5 

5^3.7 



2011 ANNUAL REPORT 



to the 



GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA, UNITED STATES, 



SASKATCHEWAN AND MONTANA 



by the 



POPLAR RIVER 

BILATERAL MONITORING 

COMMIHEE 




^fSSOVR/ 



RIVER 



COVERING CALENDAR YEAR 2011 



June 2012 



Montana State Library 



lllillllii 
3 0864 1006 4281 1 



Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee 

Department of State Department of Foreign Affairs 

Washington, D.C., United States and International Trade Canada 

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada 
Governor's Office 

State of Montana Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment 

Helena, Montana, United States Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada 



Ladies and Gentlemen: 

Herein is the 30th Annual Report of the Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee. This report discusses 
the Committee activities of 20 11 and presents the Technical Monitoring Schedules for the year 2012. 

During 2011, the Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee continued to fulfill the responsibilities 
assigned by the governments under the Poplar River Cooperative Monitoring Agreement dated September 
23, 1980. Through exchange of Diplomatic Notes, the Arrangement was extended in March 1987, July 1992, 
July 1997, March 2002, April 2007, and March 2012. The Monitoring Committee is currently extended to 
March 2017. 

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 (IJC) under the 1977 
Reference fi"om Canada and the United States. After evaluation of the monitoring information for 201 1, the 
Committee finds that the measured conditions meet the recommended objectives. 

Based on IJC recommendations, the United States was entitled to an on-demand release of 617 dam^ (500 
acre-feet) from Cookson Reservoir during 201 1. A volume of 2,180 dam^ (1,770 acre-feet), in addition to the 
minimum flow, was delivered to the United States between May 1 and May 31, 2011. In addition, daily 
flows in 2011 met or exceeded the minimum flow recommended by the IJC during the year except for 12 
days in August. 

During 201 1, monitoring continued in accordance with Technical Monitoring Schedules outlined in the 2010 
Annual Report of the Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee. 



Yours sincerely. 




Jjo^n M. Kilpatrick ^ Mike Renouf 

airman, United States Section Chairman, Canadiag^ection 





^ ,^^//-^ 



] 



Tim£>arTS (^eg Acfilmali 

Member, United States Section Memoer, Canadian Section 



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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Highlights for 2011 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 

2.5 Water-Quality Monitoring Responsibilities 4 

3.0 Water and Air: Monitoring and Interpretations 6 

3.1 Poplar River Power Station Operation 6 

3.2 Surface Water 6 

3.2.1 Streamflow 6 

3.2.2 Apportionment 7 

3.2.3 Minimum Flows 8 

3.2.4 On-Demand Release 9 

3.2.5 Surface- Water Quality 10 

3.2.5.1 Total Dissolved Solids 1 1 

3.2.5.2 Boron 14 

3.2.5.3 Other Water-Quality Objectives 17 

3.3 Groundwater 19 

3.3.1 Operations-Saskatchewan 19 

3.3.2 Ground- Water Monitoring 21 

3.3.2.1 Saskatchewan 21 

3.3.2.2 Montana 23 

3.3.3 Ground- Water Quality 25 

3.3.3.1 Saskatchewan 25 

3.3.3.2 Montana 28 

3.4 Cookson Reservoir 29 

3.4.1 Storage 29 

3.4.2 Water Quality 31 

3.5 Air Quality 32 

3.6 Quality Control 32 

3.6.1 Streamflow 32 

3.6.2 Water Quality 32 

ANNEXES 

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

2.0 Poplar River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, Technical 

Monitoring Schedules, 201 1, Canada-United States A2 

3.0 Recommended Flow Apportionment in the Poplar River Basin A3 

4.0 Conversion Factors A4 



TABLES 

Table 2.1 Water-Quality Objectives 5 

Table 3.1 Recommended Water-Quality Objectives and Excursions, 201 1 Sampling 

Program, East Poplar River at International Boundary 18 

Table 3.2 Geologic Formation Name Equivalence between Saskatchewan and Montana 21 

Table 3.3 Water-Quality Statistics for Water Pumped from Supplementary Water Supply 

Project Wells 25 

Table 3.4 Water-Quality Statistics for Water Pumped from Soil Salinity Project Wells Sampled 

at the Discharge Pipe 26 

Table 3.5 Cookson Reservoir Storage Statistics for 201 1 29 



FIGURES 



Figure 3.1 Monthly Mean Discharge During 201 1 as Compared with the Median Monthly Mean 

Discharge from 1931-2010 for the Poplar River at International Boundary 7 

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 Estimated TDS Concentration During 201 1 for East Poplar River at International 

Boundary 12 

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

River at International Boundary (Statistically Estimated) 12 

Figure 3.6 Five- Year Moving Flow- Weighted Average TDS Concentration for East Poplar 

River at International Boundary (Statistically Estimated) 1 3 

Figure 3.7 Daily TDS Concentration, Calendar Years 1990 to 201 1, for East Poplar River at 

International Boundary (Statistically Estimated) 13 

Figure 3.8 Estimated Boron Concentration During 201 1 for East Poplar River at International 

Boundary 15 

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

River at International Boundary (Statistically Estimated) 15 

Figure 3.10 Five- Year Moving Flow- Weighted Average Estimated Boron Concentration for 

East Poplar River at International Boundary (Statistically Estimated) 16 

Figure 3.1 1 Daily Boron Concentration, Calendar Years 1 990 to 201 1 , for East Poplar River at 

International Boundary (Statistically Estimated) 16 

Figure 3.12 Annual Pumpage by the Poplar River Power Station's Supplementary Water Supply.. 19 

Figure 3.13 Annual Pumpage from Soil Salinity Project 20 

Figure 3.14 Hydrograph of Selected Wells Completed in the Hart Coal Seam 22 

Figure 3.15 Hydrograph of Selected Wells Completed in the Hart Coal Seam 22 

Figure 3.16 Hydrograph of Selected Wells - Hart Coal Aquifers 23 

Figure 3.1 7 Hydrograph of Selected Wells - Alluvium and Fox Hills/Hell Creek Aquifers 24 

Figure 3.18 Total Dissolved Solids in Samples from Montana Wells 28 

Figure 3.19 Cookson Reservoir Daily Mean Water Levels for 201 1 and Median 

Daily Water Levels, 2001-2010 30 

Figure 3.20 Cookson Reservoir Daily Mean Water Storage for 201 1 and Median 

Daily Storage, 2001-2010 31 

Figure 3.21 Reservoir Volume and Total Dissolved Solids Concentrations from 1979-201 1 for 

Cookson Reservoir 32 



HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2011 

The Poplar River Power Station completed its twenty-eighth full year of operation in 201 1. The two 300- 
megawatt coal-fired units generated 4,562,005 gross megawatts (MW) of electricity. The average capacity 
factors for Units No. 1 and 2 were 91 .0 percent and 85.6 percent, respectively. The capacity factors are based 
on the maximum generating rating of 315 MW/hour for both Unit No. 1 and Unit No. 2. The scheduled 
maintenance outage for Unit 1 and 2 were completed in the spring and fall of 201 1 so as not to coincide with 
system peak demand periods that occur over the summer and winter periods. 

Monitoring information collected in both Canada and the United States during 201 1 was exchanged in the 
spring of 2012. 

The recorded volume of the Poplar River at International Boundary from March 1 to May 31, 201 1 was 
28,510 dam^ (23.1 10 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 0.085 cubic metres per second (m /s) (3.0 cubic feet per second (ft /s)) for the period June 1, 201 1 to 
August 31, 2011, and 0.057 mVs (2.0 ftVs) for the period September 1, 2011 to May 31, 2012. The 
minimum entitled flow for the period January 1 to May 31, 201 1 was 0.028 m^/s (1.0 ftVs), determined 
on the basis of the Poplar River flow volume for March 1 to May 3 1 , 2010. 

Daily flows during 201 1 met or exceeded the minimum flow recommended by the IJC during the year 
except for 12 days in August. 

In addition to the minimum flow, the IJC apportionment recommendation entitles Montana to an on- 
demand release to be delivered in the East Poplar River during the twelve-month period commencing 
June 1. Based on the March 1 to May 31, 2010 runoff volume of 5,420 dam^ (4,400 acre-feet) recorded 
at the Poplar River at International Boundary gauging station, Montana was entitled to an additional 
release of 617 dam (500 acre-feet) from Cookson Reservoir during the succeeding twelve-month period 
commencing June 1, 2010. Montana requested this release to be made between May 1 and May 31, 
2011. Ave 
this period. 



201 1. A volume of 2,180 dam^ (1,770 acre-feet), in addition to the minimum flow, was delivered during 



The 201 1 five-year estimated flow- weighted TDS concentrations were below the long-term objective of 
1,000 milligrams per litre (mg/L). The maximum monthly five-year estimated flow-weighted concentration 
value in 2011 was about 987 mg/L which was similar to value calculated in 2010. The 2011 five-year 
estimated flow-weighted boron concentrations remained well below the long-term objective of 2.5 mg/L. 



m 



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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, July 1997, March 2002, April 2007 and March 2012. The Monitoring Committee is currently 
extended to March 2017. 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 from 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 from 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 
International 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 year 2012. 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. In 
addition to the representatives of Governments, two ex-officio members serve as local representatives 
for the State of Montana and Province of Saskatchewan. 

During 2011, the members of the Committee included: Mr. J. Kilpatrick, U.S. Geological Survey, 
United States representative and Co-chair; Mr. M. Renouf, Environment Canada, Canadian 
representative and Co-chair; Mr. Tim Davis, Montana Department of Natural Resources and 
Conservation, Montana representative; Mr. G. Adilman, Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, 
Saskatchewan representative; Mr. C. W. Tande, Daniels County Commissioner, Montana local ex- 
officio representative; and Mr. D. Kirby, Reeve, R.M. of Hart Butte, Saskatchewan local ex-officio 
representative. 

2.2 Meetings 

The Committee met via a conference call on June 24, 2011. Delegated representatives of 
Governments, with the exception of the ex-officio members from Montana and Saskatchewan, 
participated in the meeting. In addition to Committee members, several technical advisors representing 
Federal, State, and Provincial agencies also participated. Committee members reviewed the operational 
status of the Poplar River Power Station and associated coal-mining activities; examined data collected 
in 2010 including surface-water quality and quantity, ground-water quality and quantity, and air 
quality; discussed proposed changes in the water-quality sampling program; and established the 
Technical Monitoring Schedules for the year 2012. 



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 
within the overall Basin context and recommend new and revised objectives as appropriate. In 1991, 
an action item from the annual Committee meeting set in motion the review and revision of the water- 
quality objectives. 

In 1993, the Committee 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 1999, the Committee replaced the term "discontinued" with "suspended" in Table 2.1 . 

In 2001, the Committee suspended the monitoring of dissolved mercury and total copper. This 
decision 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 . 

The Committee also agreed to periodically review all parameters for which monitoring has been 
suspended. 

Another responsibility of the Committee has included an ongoing exchange of data acquired through 
the monitoring programs. Exchanged daiu 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 quarterly. 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 data will be reported and exchanged 
whenever warranted. No unusual conditions occurred during 201 1 which warranted special reporting. 

2.5 Water-Quality Monitoring Responsibilities 

Environment Canada has agreed to take responsibility for repairing the continuous water-quality 
monitor installed at the East Poplar station at the International Boundary. The continuous water-quality 
monitor records daily specific conductance values which are used in the computation of TDS and 
boron values to monitor water quality in the East Poplar River. In the absence of regular monthly 
water-quality samples, the Committee has agreed to utilize the data collected by the continuous water- 
quality monitor for its surface-water-quality monitoring program. 

The USGS, in cooperation with the Fort Peck Tribes, previously collected water-quality samples four 
times per year to supplement the daily specific conductance data collected by the continuous water- 
quality monitor. 



Table 2.1 Water-Quality Objectives 



Parameter 


Original 
Objective 


Recommendation 


Current 
Objective 


Boron, total 


3.5/2.5' 


Continue as is 


3.5/2.5' 


TDS 


1,500/1,000' 


Continue as is 


1,500/1,000' 


Aluminum, dissolved 


0.1 


Suspended* 


— 


Ammonia, un-ionized 


0.02 


Suspended* 


— 


Cadmium, total 


0.0012 


Continue as is 


0.0012 


Chromium, total 


0.05 


Suspended* 


— 


Copper, dissolved 


0.005 


Suspended* 


— 


Copper, total 


1 


Suspended* 


— 


Fluoride, dissolved 


1.5 


Continue as is 


1.5 


Lead, total 


0.03 


Continue as is 


0.03 


Mercury, dissolved 


0.0002 


Suspended* 


— 


Mercury, fish (mg/kg) 


0.5 


Suspended* 


— 


Nitrate 


10 


Continue as is 


to 


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.o' 


pH (units) 


6.5^ 


Continue as is 


6.5^ 


Coliform(no./100mL) 








Fecal 


2,000 


Suspended* 


— 


Total 


20,000 


Suspended* 


.... 


Units m mg/L except 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 tlow-weighted concentration should be <3 5 boron and <l ,500 TDS 
2, 5 (minimum April lOtoMay 15), 4 (minimum remainder of year - Fish Spawning). 

3 Natural temperature (April lOtoMay 15), <30 degree Celsius (remainder of year) 

4 Less than 5 pH units above ambient, minimum pH=6 5 



*Suspended after review of historic data found sample concentrations consistently below the objective. The Committee will periodically 
review status of suspended objectives. 



3.0 WATER AND AIR: MONITORING AND INTERPRETATIONS 

3.1 Poplar River Power Station Operation 

Saskatchewan Power Corporation (SaskPower) operates the Poplar River Power Station near the 
town on Coronach, Saskatchewan. The Poplar River Power Station is comprised of two lignite- 
burning power generating units designated Unit No. 1 and Unit No. 2. Unit No. 1 is rated as a 315 
MW/hour generating unit and Unit No. 2 is rated as a 315 MW/hour generating unit. Both units 
share a common 122 metres (m) (400 feet (ft)) tall stack. 

In 2011 both units were operated as base load units supplying the maximum production except 
when system constraint and outages dictated otherwise. The scheduled maintenance outages for 
Unit No. 1 and Unit No. 2 were completed in the spring and fall of 201 1 so as not to coincide with 
system peak demand periods that occur over the summer and winter periods. 

Poplar River has changed the scheduling of Unit No. 1 and Unit No. 2 outages. In the past, the 
spring/fall outages have consisted of a three week outage on one unit and a one-week outage on 
the other. Starting in 2011, the schedule was changed to a four- week outage on one unit in the 
spring and a four-week outage on the other unit in the fall. 

Between January 1 and December 31, Poplar River Power Station generated 4,562,005 gross MW 
of electricity. During this time approximately 3,432,897 tonnes (3,784,121 tons) of coal and 2,417 
m^ (635,500 gallons) of fuel oil were consumed. The average capacity factors for Unit No. 1 and 
Unit No. 2 were 91 .0 percent and 85.6 percent respectively. 

3.2 Surface Water 

3.2.1 Streamflow 

Streamflow in the Poplar River basin was well above normal in 2011. The March to October 
recorded flow of the Poplar River at International Boundary, an indicator of natural flow in the 
basin, was 47,000 cubic decametres (dam^) (38,100 acre-feet), which was 470 percent of the 1931- 
2010 median seasonal flow of 9,930 dam^ (8,050 acre-feet). A comparison of 201 1 monthly mean 
discharge with the 1931-2010 median monthly mean discharge is shown in Figure 3.1. 



E 
O 
U 

a 
w 

» 

a 

M 

s 

s 
u 

2 

3 

o 

E 

o 



-0-- Median of Monthly Mean Discharge for 1931-2010 
Monthly Mean Discharge for 2011 




315 



280 



245 



210 



175 



140 



105 



70 



35 



Mar 



Apr 



May 



Jun 



Jul 



Aug 



Sep 



-6 

Oct 



o 
u 
o 

(A 



a 
a 

IL 

o 
ia 

3 
U 



Figure 3.1 Monthly Mean Discharge During 201 1 as Compared with the Median Monthly 
Mean Discharge from 1931-2010 for the Poplar River at International Boundary. 



The 2011 recorded flow volume of the East Poplar River at International Boundary was 50,320 
dam (40,790 acre-feet). This volume is 188 percent of the median annual flow of 2,680 dam 
(2,120 acre-feet) for 1976-2010 (since the completion of Morrison Dam). 



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 the 
recommendations have not been officially adopted, the Province of Saskatchewan has adhered to 
the apportionment recommendations. Annex 3 contains the apportionment recommendation. 



3.2.3 Minimum Flows 

The recorded volume of the Poplar River at International Boundary from March 1 to May 3 1 , 
2011 was 28,510 dam^ (23,110 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 0.085 cubic metres per second (m /s) (3.0 cubic feet per second (ft /s)) 

■J T 

for the period June 1, 201 1 to August 31, 201 1, and 0.057 m /s (2.0 ft /s) for the period September 
1, 2011 to May 31, 2012. The minimum entitled flow for the period January 1 to May 31, 2011 
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, 2010. A hydrograph for the East Poplar River at International Boundary and the 
minimum flow as recommended by the IJC are shown in Figure 3.2. 

Daily flows during 20 1 1 met or exceeded the minimum flow recommended by the IJC during the 
year except for 1 2 days in August. 



100.00 




o 
o 

CO 

a> 

Q. 
0) 

u. 
u 
!5 

3 
u 






0.35 



2011 



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



3.2.4 On-Demand Release 

In addition to the minimum tlow, the IJC apportionment recommendation entitles Montana to an 
on-demand release to be delivered in the East Poplar River during the twelve-month period 
commencing June 1. Based on the March 1 to May 31, 2010 runoff volume of 5,420 dam^ (4.400 
acre-feet) recorded at the Poplar River at International Boundary gauging station, Montana was 
entitled to an additional release of 617 dam^ (500 acre-feet) from Cookson Reservoir during the 
succeeding twelve-month period commencing June 1, 2010. Montana requested this release to be 
made between May 1 and May 31, 20 11. A volume of 2,180 dam "^ (1,770 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. 



b 
«• 

V 

E 

n 
u 
« 

Q 

u 
!o 

3 

o 

C 



2400 



2000 



1600 



C 1200 



800 



400 



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




1950 



1625 iZ 

01 



1300 



975 



< 



4) 

E 

3 
O 
> 



2011 



Figure 3.3 Cumulative Volume Hydrograph of On-Demand Release. 



3.2.5 Surface-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 1,500 mg/L for TDS 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 
1,000 mg/L or less for TDS in the East Poplar River at the International Boundary. 

For the period prior to 1982, the three-month moving flow-weighted concentration (FWC) for 
boron and total dissolved solids (TDS) was calculated solely from monthly water-quality 
monitoring results. In 2003, the Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee decided to suspend 
much of the water-quality sampling program until it is warranted again. All surface-water-quality 
sample collection by Environment Canada has been suspended at the East Poplar River boundary 
station. After the regular monthly discrete sampling program was suspended in 2003, the USGS 
continued to collect four discrete samples per year until 2010, when due to a lack of funding no 
samples were obtained. 

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 estimate boron and TDS 
concentrations using a linear regression relationship with specific conductance. Since 2003, the 
Committee has agreed to use the continuous data collected by the specific-conductance monitor as 
a surrogate for the monthly water-quality sampling program. Hence, the three-month FWC for 
TDS and boron in 201 1 were calculated using the two established equations (shown later in text) 
and the continuous specific-conductance data collected at the East Poplar River at the International 
Boundary. 

The Bilateral Monitoring Committee adopted the approach that, for the purpose 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 1988, 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 
from the 5 -year period preceding each plotted point. For example, the FWC for December 201 1 is 
calculated from data generated over the period December 2006 to December 2011. 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. 

All water quality analyses shown in this report were derived solely from the mid-month recorded 
daily specific conductance data and the two established regression equations for TDS and boron. 



10 



3.2.5.1 Total Dissolved Solids 

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

Mid-month estimated TDS concentrations during 201 1 for East Poplar River at the International 
Boundary are shown in Figure 3.4. The mid-month estimated TDS concentrations ranged from 
672 mg/L on June 15 to 1,041 mg/L on March 15 and November 15. 

No recorded daily conductance values were obtained during the March 5 to April 10, 201 1 period. 
Missing daily conductance data during this period were estimated using median value calculated 
from the other available daily readings during the month as an approximate value in order to 
calculate moving FWC for TDS. 

The three-month moving FWC for TDS for the period of 1990-2011 is presented in Figure 3.5. 
The short-term TDS objective has not been exceeded during the period of record. 

The five-year moving estimated FWC for TDS (Figure 3.6) did not exceed the long-term objective 
of 1,000 mg/L in 201 1. The maximum monthly five-year estimated FWC in 201 1 was about 987 
mg/L, similar to the value observed in 2010. The basin experienced above average flows during 
May and June in 201 1 which significantly lowered the five-year moving estimated FWC for TDS. 

The daily TDS values, as estimated by linear regression from the daily specific-conductance 
readings, for the period January 1991 through December 201 1 are shown in Figure 3.7. The figure 
shows an abrupt drop in estimated TDS corresponding to the snowmelt runoff occurring during 
the spring of each year. Please note that estimated daily TDS values for the March 5 to April 1 1 
period of missing conductance data were not plotted. 

The relationship between TDS and specific conductance based upon data collected from 1974 to 
2003 is as follows: 

TDS = (0.624613813 x specific conductance) + 35.1841527 
(R^ = 0.84, n = 617) 

Note: The above equation was used to estimate TDS concentrations for the E. Poplar River at 
the International Boundary for 2011. These estimates are used in the current annual water- 
quality report. 



11 



1200 



1000 < > 1 1Q 



§. 800 



o 

CO 

I 600 



Q 

ra 400 

o 

I- 



200 



♦ 1041 



9Sb 



♦ 972 ♦ 960 



♦ 9 97 



♦ 1041 



-"►991 



♦ 778 



♦ 747 ♦ 747 

♦ 672 



> Statistically Estimated from Mid-Month Specific Conductance Values 



LU 



< 



3 
< 



Q. 

a> 



O 



0) 

Q 



Figure 3.4: Estimated TDS Concentration for 201 1 
East Poplar River at tiie International Boundary 



1800 





1600 




1400 


^^^ 




1 








D) 

E 


1200 


en 




-O 




o 
CO 


1000 


T3 




Q) 




> 




s 


800 


(0 




Q 




nj 


600 


o 





400 



200 



Short-term Objective 




/!>^/^/^ / 






♦ ; 



— • Analytically Determined from a Discrete Sample 

-— — Statistically Estimated using Monthly Mean Speafic Conductance Values 



O) 




CO 


s 


If) 
CJ) 


S 




CO 

at 


CJ) 

cn 


O 
O 


o 


CN 
O 


CO 
O 


s 


in 
o 


CD 
O 


o 


oo 
o 


CJ> 

o 


o 


c 


C 


c 
to 


c 

TO 


c 

TO 


OJ 


CO 


TO 


c 

CD 


c 

OJ 


c 

TO 


c 

TO 




c 
nj 


TO 


C 
CO 


c 

CO 


to 


c 

CO 


c 

CO 



Figure 3.5: Three-Month Moving Flow- Weighted Average TDS Concentration 
for East Poplar River at the International Boundary (Statistically Estimated) 



12 



1600 



1400 



-> 1200 



E 



^ 1000 
o 

"S 800 



Lo n g -term O bjecti ve 




600 



400 



200 



— 1^) 



o — — — 



1600 r 



Figure 3.6: Five-Year Moving Flow- Weigh ted Average TDS Concentration 
forEast Poplar River at the International Boundary (Statistically Estimated) 




Figure 3.7: Daily TDS Concentration. CalendarYears 1991 to 201 1. 
forEast Poplar River at the International Boundary (Statistically Estimated) 



13 



3.2.5.2 Boron 

All the boron concentrations presented below were estimated using the boron equation that was 
developed from water-quality samples collected from 1974-2003 and the daily specific 
conductance data collected by the specific-conductance monitor. Figure 3.8 shows that during 
201 1 mid-month estimated dissolved boron concentrations in the East Poplar at the International 
Boundary varied from 1.27 mg/L on June 15 to 2.03 mg/L on March 15 and November 15. 

The 3-month flow- weighted concentration (FWC) for boron for the period of 1990-201 1 is shown 
in Figure 3.9. The short-term objective of 3.5 mg/L has not been exceeded over the period 1975 to 
2011. 

The 5-year moving FWC for boron (Figure 3.10) remained well below the long-term objective of 
2.5 mg/L during 201 1. 

Boron concentrations are not as well-correlated with specific conductance as TDS. 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 concentrations. Daily boron concentrations for the period 
of 1990-201 1 are shown in Figure 3.1 1. 

The relationship between boron and specific conductance applied to data collected from 1974 to 
2003 is as follows: 

Boron = (0.00129 x specific conductance) - 0.04709 
(R^ = 0.57, n = 617) 

Note: The above equation was used to estimate boron concentrations for the E. Poplar River at 
the International Boundary for 2011. These estimates are used in the current annual water- 
quality report. 



14 



4.0 



3.5 



en 

E 



o 

CO 



3.0 
2.5 
2.0 
1.5 
1.0 
0.5 
0.0 



< > I 97 » 1.91 ♦ 2.03 



♦ 189 4 1.86 ♦ ■'^'^ 



♦ 2.03 



♦ ^^ ^ ♦ 142 



♦ 127 



♦ 1.4^ 



• Statistically Estimated from Mid-Montti Specific Conductance Values 



^ 
S 



a. 
< 



'<> 193 



Figure 3.8: Estimated Boron Concentration During 201 1 
for EastPoplar River at the International Boundary 



4.0 



3.5 



Short-term Objective 



3.0 



-• Analytically Determined from a Discrete Sample 

-* Statistically Estimated using Monthly Mean Specific Conductance Values 




yt\/^, f 



M 



0.0 



Figure 3.9: Three-Month Moving Flow-Weighted Average Boron Concentration 
for East Poplar River at the International Boundary (Statistically Estimated ) 



15 



2.5 



Long-term Objective 





0.5 





^ 


<N 


m 


•* 


>n 


^O 


r~- 


00 


0^ 


o 





fN 


m 


"* 


in 


vO 


r-~ 


00 


0^ 


O 





CM 


'^ 


■^ 


=r 


^ 


^ 


^ 


=^ 


^ 


=^ 


o 


o 


9 


9 


9 


9 


O 


o 


o 


O 




— 




c 


C 


c 


C 


c 


C 


c 


c 


C 


c 


c 


c 


c 


c 


c 


c 


c 


c 


C 


c 


c 


C 




■3 
-> 


C3 






C3 


C3 

—5 




C3 


—5 


C3 


C3 


— ^ 


C3 


—5 


C3 


C3 


w 


03 




C3 


C3 


n3 



Figure 3.10: Five- Year Moving Flow- Weighted Average Estimated Boron Concentration 
for East Poplar River atthe IntemationalBoundary (Statistically Estimated) 



3.0 



0.0 



OS 0^ 0^ Ov 



<0 \C 

Ov OS 




oo 

OS 


OS 
OS 


O 

o 


O 


CM 

o 


O 


O 


o 


SO 
O 


1^ 

o 


00 

9 


OS 

9 


a> 


— 


c 

C3 


C 
C3 


03 


c 

03 


c 

03 


C 
03 


C 

CO 


03 






c 

03 


c 

03 


c 


c 

03 



Figure 3.1 1 : Daily Boron Concentration. CalendarYears 1991-201 1. 
for East Poplar River atthe IntemationalBoundary (Statistically Estimated) 



16 



3.2.5.3 Other Water-Quality Objectives 

Table 3.1 contains the multipurpose water-quality objectives for the East Poplar River at 
International Boundary, recommended by the International Poplar River Water Quality Board in 
1979 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. 



17 



Table 3.1 Recommended Water-Quality Objectives and Excursions, 2011 Sampling Program, 
East Poplar River at International Boundary (units in mg/L, except as otherwise noted) 



Parameter 


Objective 


No. of Samples 


Excursions 


USA 


Canada 


Objectives recommended by IJC to Governments 


Boron, dissolved 


3.5/2.5(1) 


N/A 


N/A 


N/A 


Total Dissolved Solids 


1.500/1,000(1) 


N/A 


N/A 


N/A 


Objectives recommended by 


'opiar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee to Governments 


Cadmium, total 


0.0012 


N/A 


N/A 


N/A 


Fluoride, dissolved 


1.5 


N/A 


N/A 


N/A 


Lead, total 


0.03 


N/A 


N/A 


N/A 


Nitrate 


10.0 


N/A 


N/A 


N/A 


Oxygen, dissolved 


4.0/5.0 (2) 


N/A 


N/A 


N/A 


Sodium adsorption ratio 


10.0 


N/A 


N/A 


N/A 


Sulphate, dissolved 


800.0 


N/A 


N/A 


N/A 


Zinc, total 


0.03 


N/A 


N/A 


N/A 


Water temperature (Celsius) 


30.0(3) 


N/A 


N/A 


N/A 


pH (pH units) 


6.5 (4) 


N/A 


N/A 


N/A 


(1 ) Three-month average of flow-weighted concentrations should be <3 5 mg/L boron and < 1,500 mg/L TDS Five-year average of 

flow-weighted concentrations (March to October) should be <2 5 mg/L boron and < 1,000 mg/L TDS 

(2) 5 (minimum April 10 to May 15), 4 (minimum, remainder of the year) 

(3) Natural temperature (April 10 to May 1 5), <30 degrees Celsius (remainder of the year). 

(4) Less than 0,5 pH units above natural, minimum pH = 6 5 



N/A - Not applicable 

NOTE: No samples Mere obtained in 201 1. 



18 



3.3 Ground Water 

3.3.1 Operations - Saskatchewan 

SaskPower's supplementary supply continued to operate during 2011 with 2,059 dam^ (1,669 
acre-feet) of ground water being produced. This volume is down from the 2,704 dam (2,192 
acre-feet) pumped in 2010. Production from 1991 to 201 1 has averaged 4,512 dam (3,658 acre- 
feet) per year. Prior to 1991, the well network was part of a dewatering network for coal mining 
operations, which resulted in the high production levels experienced in the early to mid-1980's as 
shown in Figure 3.12. During the 1988-1990 drought period 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. 



9000 



8000 



7000 



6000 



E 5000 



4000 



3000 



2000 



1000 




7290 



6480 



5670 



4860 



4050 £ 



3240 



2430 



1620 



810 



C^"" <^^ <^ <^ # <# # # <# <# c# <# <# CN^^ # c?^ o^'' o^* cs^^ ^ 

Year 

Figure 3.12 Annual Pumpage by the Poplar River Power Station's Supplementary 
Water Supply 



SaskPower has an Approval and License for the supplementary supply project to produce an 
annual volume of 5,500 dam" (4,460 acre-feet). The 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. 



19 



In addition to the supplementary supply, SaskPower also operates the Soil Salinity Project south of 
Morrison Dam. The project was initiated in 1989 to alleviate soil salinity which had developed 
below the dam. The Soil Salinity project consists of a network of production wells discharging 
into the cooling water canal, which in turn discharges directly to Cookson Reservoir. Ongoing 
operational difficulties with the production wells resulted in a continued decline in the annual 
volume pumped from a high of 1,100 dam (892 acre-feet) in 1994 to a low point of 363 dam 
(294 acre-feet) in 2011. A well rehabilitation program resulted in some recovery in production 
rates with production of 812 dam"^ (658 acre-feet) in 2006 but subsequent production continued to 
decline as shown in Figure 3.13. 

SaskPower is considering an evaluation and possible replacement program for the Soil Salinity 
project production wells since the total volume of water produced from the project in 2011 all 
came from well PW87 104. 

In 2009, a new ash lagoon (No. 4) was constructed and put into service. 



1200 




Year 



Figure 3.13 Annual Pumpage from Soil Salinity Project 



20 



3.3.2 Ground-Water Monitoring 

Equivalent geologic formations present in Saskatchewan and Montana have different names. A list 
of the corresponding formation names is provided in Table 3.2. 

Table 3.2 Geologic Formation Name Equivalence between Saskatchewan and Montana 



1 

Formation Location 




Geologic Formation Name 


Saskatchewan 


Eastend to Whitemud 


Frenchman 


Ravenscrag 


Alluvium 


Montana 


Fox Hills 


Hell Creek 


Fort Union 


Alluvium 



3.3.2.1 Saskatchewan 

In 2003, SaskPower reduced its monitoring network from 180 to about 85 piezometers. 
Saskatchewan Environment approved this reduction based on modelling studies undertaken by 
SaskPower. 

The goal of the Soil Salinity Project is to lower groundwater levels in the Empress Sands below 
Morrison Dam two to three metres (6.6 to 9.8 feet), which is roughly equivalent to pre-reservoir 
levels. Groundwater withdrawals from 1990 to 1995 ranged between 900 and 1,100 dam"^/year (or 
730 and 892 acre-feet/year, respectively) and consequently the drawdown objectives were 
achieved in 1995 and 1996. Due to declining well efficiency, high reservoir levels, and increased 
precipitation, the water level in the Empress Sands has been increasing since 2009. 

The hydrographs of selected Hart Coal Seam monitoring wells near the International Boundary are 
shown in Figures 3.14 and 3.15. These hydrographs do not show any significant changes in water 
levels in the Hart Coal Seam near the boundary in the past 24 years. 



21 



765 r 



760 



755 



< 

•5 750 



745 



740 



735 























































4 


•^ 


tk 




*l 


1 


N 












Ml 






/ 


m 




▲ 


Ai 


^rt 


-*-*-*-* -AA 


aa 








k 


































































■ 


^ 


■ 4 




if 


■ 












^ 


/• 


kii| 


rt 




../» 


!■ 


9M^^mw 


/ 




^ 




1^ 


i*i 














r 





























































































2493 58 



2477.17 



2460.75 



2444.33 



2427 92 



2411.50 



d^ o^ <# # #" # a^^ c# (# <# c^^ <# c# c5i^ c?" # c^?" ^ ^o^ #«> c^ ^* ^^^ c^^ e^'' <^ 

\V \»^ v^' \»0> \V \»C' vfC* x^- ^'O' sV s'C' sV v'C' \V k'^' \V \V \>0' vV \V \'^J' vN^ v'O' \V s><' \N> 

Date 



Figure 3.14 Hydrographs of Selected Wells Completed in the Hart Coal Seam 



810 



800 



5 790 



S 780 



770 



760 





























1 






















































* 














f 






































I 
















































♦ 






























HI 




-— - 




, J 














i 


.. 






1 




B 


4 

■ 1 


I 


1 


#■ 


1 


♦ 
■ 1 








* 




%rf 


^ 




"^ 


^ 






m 






















A 














J 












♦ 


k^M 














A M 






"A-A 


AA 


A 


















♦ 


♦ 


J 


«* 










































♦♦^ 


♦ 
♦ 




\ 


♦ 


i 


♦ 


V 


♦^ 




































^T 










































♦ 






a< 


•** 












































♦ < 


♦ 
» 


*¥ 


»♦• 










































1 



2658 00 



2625 20 



2559.60 -g 



2526 80 



2494 00 



^^ ^^^ sX*^^ ^^^ .^"^^ ^N-^^ ^\"^^ ^\*^^ ^N"-^ ^^^ ^^^ .^"-^ ^\^^ ^\^^ V V V V^ V V V\\^^ 



Date 



Figure 3.15 Hydrographs of Selected Wells Completed in the Hart Coal Seam 

22 



3.3.2.2 Montana 

Hydrographs from monitoring wells completed in the Fort Union Formation and/or the Hart Coal 
Seam (wells 6, 7, 9, 13, 16, 17, and 19) exhibit two general patterns. Water levels in wells 9, 13, 
17, and 19 have changed less than 5 ft (1.5 m) since the time monitoring began in 1987. Water 
levels generally declined between 1987 and 1992-1994; since 1994, water-level trends are flat or 
slowly rising. Water-level hydrographs from wells 17 and 19 are shown on Figure 3.16. Offsets 
noted in the legend for Figure 3.16 have been applied to make the hydrographs more readable. 
Water-level data used to construct the hydrographs in Figure 3.16 can be accessed through the 
Montana Ground Water Information Center (GWIC) database at http://mbmggwic.mtech.edu . 

Water levels in wells 6, 7, and 16 have changed as much as 15 ft (4.6 m) but generally declined 
from the beginning of monitoring to the mid 1990s before beginning to rise. Water levels in well 
16 reached near record highs in 1985 and 201 1 . High water-level elevations in 201 1 were related 
to heavy winter snow accumulation and associated snowmelt runoff. Water-level hydrographs for 
wells 6 and 7 are shown on Figure 3.16. 




'^^^^'^^^^^^s^^^^^*^^?'*^ ^>«^«^^^^*«^^ y^ )o^^s**^*;>o**^'^> 



Jan-1979 Jan-1983 Jan-1987 Jan-1991 Jan-1995 Jan-1999 Jan-2003 Jan-2007 Jan-2011 Jan-2015 

Year 

— ©— Well 6 (GWIC 4227 +10 ft offset Hart Coal) — B— Well 7 (GWIC 4267 +7 ft offset Hart Coal) 
—A- Well 17 (GW'IC 4297 -3 ft offset Hart Coal) ^«— Weil 19 (GWIC 4290. -5 ft offset Hart Coal) 



Figure 3.16 Hydrographs of Selected Wells - Hart Coal Aquifers 

Water levels in monitoring wells 5, 8, 10, 23, and 24, completed in alluvium and/or outwash, show 
seasonal change caused by climate and/or precipitation. Heavy snow accumulation and melt in 
early 2004 caused upward water-level response during the remainder of that year. In subsequent 
years water levels steadily declined returning to pre-melt 2003 elevations between 2004 (Well 23) 
and 2008 (Well 5). 



23 



Hydrographs from alluvium and outwash (wells 10, 23, and 24) and the Fox Hills/Hell Creek 
aquifer (well 11) are shown in Figure 3.17. Offsets noted in the legend have been applied to the 
data to make the hydrographs more readable. Measurements from wells 1 1 and 24 where the 
wellhead was noted as being frozen are not included. Water-level data used to construct the 
hydrographs in Figure 3.17 can be accessed through the Montana Ground Water Information 
Center (GWIC) database at http://mbmggwic.mtech.edu . 

The potentiometric surface in the Fox Hills/Hell Creek artesian aquifer (well 1 1 -Figure 3.17) has 
shown little fluctuation during the 1979-201 1 monitoring period, but the entire record shows a 
slight long-term downward trend. 



Jan 




^ 



3^ 









■1979 Jan-1983 Jan-1987 Jan-1991 Jan-1995 Jan-1999 Jan-2003 Jan-2007 Jan-2011 Jan-2015 

Year 

— Weill (Gwic 4340: ft offset : Alluvium/coal) — B— Well 1 1 (GWIC 4329: +3 ft offset : Fox Hills-Hell Creek) 

— Well 23 (GWC 124105: + 2ft offset Outwash) —x— Well 24 (GWIC 144835: -3ftoffset: Alluvium) 



Figure 3.17 Hydrographs of Selected Wells - Alluvium and Fox Hills/Hell Creek Aquifers 



Above average precipitation including heavy snow accumulation and subsequent melting caused 
water levels to rise to near record highs in wells 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 19, 22, 23, and 24 
during 201 1 . Wells 23 and 24 were flowing over their casing tops in April and July 201 1 
respectively. Water levels in all wells have fallen since and most remain between 1 ft (0.3 m) and 
4 ft (1 .2 m) above their 2010 altitudes. However, in October 201 1, the water level in well 16 was 
about 10 ft (3 m) and the water level in well 23 was about 0.5 ft (0.2 m) above their October 2010 
measurements. 



24 



3.3.3 Ground-Water Quality 
3.3.3.1 Saskatchewan 

The water quality from the Poplar River Power Station's Supplementary Water Supply Project 
discharge points has been consistent with no trends indicated. A summary of the more frequently 
tested parameters during 20 11 is provided in Table 3.3. Result averages for the 1992-2010 periods 
are also included in this table for comparison. 

TABLE 3.3 Water-Quality Statistics for Water Pumped from 
Supplementary Water Supply Project Wells* 





1992 to 2010 

Average 


2011 
Average 


pH (units) 


8.1 


8.1 


Conductivity (|as/cm) 


1296 


1080 


Total Dissolved Solids 


889 


757 


Total Suspended Solids 


11 


20 


Boron 


1.2 


0.9 


Sodium 


173 


136 


Cyanide (fig/L) 


2 


1 


Iron 


0.3 


0.8 


Manganese 


0.1 


0.07 


Mercury (|ig/L) 


0.07 


0.02 


Calcium 


67 


63 


Magnesium 


52 


61 


Sulfate 


274 


290 


Nitrate 


0.08 


0.04 



*A11 units mg/L unless otherwise noted. Samples obtained at Site "CS" on Girard Creek. 

Average results from the common discharge point for the Soil Salinity Project for 201 1, plus an 
average of the 1992-2010 results are provided in Table 3.4. Results have remained relatively 
consistent since 1992. 



25 



TABLE 3.4 Water-Quality Statistics for Water Pumped from Soil Salinity 
Project Wells Sampled at the Discharge Pipe* 






1992-2010 
Average 


2011 
Average 


pH (units) 


7.6 


7.7 


Conductivity (|is/cm) 


1457 


1547 


Total Dissolved Solids 


1006 


1091 


Boron 


1.6 


1.4 


Calcium 


103 


123 


Magnesium 


59 


68 


Sodium 


159 


153 


Potassium 


7.5 


8.1 


Arsenic (i^g/L) 


11.7 


13.5 


Aluminum 


0.05 


0.001 


Barium 


0.034 


0.018 


Cadmium 


0.014 


<0.001 


Iron 


4.1 


4.2 


Manganese 


0.128 


0.135 


Molybdenum 


0.013 


0.001 


Strontium 


1.727 


1.993 


Vanadium 


0.013 


<0.001 


Uranium (i^g/L) 


0.656 


1.025 


Mercury (|i/L) 


0.07 


0.02 


Sulfate 


328 


388 


Chloride 


6.6 


8.0 


Nitrate 


0.067 


0.040 



*A11 concentrations are mg/L unless otherwise noted. 



Leachate movement through the ash lagoon Hner systems can potentially affect ground-water 
quality in the vicinity of the ash lagoons. 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 chemistry of water immediately above the liner systems is expected to differ from the surface 
water of the lagoons. Meaningful information is only available from piezometers installed within 

26 



Ash Lagoon # 1 where ash has been deposited for many years. Future monitoring of all 
piezometers completed above the lagoon liner systems will continue in order to improve the 
understanding of leachate quality and flow from 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 center of the Ash 
Lagoon No. 1 to the southeast side of Ash Lagoon No. 2. Piezometers located in the oxidized till 
suggest limited leachate activity. No seepage activity is evident in the unoxidized till. 

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. 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 had decreased 
from 403 mg/L in 1983 to 218 mg/L in 2011. The chloride level for C728D has increased from 
185 mg/L in 1983 to 350 mg/L in 201 1. 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 change in boron or chloride results. 

Piezometer C712B has been monitored for several years. Historically, boron levels were below 1 
mg/L. From 1992 to 201 1, boron levels have remained relatively steady between 12 and 20 mg/L. 



27 



3.3.3.2 Montana 

Samples were collected from monitoring wells 7, 16, and 24 during 201 1. Well 7 is completed in 
the Hart Coal, well 16 is completed in the Fort Union Formation, and well 24 is completed in 
alluvium. Total dissolved solids (TDS) concentrations in samples from wells 7 and 24 are about 
the same as they were in 2006 but have been trending higher since 2009. The 201 1 sample shows 
that the TDS concentration in well 16 was slightly above the concentration observed in the 2010 
sample; the 2010 and 201 1 samples are well above the anomalously low value observed in 2009. 
Changes in TDS with time for wells 7, 16, and 24 are shown in Figure 3.18. Water-chemistry data 
used to construct the graphs in Figure 3.18 can be accessed through the Montana Ground Water 
Information Center (GWIC) database at http://mbmggwic.mtech.edu . 



E 

in 

■o 



800 



700 



■o 600 

> 



I 500 

"(5 
o 



400 



300 



' H^td4^^ 




Jan-1978 Jan-1982 Jan-1986 Jan-1990 Jan-1994 Jan-1998 Jan-2002 Jan-2006 Jan-2010 Jan-2014 



Date 



-A— Well 7 (GWC 4267 - Hart Coal) 
-e— Well 24 (GWIC 144835 - Alluvium) 



■Well 16 (GWIC 4211 - Fort Union) 



Figure 3.18 Total Dissolved Solids in Samples from Montana Wells. 



28 



3.4 Cookson Reservoir 
3.4.1 Storage 

On January 1, 201 1, Cookson Reservoir storage was 32,370 dam (26,240 acre-feet) or 75 % of 
the full supply volume. The 2011 maximum, minimum, and period elevations and volumes are 
shown in Table 3.5. 

Spring inflows into the reservoir were high in 2011, bringing the reservoir to its full supply on 
April 12. Rainfall runoff events then kept the reservoir at or above full supply until mid July, after 
which inflows were limited and evaporative processes brought the reservoir down below full 
supply. At the end of 2011, the reservoir was at 752.49 metres (m) (2,468.80 feet (ft)), or 
approximately 0.5 m (1.6 ft) below full supply. While releases were not required to meet 
apportionment target flows in 2011, the gates at Morrison Dam were operated to pass inflows 
during the flood events. 

In addition to runoff, reservoir levels were augmented by groundwater pumping. Wells in the 
abandoned west block mine site supplied 2,059 dam^ ( 1 .669 acre-feet) to Girard Creek. Wells in 
the soil salinity project area supplied 363 dam^ (294 acre-feet). 



Table 3.5 Cookson Reservoir Storage Statistics for 2011 



Date 


Elevation 
(m) 


Elevation 
(ft) 


Contents 
(dam^) 


Contents 
(acre-feet) 


January 1 


751.47 


2.465.45 


32.370 


26.240 


June 18 
(Maximum) 


753.24 


2,471.26 


45,290 


36,720 


March 14 
(Minimum) 


751.43 


2,465.32 


32,070 


26,000 


December 3 1 


752.49 


2,468.80 


39,500 


32,020 


Full Supply Level 


753.00 


2.470.47 


43,410 


35,190 



29 



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 m (2,457.3 
ft). The dead storage level for cooling water used in the generation process is 745.0 m (2,444.2 
ft). The 201 1 recorded levels and associated operating levels are shown in Figure 3.19 along with 
the 10-year median levels. Likewise, the 201 1 storage and associated operating levels are shown 
in Figure 3.20 along with the 10-year median levels. 



754,00 



753.00 



752.00 



751.00 



*- 750.00 



c 

— 749.00 

C 

g 

> 748.00 
0^ 



747.00 



746.00 



745.00 



744.00 



^ Full Supply Level 




-vv 












• 


■ 






r 












^— 




■ 




■ 


- 




_^ 


r 
















■ 


■ 










■ 


- 






















■ 


1 1 1 
Minimum Desirable Operatin 

1 ' ' 


g Level 










• 














1 


D-Year 
Dll 


Media 


n(200 


1-201C 


)) 


- 












2 


- 






















■ 


: Mir 


imum 


UsabU 


> Stora 


ge Lev 


el 












■ 


. 






















. 



2473.75 



2470.47 



2467.19 



2463.91 



2460.63 


a; 




Lk 




c 


2457.35 


c 
o 

m 

> 

0) 


2454.07 



2450.79 



2447.51 



2444.23 



2440.94 



Jam JanSl Mar2 Apr2 May2 Junl Jul2 Augl Aug31 Oct 1 Od 31 Nov30 Dec31 



Figure 3.19 Cookson Reservoir Daily Mean Water Levels for 2011 and 
Median Daily Water Levels, 2001-2010 



30 



50000 



45000 



40000 



£ 

E 

fO 
u 
0) 

a 

u 

!5 

U 

c 

bO 
ro 

O 



35000 



30000 



25000 



20000 



15000 



10000 



5000 



-- Full Supply Level 

i 1 


















; 


.^^ 


^''nr^ 










- 








T 




y- 


^ 


"-^ 








- 


■ 






J- 


_j 


^^ 










- 






^ 


r 






"^ 


"~~- 




LQ^ 




- 






—y 


1 1 1 




- 












2011 




laii ,..». 




Lu; 




- 


Min 


imum 


Desiral 


}le Operating Level 












- 
















































: 


• 






















- 


1111 
Minimum Usable Storage Level 












- 


1 1 1 1 1 















40535 



36482 



32428 



28375 ^ 
01 



24321 



20268 



16214 



12161 



8107 



01 
u 
< 
c 

IV 
00 

k. 
o 
•♦-> 
to 



4054 



Jani Jan3i Mar2 Apr2 May2 Junl Jul2 Augi Aug31 Oct 1 Oct 31 Nov30 Dec31 

Figure 3.20 Cookson Reservoir Daily Mean Water Storage for 2011 and 
Median Daily Storage, 2001-2010 



3.4.2 Water Quality 

One major factor affecting the water quality of Cookson Reservoir is volume. Low reservoir 
volumes will decrease the water quality Vv'hile high volumes will improve the water quality. The 
reservoir volume is controlled by two factors: inflow, which consists of spring runoff, 
precipitation and supplementary water supply, which increases reservoir volumes and losses, 
which consist of evaporation, water uses and apportionment releases, which decreases volume. 

The period from 1987 to 1993 saw very low volumes of surface-water run-off to Cookson 
Reservoir. Consequently, total dissolved solids (TDS) in the reservoir increased steadily from 
approximately 780 mg/L to over 1,800 mg/L as shown in figure 3.21. From 1997 to 2004, the 
TDS levels in the reservoir generally remained below 1,000 mg/L. The TDS levels increased to 
1,540 mg/L between 2005 and 2008 before significant runoff reduced the TDS levels to 1,160 
mg/L in 2009. Above normal precipitation runoff volumes in June 201 1 reduced the 201 1 average 
TDS level in Cookson Reservoir to 791 mg/L, down significantly from the 2010 average TDS 
level of 1,346 mg/L. 



31 



50000 



Cookson Reservoir 
Reservoir Volume and Total Dissolved Solids 




2500 



2000 



1500 



-I 
E 



1000 



500 



n3(y3fl]n}<T}(T3(D(O0i3(O(un}(on}(on3(t}ni(Dn3(O(on3(D(D(D(ons(Dn}ro(O<o 



"Reservoir Volume 



■TDSI 



Figure 3.21 Reservoir Volume and Total Dissolved Solids Concentrations from 1979-2011 
for Cookson Reservoir 

3.5 Air Quality 

SaskPower's ambient SO2 monitoring for 2011 recorded no values greater than Saskatchewan 
Environment's one-hour average standard of 0.17 ppm and the 24-hour average standard of 0.06 
ppm. The 2011 geometric mean for the high-volume suspended-particulate sampler was 11.6 
|ig/m and 2011 was the twentieth consecutive year of below-average standard particulate 
readings. 

3.6 Quality Control 

3.6.1 Streamflow 

No comparative current-meter discharge measurements were made in 201 1 at the East Poplar River at 
International Boundary site between personnel from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and 
Environment Canada (EC) to confirm streamflow measurement comparability. 

3.6.2 Water Quality 



No joint sampling was performed in 20 11 at the East Poplar River at International Boundary due to 
continued suspension in the surface-water-quality sampling program by the USGS and EC. 

32 



ANNEX 1 



POPLAR RIVER 



COOPERATIVE MONITORING ARRANGEMENT 



CANADA-UNITED STATES 



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 
country 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. 

II. 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 

III. 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-3 



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. 



AI-4 



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-5 



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 
countries any failure to comply with a scheduled monitoring function 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-6 



ANNEX 2 



POPLAR RIVER 



COOPERATIVE MONITORING ARRANGEMENT 



TECHNICAL MONITORING SCHEDULES 

2012 

CANADA-UNITED STATES 



A2-1 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 

PREAMBLE A2 - 5 

CANADA 

STREAMFLOW MONITORING A2 - 8 

SURFACE-WATER-QUALITY MONITORING A2 - 10 

GROUND-WATER PIEZOMETERS TO MONITOR POTENTIAL 
DRAWDOWN DUE TO COAL-SEAM DEWATERING NEAR THE 
INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY A2 - 14 

GROUND- WATER PIEZOMETER MONITORING 

- POWER STATION AREA A2 - 1 6 

GROUND- WATER PIEZOMETER MONITORING 

- ASH LAGOON AREA 

WATER LEVEL A2-18 

WATER QUALITY A2- 19 

AMBIENT AIR-QUALITY MONITORING A2 - 22 

UNITED STATES 

STREAMFLOW MONITORING A2 - 26 

SURFACE-WATER-QUALITY MONITORING A2 - 28 

GROUND-WATER-QUALITY MONITORING A2 - 30 

GROUND-WATER LEVELS TO MONITOR POTENTIAL 

DRAWDOWN DUE TO COAL-SEAM DEWATERING A2 - 32 

A2-3 



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. 

Additional information has been or 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 from 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 has been collected on either a routine or specific-studies basis by various 
agencies. 



A2-5 



POPLAR RIVER 



COOPERATIVE MONITORING ARRANGEMENT 



TECHNICAL MONITORING SCHEDULES 

2012 

CANADA 



A2-7 



STREAMFLOW MONITORING 

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



Responsible Agencies: Environment Canada; Saskatchewan Watershed Authority 


No. on Map 


Station No. 


Station Name 


r 


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* 


11AE008 
(06178000) 


Poplar River at International Boundary 



International gauging station. 

Environment Canada will assume monitoring responsibility effective March 1, 2012. 
SWA took over the monitoring responsibility effective July 1 , 1992. 
Miscellaneous measurements of outflow to be made by Saskatchewan Watershed 
Authority (SWA) during periods of outflow only. 



A2-8 




5 10 15 KILOMETERS 
_J , I L 



10 MILES 



HYOROMETRIC GAUGING STATIONS (CANADA) 



A2-9 



SURFACE-WATER-QUALITY MONITORING 



Sampling Locations 



Responsible Agency: Environment Canada 1 


No. on Map 


Station No. 


Station Name 


1 


00SA11AE0008 
Suspended 


East Poplar River at International Boundary 



Responsible Agency: Saskatchewan Environment 1 


Data collected by: Sask Power 




No. on Map 


Station No. 


Station Name 


2 


12386 


East Poplar River at Culvert immediately below 




Discontinued 


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* 



^Sampled only when outflow occurs for a 2-week period, which does not occur every year. 



A2-10 




UNITED STATES 



LEGEND 

A SASKATCHEWAN ENVIRONMENT AND 
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 

■ ENVIRONMENT CANADA 



5 10 15 KILOMETERS 
J , I L 

10 MILES 



SURFACE-WATER-QUALITY MONITORING STATIONS (CANADA) 



A2- 



PARAMETERS 



Responsible Agency: Environment Canada 



ENVIRODAT* 

Code 



Analytical Method 



Sampling Frequency 
Station No. I 



I0I5I 


Alkalinity-phenolphthalein 


Potentiometnc Titration 


SUS 


10111 


Alkalinity-total 


Potentiometric Titration 


SUS 


13102 


Aluminum-dissolved 


AA-Direct 


SUS 


13302 


Aluminum-extracted 


AA-Direct 


SUS 


07540 


Ammonia-total 


Automated Colounmetric 


SUS 


33108 


Arsenic-dissolved 


ICAP-hydnde 


SUS 


56001 


Barium-total 


AA-Direct 


SUS 


06201 


Bicarbonates 


Calculated 


SUS 


05211 


Boron-dissolved 


ICAP 


SUS 


96360 


Bromoxynil 


Gas Chromatography 


SUS 


48002 


Cadmium-total 


AA Solvent Extraction 


SUS 


20113 


Calcium 


AA-Direct 


SUS 


06104 


Carbon-dissolved organic 


Automated IR Detection 


SUS 


06901 


Carbon-particulate 


Elemental Analyzer 


SUS 


06002 


Carbon-total organic 


Calculated 


SUS 


06301 


Carbonates 


Calculated 


SUS 


17206 


Chloride 


Automated Colourimetric 


SUS 


06717 


Chlorophyll a 


Spectrophotometric 


SUS 


24003 


Chromium-total 


AA-Solvent Extraction 


SUS 


27002 


Cobalt-total 


AA-Solvent Extraction 


SUS 


36012 


Coliform-fecal 


Membrane Filtration 


SUS 


36002 


Coliform-total 


Membrane Filtration 


SUS 


02021 


Colour 


Comparator 


SUS 


02041 


Conductivity 


Wheatstone Bridge 


SUS 


06610 


Cyanide 


Automated UV-Colourimetric 


SUS 


09117 


Fluoride-dissolved 


ElecCrometnc 


SUS 


06401 


Free Carbon Dioxide 


Calculated 


SUS 


10602 


Hardness 


Calculated 


SUS 


17811 


Hexachlorobenzene 


Gas Chromatography 


SUS 


08501 


Hydroxide 


Calculated 


SUS 


26104 


Iron-dissolved 


AA-Direct 


SUS 


82002 


Lead-total 


AA-Solvent Extraction 


SUS 


12102 


Magnesium 


AA-Direct 


SUS 


25104 


Manganese-dissolved 


AA-Direct 


SUS 


07901 


N-particulate 


Elemental Analyzer 


SUS 


07651 


N-total dissolved 


Automated UV Colourimetric 


SUS 


10401 


NFR 


Gravimetric 


SUS 


28002 


Nickel-total 


AA-Solvent Extraction 


SUS 


07110 


Nitrate/Nitrite 


Colourimetric 


SUS 


07603 


Nitrogen-total 


Calculated 


SUS 


10650 


Non-Carbonate Hardness 


Calculated 


SUS 


18\XX 


Organo Chlonnes 


Gas Chromatography 


SUS 


08101 


Oxygen-dissolved 


Winkler 


SUS 


15901 


P-particulate 


Calculated 


SUS 


15465 


P-total dissolved 


Automated Colounmetric 


SUS 


185XX 


Phenoxy Herbicides 


Gas Chromatography 


SUS 


15423 


Phosphorus-total 


Colounmetnc (TRAACS) 


SUS 


19103 


Potassium 


Flame Emission 


SUS 


11250 


Percent Sodium 


Calculated 


SUS 


011201 


SAR 


Calculated 


SUS 


00210 


Saturation Index 


Calculated 


SUS 


34108 


Selenium-dissolved 


ICAP-hydnde 


SUS 


14108 


Silica 


Automated Colounmetnc 


SUS 


11103 


Sodium 


Flame Emission 


SUS 


00211 


Stability Index 


Calculated 


SUS 


16306 


Sulphate 


Automated Colounmetric 


SUS 


00201 


TDS 


Calculated 


SUS 


02061 


Temperature 


Digital Thermometer 


SUS 


02073 


Turbidity 


Nephelometry 


SUS 


23002 


Vanadium-total 


AA-Solvent Extraction 


SUS 


30005 


Zinc-total 


AA-Solvent Extraction 


SUS 


10301 


PH 


Electrometnc 


SUS 


92111 


Uranium 


Fluometnc 


SUS 



• - Computer Storage and Retrieval System - Environment Canada 

AA - Atomic Absorption UV - Ultraviolet 

NFR - Nonfilterable Residue ICAP - Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma. 



SUS ~ Suspended 



A2-12 



PARAMETERS 



JResponsible Agency: Saskatchewan Environment 
loata Collected by: SaskPower 


ESQUADAT* Code 


Parameter 


Analytical method 




Sampling Freq 
Station No 


uency 


|| 


2 


3 


4 


5 


<> 1 


1111^1 


Alkahnit^'-phenol 


Pot-l itration 


DIS 


Q 


DIS 


DIS 


Ol 


10101 


Alkalinity-tot 


Pot- 1 ilration 


DIS 


Q 


DIS 


DIS 


Ol 


13004 


Aluminum-tot 


AA-Direct 


DIS 


A 


DIS 


DIS 




33004 


Arsenic-tot 


Flanieless AA 


DIS 


A 


DIS 


DIS 




06201 


Bicarbonates 


Calculated 


DIS 


Q 


DIS 


DIS 


OF 


05451 


Boron-tot 


ICAP 


DIS 





DIS 


DIS 


W 


48002 


Cadmium-tot 


AA-Solvent Extract (MIBK.) 


DIS 


A 


DIS 


DIS 




20113 


Calcmm 


AA-Direct 


DIS 


Q 


DIS 


DIS 


OF 


06052 


Carbon-tot Inorganic 


Infrared 


DIS 


Q 


DIS 


DIS 


OF 


06005 


Carbon-tot Organic 


Infrared 


DIS 


Q 


DIS 


DIS 


OF 


06301 


Carbonates 


Calculated 


DIS 


Q 


DIS 


DIS 


OF 


17203 


Chloride 


Automated Colourimetric 


DIS 





DIS 


DIS 


OF 


06711 


Chlorophyll- a' 


Specffophotometr> 


DIS 


Q 


DIS 


DIS 




24004 


Chromium-tot 


AA-Direct 


DIS 


A 


DIS 


DIS 




36012 


Coliform-fec 


Membrane filtration 


DIS 


Q 


DIS 


DIS 


OF 


36002 


Coliform-tot 


Membrane filtration 


DIS 


Q 


DIS 


DIS 


OF 


02041 


Conductivity 


Conductivity Meter 


DIS 


Q 


DIS 


DIS 


W 


29005 


Copper-tot 


AA-Solvent Extract (MIBK) 


DIS 


A 


DIS 


DIS 




09105 


Fluonde 


Specific Ion Electrode 


DIS 


A 


DIS 


DIS 




82002 


Lead-tot 


AA-Solvent Extract (MIBK.) 


DIS 


A 


DIS 


DIS 




12102 


Magnesium 


AA-Direct 


DIS 


Q 


DIS 


DIS 


OF 


80011 


Mercury-tot 


Flameless-AA 


DIS 


A 


DIS 


DIS 




42102 


Molybdenum 


AA-Solvent Extract (N-Butyl acetate) 


DIS 


A 


DIS 


DIS 




07015 


N-TKN 


Automated Colourimetric 


DIS 





DIS 


DIS 


OF 


10401 


NFR 


Gravimetric 


DIS 


Q 


DIS 


DIS 


OF 


10501 


NFR( F) 


Gravimetric 


DIS 





DIS 


DIS 


OF 


28002 


Nickel-tot 


AA-Solvent Exn-act (MIBK) 


DIS 





DIS 


DIS 


OF 


07110 


Nitrate + NOj 


Automated Colounmetnc 


DIS 


Q 


DIS 


DIS 


OF 


06521 


Oil and Grease 


Pet Ether Extraction 


DIS 


A 


DIS 


DIS 




08102 


Oxygen-diss 


Meter 


DIS 





DIS 


DIS 


OF 


15406 


Phosphorus-tot 


Colourimetry 


DIS 





DIS 


DIS 


OF 


19103 


Potassmm 


Flame Photometry 


DIS 





DIS 


DIS 


OF 


34005 


Selenium-Ext 


Hydnde generation 


DIS 


A 


DIS 


DIS 




11103 


Sodium 


Flame Photometry 


DIS 





DIS 


DIS 


OF 


16306 


Sulphate 


Colourimetry 


DIS 





DIS 


DIS 


OF 


10451 


IDS 


Gravimetric 


DIS 





DIS 


DIS 


OF 


02061 


Temperature 


Thermometer 


DIS 


Q 


DIS 


DIS 


OF 


23004 


Vanadium-tot 


AA-Direct 


DIS 


A 


DIS 


DIS 




30005 


Zinc-tot 


A.A-Solvent Extract (MIBK) 


DIS 


A 


DIS 


DIS 




10301 


pH 


Electrometnc 


DIS 





DIS 


DIS 


W 



* Computer storage and retrieval system - Saskatchewan Environment. 

Symbols: 

W - Weekly during overflow; OF- Once during eacti period of overflow greater than 2 weeks' duration; 
Q - Quarteriy; A - Annually; AA - Atomic Absorption; Pot - Potentiometric; tot - total; Pet - Petroleum; 
fee - fecal; diss - dissolved; EXT - extract; NFR - Nonfilterable residue; NFR(F) - Nonfilterable residue, fixed; 
ICAP - Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma; (MIBK) - sample acidified and extracted with Methyl Isobutyl Ketone; 
DIS - Discontinued. 



A2-13 



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



Responsible Agency: Saskatchewan Watershed Authority 


* 


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) 


506B 


SW 4-1-27 W3 


48.27 


81-82 (in coal) 


507 


SW 6-1-26 W3 


725.27 


34 - 35 (in coal) 


509 


NW 1 1-1-27 W3 


725.82 


76-77 (in coal) 


510A 


NW 1-1-28 W3 


769.34 


28-29 (in coal and clay) 



Data Collected by: SaskPower 



A2-14 



CANADA 
UNITED STATES 




10 15 KILOMETERS 

L 



10 MILES 



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



A2-15 



GROUNDWATER PIEZOMETER MONITORING 
POPLAR RIVER 

POWER STATION AREA-- WATER LEVELS 


SPC Piezometer 
Number 


Completion 
Formation 


C525 


Empress 


C526 


Empress 


C527 


Empress 


C539 


Empress 


C540 


Empress 


C739 


Empress 


C740 


Empress 


C741 


Empress 


C743 


Empress 



GROUNDWATER PIEZOMETER MONITORING 
POPLAR RIVER 

POWER STATION AREA-WATER QUALITY 


SPC Piezometer 
Number 


Completion 
Formation 


C526 


Empress 


€540 


Empress 


C741 


Empress 



A2-16 



Ash Lagoons 



POPLAR RIVER POWER STATION 
MONITORING LOCATIONS 
DECEMBER 2011 




LEGEND 

A EMPRESS 

-i- SURFACE 
LOCATION 



i 



250 

I 



500 750 1000 METERS 

_J I I 



A2-17 



GROUNDWATER PIEZOMETER MONITORING 
ASH LAGOON AREA-- WATER LEVEL 


SPC Piezometer Number 


Completion Formation 


C533 


Empress 


C534 


Oxidized Till 


C654 


Unoxidized Till 


C71I 


Oxidized Till 


C712A 


Unoxidized Till 


C712B 


Intra Till Sand 


C712C 


Mottled Till 


C712D 


Oxidized Till 


C713 


Oxidized Till 


C714A 


Unoxidized Till 


C714B 


Unoxidized Till 


C714C 


Oxidized Till 


C714D 


Oxidized Till 


C714E 


Empress 


C7I5 


Oxidized Till 


C717 


Oxidized Till 


C720 


Oxidized Till 


C72I 


Oxidized Till 


C722 


Oxidized Till 


C723 


Oxidized Till 


C725 


Oxidized Till 


C726B 


Unoxidized Till 


C726C 


Oxidized Till 


C726E 


Empress 


C728C 


Mottled Till 


C728D 


Oxidized Till 


C728E 


Empress 


C74I 


Empress 


C742 


Empress 


C758 


Intra Till Sand 



A2-18 



GROUNDWATER PIEZOMETER MONITORING 

ASH LAGOON AREA- WATER LEVEL J 


SPC Piezometer Number 


■ 

Completion Formation 


C763A 


Mottled Till 


C763B 


Oxidized Till 


C763D 


Unoxidized Till 


C763E 


Empress 



GROUNDWATER PIEZOMETER MONITORING 
ASH LAGOON AREA -- WATER QUALITY 


SPC Piezometer Number 


Completion Formation 


C533 


Empress 


C534 


Oxidized Till 


C654 


Unoxidized Till 


C7I1 


Oxidized Till 


C712A 


Unoxidized Till 


C712B 


Intra Till Sand 


C712C 


Mottled Till 


C712D 


Oxidized Till 


C7I3 


Oxidized Till 


C714A 


Unoxidized Till 


C714B 


Unoxidized Till 


C7I4C 


Oxidized Till 


C714D 


Oxidized Till 


C714E 


Empress 


C715 


Oxidized Till 


C717 


Oxidized Till 


C720 


Oxidized Till 


C721 


Oxidized Till 


€722 


Oxidized Till 


C723 


Oxidized Till 


C725 


Oxidized Till 



A2-19 



GROUNDWATER PIEZOMETER MONITORING 
ASH LAGOON AREA -- WATER QUALITY 


SPC Piezometer Number 


Completion Formation 


C726B 


Unoxidized Till 


C726C 


Oxidized Till 


C726E 


Empress 


C728A 


Oxidized Till 


C728C 


Mottled Till 


C728D 


Oxidized Till 


C728E 


Empress 


C74I 


Empress 


C742 


Empress 


C758 


Intra Till Sand 


C763A 


Mottled Till 


C763B 


Oxidized Till 


C763D 


Unoxidized Till 


C763E 


Empress 



A2-20 



•o- 

Polishing pond 
samplings — i 



location 



DIAGRAM N0.1 

POPLAR RIVER POWER STATION 

ASH LAGOONS-MONITORING LOCATIONS 

DECEMBER 2011 



Pneumatic Piezometers are represented 
by piezometer series: C764, C765, 
C766, C767, C768, C886, C887, C890, 
and C893. Remaining piezometers 
are standard piezometers. 




LEGEND 

■ OXIDIZED LAYER 
D UNOXIDIZED UVYER 

* MOTTLED TILL 
a EMPRESS 

• SAND 

-f ASH-ABOVE LINER 

«• SURFACE MONITORING LOCATION 

o TILLEMB 



Ash Lagoon No. 4 



Piezometer C741 and C742 do not appear in 
this diagram. Piezometer C741 is located 
2.4 kilometers (km) south and 0.8 km east of 
piezometer C71 5. Piezometer C742 is located 
6.4 km south of piezometer C7 1 5. 



— 1 — 
100 



200 



0.2S 

_L_ 



0.S KILOMETER 



n — 

300 



400 500 METERS 



A2-21 



Ambient Air-Quality Monitoring 



Responsible Agency: Saskatchewan Environment 11 
Data Collected by: SaskPower 


No. On Map 


Location 


Parameters | 


Reporting Frequency 


1 


Coronach (Discontinued) 


Sulphur Dioxide 

Total Suspended 
Particulate 


Continuous monitoring with hourly 
averages as summary statistics. 
24-hour samples on 6-day cycle, 
corresponding to the national air 
pollution surveillance sampling 
schedule. 


2 


International Boundary 


Sulphur Dioxide 

Total Suspended 
Particulate 


Continuous monitoring w ith hourly 
averages as summary statistics. 
24-hour samples on 6-day cycle, 
corresponding to the national air 
pollution surveillance sampling 
schedule. 


3 


Poplar River Power Station 


Wind Speed and Direction 


Continuous monitoring with hourly 
averages as summary statistics 


METHODS 


Sulphur Dioxide 


Saskatchewan Environment 
Pulsed tluorescence 


Total Suspended Particulate 


Saskatchewan Environment 
High Volume Method 



A2-22 



CANADA 
UNITED STATES 




5 10 15 KILOMETERS 

I ' — H h 

5 10 MILES 



AMBIENT AIR-QUALITY MONITORING (CANADA) 



A2-23 



POPLAR RIVER 



COOPERATIVE MONITORING ARRANGEMENT 



TECHNICAL MONITORING SCHEDULES 

2012 

UNITED STATES 



A2-25 



STREAMFLOW MONITORING 



Responsible Agency: U.S. Geological Survey 


No. on Map 


Station Number 


Station Name 


r 


06178000 (11 AE008) 


Poplar River at International Boundary 


2* 


06178500 (11 AE003) 


East Poplar River at International 
Boundary** 



International gauging station. 

Environment Canada will assume monitoring responsibility effective March 1, 2012. 



A2-26 




5 10 15 KILOMETERS 

I ^ — H h 

5 10 MILES 



HYDROMETRIC GAUGING STATIONS (UNITED STATES) 



A2-27 



SURFACE-WATER-QUALITY MONITORING - 


- Station Locations 


Responsible 


Agency: U.S. Geological Survey 


1 


No. On Map 


ISGS Station No. 


STATION NAME 


1 


06178000 


Poplar River at International Boundary- 


1 


06178500 


East Poplar River at International Boundary 




PARAMETERS 






Annual Sampling Frequency 


Analytical 
Code 


Parameter 


Analytical Method 


SiteT 


Site 2" 


29801 


Alkalinity - lab 


Fixed endpoinl Titration 


sus 


sus 


00608 


Ammonia - diss 


Colorimetric 


sus 


sus 


01002 


Arsenic - tot 


AA, GF 


sus 


sus 


00025 


Barometric pressure 


Barometer, field 


sus 


sus 


01020 


Boron - diss 


ICP 


sus 


sus 


01027 


Cadmium - tot/rec 


ICP, MS 


sus 


sus 


00915 


Calcium - diss 


ICP 


sus 


sus 


00940 


Chloride - diss 


IC 


sus 


sus 


00095 


Conductivity 


Wheatstone Bridge 


sus 


sus 


00061 


Discharge - inst 


Direct measurement 


sus 


sus 


00900 


Hardness 




sus 


sus 


00950 


Fluoride - diss 


ISE 


sus 


sus 


01051 


Lead - tot/rec 


ICP, MS 


sus 


sus 


00925 


Magnesium - diss 


ICP 


sus 


sus 


00613 


Nitrate - diss 


Colorimetric 


sus 


sus 


00631 


Nitrate + Nitrite - diss 


Colorimetric 


sus 


sus 


00300 


Oxygen-diss 


Oxygen membrane, field 


sus 


sus 


00400 


pH 


Electrometric, field 


sus 


sus 


00671 


Phos, Ortho-diss 


Colorimetric 


sus 


sus 


00665 


Phosphorous - tot 


Colorimetric 


sus 


sus 


00935 


Potassium - diss 


AA 


sus 


sus 


00931 


SAR 


Calculated 


sus 


sus 


80154 


Sediment - cone 


Filtration-Gravimetric 


sus 


sus 


80155 


Sediment - load 


Calculated 


sus 


sus 


00955 


Silica - diss 


Colorimetric 


sus 


sus 


00930 


Sodium - diss 


ICP 


sus 


sus 


00945 


Sulphate - diss 


IC 


sus 


sus 


70301 


Total Dissolved Solids 


Calculated 


sus 


sus 


00010 


Temp Water 


Stem Thennometer 


sus 


sus 


00020 


Temp Air 


Stem Thermometer 


sus 


sus 


01092 


Zinc - tot/rec 


ICP, MS 


sus 


sus 



Samples collected obtained during the monthly periods: * — March - April, May; June; July - September 

** -- May. June; July, August - September 
Abbreviations: AA - atomic absorption, cone. - concentration, CVAF - cold vapor atomic fluorescence, diss - dissolved, GF - graphite furnace. IC - ion exchange 

chromatography, ICP - inductively coupled plasma, ISE - ion-selective electrode; MS - mass spectrography ; Org - organic, phos. - phosphate, tot 

- total, tot/rec - total recoverable; SUS - sampling suspended 



A2-28 



CANADA 
UNITED STATES 




5 10 15 KILOMETERS 
I I L 



10 MILES 



SURFACE-WATER-QUALITY MONITORING STATIONS (UNITED STATES) 



A2-29 



GROUND- WATER-QUALITY MONITORING - Station Locations 1 


Map 
Number 


Well 
Location 


Total Depth 
(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 ** Code 


Parameter 


Analytical Method 


Sampling Frequency Station No. 


0041001106 

01095 

50250 


Alkalinity 

Aluminum dissolved 
Antimony dissolved 


Calculated 
ICP or ICP-MS 
ICP or ICP-MS 


Sample collection is annually for 
all locations identified above 


01005 
01010 
00440 
01020 


Arsenic dissolved 
Barium dissolved 
Beryllium dissolved 
Bicarbonates 


ICP or ICP-MS 
ICP or ICP-MS 
ICP or ICP-MS 
Electrometric Titration 


The analytical method descriptions 
are those of the Montana Bureau of 
Mines and Geology Laboratory where 


82298 


Boron-diss 


Emission Plasma. ICP 


the samples are analyzed. 


01025 


Bromide 


Ion Chromatography 




00915 


Cadmium.dissolved 


ICP or ICP-MS 




00445 


Calcium 


Emission Plasma 




00940 


Carbonates 


Electrometric Titration 




01030 


Chloride 


Ion Chromatography 




01035 


Chromium, dissolved 


ICP or ICP-MS 




00095 


Cobalt, dissolved 


ICP or ICP-MS 




01040 


Conductivity 


Wheatstone Bridge 




00950 


Copper, dissolved 


ICP or ICP-MS 




09000 


Fluoride 


Ion Chromatography 




01046 


Hardness 


Calculated 




01049 


Iron-diss 


Emission Plasma. ICP 




01130 


Lead-diss 


Emission Plasma. ICP 




00925 


Lithium-diss 


Emission Plasma. ICP 




01056 


Magnesium 


Emission Plasma. ICP 




01060 


Manganese-diss 


Emission Plasma. ICP 




01065 


Molybdenum 


Emission Plasma. ICP-MS 




00630 


Nickel, dissolved 


ICP or ICP-MS 




00671 


Nitrate 


Ion Chromatography 




00400 


Orthophosphate 


Ion Chromatography 




00935 


PH 


Electrometric 




00931 


Potassium 


Emission Plasma, ICP 




01145 


SAR 


Calculated 




00955 


Selenium-diss 


ICP-MS 




01075 


Silica 


Emission Plasma. ICP-MS 




00930 


Silver, dissolved 


ICP-MS 




01080 


Sodium 


Emission Plasma. ICP 




00445 


Strontium-diss 


Emission Plasma, ICP 




01057 


Sulphate 


Ion Chromatography 




01150 


Thallium, dissolved 


ICP or ICP-MS 




28011 


Titanium, dissolved 


ICP or ICP-MS 




01085 


Uranium, dissolved 


ICP-MS 




00190 


Vanadium, dissoved 


ICP or ICP-MS 




01160 


Zinc-diss 


Emission Plasma, ICP 




* 


Zirconium, dissolved 


ICP or ICP-MS 




70301 


Sum of diss. Constituents 


Calculated 






TDS 


Calculated 





SYMBOLS: 

** - Computer storage and retrieval system ~ EPA ICP - Inductively Coupled Plasma Unit 
cm - centimetre ICP - MS - Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry diss - dissolved 



m - metre 



A2-30 



CANADA 
UNITED STATES 




5 10 15 KILOMETERS 
J ,__! L 

10 MILES 



GROUND-WATER-QUALITY MONITORING (UNITED STATES) 



A2-31 



GROUNDWATER LEVELS TO MONITOR POTENTIAL 
DRAWDOWN DUE TO COAL-SEAM DEWATERING 



Responsible Agency: Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology | 


No. on Map 


Montana Ground Water 
Information Center ID No. 


Sampling 


5 


GW1CID4321 


Determine water levels quarterly 


6 


GW1CID4227 


Determine water levels quarterly 


7 


GWICID4267 


Determine water levels quarterly 


8 


GWICID4287 


Determine water levels quarterly 


9 


GWIC1D4274 


Determine water levels quarterly 


10 


GWICID4340 


Determine water levels quarterly 


11 


GWICID4329 


Determine water levels quarterly 


13 


GW1CID4248 


Determine water levels quarterly 


16 


GWICID4211 


Determine water levels quarterly 


17 


GWICID4297 


Determine water levels quarterly 


19 


GW1CID4290 


Determine water levels quarterly 


22 


GWiCID4261 


Determine water levels quarterly 


23 


GWICID 124105 


Determine water levels quarterly 


24 


GWIC ID 144835 


Determine water levels quarterly 



A2-32 



I 


l'^ 


^ 




\ 


^^^V 


V "5 




v^ 


Rockglen ^ ^ ^"XJj^V 


\ 5 

v - 




, 


\\ ^~~~X^' ^^ 


Coronach 1 / 




r^-s 




\^ ■ Cookson \ 




I 


^-../"^^ \ \r^ 


^Sy.M Reservoir ) 




) 


^^^^^C\ / 


10 S 




CANADA \^^ 




22.". irf'^r 

19* 8.9 /k/^ 





UNITED STATES 






"^^^ ^-^^^^ ^\ 


17* I 






^ — -i^^^ Ruth- 


\\ Scobey 




5 10 

1 ' ' 


15 KILOMETERS 

1 


1 " 




1 I 
5 


10 MILES 




GROUND-WATER PIEZOMETERS TO MONITOR POTENTIAL 






DRAWDOWN DUE TO COAL-SEAM DEWATERING 





A2-33 



ANNEX 3 



RECOMMENDED FLOW APPORTIONMENT 

IN THE POPLAR RIVER BASIN 

BY THE INTERNATIONAL SOURIS-RED RIVERS ENGINEERING BOARD, 

POPLAR RIVER TASK FORCE (1976) 



A3- 



*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 fiow of the Middle Fork Poplar River, as 
determined below the confluence of Goose Creek, during the immediately 
preceding March 1st to May 31st 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 12 
month period commencing June 1st. 

(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 



A3-3 



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 
(I.O 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 12-month period commencing June 1st. 



(ill) 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 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 3 1st 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 12 month period commencing June 1st. 

(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. 



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 



CONVERSION FACTORS 



A4- 



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' = 0.8 1 07 ac-ft 

ft^ = 28.3171 X 10"\V 

ha = 10,000 m- = 2.471 ac 

hm = 100 m = 328.08 ft 

hm' = l.xlO^m' 

I. gpm = 0.0758 L/s 

in = 2.54 cm 

kg = 2.20462 lb = 1.1 X 10'^ tons 

km = 0.62137 miles 

km- = 0.3861 mi" 

L = 0.3532 ft- = 0.2 1 997 1. gal = 0.26420 U.S. gal 

L/s = 0.035 cfs = 13. 193 1. gpm = 15. 848 U.S. gpm 

m = 3.2808 ft 

m^ = 10.765 ft- 

m^ = 1.000L = 35.3144ft- =219.97 l.gal= 264.2 U.S. gal 

m-Vs = 35.314 cfs 

mm = 0.00328 ft 

tonne = 1 ,000 kg = 1 . 1 023 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"' 



A4-3