency and 
forms part of the pool of technical information which may be drawn upon by Governments for 
specific study purposes. Examples of additional information are water quantity, water-quality, 
ground-water and air quality data collected at points in the Poplar River basin not of direct 
concern to the Committee. In addition, supplemental information on parameters such as 
vegetation, soils, fish and waterfowl populations and aquatic vegetation is also being collected 
on either a routine or specific studies basis by various agencies. 



A2-3 



POPLAR RIVER 



COOPERATIVE MONITORING ARRANGEMENT 



TECHNICAL MONITORING SCHEDULES 

2001 

CANADA 



A2-4 



STREAMFLOW MONITORING 

Daily mean discharge or levels and instantaneous monthly extremes as normally 
published in surface water data publications. 



Responsible Agency: Environment Canada 


No. on Map 


Station No. 


Station Name 


1* 


11AE003 
(06178500) 


East Poplar River at International Boundary 


2 


11AE013*** 


Cookson Reservoir near Coronach 


3 


11AE015*** 


Girard Creek near Coronach Cookson Reservoir 


4 


11AE014*** 


East Poplar River above Cookson Reservoir 


5 




Fife Lake Overflow** 


6* 


1 1 AE008 
(06178000) 


Poplar River at International Boundary 



* - International gauging station 

** - Miscellaneous measurements of outflow to be made by Sask Water during 

periods of outflow only. 
*** - Sask Water took over the monitoring responsibility effective July 1/92. 



A2-5 



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Lake 



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UNITED STATES 


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15 KILOMETERS 

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10 MILES 




HYDROMETRIC GAUGING STATIONS (CANADA) 





A2-6 



SURFACE-WATER-QUALITY MONITORING 



Sampling Locations 



Responsible Agency: Environment Canada 


No. on Map 


Station No. 


Station Name 


1 


00SA11AE0008 


East Poplar River at International Boundary 



Responsible Agency: Saskatchewan Environment 
Data collected by: Sask Power 


No. on Map 


Station No. 


Station Name 


2 


12386 
Discontinued 


East Poplar River at Culvert Immediately below 
Cookson Reservoir 


3 


12368 


Cookson Reservoir near Dam 


4 


12377 
Discontinued 


Upper End of Cookson Reservoir at Highway 36 


5 


12412 
Discontinued 


Girard Creek at Coronach, Reservoir Outflow 


6 


7904 


Fife Lake Outflow 



A2-7 



PARAMETERS 



Responsim^Agency^Environnie^ 



ENVIRODAT* 
Code 



Analytical Method 



Sampling Frequency 
Station No. 6 



10151 


Alkalinity-phenolphthalem 


Potentiometric Titration 


BM 




10111 


Alkalinity-total 


Potentiometric Titration 


BM 




13102 


Aluminum-dissolved 


AA-Direct 


BM 




13302 


Aluminum-extracted 


AA-Direct 


BM 




07540 


Ammonia-total 


Automated Colourimetric 


BM 




33108 


Arsenic-dissolved 


ICAP-hydride 


BM 




56001 


Barium-total 


AA-Direct 


BM 




06201 


Bicaibonates 


Calculated 


BM 




05211 


Boron-dissolved 


ICAP 


BM 




95360 


Bromoxynil 


Gas Chromatography 


BM 




48002 


Cadmium-total 


AA Solvent Extraction 


BM 




20103 


Calcium 


AA-Direct 


BM 




06104 


Caibon-dissolved organic 


Automated IR Detection 


BM 




06901 


Carbon-particulate 


Elemental Analyzer 


BM 




06002 


Carbon-total organic 


Calculated 


BM 




06301 


Caiix>nates 


Calculated 


BM 




17206 


Chloride 


Automated Colourimetric 


BM 




06717 


Chlorophyll a 


Spectiophotometric 


BM 




24003 


Chromium-total 


AA-Solvent Extraction 


BM 




27002 


Cobalt-total 


AA-Solvent Extraction 


BM 




36012 


Coliform-fecal 


Membrane Filtration 


BM 




36002 


Coliforai-total 


Membrane Filtration 


BM 




02021 


Colour 


Comparator 


BM 




02041 


Conductivity 


Wheatstone Bridge 


BM 




06610 


Cyanide 


Automated UV-Colourimetric 


BM 




09117 


Fluoride-dissolved 


Electrometric 


BM 




06401 


Free Carbon Dioxide 


Calculated 


BM 




10602 


Hardness 


Calculated 


BM 




17811 


Hexachlorobenzene 


Gas Chromatography 


BM 




08501 


Hydroxide 


Calculated 


BM 




26104 


Iron-dissolved 


AA-Direct 


BM 




82002 


Lead-total 


AA-Solvent Extraction 


BM 




12102 


Magnesium 


AA-Direct 


BM 




25104 


Manganese-dissolved 


AA-Direct 


BM 




07901 


N-particulate 


Elemental Analyzer 


BM 




07651 


N-total dissolved 


Automated UV Colourimetric 


BM 




10401 


NFR 


Gravimetric 


BM 




28002 


Nickel-total 


AA-Solvent Extraction 


BM 




07110 


Nitrate/Nitrite 


Colourimetric 


BM 




07603 


Nitrogen-total 


Calculated 


BM 




10650 


Non-Caibonate Hardness 


Calculated 


BM 




18XXX 


Organo Chlorines 


Gas Chromatography 


BM 




08101 


Oxygen-dissolved 


Winkler 


m 




15901 


P-particulate 


Calculated 


BM 




15465 


P-total dissolved 


Automated Colourimetric 


BM 




185XX 


Phenoxy Herbicides 


Gas Chromatography 


BM 




15423 


Phosphonis-total 


Colourimetric (TRAACS) 


BM 




19103 


Potassium 


Flame Emission 


BM 




11250 


Percent Sodium 


Calculated 


BM 




011201 


SAR 


Calculated 


BM 




00210 


Sanitation Index 


Calculated 


BM 




34108 


Selenium-dissolved 


ICAP-hydride 


BM 




14108 


Silica 


Automated Colourimetric 


BM 




11103 


Sodium 


Flame Emission 


BM 




00211 


Stability Index 


Calculated 


BM 




16306 


Sulphate 


Automated Colourimetric 


BM 




00201 


TDS 


Calculated 


BM 




02061 


Temperature 


Digital Thermometer 


BM 




02073 


Turbidity 


Nephelometry 


BM 




23002 


Vanadium- total 


AA-Solvent Extraction 


BM 




30005 


Zinc-total 


AA-Solvent Extraction 


BM 




10301 


PH 


Electrometric 


BM 




92111 


Uranium 


Fluomelric 


MC 





• - Computer Storage and Retrieval System ~ Environment Canada 

AA - Atomic Absorption IR - Infrared 

NFR - Nonfilterable Residue MC - Monthly Composite 

ICAP - Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma. 



UV - Ultraviolet 

BM - Bimonthly (Alternate months sampled by USGS) 



A2-8 



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LEGEND 






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y 




A SASKATCHEWAN ENVIRONMENT AND 








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RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 




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■ ENVIRONMENT CANADA 




1 




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5 10 

1 1 1 


15KILOME1 

1 


■ERS 








1 1 
5 


10 MILES 


SURFACE-WATER-QUALITY MONITORING STATIONS (CANADA) 





A2-9 



GROUND-WATER PIEZOMETERS TO MONITOR POTENTIAL DRAWDOWN 
DUE TO COAL-SEAM DEWATERING NEAR THE INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY 



Responsible Agency: Sask Water* 


Measurement Frequency: Quarterly 




Piezometer 


Location 


Tip of Screen 


Perforation Zone 


Number 




Elevation (m) 


(depth in metres) 


52 


NW 14-1-27 W3 


738.43 


43 - 49 (in coal) 


506A 


SW 4-1-27 W3 


748.27 


81 -82 (in coal) 


507 


SW 6-1-26 W3 


725.27 


34 - 35 (in coal) 


509 


NWl 1-1-27 W3 


725.82 


76 - 77 (in coal) 


510 


NW 1-1-28 W3 


769.34 


28 - 29 (in layered 
coal and clay) 



* Data Collected by: SaskPower 



A2-10 




15 KILOMETERS 



GROUND-WATER PIEZOMETERS TO MONITOR POTENTIAL 
DRAWDOWN DUE TO COAL-SEAM DEWATERING 



A2-11 



GROUND-WATER PIEZOMETER MONITORING - 
POPLAR RIVER 

POWER STATION AREA 


SPC Piezometer 
Number 


Completion 
Formation 


C525 


Empress 


C526 


Empress 


C527 


Empress 


C528 


Oxidized 


C539 


Empress 


C540 


Empress 


C737 


Empress 


C739 


Empress 


C740 


Empress 


C741 


Empress 


C743 


Empress 


C746 


Mottled Till 


C747 


Mottled Till 


C748 


Mottled Till 


C756 


Empress 


Water levels measured quarterly 


SPC Piezometer 
Number 


Completion 
Formation 


C739 


Empress 



Samples collected annually 



A2-12 



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A2-13 



GROUND-WATER PIEZOMETER MONITORING— 
ASH LAGOON AREA-WATER LEVEL 


SPC Piezometer Number 


Completion Formation 


C529 


Empress 


C533 


Empress 


C534 


Oxidized Till 


C535 


Empress 


C536 


Empress 


C537 


Empress 


C538 


Empress 


C542 


Empress 


C653A 


Unoxidized Till 


C654 


Unoxidized Till 


C655A 


Unoxidized Till 


C655B 


Unoxidized Till 


C711 


Oxidized Till 


C712A 


Unoxidized Till 


C712B 


Intra Till Sand 


C712C 


Mottled Till 


C712D 


Oxidized Till 


C713 


Oxidized Till 


C714A 


Unoxidized Till 


C714B 


Mottled Till 


C714C 


Oxidized Till 


C714D 


Oxidized Till 


C714E 


Empress 


C715 


Oxidized Till 


C716 


Oxidized Till 


C717 


Oxidized Till 


C718 


Mottled Till 


C719 


Oxidized Till 


C720 


Oxidized Till 


C721 


Oxidized Till 


C722 


Oxidized Till 


C723 


Oxidized Till 



A2-14 



GROUND- WATER PIEZOMETER MONITORING— 
ASH LAGOON AREA-WATER LEVEL 


SPC Piezometer Number 


Completion Formation 


C724 


Mottled Till 


C725 


Oxidized Till 


C726A 


Oxidized Till 


C726B 


Mottled Till 


C726C 


Oxidized Till 


C726E 


Empress 


C727A 


Unoxidized Till 


C727B 


Mottled Till 


C727C 


Oxidized Till 


C728A 


Oxidized Till 


C728B 


Unoxidized Till 


C728C 


Mottled Till 


C728D 


Oxidized Till 


C728E 


Empress 


C731 


Empress 


C732 


Empress 


C734 


Empress 


C742 


Empress 


C745 


Oxidized Till 


C749 


Mottled Till 


C750 


Unoxidized Till 


C751 


Unoxidized Till 


C752 


Unoxidized Till 


C753 


Oxidized Till 


C757 


Unoxidized Till 


C758 


Intra Till Sand 


C763A 


Mottled Till 


C763B 


Oxidized Till 


C763C 


Mottled Till 


C763D 


Unoxidized Till 


C763E 


Empress 


C764B 


Mottled Till 



A2-15 



GROUND- WATER PTF7,OMETER MONITORING— 
ASH LAGOON AREA- WATER LEVEL 


SPC Piezometer Number 


Completion Formation 


C764C 


Oxidized Till 


C764D 


Unoxidized Till 


C764E 


Empress 


C765A 


Empress 


C765C 


Oxidized Till 


C765D 


Oxidized Till 


C765E 


Mottled Till 


C766 


Intra Till Sand 


C766A 


Empress 


C767 


Intra Till Sand 


C767A 


Empress 


C767B 


Unoxidized Till 


C775A 


Oxidized Till 


C775C 


Unoxidized Till 


C776A 


Oxidized Till 


C776B 


Oxidized Till 


C867B 


Oxidized Till 


C867C 


Unoxidized Till 


C868B 


Oxidized Till 


C868C 


Unoxidized Till 


C869B 


Oxidized Till 


C869C 


Unoxidized Till 


C870E 


Empress 


C871B 


Oxidized Till 


C871C 


Unoxidized Till 


C872B 


Oxidized Till 


C872C 


Unoxidized Till 


C873E 


Empress 



Water levels measured quarterly 



A2-16 



Responsible Agency: Saskatchewan Environment 
Data Collected by: SaskPower 



GROUND- WATER PTF7,0METER MONTTORING- 
ASH LAGOON AREA - WATER QUALITY 


SPC Piezometer Number 


Completion Formation 


C529 


Empress 


C532 


Empress 


C533 


Empress 


C534 


Oxidized Till 


C536 


Empress 


C538 


Empress 


C653A 


Unoxidized Till 


C655A 


Unoxidized Till 


C712A 


Unoxidized Till 


C712B 


Intra Till Sand 


C712C 


Mottled Till 


C712D 


Oxidized Till 


C713 


Oxidized Till 


C714A 


Unoxidized Till 


C714C 


Oxidized Till 


C714D 


Oxidized Till 


C714E 


Empress 


C715 


Oxidized Till 


C716 


Oxidized Till 


C718 


Mottled Till 


C719 


Oxidized Till 


C726A 


Oxidized Till 


C726C 


Oxidized Till 


C726E 


Empress 


C728A 


Oxidized Till 


C728B 


Unoxidized Till 


C728C 


Mottled Till 



A2- 17 



GROUND-WATER PIEZOMETER MONTTORING- 
ASH LAGOON AREA - WATER QUALITY 


SPC Piezometer Number 


Completion Formation 


C728D 


Oxidized Till 


C728E 


Empress 


C731 


Empress 


C732 


Empress 


C734 


Empress 


C742 


Empress 


C745 


Oxidized Till 


C749 


Mottled Till 


C750 


Unoxidized Till 


C751 


Unoxidized Till 


C752 


Unoxidized Till 


C753 


Oxidized Till 


C757 


Unoxidized Till 


C758 


Intra Till Sand 


C763A 


Mottled Till 


C763B 


Oxidized Till 


C763D 


Unoxidized Till 


C763E 


Empress 


C766 


Intra Till Sand 


C767 


Intra Till Sand 


C767A 


Empress 


C775A 


Oxidized Till 


C775C 


Unoxidized Till 


C867B 


Oxidized Till 


C867C 


Unoxidized Till 


C868B 


Oxidized Till 


C868C 


Unoxidized Till 


C869B 


Oxidized Till 


C870E 


Empress 


C871B 


Oxidized Till 



A2-18 



GROUND-WATER PIEZOMETER MONTTORING- 
ASH LAGOON AREA - WATER QUALITY 


SPC Piezometer Number 


Completion Formation 


C871C 


Unoxidized Till 


C872B 


Oxidized Till 


C872C 


Unoxidized Till 


C873E 


Empress 



Samples collected annually 



A2-19 




A2-20 



PARAMETERS 



Responsible Agency: Saskatchewan Environment 
Data Collected bv: SaskPower 



ESQUADAT* Code 



Analytical method 



Sampling Frequency Station No.: 
Piezometers 



lOlOI 


Alkalinity-tot 


13105 


Aluminum- Diss 


33104 


Arsenic-Diss 


56104 


Barium- Diss 


06201 


Bicartwnates 


6106 


Boron-Diss 


48102 


Cadmium- Diss 


20103 


Calcium-Diss 


06301 


Carbonates 


17203 


Chloride-Diss 


24104 


Chromium-Diss 


27102 


Cobalt-Diss 


02011 


Colour 


02041 


Conductivity 


29105 


Copper-Diss 


09103 


Fluoride-Diss 


26104 


Iron- Diss 


82103 


Lead-Diss 


12102 


Magnesium-Diss 


25104 


Manganese- Diss 


42102 


Molybdenum-Diss 


10301 


PH 


19103 


Potassium-Diss 


34105 


Selenium-Diss 


14102 


Silica-Diss 


11103 


Sodium- Diss 


38101 


Strontium-Diss 


16306 


Sulphate- Diss 


10451 


TDS 


92111 


Uranium-Diss 


23104 


Vanadium-Diss 


97025 


Water Level 


30105 


Zinc - Diss. 



Pot-Titration 

AA-Direct 

Flameless AA 

AA-Dircct 

Calculated 

Colourimetry 

AA-SolvenI Extract (MIBK) 

AA-Direct 

Calculated 

Colourimetry 

AA-Direct 

AA-Solvent Extract (MIBK) 

Comparator 

Conductivity Meter 

AA-Solvent Extract (MIBK) 

Specific Ion Electrode 

AA-Direct 

AA-Solvent Extract (MIBK) 

AA-Direct 

AA-Direct 

AA-Solvent Extract (N-Butyl 

acetate) 

Electrometric 

Flame Photometry 

Hydride generation 

Colourimetry 

Flame Photometry 

AA-Direct 

Colourimetry 

Gravimetric 

Fluorometry 

AA-Direct 

AA-Solvent Extract (MIBK) 



3" 
A 
A 
A 
3- 
A 
A 
A 
A 
A 
A 
A 
3 
A 
A 
A 
A 
A 
A 
A 

3** 

A 

A 

A 

A 
3** 
3*» 
3** 
3» 

A 

4 

A 



* Computer storage and retrieval system -Saskatchewan Environment. No zinc or iron for Piezometers 0531 to 0538. 
SYMBOLS: AA-Atomic Absorption A Annually "Analyze annually for these Piezometers Nos. AA - solvent exract 
(MIBK) - sample acidified and extracted with Methyl Isobutyl Ketone. 4-4 times/year 3-3 times/year. 



A2-21 



Ambient Air-Quality Monitoring 



Responsible Agency: Saskatchewan Environment 
Data Collected by: SaskPower 




No. On Map 


Location 


Parameters 


Reporting Frequency 


1 


Coronach (Discontinued) 


Sulphur Dioxide 


Continuous monitoring with hourly 
averages as summary statistics. 






Total Suspended 
Particulate 


24-hour samples on 6-day cycle, 
corresponding to the national air 
pollution surveillance sampling 
schedule. 


2 


International Boundary 


Sulphur Dioxide 


Continuous monitoring with hourly 
averages as summary statistics. 






Total Suspended 
Particulate 


24-hour samples on 6-day cycle, 
corresponding to the national air 
pollution surveillance sampling 
schedule. 


3 


PRPS Site 


Wind Speed and 
Direction 


Continuous monitoring with hourly 
averages as summary statistics 


METHODS 




Sulphur Dioxide 


Saskatchewan Environment 
Pulsed fluorescence 


Total Suspended Particulate 


Saskatchewan Environment 
High Volume Method 



A2-22 




AMBIENT AIR-QUALITY MONITORING (CANADA) 



A2-23 



POPLAR RIVER 



COOPERATIVE MONITORING ARRANGEMENT 



TECHNICAL MONITORING SCHEDULES 

2001 

UNITED STATES 



A2-24 



STREAMFLOW MONITORING 



Responsible Agency: U.S. Geological Survey 1 


No. on Map 


Station Number 


Station Name 


1* 


06178000 ( 11 AE008) 


Poplar River at International Boundary 


2* 


06178500 (11 AE003) 


East Poplar River at International 
Boundary 



* International Gauging Station 



A2-25 




10 15 KILOMETERS 



HYDROMETRIC GAUGING STATIONS (UNITED STATES) 



A2-26 



SURFACE-WATER-QUALITY MONITORING - Station Locations 



Responsible Agency: U.S. Geological Survey 1 


No. On Map 


uses Station No. 


STATION NAME 


1 


06178000 


Poplar River at International Boundary 


2 


06178500 


East Poplar River at International Boundary 






PARAMETERS 






Annual Sampling Frequency 1 


Analytical 
Code 


Parameter 


Analytical Method 


Sitel 


Site 2 


29801 


Alkalinity - lab 


Elect. Titration 


5 


6 


01106 


Aluminum - diss 


ICP 


2 


2 


00625 


Ammonia +Org N-tot 


Colorimenic 


5 


6 


01000 


Arsenic - diss 


AA, hydride 


2 


2 


01002 


Arsenic - tot 


AA, hydride 


1 


1 


OlOIO 


Beryllium - diss 


AA, flame 


2 


2 


01012 


Beryllium - tot/rec 


AA, flame 


1 


1 


01020 


Boron - diss 


ICP 


5 


6 


01025 


Cadmium - diss 


AA,GF 


2 


2 


01027 


Cadmium - tot/rec 


AA, GF - Persulfate 


1 


2 


00915 


Calcium - diss 


AA, flame 


5 


6 


00680 


Carbon - tot Org 


Wet Oxidation 


1 


1 


00940 


Chloride - diss 


IC 


5 


6 


01030 


Chromium - diss 


AA,GF 


2 


2 


01034 


Chromium - tot/rec 


AA,GF 


I 


2 


00080 


Color 


Electrometric, visual 


5 


6 


00095 


Conductivity 


Wheatstone Bridge 


5 


C 


01040 


Copper - diss 


AA,GF 


2 


2 


00061 


Discharge - inst 


Direct measurement 


5 


6 


00950 


Fluoride - diss 


Colormetric, ISE 


5 


6 


01046 


Iron - diss 


AA, flame 


5 


6 


01045 


Iron - tot/rec 


AA, flame 


1 


2 


01049 


Lead - diss 


/^,GF 


2 


2 


01051 


Lead - tot/rec 


AA, GF - Persulfate 


1 


2 


00925 


Magnesium - diss 


AA, flame 


5 


2 


01056 


Manganese - diss 


AA, flame 


2 


2 


01055 


Manganese - tot/rec 


AA, flame 


1 


2 


01065 


Nickel - diss 


/^,GF 


2 


2 


01067 


Nickel - tot/rec 


AA, GF - Persulfate 


1 


2 


00613 


Nitrite - diss 


Colorimetric 


5 


6 


00631 


Nitrate + Nitrite - diss 


Colorimetric 


5 


6 


00300 


Oxygen^diss 


Oxygen membrane 


5 


6 


00400 


pH 


Electrometric 


5 


6 


00671 


Phos, Ortho-diss 


Colorimetric 


5 


6 


00665 


Phosphorous - tot 


Colorimetric 


5 


6 


00935 


Potassium - diss 


AA, flame 


5 


6 


00931 


SAR 


Calculated 


5 


6 


80154 


Sediment - cone. 


Filtration-Gravimetric 


5 


6 


80155 


Sediment - load 


Calculated 


5 


6 


01145 


Selenium - diss 


AA, hydride 


2 


2 


01147 


Selenium tot 


AA, hydride 


I 


1 


009S5 


Silica - diss 


Colorimetric 


5 


6 


00930 


Sodium - diss 


AA, flame 


5 


6 


00945 


Sulphate - diss 


IC 


5 


6 


70301 


Total Dissolved Solids 


Calculated 


5 


6 


00010 


Temp Water 


Stem Thermometer 


5 


6 


00020 


Temp Air 


Stem Thermometer 


5 


6 


00076 


Turbidity 


Nephelometric 


5 


6 


22703 


Uranium - diss 


LIP 


. 


MC 


01090 


Zinc - diss 


AA, flame 


2 


2 


01092 


Zinc - tot/rec 


AA, flame 


1 


2 



Abbreviations: C - continuous; MC - monthly composite; GF - giBphite furnace; AA - atomic absorption; tot/rec - total recoverable; diss - 
dissolved; AE - atomic emission; ICP - inductively coupled plasma; IC - ion exchange chromatography; LIP - Laser Induced 
Phosphorescence; Org - organic 



hi -11 




5 10 15 KILOMETERS 
I ' T^ h 



SURFACE-WATER-QUALITY MONITORING STATIONS (UNITED STATES) 



A2-28 



GROUND-WATER-QUALITY MONITORING - Station Locations 



Responsible Agency: Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology | 


Map 
Number 


WeU 
Location 


Total Depth (a) 
(m) 


Casing 

Diameter 

(cm) 


Aquifer 


Perforation Zone 
(m) 


7 


37N47E12BBBB 


44.1 


10.2 


Hart Coal 


39-44 


16 


37N46E3ABAB 


25.5 


10.2 


Fort Union 


23-25 


24 


37N48E5AB 


9.6 


10.2 


Alluvium 


9.2-9.6 


Parameters 


1 


Storet 










** 


Parameter 


Analytical Method 


Sampling Frequency Station No. 




Code 










00440 


Bicaibonates 


Electrometric Titration 


Sample collection is annually for 




01020 


Boron-diss 


Emission Plasma, ICP 


all locations identified above. 




00915 


Calcium 


Emission Plasma 






00445 


Carbonates 


Electrometric Titration 


The analytical method descriptions 




00940 


Chloride 


Ion Chromatography 


are those of the Montana Bureau of 




00095 


Conductivity 


Wheatstone Bridge 


Mines and Geology Laboratory where 




00950 


Fluoride 


Ion Chromatography 


the samples are analysed. 




01046 


Iron-diss 


Emission Plasma, ICP 






01049 


Lead-diss 


Emission Plasma, ICP 






01130 


Lithium-diss 


Emission Plasma, ICP 






00925 


Magnesium 


Emission Plasma, ICP 






01056 


Manganese-diss 


Emission Plasma, ICP 






01060 


Molybdenum 


Emission Plasma, ICP-MS 






00630 


Nitrate 


Ion Chromatography 






00400 


pH 


Electrometric 






00935 


Potassium 


Emission Plasma, ICP 






00931 


SAR 


Calculated 






01145 


Selenium-diss 


ICP-MS 






00955 


Silica 


Emission Plasma, ICP-MS 






00930 


Sodium 


Emission Plasma, ICP 






01080 


Strontium-diss 


Emission Plasma, ICP 






00445 


Sulphate 


Ion Chromatography 






00190 


Zinc -diss 


Emission Plasma, ICP 






70301 


TDS 


Calculated 







SYMBOLS: 

** - Computer storage and retrieval system ~ EPA 

ICP - MS - Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry 



ICP - Inductively Coupled Plasma Unit 



A2-29 




5 10 15 KILOMETERS 
I ' — H h 



GROUND-WATER-QUALITY MONITORING (UNITED STATES) 



A2-30 



GROUND-WATER LEVELS TO MONITOR POTENTIAL 
DRAWDOWN DUE TO COAL-SEAM DEWATERING 



Responsible Agency: Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology | 


No. on Map 


Sampling 


5,6,7,8,9,10,11,13,16,17,19,22,23,24 


Determine water levels quarterly 



A2-31 




15 KILOMETERS 



GROUND-WATER PIEZOMETERS TO MONITOR POTENTIAL 
DRAWDOWN DUE TO COAL-SEAM DEWATERING 



A2-32 



ANNEX 3 

RECOMMENDED FLOW APPORTIONMENT 

IN THE POPLAR RIVER BASIN 

BY THE INTERNATIONAL SOURIS-RED RIVERS ENGINEERING BOARD, 

POPLAR RIVER TASK FORCE (1976) 



A3-1 



♦RECOMMENDED FLOW APPORTIONMENT 
IN THE POPLAR RIVER BASIN 

The aggregate natural flow of all streams and tributaries in the Poplar River Basin 
crossing the International Boundary shall be divided equally between Canada and the 
United States subject to the following conditions: 



The total natural flow of the West Fork Poplar River and all its tributaries 
crossing the International Boundary shall be divided equally between Canada 
and the United States but the flow at the International Boundary in each 
tributary shall not be depleted by more than 60 percent of its natural flow. 

The total natural flow of all remaining streams and tributaries in the Poplar 
River Basin crossing the International Boundary shall be divided equally 
between Canada and the United States. Specific conditions of this division are 
as follows: 

(a) Canada shall deliver to the United States a minimum of 60 percent of 
the natural flow of the Middle Fork Poplar River at the International 
Boundary, as determined below the confluence of Goose Creek and 
Middle Fork. 

(b) The delivery of water from Canada to the United States on the East 
Poplar River shall be determined on or about the first day of June of 
each year as follows: 

(i) When the total natural flow of the Middle Fork Poplar River, as 
determined below the confluence of Goose Creek, during the 
immediately preceding March 1 st to May 3 1 st period does not 
exceed 4,690 cubic decameters (3,800 acre-feet), then a 
continuous minimum flow of 0.028 cubic metres per second 
(1.0 cubic foot per second) shall be delivered to the United 
States on the East Poplar River at the International Boundary 
throughout the succeeding 12 month period commencing June 
1st. In addition, a volume of 370 cubic decameters (300 acre- 
feet) shall be delivered to the United States upon demand at any 
time during the 1 2 month period commencing June 1 st. 

(ii) When the total natural flow of the Middle Fork Poplar River, as 
determined below the confluence of Goose Creek, during the 
immediately preceding March 1st to May 31st period is greater 
than 4,690 cubic decameters (3,800 acre-feet), but does not 
exceed 9,250 cubic decameters (7,500 acre-feet), 

Canada-United States, 1976, Joint studies for flow apportionment. Poplar River Basin, Montana-Saskatchewan: Main 
Report, International Souris-Red Rivers Board, Poplar River Task Force, 43 pp. 



A3-2 



then a continuous minimum flow of 0.057 cubic metres per second 
(2.0 cubic feet per second) shall be delivered to the United States 
on the East Poplar River at the International Boundary during the 
succeeding period June 1st through August 31st. A minimum 
delivery of 0.028 cubic metres per second (1.0 cubic feet per 
second) shall then be maintained from September 1st through to 
May 3 1 St of the following year. In addition, a volume of 6 1 7 cubic 
decameters (500 acre-feet) shall be delivered to the United States 
upon demand at any time during the 12-month period commencing 
June 1st. 



(iii) When the total natural flow of the Middle Fork Poplar River, as 

determined below the confluence of Goose Creek, during the 
immediately preceding March 1st to May 31st period is greater 
than 9,250 cubic decameters (7,500 acre-feet), but does not exceed 
14,800 cubic decameters (12,000 acre-feet), then a continuous 
minimimi flow of 0.085 cubic metres per second (3.0 cubic feet per 
second) shall be delivered to the United States on the East Poplar 
River at the International Boimdary during the succeeding period 
June 1st through August 31st. A minimum delivery of 0.057 cubic 
metres per second (2.0 cubic feet per second) shall then be 
maintained from September 1st through to May 31st of the 
following year. In addition, a volume of 617 cubic decameters 
(500 acre-feet) shall be delivered to the United States upon demand 
at any time during the 1 2 month period commencing June 1 st. 

(iv) When the total natural flow of the Middle Fork Poplar, as 

determined below the confluence of Goose Creek, during the 
immediately preceding March 1st to May 31st period exceeds 
14,800 cubic decameters (12,000 acre- feet) then a continuous 
minimum flow of 0.085 cubic metres per second (3.0 cubic feet per 
second) shall be delivered to the United States on the East Poplar 
River at the International Boundary during the succeeding period 
June 1st through August 31st. A minimum delivery of 0.057 cubic 
metres per second (2.0 cubic feet per second) shall then be 
maintained from September 1st through to May 31st of the 
following year. In addition, a volume of 1,230 cubic decameters 
(1,000 acre-feet) shall be delivered to the United States upon 
demand at any time during the 12-month period commencing June 
1st. 

(c) The natural flow at the International Boundary in each of the 

remaining individual tributaries shall not be depleted by more than 
60 percent of its natural flow. 



A3-3 



The natural flow and division periods for apportionment purposes shall be 
determined, unless otherwise specified, for periods of time commensurate with 
the uses and requirements of both countries. 



A3-4 



ANNEX 4 



METRIC CONVERSION FACTORS 



A4-1 



METRIC CONVERSION FACTORS 



Ac 


= 


4,047 m' = 0.04047 ha 


ac-ft 


= 


1,233.5 m'= 1.2335 dam^ 


C 


= 


5/9(F'-32) 


cm 


= 


0.3937 in. 


cm^ 


= 


0.155 in^ 


dam^ 


= 


1,000 m^ = 0.8107 ac-ft 


ft' 


= 


28.3171 xloV 


ha 


= 


10,000 m^ = 2.471 ac 


hm 


= 


100 m = 328.08 ft 


W 


= 


IxlO^m^ 


I.gpm 


= 


0.0758 L/s 


in 


= 


2.54 cm 


kg 


= 


2.20462 lb =1.1x10"' tons 


km 


= 


0.62137 miles 


km^ 


= 


0.3861 mi^ 


L 


= 


0.3532 ft' = 0.21997 I. gal = 0.26420 U.S. gal 


L/s 


= 


0.035 cfs = 13.193 I.gpm = 15.848 U.S. gpm 


m 


= 


3.2808 ft 


m^ 


= 


10.765 ft^ 


m' 


= 


1,000 L = 35.3144 ft' = 219.97 I. gal= 264.2 U.S. gal 


mVs 


= 


35.314 cfs 


mm 


= 


0.00328 ft 


tonne 


= 


1,000 kg =1.1023 ton (short) 


U.S. gpm 


= 


0.0631 L/s 


For Air Samples 





ppm = 100 pphm = 1000 x (Molecular Weight of substance/24.45) mg/m 



A4-2