S Poplar River 

333.91 Bilateral 

*2Sprar Monitoring 

\C\<}<fc annual report of 

the 30vem«ents of 
Canada, United 
States, 



1988 ANNUAL REPORT 

STATE DOCUMENTS COLLECTION 
to the 

FEB '< 1990 

MONTANA STATE LIBRARY 

1515 E. 6th AVE. 
HELENA, MONTANA 59620 

GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA, UNITED STATES, 
SASKATCHEWAN AND MONTANA 



by the 



POPLAR RIVER BILATERAL MONITORING COMMITTEE 



COVERING CALENDAR YEAR 1988 



LEASE RETU 






October 1989 



Montana State Library 

3 0864 1004 5762 4 



1988 ANNUAL REPORT 



to the 



GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA, UNITED STATES, 
SASKATCHEWAN AND MONTANA 



by the 



POPLAR RIVER BILATERAL MONITORING COMMITTEE 



COVERING CALENDAR YEAR 1988 



October 1989 



POPLAR RIVER BILATERAL MONITORING COMMITTEE 



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

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



Department of External Affairs 
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada 

Saskatchewan Environment 
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada 



Gentlemen: 

During 1988, the Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee continued to fulfill 
the responsibilities assigned by the governments under the Poplar Cooperative 
Monitoring Arrangement dated September 23, 1980. Through the exchange of Diplo- 
matic Notes, on March 12, 1987, the Arrangement was extended to March 1991. 
Water quantity, water quality, and air quality relevant to the International 
Boundary were monitored in accordance to the 1987 Technical Monitoring Schedule. 
The monitoring data were exchanged on a quarterly basis. Herein is the report 
of activities of 1988 and the proposed monitoring schedule for 1989. 

The report summarizes current conditions relative to pre-project conditions and 
compares current conditions to guidelines for specific parameter values that 
were developed by the International Joint Commission under the 1977 Reference 
from Canada and the United States. References are made to State, Provincial, or 
Federal standards or objectives where these are relevant. After examination and 
evaluation of the monitoring information for 1988, the Committee finds that the 
measured conditions are within the norms of the accepted objectives. 

During 1988, monitoring continued with only minor changes in site locations and 
schedules from 1987. Coal mining will continue in 1989 west of Girard Creek in 
a northwesterly direction. Prairie Coal Limited plans to move the drag lines in 
the latter part of 1989 and begin mining the South Block. 

Yours sincerely, 




J./R. Knapton 

Chairman, United States Section 




R. A. Halliday 

Chairman, Canadian Section 



R. E. Driear J) 

Member, United States Section 



/'d. a. f 




f Member, Canadian Section 



-i- 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Page 

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL i 

TABLE OF CONTENTS ii 

1988 HIGHLIGHTS v 

INTRODUCTION 1 

POPLAR RIVER POWER STATION 4 

Operations 4 

Construction ..... 5 

Mining 5 

SURFACE WATER QUANTITY 6 

Streamflow 6 

Quality Control 7 

Reservoir Storage 7 

Apportionment 8 

Minimum Flows 8 

On-Demand Release 9 

SURFACE WATER QUALITY 10 

East Poplar River 10 

Total Dissolved Solids 11 

Boron 13 

Other Water Quality Variables 14 

Girard Creek and Cookson Reservoir 17 

Quality Control 17 

Review of Flow-Weighted Objectives 18 

GROUND WATER QUANTITY 20 

Saskatchewan 20 

Coal Mine Dewatering 20 

Water Levels 21 

Montana • 21 

GROUND WATER QUALITY .... 24 

Saskatchewan 24 

Water Quality in the Tills 24 

Water Quality in the Empress Gravels 26 

Montana 28 

ASH LAGOON QUANTITY AND QUALITY 32 

AIR QUALITY 35 

Saskatchewan 35 

Saskatchewan Environment 35 

Saskatchewan Power Corporation 37 

Montana 38 

REFERENCES CITED 39 

-ii- 



TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) 

Page 

Table 1 - 1988 Operating Statistics for Generating Units No. 1 

and No. 2 4 

2 - Simultaneous Streamflow Measurement Results 7 

3 - Cookson Reservoir Storage Statistics for 1988 8 

4 - Recommended Water Quality Objectives and Excursions, 

1988 Sampling Program, East Poplar River 

at the International Boundary 16 

5 - 1986 Monthly Pumpages from Mine Dewatering Activities . . 20 

6 - Poplar River Power Station Ash System, 1988 Calculated 

Seepage Rates 32 

7 - Sulfation Rate of Sulfur Trioxide in Milligrams per 100 

Square Centimeters per Day at Five Locations During 

1988 38 

Figure 1 - Discharge During 1988 Compared with Median Discharge for 

1951-1980 for Poplar River at International Boundary. . 6 

2 - Hydrograph of Water Discharge of the East Poplar River at 

the International Boundary and Recommended Minimum 

Flow 9 

3 - 1988 Total Dissolved Solids Grab Sample Data, East Poplar 

River at International Boundary 11 

4 - Total Dissolved Solids Three-Month Moving Flow-Weighted 

Concentration, East Poplar River at International 

Boundary 12 

5 - Total Dissolved Solids Five-Year Moving Flow-Weighted 

Concentration, East Poplar River at International 

Boundary 12 

6 - 1988 Boron Grab Sample Data, East Poplar River at 

International Boundary 13 

7 - Boron Three-Month Moving Flow-Weighted Concentration, East 

Poplar River at International Boundary 15 

8 - Boron Five-Year Moving Flow-Weighted Concentration, East 

Poplar River at International Boundary 15 

9 - Cone of Depression In the Hart Coal Seam from Dewatering 

Activities as of December, 1988 22 

10 - Water Levels of Two Selected Wells in the United States . 23 

-iii- 



TABLES OF CONTENTS (continued) 

Page 

Figure 11 - Total Dissolved Solids in Selected Piezometers in 

the Tills 25 

12 - Total Dissolved Solids in Selected Piezometers in the 

Empress Gravels 2 7 

13 - Saskatchewan Maximum Hourly SO2 Air Quality Data, 

Coronach Water Treatment Plant, 1983-1988 36 

14 - Saskatchewan Maximum Daily SO2 Air Quality Data, 

Coronach Water Treatment Plant, 1983-1988 36 



Annex 1 - Poplar River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 
Canada-United States 

2 - Poplar River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement, 

Technical Monitoring Schedules, 1989, Canada- 
United States 

3 - Reports Reviewed during 1988 by the Poplar River 

Bilateral Monitoring Committee 

4 - Recommended Flow Apportionment in the Poplar River 

Basin by the International Souris-Red Rivers 
Engineering Board, Poplar River Task Force (1976) 

5 - Metric Conversions 



-iv- 



1988 HIGHLIGHTS 

The Poplar River Power Station completed its fifth full year of 
operation in 1988. The two 300 megawatt coal-fired units generated 
4,568,800 gross megawatt hours of electricity, up 5 percent from 1987 
and 15 percent from 1986. Following the trend of past years, plant 
startups decreased, resulting in a decreased oil consumption of 200 
tonnes compared to 1987. 

Monitoring information collected in both Canada and the United States 
was exchanged on a quarterly basis. In general the sampling loca- 
tions, frequency of collection, and parameters met the requirements 
identified in the 1988 Technical Monitoring Schedules set forth in 
the 1987 annual report. 

Regional drought conditions resulted in streamflows being much below 
normal in 1988. The recorded flow volume of the East Poplar River 
at the International Boundary for 1988 was only 23 percent of the 
mean annual flow since completion of the Morrison Dam in 1975. How- 
ever, the United States received a continuous flow in the East Poplar 
River throughout the year and all aspects of the International Joint 
Commission's apportionment recommendations were met. 

The concentrations of boron and total dissolved solids on the East 
Poplar River were below the long-term and short-term objectives 
recommended to Government by the International Joint Commission. 
One excursion of a minor nature of other water quality objectives 
was measured on the East Poplar River at the International Boundary. 
Quality control sample splits showed improved comparability between 
Canadian and United States laboratories. 



The outer limit of the cone of depression from coal seam dewatering 
remained about the same distance north of the International Boundary. 
Pumpage from the mine had a 37 percent decrease compared to pumpage 
in 1987. 

The total estimate of seepage from the ash lagoons and polishing pond 
was 0.90 litre per second, much less than seepage limits proposed by 
the International Poplar River Water Quality Board. The leachate 
front was calculated to have advanced 10.79 metres towards Cookson 
Reservoir since the ponds were first filled. 

Plant stack emissions did not cause or contribute to violation of 
Montana, United States or Saskatchewan ambient air quality standards. 



-vi- 



INTRODUCTION 



The Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee was authorized for an 
initial period of 5 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. On March 12, 1987 the Arrangement was 
extended by the Governments for 4 years to March 1991. 



The Committee is composed of representatives of the Government of the 
United States of America, State of Montana, and Government of Canada 
and Province of Saskatchewan. In addition to the representatives 
of Governments, two ex-officio members who are local representatives 
of the State of Montana and Province of Saskatchewan participate in 
the activities of the Committee. During 1988, the members and 
ex-officio members of the Committee were: 



Mr. J.R. Knapton 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Chairman, United States Section 

Mr. R.E. Driear 

Governor's Office 

Member, United States Section 

Mr. C.W. Tande 

Daniels County Commissioner 

Ex-Officio Member, Montana 



Mr. R.A. Halliday 
Environment Canada 
Chairman, Canadian Section 

Mr. D.A. Fast 
Environment Canada 
Member, Canadian Section 

Mr. J.R. Totton 

Reeve, R.M. of Hart Butte 

Ex-Officio Member, Saskatchewan 



- 2 - 

The monitoring programs are in response to potential impacts of a 
transboundary nature resulting from Saskatchewan Power Corporation's 
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 both surface water and ground water and for air quality. 
Participants from both countries, including Federal, Provincial, and 
State 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, with the report for 1988 being the eighth report 
in the series. The Committee is also responsible for drawing to 
the attention of Governments definitive changes in monitored param- 
eters 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 modifica- 
tions in sampling frequencies, parameter lists, and analytical tech- 
niques of ongoing programs. The Technical Monitoring Schedules list- 
ed in the annual report (Annex 2) are given for the forthcoming year. 
The Committee will continue to review and propose changes to the 
Technical Monitoring Schedules as information requirements change. 



- 3 - 

Another responsibility of the Committee includes an ongoing quarterly 
exchange of data acquired through the monitoring programs. The ex- 
change of monitoring information was initiated with the first quarter 
of 1981, and is an expansion of the informal quarterly information ex- 
change program initiated between Canada and the United States in 1976. 
Special reports dealing with aspects of monitoring and monitoring 
results requested by the Committee are sometimes published. Any such 
reports are reviewed annually by the Committee. Reports reviewed by 
the Committee during 1988 are identified in Annex 3. Exchanged data 
and reports are available for public viewing at the agencies of the 
participating governments or from Committee members. 



- 4 - 
POPLAR RIVER POWER STATION 

Operations 



The 1988 operating statistics for the two units at Poplar River Power 
Station are shown in Table 1. The capacity factor of 96.2 percent 
of Unit No. 2 was the highest since the unit was commissioned. A 
major repair of the boiler for Unit No. 1 during the fourth quarter 
accounts for the lower capacity factor of Unit No. 1. 

Table 1. 1988 Operating Statistics for Generating Units No. 1 
and No . 2 



Unit No. 1 Unit No. 2 



Hours of Operation 6,958 8,458 

Gross MWH Generated 2,083,500 2,485,300 

Availability (hours) (percent) 79.21 96.29 

Capacity Factor (percent) 79.6 96.2 

Number of Start-ups 10 6 

Coal Consumed (tonnes) 1,787,510 2,129,321 

Oil Consumed (tonnes) 1,412 747 

Hours in Period 8,784 8,784 



The average sulphur content of the coal was 0.60 percent. Analyses 
were conducted by the Poplar River Power Station laboratory. Analyses 
of a monthly duplicate coal sample by an independent laboratory 
indicated, on average, a 0.1 percent lower value. Testing was done 
in accordance with ASTM procedure D3176. The sulphur content of the 
fuel oil was 0.80 percent. 



- 5 - 

Two reportable spills occurred during 1988, April 13 and July 27. 
Both spills involved the discharge of ash/ash water. The April 13, 
1988 spill resulted from a failed gasket on ash line "C" by the west 
side of Ash Lagoon No. 1. Ash/ash water in the amount of 15 cubic 
meters (nr) was released and all was contained in a small area. 

The 1988 July 27 spill occurred because of an eroded elbow on ash 
line "C" west of the ash recirculation building. About 250 m 3 of 
ash/ash water were released. None reached the reservoir. To reduce 
the occurrence of an ash/ash water spill in the future, two of the 
three ash lines from the power station and the lagoons were completely 
changed in the third quarter of 1988. The Poplar River Power Station 
has also instituted an ash line thickness monitoring program to keep 
track of the condition of the ash lines. 

Operation of the ash lagoons was similar to 1987. Most of the ash 
was directed to Ash Lagoon No. 1 during 1988. Ash Lagoon No . 3 was 
used to a greater extent in 1988. Surcharging continued on Ash Lagoon 
No . 1 . Monitoring of the surcharge ash will be started in 1989. 

The revegetation project started in 1987 was continued and expanded 
in 1988. Several species continued to show promise. Testing will 
continue in 1989. 

Construction 

There was no construction activity during 1988. 

Mining 

Coal mining continued to the west of Girard Creek and will continue in 
a northwesterly direction in 1989. The South Block infrastructure 
was developed in 1988, including construction of the causeway cross- 
ing the East Poplar River. Prairie Coal Limited plans to move the 
draglines to the South Block by the end of June 1989 to begin mining 
operations there. Saskatchewan Power Corporation plans to continue 
dewatering operations at the abandoned mine site to supplement the 
water supply in Cookson Reservoir. 



- 6 - 
SURFACE WATER QUANTITY 

Streamf low 

Streamflow in the Poplar River basin was much below normal during 1988, 
assuming the recorded flow of the Poplar River at the International 
Boundary is a good indicator of natural runoff conditions in the 
basin. The March to October recorded flow volume at the gauge was 
only 1,180 cubic decametres (dam 3 ), or 7 percent of the long-term 
average. The volume is the smallest since records began in 1931 and 
indicative of general drought conditions in the great plains. A 
comparison of the flows of 1988 with those of the 1951-80 median 
flow is shown in Figure 1. 



10 



O 
O 
ui 
to 

oc 

Ld 
O- 

(/) 
UI 
OH 



O 
CD 

o 



o 
ce: 
< 

o 
in 



I 1— 1 I 

MEDIAN OF MONTHLY MEAN DISCHARGE FOR 1951-80 - 
MONTHLY MEAN DISCHARGE FOR 1988 



0.1 t 



0.01 



0.001 
MAR 




APR 



MAY 



JUN 



JUL 



AUG 



SEP 



-O 
OCT 



Figure 1. Discharge during 1988 Compared with Median Discharge for 
1951-1980 for the Poplar River at International Boundary 



- 7 - 

The recorded flow volume of the East Poplar River at the International 
Boundary for 1988 was 2,560 dam 3 , or 23 percent of the mean annual 
flow since the completion of Morrison Dam in 1975. 

Quality Control 

A set of simultaneous streamflow measurements was made on the East 
Poplar River at the International Boundary on May 17, 1988, by per- 
sonnel of Environment Canada (EC), and the U.S. Geological Survey 
(USGS). Measurement results were within allowable differences. The 
results are shown in Table 2. 

Table 2. Simultaneous Streamflow Measurement Results 









Mean 




Gauge 


Dis- 




Cross 


Width 


Area 


Velocity 


Height 


charge 


Agency 


Section 


(m) 


(m 2 ) 


(m/s) 


(m) 


(m 3 /s) 


EC 


A 


5.60 


0.66 


0.330 


1.698 


0.218 


USGS 


A 


5.49 


0.64 


0.320 


1.695 


0.206 


USGS 


B 


— 


— 


— — 


1.695 


0.202 



Notes 



1. Section A is the GEOWEB measuring section; Section B is a 
"head" determination at the 90 V-notch control applied to 
a theoretical equation. 

2. Measurements at Section A were made with a Pygmy meter. 

3. Original work by USGS was done in English units and 
converted to metric. 



Reservoir Storage 



Cookson Reservoir was near 80 percent of the full-supply volume 
(43,400 dam 3 ) for the first four months of the year, but contents 
decreased to 61 percent of capacity by December 31 because of much 
below normal precipitation. Elevations and contents for selected 
dates are given in Table 3. 



- 8 - 
Table 3. Cookson Reservoir Storage Statistics for 1988 



Elevation Contents 

Date (1988) (m) (dam 3 ) 

January 1 751.822 34,700 

March 23 (maximum) 751.829 34,700 

December 31 750.491 26,400 



Full-Supply Level 753.000 43,400 

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 re- 
garding apportionment of waters of the Poplar River basin. Although 
not officially adopted by the two countries, the Poplar River Bilat- 
eral Monitoring Committee has adhered to the Apportionment Recom- 
mendations in each of its annual reports. Annex 4 contains the 
apportionment recommendation. 

Minimum Flows 

The recorded runoff volume of the Poplar River at the International 
Boundary from March 1 to May 31, 1988 was 1,160 dam 3 . For the 
purposes of interpreting the apportionment recommendations of the 
IJC, the recorded flow is assumed to be the natural flow. Based on 
these recommendations, this volume entitled the United States to a 
minimum discharge of 0.028 cubic metre per second (m 3 /s) from June 1, 
1988 to May 31, 1989, on the East Poplar at the International Bound- 
ary. The minimum flow of 0.028 m 3 /s for the first 5 months of 1988 
had previously been determined on the basis of March 1 to May 31, 
1987 Poplar River flow volume. 

A hydrograph of flow in the East Poplar River at the International 
Boundary and the minimum flow as recommended by the IJC are shown in 
Figure 2. 



- 9 - 



i r 




0.028 m 3/t 



Apportionment recommendation for minimum flow' 



J I I L- 



JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 

1988 



Figure 2. Hydrograph of Water Discharge of the East Poplar River 
at the International Boundary and Recommended Minimum 
Flow. 

On-Demand Release 



Based on the apportionment recommendation of the IJC, the United 
States is entitled to an on-demand volume of 3 70 dam 3 at any time from 
June 1, 1988 to May 31, 1989. As of December 31, 1988 Montana had 
not requested this release. The on-demand volume entitlement for 
1987 of 370 dam 3 was requested on March 21, 1988, to be delivered 
May 1 to 30. A volume of 488 dam 3 was delivered during this period. 



- 10 - 
SURFACE WATER QUALITY 

East Poplar River 

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 mg/L for boron and 
1500 mg/L for total dissolved solids for any three con- 
secutive months in the East Poplar River at the Interna- 
tional Boundary. 

For the March to October period, the long-term average of 
flow-weighted concentrations should be 2.5 mg/L or less for 
boron, and 1000 mg/L or less for total dissolved solids 
in the East Poplar River at the International Boundary . 



For the period prior to 1982, three-month moving flow-weighted 
concentrations (FWC) for boron and total dissolved solids (TDS) have 
been calculated solely from monthly monitoring results. Since the 
beginning of 1982, the USGS has monitored specific conductance daily 
in the East Poplar River at the International Boundary, allowing 
estimates of daily boron and TDS concentration to be derived from 
regression relationships with specific conductance. Thus, three- 
month FWCs for the period 1982 to 1988 have been calculated from 
both the results of monthly monitoring and the daily concentration 
estimates . 

The Bilateral Monitoring Committee has adopted the approach that 
for the purposes of comparison with the proposed IJC long-term ob- 
jectives, the boron and TDS data are best graphically plotted as 5- 
year moving flow-weighted concentrations which are advanced one month 
at a time. Prior to this year, long-term averages were calculated 



- 11 - 

from a 5 year period in which 2.5 years preceded and 2.5 years fol- 
lowed each plotted point. The FWCs in this report are calculated 
from the five year period preceding each plotted point. For example, 
the FWC for December 1988 refers to the FWC of the period December 
1983 to December 1988. It should be emphasized that the calculations 
have been based on the results of all samples collected, and not 
restricted to samples collected during March to October. 



Total Dissolved Solids 



Grab sample TDS concentrations during 1988 ranged from 859 milligrams 
per liter (mg/L) (September 7) to 1,169 mg/L (January 6). The 1988 
TDS results are presented in Figure 3. 



1200 T 

1100 

1000+ 



\ 900- 

a 



800 



700- 



600 



1988 



D 1989 



Figure 3. 1988 TDS Grab Sample Data, East Poplar River at 
International Boundary 



The proposed short-term objective for TDS is 1,500 mg/L . A time plot 
of the three-month moving FWCs for TDS is presented in Figure 4. No 
exceedences of the objective have been observed during any three 
month period since 1975. The three-month FWCs moved within a narrow 
range near 900 mg/L during 1988, reflecting lower than normal dis- 
charges during the spring period. 



- 12 - 



Short-Term Objective (1500 mg/U 




Fi 



from sample analysis 

+ from regression 

gure 4. TDS Three-Month Moving Flow-Weighted Concentration, East 
Poplar River at International Boundary. 



1BOO-- 
1700- - 
1600-- 
1000-- 
1400-- 
1SOO-- 
12O0-- 
1100" 
1000- — 
900-" 
■00-- 
700-" 
800-- 
500-- 
400-- 
3O0-" 
200-" 
100- — 



Long-Term Obiective (1000 mg/L) 



Figure 5. TDS Five-Year Moving Flow-Weighted Concentration, East 
Poplar River at International Boundary. 



- 13 - 

Five-year FWCs for TDS (Figure 5) remained below the long-term objec- 
tive of 1,000 mg/L. A 200 mg/L increase in the five-year FWCs occur- 
red in early 1988. This corresponds to a loss of the influence of 
high 1983 spring flows. A similar increase was seen during 1987, a 
remnant of 1982 discharge. Relatively low spring discharges have 
occurred since 1984; it is expected that the five-year FWCs for the 
next few years will level off if spring discharges remain low, or 
decrease if high runoff years occur. 

The relationship between TDS and specific conductance generated from 
data collected to the end of 1988 was as follows: 

TDS = (0.640 x specific conductance) + 10.875 
(R 2 = 0.87, n=350) 



Boron 



During 1988, boron concentrations in the East Poplar River at the 
International Boundary varied from 1.7 mg/L (May 17) to 2.6 mg/L 
(January 6) (Figure 6). 



2.8-r 



2.6 



2.4 



- 2.2 - 



2 -■ 



1.8- 



1.6 



• • 



• • 



• • 



1988 



1989 



Figure 6. 1988 Boron Grab Sample Data, East Poplar River at 
International Boundary. 



- 14 - 

Three-month boron FWCs for the period of record are shown in Figure 
7. The short term objective of 3.5 mg/L boron has not been exceeded 
in the period 1975-1987. (The similarity in shape between the TDS 
and boron plots is an indication of the major influence of discharge 
in FWC functions.) 

The five-year boron FWCs appearing in Figure 8 remained well below 
the long term objective of 2.5 mg/L boron. As was the case with TDS, 
the five-year calculations for boron were significantly influenced by 
high discharge during the springs of 1982 and 1983. 

The relationship between boron and specific conductance at the East 
Poplar River sampling location during the period 1975-1988 is de- 
scribed by the equation: 

boron = (0.00148 x specific conductance ) - 0.285 
(R 2 =0.73, n=350) 



Other Water Quality Variables 

Table 4 contains the multi-purpose water quality objectives for the 
East Poplar River at the International Boundary, recommended by the 
International Poplar River Water Quality Board to the IJC. 

One exceedence of the multi-purpose objectives occurred in 1988. 
The 4.0 mg/L objective for dissolved oxygen was exceeded on July 15, 
1988, when 3.6 mg/L was measured by the USGS. The sample was collected 
at 8 a.m. in mid summer when oxygen depletion by heavy algae growth 
would be expected. A reading by Environment Canada 9 days earlier at 
mid day had indicated 7.5 mg/L dissolved oxygen. A review of 
Saskatchewan Power Corporation automonitor data has shown that very 
low dissolved oxygen was present during the first half of July, with 
concentrations on occasion dropping as low as 1.0 mg/L. A number of 
winter measurements by both the USGS and Environment Canada were in 
the 5.0 mg/L range, just above the objective. 



- 15 



Short-Term Objective (3.5 mg/L) 




from sample analysis 
from regression 



Figure 7. Boron Three-Month Moving Flow-Weighted Concentration, 
East Poplar River at International Boundary. 



4.0-- 
S.8-- 

3.8-- 
3.4-- 

3.2-- 

3.0-- 

O) 2.4-- 

— 2.8-- 

2.0- 

O I-*" - 

m 1.4-- 



Lonq-Term Objective (2.5 mq/L) 



l.o-- 
o.a-- 
o.e-- 

0.4-" 
0.2- 



Figure 8, 



Boron Five-Year Moving Flow-Weighted Concentration, 
East Poplar River at International Boundary. 



- 16 - 

Table 4. Recommended Water Quality Objectives and Excursions, 1988 
Sampling Program, East Poplar River at the International 
Boundary (units in mg/L except as otherwise noted) 



Parameter 



Objective 



No. of samples 
USA Canada 



Excursions 



Objectives recommended by IJC to Governments 



Boron - total 

Total dissolved solids 



3.5, 2.5 (1) 14 
1500, 1000 (1) 14 



14 
14 



nil 
nil 



Objectives recommended by Board to IJC 



Aluminum-dissolved 


0.1 


3 


13 


nil 


Ammonia un-ionized (as N) 


0.2 


14 


14 


nil 


Cadmium-total 


0.0012 


— 


14 


nil 


Chromium-total 


0.05 


3 


11 


nil 


Copper-dissolved 


0.005 


— 


— 


nil 


Copper-total 


1.0 


3 


14 


nil 


Fluoride-dissolved 


1.5 


14 


14 


nil 


Lead-total 


0.03 


3 


14 


nil 


Mercury-dissolved 


0.0002 


— 


14 


nil 


Mercury-whole fish (mg/kg) 


0.5 


— 


— 


— 


Nitrate (as N) 


10.0 


14 


14 


nil 


Oxygen-dissolved > 


4.0, 5.0 (2) 


12 


13 


1 (5) 


Sodium adsorption ratio 


10. 


14 


— 


nil 


Sulphate-dissolved 


800. 


14 


14 


nil 


Zinc-total 


0.03 


3 


14 


nil 


Water temperature (°C) 


30. (3) 


12 


12 


nil 


pH (pH units) 


6.5 (4) 


12 


14 


nil 


Coliform 










fecal (no./lOO mL) 2 


,000. 


— 


13 


nil 


total (no./lOO mL) 20 


,000. 




9 


nil 



1. Five-year average of flow-weighted concentrations (March to 
October) should be <2.5 mg/L boron and <1,000 mg/L TDS . Three- 
month average of flow-weighted concentrations should be <3.5 
mg/L boron and <1,500 mg/L TDS. 

2. 5.0 mg/L (minimum April 10 to May 15), 4.0 mg/L (minimum remainder 
of year). 

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

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

5. USGS result July 15, 1988 (3.6 mg/L). Environment Canada result 
July 6, 1988 (7.5 mg/L). 



- 17 - 

Environment Canada monitored the East Poplar River for phenoxy-acid 
herbicides and organochlorine compounds during 1987. Trace concen- 
trations of MCPA (in one of twelve samples), 2,4-DP (in one of twelve 
samples), and alpha-BHC (in three of twelve samples) were recorded. 
Traces of these compounds are not uncommon in prairie waters, and the 
concentrations measured are not considered a hazard. All other 
organic compounds monitored were reported as being below analytical 
detection limits. 



Girard Creek and Cookson Reservoir 

Saskatchewan Environment and Public Safety reported quarterly on the 
water quality at four locations in the Poplar River Basin during 1987. 
Sites included Girard Creek south of Coronach, Cookson Reservoir at 
Highway 36, Cookson Reservoir near Morrison Dam, and East Poplar River 
immediately below Morrison Dam. Sampling at these sites was carried 
out in February, May, August, and November. 

A review of the data from these locations showed concentrations of all 
water quality variables to be within the recommended water quality 
objectives for the East Poplar River (listed in Table 4). 



Quality Control 

Quality control sampling was carried out at the East Poplar River at 
the International Boundary on May 17, 1988. Participating agencies 
included the United States Geological Survey, Environment Canada, 
Saskatchewan Environment and Public Safety, and Saskatchewan Power. 
Sets of triplicate samples were split from USGS sampling churns and 
submitted to the respective agency laboratories for analyses. Pro- 
cedures were identical to those used during 1986 and 1987. 



- 18 - 

The results were subsequently distributed to all participants for 
review by both field and analytical personnel. The majority of param- 
eters showed good reproducibility. The results for a number of trace 
metals and some nutrients were more variable, with order of magnitude 
differences existing between agencies in some cases. It is thought 
that much of this variability relates to differences in analytical 
technique (for example, atomic absorption versus inductively-coupled 
argon plasma). These annual quality control exchanges will prove 
very valuable to any future interpretive undertakings. 



Review of Flow-Weighted Objectives 

During 1988, Environment Canada funded a study to assess the appro- 
priateness of using flow-weighted objectives for the East Poplar 
River. The study also included the documentation of the current 
flow-weighted algorithm, and an assessment of the suitability, sig- 
nificance, and representivity of the method. 

The report titled, "Evaluation of the Transboundary TDS and Boron 
Water Quality Objectives for the Poplar River" prepared by Hydro-Qual 
Consultants, Inc. (October 1988) contained the following recommenda- 
tions: 

1. Flow-weighting should be discontinued, as the relationship between 
flow-weighted concentration and the toxic effects associated with 
irrigation is weak. 

2. Since the likelihood of exceedance of the boron and TDS and boron 
objectives now appears to be small, it was recommended that the 
monitoring effort on the East Poplar River be reduced. 



- 19 - 

3. If flow-weighting is to be maintained, it was recommended that 
flow-weighted moving averages be calculated using geometric mean 
flows, and that the regression relationship between parameters of 
interest and conductance be derived from the daily conductance 
readings, rather than from the monthly grab sample results. 



The report and recommendations are being studied by the Bilateral 
Monitoring Committee and will be on the agenda at a future meeting. 
However, the Committee determined that sampling at East Poplar 
River at International Boundary would be decreased by 50 percent 
(bimonthly sampling from both the USGS and EC would yield 12 
samples annually rather than the previously collected 24). 



Copies of the report are available on request from Environment Canada, 
Water Quality Branch, Regina, Saskatchewan. 



- 20 - 



GROUND WATER QUANTITY 



Saskatchewan 

Coal Mine Dewatering 

Due to coal mine dewatering activities, a total of 3,492 dam 3 (2,381 
acre-feet) of ground water was discharged during 1988. This is down 
by 2,040 dam 3 (1,650 acre-feet) from 1987 (37 percent). A summary 
of the monthly pumpages from all the coal dewatering wells is shown 
in Table 5. 

Table 5. 1986 Monthly Pumpages from Mine Dewatering Activities 

Pumpages 



Month Total (dam 3 ) Rate (L/s) 



January 

February 

March 

April 

May 

June 

July 

August 

September 

October 

November 

December 



293 


109 


302 


120 


402 


150 


344 


133 


323 


121 


160 


61 


405 


151 


213 


80 


228 


88 


251 


94 


282 


109 


289 


108 



TOTAL 3,492 dam 3 
(2,831 acre-feet) 



- 21 - 
Water Levels 

Two piezometric pressure maps, dated June and December 1988, were 
prepared by Prairie Coal Ltd. Figure 9 was compiled from the 
December map and shows the cone of depression formed by the pressure 
contours in the Hart coal seam. The southern extent of the cone of 
depression at the end of 1988 is unchanged from its position in the 
previous year. The position of the 1 metre contour therefore remains 
at 1.8 kilometres north of the International Boundary. 

Ground water was discharged at 16 locations during 1988. Fourteen 
discharges were to Girard Creek, one was directly into Cookson Res- 
ervoir, and one was into a tributary of Goose Creek. No water from 
this last discharge reached the main stem of Goose Creek. 

There are indications that ground water levels have risen and are 
causing salinity problems to agricultural lands to the south and west 
of Morrison Dam. Saskatchewan Power Corporation is considering a 
plan to dewater the area with a network of pumping wells. Pumpage 
would be into Cookson Reservoir. 



Montana 

Location of the Montana monitoring wells is shown in the technical 
monitoring schedule. During 1988, quarterly water levels were 
obtained from 21 wells located in Montana. To illustrate past trends, 
hydrographs for wells 5 and 10, which are completed in alluvium, are 
presented in Figure 10. The water levels for all wells for the 
period of record fluctuated within one foot of their average during 
1988. These variations are mainly due to regional climatic conditions 
and not dewatering. Over the period of record, no observable trend 
in water levels is apparent. 



- 22 



\ 


V 




















I 












> 




















\ 














| 


17 


16 


15 


14 


13 


16 


17 


16 


15 


14 


V/V3 


is 


17 


16 




^ 


11 

7 


8 


/' 9 


10 


ll*** ■ 






J"""*-" 


.^9 


10 


1 1 


12 • 


. 7 


8 


9 




























W 








6 X 




4 


3 


2 


1 


6 


5 


4 


3 \ 


2 


l 


8\^» 


5 


4 
TWF 


3 


























i 


TWP 


2 


36l 


31 


32\ 


33 


34 




36 


31 




33 


\ 34 


35 


36 V-0 31 


32 




























V| 



































[a 






23 


30 


29 




ZJ 


26 






29 


\b 


V^ 


26 


25 


no 


29 












\Girm 
























24 / 


19 


20 


21 






/ 24 


19 


20 


^21 


22V 


23 ' 


\24 


I 9 


20 




13 V 








" S V* S \. 


14 


\o 


e«*Z 


17 


\I6 


is\ 


14 


\ ' 3 


\« 


17 




*""" 17 


16 
















\w 










■\C0F 


ONAC 


hi y 






12 


7 


8 


9 


10 \ 


II ^v 


\ 




^25*) 
-—20 


ip9 ' 


10 


/ n i 


12 


7 y. 


8 


































1 


6 


5 


4 


3 




i 


N^\ v 




4 


/ — ^i^ 




1 


1 Ml 


5 






















^-1R> 








I \ \ TWP. 2 




























) J TWP. " 


36 


31 


32 


33 


34 


35 \ 


36/ 


31 ) 


\z ^ 


33 


34 \ 


S5 I 


> 36/ 


*/ \ S2 


















ho 


V 29 


28 


•ia< 






3oVS\ 29 
































\ IV 


















19 


20 


2^~- 


-5-^ 


23 / 


24 


ig"^ 


V* \ 
































J *\ 




















" i> 


16 


1 is 


'7 


13 


18 




























K 


IORRI 


soft* 






























1 


)AM 


















7 


8 


9 


jf 


11 


12 


















RG 


E. 28 


RGE- 


27 S 


ASKAT 


chew; 


N RG 


E. 27 


RGE. 


26 





W 2 M 



MONTANA U. S. A. W 2 M 



2 3 KILOMETERS 



Figure 9. Cone of Depression in the Hart Coal Seam from Dewatering 
Activities as of December 1988. Contour intervals in 



_ 23 - 



+ 
+ 




+ 




s J 

? 1 


+ 


I \ 




» i 

i 

I 1 

I + 


K 


+ 

1 T 1 "I ■— ■ 



.8 



\ 



JS}DM 0} M}dsQ 



J81DM 0} q)d»Q 



j»;dm 0} M}dsQ 



1 s 

2 S 



.s 



I — i — i — I — i — i — l — i — i — r 
ja)DM O) M}d»Q 



.8 



i — i — i — i — i — i — I — i — i — r 

|2 J9)DM O) M)dSQ 



I I I I I I I 



- 24 - 
GROUND WATER QUALITY 

Saskatchewan 



Ground water sampling continued in 1988 at the locations specified in 
the Technical Monitoring Schedule. 



Water Quality in the Tills 



The overall quality of ground water from the tills is expressed in 
Figure 11 and as plots of TDS -vs- time for each piezometer for the 
period of record. Higher and more variable TDS concentrations are 
associated with the tills, compared to the Empress Gravels. 

At location 2a just north of the polishing pond, piezometer C712B 
shows an increase in boron concentration from less than 1 mg/L in 
July, 1987 to 6.93 in November, 1988. TDS in piezometer C712B has 
shown considerable variation since monitoring began in 1980. 

At locations 2b (piezometer C718) and 2c (piezometer C719) near the 
north end of the polishing pond, there have been no consistent water- 
quality trends over the period of record. Although these two sites 
are close together, there are large differences in the quality of 
water from C718 and C719. The much higher sulphate concentrations 
in C719 compared to C718 may be due to the presence of gypsum, 
distributed unevenly throughout the till. 

At location 8a, west of cell No. 1 of the ash lagoon, piezometers 
C726A, C726B, C726C, and C726D display no consistent changes in water 
quality since 1987. 



- 25 - 



I? 



7 - 



6 - 



i 



3 - 



+ ° 

a a 



* o 



° „ + 

' + + 

D 



a + n 

a + 

= .♦ . 4 • .♦ 



i I T i 1 1 1 1 1 — i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 r 

Jun-60 Aug-81 S«p-82 Oct-B3 Nov-84 Dac-66 Jon-87 F*b-88 Apr-89 

lima 

D c719 + e712b ♦ e726c 





1.7 




1.6 




1JJ 




1.* 


I 


1.3 


■ 




£ 


1.2 


1? 


1.1 


II 


1 


I 




0.9 


Q 


0.8 


R 




.0 


0.7 


1- 






0.6 




0.S 



+ 

DD D 



1 1 1 r 



-i 1 1 1 1 1 1 r 



Jun-60 Aug-61 Sep-82 Oct-63 Nov-64 D«c-83 Jon-87 Feb-88 Apr-89 



c728b 



Figure 11. Total Dissolved Solids in Selected Piezometers in the Tills 
(piezometer number and symbols indicated below each graph). 



- 26 - 

At location 9a, at the west end of the polishing lagoon data are 
reported for piezometer C728A, which was dry from 1980 to 1987. 
Uranium values in the piezometers at location 8a are quite high, 
relative to other locations. Piezometer C728B shows no consistent 
water-quality trends over the period of record. Piezometer C728C may 
show a vaguely-defined long-term trend to lower boron and aluminum, 
and higher sulphate concentrations over the entire period 1981-1985, 
but these species have been relatively constant since 1985. Monitor- 
ing data obtained over 1986-1988 show that the uranium concentration 
in C728C has remained fairly constant, and that the long-term trend 
to higher concentration postulated in the 1988 report did not occur. 

Piezometer C534 is located to the south of the ash lagoon. The TDS 
concentration has remained fairly constant at around 4,500 mg/L . 
The aluminum concentration data for 1988 from C534 remained below 
the 0.01 mg/L detection limit. No trends are seen in the other 
species monitored. 



Water Quality in the Empress Gravels 



Figure 12 shows that there are no significant trends in TDS in the 
Empress Gravels. Piezometer C726E at location 8a, west of ash lagoon 
cell No. 1, displays a greater variability in TDS concentration than 
the other piezometers, possibly due to variable recharge from the 
overlying tills under certain conditions. 

Ground water-quality characteristics at locations 2a and 9a (piezom- 
eters C726E and C728E, respectively) are generally similar. Boron 
remains consistently higher in C728E (near 1.2 mg/L) than in C726E 
(near 0.7 mg/L). 

At location C533, south of the ash lagoon, there are no trends evi- 
dent in any of the water-quality parameters monitored. 



1.3 



E 

I? 



I 



if 



1.2 - 

1.1 - 

1 - 

0.8 - 

0.8 - 

0.7 - 
0.6 

05 - 



0.4 



_ 27 _ 
a 



□ D 



♦ + n a 



♦ 5 



D 

♦ + 



D * * OB? 5 



+ 
+ + 



+ ♦ 



: *? + ♦ 



~t 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 r 

Jun-60 Aug-81 Sop -82 Oct-63 Nov-84 Doc-85 Jon-87 Fob-88 Apr-89 



n c741 



Tlmo 
+ c728o ♦ c533 



1.4 



1.3 - 

1.2 - 

1.1 - 

1 - 
0.9 

0.8 - 

0.7 - 

0.6 - 

0.8 - 



0.4 



+ + 

DQ + 

n D n d + 

D D 



+ 



-t 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 r 

Jun-80 Aug-81 Sop-82 Oct-83 Nov-84 Doc -85 Jon-87 F«b-88 Apr-89 



□ e742 



Tlmo 
+ c726e 



Figure 12. Total Dissolved Solids in Selected Piezometers in the 

Empress Gravels (piezometer numbers and symbols indicated 
below each graph) 



- 28 - 

At location 18 (piezometer C741), situated near the southwest end of 
Morrison Dam, there are no trends discernible over the past three 
years. At location 21 (piezometer C742) there are likewise no 
noteworthy trends in water quality. 



Montana 

Samples collected and analyzed in 1988 show that previous trends are 
being maintained and no outstanding anomalies have been noted. Data 
from the initial group of wells that have been sampled since 1980 are 
internally consistent. The second group of wells, first sampled as a 
group in 1985, have data which show minor changes. Annual sampling 
does not constitute substantial development and these minor shifts 
may simply represent the diminishing construction effects of "delayed 
equilibration." 

Well 16, reported to be completed in a gravel, has a total depth of 
85 feet. Analyses of the water from this well have a trend of 
decreasing hardness, sulfate, and TDS, coupled with a stable sodium 
concentration and increasing sodium adsorption ratios (SARs) and 
alkalinity. The low alkaline earth concentration (Ca=13.4 mg/L, 
Mg=6.5 mg/L) and elevated sodium concentration (220 mg/L) are not 
typical of the Empress Gravels. The low chloride concentration 
eliminates upward leakage from the Fox Hills/Hell Creek aquifer as a 
possible explanation. Thus, the water chemistry is a bit of an 
enigma. 



- 29 - 

The relatively low SAR values and sodium concentrations of less than 
100 mg/L associated with the first group of coal wells is in distinct 
contrast with coal well data from other eastern coal fields in Mon- 
tana and the second group of wells at this site. These samples may 
represent waters in the recharge portion of the flow system, alluvial 
recharge, or a separate flow system. Because the coals are thin, and 
the monitoring wells south of the border are deep, sealing materials 
possibly did not isolate permeable units adjacent to the coal bed 
that was the monitoring target during drilling and well installation. 
Alternatively, the chemical differences in the analytical results may 
be the result of ground water interaction with the overburden mate- 
rials (Fort Union or Ravenscrag Formations). The value of the moni- 
toring wells is not decreased so long as consideration is given to 
the above conditions. Using the first group of wells completed in 
the coal as a control group, the September 1988 samples show the 
following results: 



Well 


Depth 


Sodium 




Hardness 


No. 


(feet) 


(rag/L) 


SAR 


(mg/L) 


10 


43 


107.0 


2.79 


278 


6 


83 


59.4 


1.39 


343 


3 


117 


86.0 


1.67 


501 


7 


147 


55.5 


1.32 


333 


2 


258 


24.5 


0.56 


362 



The hardness represents substantial calcium and magnesium concentra- 
tions in the water. These indicate that the water chemistry data 
reflect shallow overburden effects or even alluvial recharge. This 
hypothesis is supported by the one Fort Union or Ravenscrag comple- 
tion (well 9) in the older group. The well is 208 feet deep and its 
water analyses have a model SAR value of 9.5; even if an arithmetic 
average were used which would include two (spurious) low values, 
the SAR from these samples is 8.0, a value distinctly greater than 
that associated with the coal bed completions. 



- 30 - 

The second group of monitoring wells, completed in coal and located 
essentially to the west of the first group, has distinctly higher 
sodium levels in four of the five wells as evidenced by the September 
1988 sample results: 



Well 


Depth 


Sodium 




Hardness 


No. 


(feet) 


(rag/L) 


SAR 


(mg/L) 


19 


195 


49.8 


1.1 


379 


13 


205 


252 


8.3 


174 


14 


271 


293 


18.7 


46 


15 


293 


140 


5.1 


145 


21 


350 


231 


16.6 


36 



The results provide an interesting contrast to the results of the 
first group. The sodium content does not seem to decrease with 
depth in a pattern similar to that of the first group. This could 
be the result of inadequate equilibration time to remove the effects 
of sealing the zone above the sand-packed screens with a sodium- 
bentonite sealant; however, the effect is essentially restricted to 
completion in coal beds. 

An alternative interpretation, which has fewer inconsistencies, is 
that the coal horizons are separated by sands of tributary channels 
and by crevasse-splay sands. The wells completed in coal beds, which 
are characterized by higher sodium concentrations and SAR values, are 
in the western half of the study area. They probably are not hydro- 
logically continuous with the coal-completion wells in the eastern 
half of the area. The stratigraphic relationships are changing 
rapidly in this area, with less than eight feet (net) of Hart Coal 
present at the International Boundary (Irvine and others, 1978, Part 
1, p. 71; Part II, pi. 30, 31). Plate 33 of that report also shows 
that the Cornach Coal thins (net coal of four feet or less) at the 
International Boundary, and the southern lobe of this deposit has 
been separated from the more extensive northern lobe by erosion. 



- 31 - 

In summary, the differences in chemistry seen from samples of wells 
completed within the coal zone(s) are not unreasonable, as the 
coals pinch out against the Roncott platform. Water from well 16 is 
developing a chemistry indicative of the coal zone in the western 
half of the study area. This type of chemistry is most likely the 
result of completing this shallow (85 feet) well in a thin stringer 
of the Coronach Coal, rather than in the clastic portion of the 
Ravenscrag Formation. 



- 32 - 
ASH LAGOON QUANTITY AND QUALITY 



The ash lagoon system at the Poplar River Power Station continues to 
be operated on a closed system basis with no discharges to surface 
waters. During 1988, the sluiced ash was generally directed to 
either the north end of Lagoon No . 1 or the southeast corner of 
Lagoon No. 3. For the former, the operating series sequence is Ash 
Lagoon No. 1, Ash Lagoon No. 2 and the polishing pond. When ash is 
directed to Ash Lagoon No. 3, the normal series operation is Ash 
Lagoon No. 3, Ash Lagoon No. 2 and the polishing pond. Water from 
the polishing pond is returned to the plant for sluicing. 

During 1988, maximum and minimum water depths were 5.3 and 4.6 m 
in Ash Lagoon No. 1, 4.6 and 3.2 m in Ash Lagoon No. 2, 1.6 and 1.2 
m in Ash Lagoon No. 3, and 4.6 and 2.3 m in the Polishing Lagoon. 

Seepage calculations were made in 1988 using the methods developed by 
T.A. Prickett, P.E., of Urbana, Illinois. Results of the calculations 
for Ash Lagoons No. 1, 2, and 3 and the Polishing Lagoon are shown 
in Table 6. 



Table 6. Poplar River Power Station Ash System, 1988 Calculated 
Seepage Rates 



Source Rate (L/s) 

Polishing Lagoon 0.313 

Ash Lagoon No. 1 0.246 

Ash Lagoon No. 2 0.317 

Ash Lagoon No. 3 0.022 

Total Seepage 0.898 



- 33 - 

The 1988 calculated seepage has Increased from that calculated for 
1987. The calculated total seepage, however, remains well below the 
seepage limits (5.0 L/s to Cookson Reservoir and 2.0 L/s to the East 
Poplar River) proposed in 1979 by the International Poplar River Water 
Quality Board of the IJC. The calculated permeability liners for Ash 
Lagoons No. 1 and 2 and the Polishing Lagoon was of the same order 
of magnitude (4 to 28.7 x 10 9 cm/s) as originally calculated by T.A. 
Prickett. The calculated liner permeability for Ash Lagoon No. 3 

Q 

North was 10.6 x 10 cm/s. The consulting geotechnical engineer 
for the Poplar River Power Station has recommended that the method 
of seepage calculation be replaced with a more technologically ad- 
vanced method of seepage analysis using computer technology. This 
recommendation is being considered and may be implemented in 1989. 

The advancement of the ground water front toward the reservoir in the 
oxidized till was calculated to be 10.79 m since the lagoons were 
initially filled, which is an increase of 2.48 m since 1987. The 
front in the Empress Gravel formation was calculated to have advanced 
1032 m southeast of the lagoons, an increase of 120 m since 1987. 
Examination of the chemistry of water from the Empress Gravel 
formation and till generally shows no significant changes attributable 
to lagoon seepage except for increasing boron levels at one location. 
Monitoring will be continued and remedial action will be undertaken 
if required. Leachate flow into Cookson Reservoir and into the East 
Poplar River, however, has not been measurable. 

The Saskatchewan Department of Environment and Public Safety requires 
that the Saskatchewan Power Corporation maintain the stability of the 
ash lagoon system dykes. In addition to the regular visual inspec- 
tions, an annual investigation by a geotechnical engineer was con- 
ducted in October 1988. The geotechnical consultant indicated that 
the ash lagoon dykes and liners have good integrity and the ash is 
contained effectively. The consultant noted that the lagoon system 
is performing as designed. Some recommendations were made regarding 
remedial measures for erosion protection and continued monitoring. 



- 34 - 

The Saskatchewan Power Corporation intends to review and implement 
the recommendations during 1989. The freeboard requirements were 
not exceeced during 1988. The Saskatchewan Power Corporation con- 
tinues to experiment with the surcharging of dry ash into the lagoons. 
The experimental program began in 1987 to determine suitable types 
of vegetation for the exposed ash continued in 1988. Three species 
of grass have shown good results and will be further tested in 1989. 

The Saskatchewan Power Corporation has, since May 1983, analyzed 
filtered ash lagoon water samples to obtain appropriate information 
on potential leachate quality. Generally, the water quality data 
continue to show increases in the ash and polishing lagoons for 
sodium, potassium, sulphate, fluoride, boron, and molybdenum; and 
continued variability in the levels of uranium. The changes are to 
be expected in a closed system of this type. 



- 35 - 
AIR QUALITY 

Saskatchewan 

Saskatchewan Environment 

Ambient sulphur dioxide (SO2) monitoring began in Coronach in 1979. To 
date few high concentrations have been recorded. The monitoring site 
(Coronach Water Treatment Plant) is located 5.0 kilometres north of the 
power plant, on the southern outskirts of the town of Coronach. There 
were no recorded violations of Saskatchewan Environment and Public 
Safety's hourly or 24 hour standards of 0.17 parts per million (ppm) 
and 0.06 ppm, respectively, in 1988. The highest recorded hourly 
value of 0.082 ppm was recorded on August 15 at 1200 hours, as compared 
to 0.071 ppm recorded in September of 1987. Weather information gained 
from the site indicated that winds at the time were blowing from the 
northeast. As the power plant is located south of the monitoring 
location, it can be discounted as the source. The largest 24-hour 
average readings of 0.009 ppm occurred on April 15, May 13 and August 
15 and were identical to the highest 24-hour average reading recorded 
in 1987. Downtime for the monitor during the 12 month period was 4.0 
percent, mainly due to an episode of windblown damage and a short 
datalogger malfunction. Figures 13 and 14 show, in graphical form, 
maximum hourly and daily (24 hour) readings obtained at the monitoring 
station during the last five years. 



Suspended particulate concentrations obtained from a high volume monitor 

at the same site for the 12 month period did not exceed Saskatchewan 

Environment and Public Safety's 24 hour average standard of 120 micro- 
's 

grams per cubic metre (ug/m /24 hrs.). The highest reading of 98.5 
Ug/m /24 hrs occurred on June 26. Wind data for that date points to 
field blown dusts as the most probable source, as there were no 
accountable particulate stack emissions during the testing period. 



- 36 - 



3ASKATCHCWAM ( 




[ I I | I I I I I I 1 M 



I I M I M I 1 I I I I 1 I t I M I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I I I |l 

i ■ I I I . I h H I J I U I i J M > I ; I B I h J J I i U > j I B 



iiiiini 



Figure 13. Saskatchewan Maximum Hourly SO2 Air Quality Data, 
Coronach Water Treatment Plant, 1983-1988. 



0.O4S- 

0.060- 

O.Oii- 

O.05O- 

0.0<S- 

0.0<0- 

0.01V 

0.OJ0- 

0.C25 

0.020- 

0.015 

0.O10 

0.005- 

0.000 



SASKATCHEWAN 24 KB. STANDARD. 



7 



HISSING DATA 



• s o k » j r 



Figure 14. Saskatchewan Maximum Daily SO2 Air Quality Data, 
Coronach Water Treatment Plant, 1983-1988. 



- 37 - 



Saskatchewan Power Corporation 

Ambient SO2 monitoring conducted 8.0 kilometres southeast of the 
plant, near the 49th parallel, showed no violations for 1988, the 
same as 1987. The highest hourly reading of 0.056 ppm occurred on 
February 19, at 0200 and 0300 hours. Weather data recorded by En- 
vironment Canada's weather station located at Rockglen (37 kilometres 
northwest of the plant) indicated winds blowing from the plant towards 
the monitor at the time. This reading compares to the highest hourly 
reading recorded in 1987 of 0.053 ppm. Downtime for the monitor was 
3.0 percent as compared to 0.7 percent in 1987. 

Suspended particulate concentrations at the monitoring station ex- 
ceeded Saskatchewan Environment and Public Safety's 24 hour standard 
on seven occasions in 1988, the same as in 1987. The largest recorded 
value of 672.3 ug/m /2 4 hrs. occurred on June 8. That violation, as 
well as the other six violations, was probably caused by field blown 
dusts, as no specific episodes of heavy particulate release from the 
plant stack on violation days could be determined. The annual geo- 
metric mean of 38.7 ug/m is well below the provincial standard of 
70.0 and compares with the 1987 mean of 34.6. Downtime for the 
sampler was 1.6 percent, virtually the same as the 1.7 percent in 
1987. 

Sulphur dioxide averages from in-stack monitoring were slightly 
greater in 1988 than 1987, with daily concentrations ranging from 
1,749 to 3,421 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m ) (corrected to 3 
percent O2). The average yearly concentration was 2,698 as compared 
to 2,556 in 1987. Downtime for the SO2 in-stack monitor was the same 
as during 1987 — 15 percent. Nitrogen oxide averages were lower in 
1988, with daily concentrations ranging from 603 to 1,089 mg/m 
(corrected to 3 percent O2). The average yearly concentration was 
776 in 1988 and 806 in 1987. Downtime for the nitrogen oxide in-stack 
monitor was 16 percent compared to 18 percent in 1987. Daily opacity 
readings ranged from to 90 percent, with a yearly average of 18 
percent. Saskatchewan's opacity standard of 40 percent was exceeded 
193 times in 1988, significantly less than the 330 times in 1987. 



_ 38 _ 

Downtime for the opacity monitor was 2.2 percent in 1988 and 0.3 per- 
cent in 1987. Stack gas flow rates ranged from 378 to 658 m^/s, with 
an average flow of 590 in 1988, which is close to the 580 m 3 /s in 
1987. Downtime for the 12 month period in 1988 was 5.2 percent, up 
from 1.9 percent in 1987. 



Montana 

The Montana Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Air 
Quality Bureau, operates five sulfation plate sampling sites in the 
Scobey area — Richardson Residence (Scobey), Flaxville, TV Tower Hill, 
Scobey Downtown, and Four Buttes. Samples from these sites are 
indicators of sulfation levels in the area, and a high concentra- 
tion would give warning of a potential problem. There is no standard 
for sulfation rate; readings greater than 0.5 rag/100 centimeters 
squared per day (cm 2 /d) indicate possible trouble spots. The highest 
reading for 1988 was 0.07 mg/100 cm 2 /d at the Flaxville site in 
February. Table 7 gives the sampling results for 1988. 



Table 7. Sulfation Rate of Sulfur Trioxide in Milligrams per 
100 Square Centimeters per day at Five Locations 
During 1988. 



Site 



Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 



Richardson 


.03 


.04 


.01 


(Scobey) 








Flaxville 


.05 


.07 


.04 


TV Tower 


.03 


.04 


.03 


Hill 








Scobey 


.03 


.04 


.04 


Downtown 








Four 


.00 


.00 


.02 


Buttes 









.01 .04 .00 — .00 .00 .00 .06 .00 

.04 .00 .00 — .00 .01 .00 .00 

.03 .05 — .03 .00 .02 .00 .00 .00 

.03 .04 — .00 .00 — -- .00 .00 

.02 .05 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 .00 



39 - 



REFERENCES CITED 

Irvine, J. A., Whitaker, S.H., and Broughton, P.L., 1978, Coal re- 
sources of southern Saskatchewan — A model for evaluation 
methodology: ( Note: this report is listed three ways ) Geologi- 
cal Survey of Canada Economic Geology Report 30 or Department 
of Mineral Resources Report 209, or Saskatchewan Research Coun- 
cil Report 20; Part I, 151 p., Part II, 56 oversize plates. 

Linton, L.R., McDonald, R.A., and Hamilton, H.R., 1988, Evaluation 
of transboundary TDS and Boron water quality objectives for the 
Poplar River: HydroQual Consultants Inc., Calgary, Alberta (pre- 
pared for Environment Canada, Inland Waters Directorate, Western 
and Northern Region), 78 p. 



ANNEX 1 



POPLAR RIVER 



COOPERATIVE MONITORING ARRANGEMENT 



CANADA - UNITED STATES 



- 1 - 



September 2 3, 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 the Saskatchewan Power Corporation develop- 
ment. 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 Public Safety 
Government of the United States of America: U.S. 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 accord- 
ance with the following terms of reference: 

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. Cochairmen may by mutual agreement 
invite agency technical experts to participate in the work of the 
Committee . 



- 2 - 



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 repre- 
sentative. 

B. Functions of the Committee 

The role of the Committee will be to fulfill 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 implementa- 
tion 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 Cochairman will be responsible for transmitting to his counter- 
part Cochairman on a regular, and not less than quarterly basis, 
the data provided by the cooperative monitoring agencies in accord- 
ance with the Technical Monitoring Schedules. 

2. Reports 

(a) The Committee will prepare a joint Annual Report to the partici- 
pating 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. 



- 3 - 



c) Special Reports may, at any time, draw to the attention of partici- 
pating 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. 

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 elec- 
ted 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 coopera- 
ting monitoring agencies in their respective countries as speci- 
fied in the Technical Monitoring Schedules; 

(d) if necessary, drawing to the attention of the appropriate govern- 
ment 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 re- 
spective 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 participa- 
ting governments. 



- 4 - 



ANNEX 2 



POPLAR RIVER 



COOPERATIVE MONITORING ARRANGEMENT 



TECHNICAL MONITORING SCHEDULES 



1989 



CANADA - UNITED STATES 



- 1 - 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Page 

PREAMBLE 3 

CANADA 5 

STREAMFLOW MONITORING 6 

SURFACE WATER QUALITY MONITORING 8 

GROUND WATER QUALITY MONITORING 12 

GROUND WATER PIEZOMETERS TO MONITOR POTENTIAL DRAWDOWN 14 
DUE TO COAL SEAM DEWATERING 

GROUND WATER PIEZOMETER LEVEL MONITORING - ASH LAGOON 16 
AREA, SCHEDULE A - PIEZOMETERS IN TILL 

GROUND WATER PIEZOMETER LEVEL MONITORING - ASH LAGOON 18 
AREA AND INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AREA, SCHEDULE B - 
PIEZOMETERS IN EMPRESS GRAVEL 

AMBIENT AIR QUALITY MONITORING 20 

SOURCE EMISSION MONITORING 22 

UNITED STATES 25 

STREAMFLOW MONITORING 26 

SURFACE WATER QUALITY MONITORING 28 

GROUND WATER QUALITY MONITORING 30 

GROUND WATER LEVELS TO MONITOR POTENTIAL DRAWDOWN DUE 32 
TO COAL SEAM DEWATERING 

AMBIENT AIR QUALITY MONITORING 34 



- 2 - 



PREAMBLE 

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

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

Significant additional information is being collected by agencies 
on both sides of the International Boundary, primarily for project 
management or basin-wide baseline data purposes. This additional in- 
formation 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, supple- 
mental information on parameters such as vegetation, soils, fish 
and waterfowl populations and aquatic vegetation is also being 
collected on either a routine or specific studies basis by various 
agencies. 



- 3 - 



POPLAR RIVER 



COOPERATIVE MONITORING ARRANGEMENT 



TECHNICAL MONITORING SCHEDULES 



1989 



CANADA 



5 - 



STREAMFLOW MONITORING 



Responsible Agency: Environment Canada 



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



No. on Map 
1. 

2. 

3. 

*4. 



Station No. 

11AE003 
(06178500) 

11AE013 



11AE015 



11AE014 



Station Name 

East Poplar River at 
International Boundary 

Cookson Reservoir near 
Coronach 

Girard Creek near Coronach 
Cookson Reservoir 

East Poplar River above 
Cookson Reservoir 



5. **Fife Lake Overflow 

*6. 11AE008 

(06178000) 



Poplar River at International 
Boundary 



* - International gauging station 
** - Miscellaneous measurements of outflow to be made by Sask Water 
during periods of outflow only. 



- 6 




HYDROMETRIC GAUGING STATIONS (CANADA) 



- 7 - 



No. on 
Map 
I 
2 
3 
4 
5 



SURFACE WATER QUALITY MONITORING 
Sampling Locations 

Responsible Agency: Saskatchewan Environment and Public Safety 



Stati on No. 

OTSTOTUOOTJuT 

0SSK02000007 

05SK02000008 

05SK020000O4 

05SK02000003 



Station Name 

Fife Lake Overflow 

Glrard Creek at Coronach Reservoir Outflow 

Upper End of Cookson Reservoir at Highway 36 

Cookson Reservoir near Dam 

East Poplar River at culvert immediately below 

Cookson Reservoir 



Responsible Agency: Environment Canada 
OOSA11AE0008 East Poplar River at International Boundary 



Parameters 
Responsible Agency: Saskatchewan Environment and Public Safety 









Sampling Frequency 




ESQUADAT* 




Analytical 


Station 










Code 


Parameter 


Method 


No: 


1 


2 


3 


4 


5 


10151 


Alkallnlty-pheno 


Pot. Titration 




OP 


Q 


Q 


Q 


Q 


10101 


Alkalinity-tot 


Pot. Titration 




OF 


Q 


Q 


Q 


q 


13004 


Aluminum tot 


AA-dlrect 






A 


A 


A 


A 


33004 


Arsenic-tot 


Flameless-A.A. 






A 


A 


A 


A 


06201 


Blcarbonates 


Calculated 




OF 


Q 


Q 


Q 


Q 


05451 


Boron-tot 


ICPA 




V 


Q 


Q 


Q 


q 


48002 


Cadmium- tot 


AA-Solvent extract 


(MIBK) 




A 


A 


A 


A 


20103 


Calcium 


AA-Dlrect 




OF 


Q 


q 


Q 


Q 


06052 


Carbon- tot Inorg 


IR 




OF 




Q 


Q 


Q 


06005 


Carbon-tot Org 


IR 




OF 




Q 


Q 


Q 


06301 


Carbonate* 


Calculated 




OF 


q 


Q 


Q 


Q 


17203 


Chloride 


Co lour laetery 




OF 


Q 


Q 


Q 


Q 


06711 


Chlorophyll 'a' 


Colour lmetery 






Q 


Q 


Q 


Q 


24004 


Chromium-tot 


AA-dlrect 






A 


A 


A 


A 


36012 


Collfora- fee 


MF 




OF 


Q 


q 


Q 


Q 


36002 


Collfora-tot 


MF 




OF 


Q 


Q 


Q 


Q 


02041 


Conductivity 


Conductivity meter 




V 


Q 


Q 


Q 


Q 


29005 


Copper-tot 


AA-Solvent extract 


(MIBC) 




A 


A 


A 


A 


09105 


Flourlde 


Specific ion electrode 




A 


A 


A 


A 


82002 


Lead-tot 


AA-Solvent extract 


(MIBK) 




A 


A 


A 


A 


12102 


Magnesium 


AA-dlrect 




OF 


Q 


Q 


Q 


Q 


80011 


Mercury-tot 


Flameless AA 






A 


A 


A 


A 


42005 


Molybdenum 


AA-Solvent Extract 


(MIBK) 




A 


A 


A 


A 


07015 


N-TKJt 


Colour 1 me try 




OF 


Q 


Q 


Q 


Q 


10401 


KFK 


Gravimetric 




OF 


Q 


Q 


Q 


Q 


10501 


NFR (F) 


Gravimetric 




OF 


Q 


Q 


Q 


Q 


28002 


Nickel-tot 


AA-Solvent extract 


(MIBK) 


OF 


Q 


Q 


Q 


Q 


07110 


Nitrate + NO2 


Colourlmetry 




OF 


Q 


Q 


Q 


Q 


06521 


Oil and Crease 


Pet. Ether Extraction 




A 


A 


A 


A 


08102 


Oxygen-dlss 


Meter 




OF 


Q 


q 


Q 


Q 


15406 


Phosphorus - tot 


Colourlmetry 




OF 


Q 


Q 


Q 


Q 


19103 


Potassium 


Flame Photometery 




OF 


Q 


Q 


Q 


Q 


34005 


Selenlum-Ext 


Hydride Generation 






A 


A 


A 


A 


11002 


Sodium 


Flame Photometry 




OF 


Q 


Q 


q 


q 


16306 


Sulphate 


Colourlmetry 




OF 


Q 


Q 


Q 


Q 


10451 


TDS 


Gravimetric 




OF 


q 


q 


Q 


q 


0206YZ 


Temperature 


Thermometer 




OF 


q 


Q 


Q 


q 


23004 


Vanadium-tot 


AA-Dlrect 






A 


A 


A 


A 


30005 


Zinc-tot 


AA-Solvent extract 


(MIBK) 




A 


A 


A 


A 


10301 


pH 


Electrometric 




W 


q 


Q 


Q 


q 



"Computer storage and retrieval system - Saskatchewan Environment and Public Safety. 

Symbols: W - Weekly during overflow; OF - once during each period of overflow greater 
than 2 weeks 1 duration; q - quarterly; A - annually In the fall; AA - atomic 
absorption; IR - infrared; Pot - potentlometrlc; NFR - nonfllterable residue 
NFRF - nonfllterable residue, fixed. 

AA - Solvent Extract (MIBK): Sample digested with HNO3 and extracted with methyl 
iaobutyl ketone. 

ICPA - Plasma emmisslon. 

MF - membrane filtration. 



PARAMETERS (Continued) 



Responsible Agency: Environment Canada 









Sampling 


Frequency 


NAQUADAT* 




Analytical 


Station 




Code 


Parameter 


Method 


No: 6 




10151 


Alkalinity-pheno 


Potentiometric 


M 




10111 


Alkalinity-tot 


Potentiometric 


M 




13102 


Aluminum-Diss . 


AA-DIrect 


M 




13302 


Aluminum-ext 


AA-Direct 


M 




07570 


Ammonia-Free 


Calculated 


M 




07540 


Ammonia-tot 


Colourimetric 


It 




33108 


Arsenic-diss 


Plasma 


M 




56001 


Barium-tot 


AA Direct 


M 




06201 


Blcarbonates 


Calculated 


M 




05105 


Boron-diss 


Carminic Acid 


M 




48002 


Cadmium-tot 


AA Solv. Ext. 


M 




20103 


Calcium 


AA-Direct 


M 




06104 


Carbon-diss org 


IR Detector 


M 




06901 


Carbon-partic 


Elemental Analyzer 


M 




06002 


Carbon-tot Org 


Calculated 


M 




06301 


Carbonates 


Calculated 


M 




17206 


Chloride 


Colourimetric 


M 




06717 


Chlorophyll a 


Spectropho tome trie 


M 




24003 


Chromium-tot 


AA-Solv. Ext. 


M 




27002 


Cobalt-tot 


AA Solv. Ext. 


M 




36012 


Coliform-fec 


MF 


M 




36002 


Coliform-tot 


MF 


M 




02021 


Colour 


Comparator 


M 




02041 


Conductivity 


Wheatstone Bridge 


M 




29005 


Copper-tot 


AA-Solv. Ext. 


M 




06604 


Cyanide 


UV-Colourlmetric 


M 




09106 


Fluoride 


Electrometric 


M 




10602 


Hardness 


Calculated 


M 




08501 


Hydroxide 


Calculated 


M 




26104 


Iron-diss 


AA-direct 


M 




82002 


Lead-tot 


AA-Solv. Ext. 


M 




12102 


Magnesium 


AA-direct 


H 




25104 


Manganese- diss 


AA-direct 


H 




80011 


Mercury-tot 


Flameless AA 


M 




07901 


N-part iculate 


Elemental Analyzer 


M 




07651 


N-tot diss 


UV Colourimetric 


H 




10401 


NFR 


Gravimetric 


M 




28002 


Nickel-tot 


AA-Solv. Ext. 


M 




07110 


Nitrate/Nitrite 


Colourimetric 


M 




07603 


Nitrogen-tot 


Calculated 


M 




180XX 


Organo Chlorines 


GC 


M 




08101 


Oxygen-diss 


Winkler 


M 




15901 


P-particulate 


Calculated 


M 




15103 


P-tot diss 


Colourimetric 


M 




06535 


Phenolics 


Colourimetric 


M 




185XX 


Phenoxy Herbicides 


GC 


M 




15406 


Phosphorus-tot 


Colourimetric 


M 




19103 


Potassium 


Flame Emission 


M 




11250 


Percent Sodium 


Calculated 


M 




00210 


Sat Index 


Calculated 


M 




34108 


Selenium-diss 


Plasma 


M 




14102 


Silica 


Colourimetric 


M 




11103 


Sodium 


Flame Emission 


M 




00211 


Stab Index 


Calculated 


M 




16306 


Sulphate 


Colourimetric 


M 




00201 


TDS 


Calculated 


M 




02061 


Temperature 


Alcohol Thermometer 


M 




02081 


Turbidity 


Nephelometric 


M 




23002 


Vanadium-tot 


AA-Solv. Ext. 


M 




30005 


Zinc-tot 


AA-Solv. Ext. 


M 




10301 


pH 


Electrometric 


M 




921 11 


Uranium 


Flurometric 


MC 





*Computer storage and retrieval system - Environment Canada 

Symbols: M-Monthly; AA-atomic absorption; MF-membrane filtration; UV-ultraviolet ; 

NFR-nonf ilterable residue; GC-gas chromatography; MC-Monthly Composite; 

IR-infrared 



- 9 - 




L EGEND 
ENVIRONMENT SASKATCHEWA 
ENVIRONMENT CANADA 



SURFACE WATER QUALITY MONITORING STATIONS (CANADA) 



- 11 - 



GROUND W ATER QUALITY MONITORING 



Sampling Locations 
Responsible Agency: Saskatchewan Environment and Public Safety 

Station Description 



Map 


SPC 


Tip of Screen 




Location No. 


Piezometer No. 


Elevation (m) 


Mater i a 1 


8a 


C726A 


746.338 


unoxidized ti 1 1 




C726C 


752.739 


ox i d i zed till 


8a 


C726E 


738.725 


Empress gravel 


9a 


C728A 


753.405 


oxidized ti 1 1 




C728B 


743.265 


unox i d i zed till 




C728C 


747.645 


mottled till 




C728D 


752.305 


oxidized ti I 1 


9a 


C728E 


739.912 


Empress gravel 


2a 


C7I2B 


746.112 


oxidized ti 1 1 


2b 


C7I8 


748.385 


mottled till 


2c 


C7I9 


747.715 


oxidized ti 1 1 


22 


C555 


740.441 


Empress gravel 


23 


C534 


753.499 


till 


18 


C74l»* 


735.153 


Empress gravel 


21 


C742** 


741.800 


Empress gravel 


24 


C7I4A 


745.333 


unoxidized ti 1 1 


25 


C7I4D 


750.459 


oxidized ti 1 1 


26 


C7I4E 


738.250 


Empress gravel 


27 


C774B 


749.370 


oxidized ti 1 1 


28 


C775A 


753.520 


oxidized ti 1 1 


29 


C775D 


740.190 

Parameters 


Empress gravel 



Responsible Agency: Saskatchewan Environment and Public Safety 



ESQUADAT* 
Code 



Parameter 



Analytical 
Method 



Sampling Frequency 
Station 
No: Piezometers 



10101 
13105 
33104 
56104 
06201 
05106 
48102 
20103 
06301 
17203 
24104 
27102 
02011 
02041 
29105 
09105 
26014 
82103 
12102 
25104 
80111 
42102 

10301 
19103 
34105 
14102 
11103 
38101 
16306 
10451 
92111 
23104 
97025 
30105 



Alkalinity-tot 

Alumlnum-Oisa 

Arsenic-Dias 

Barlua-Dlss 

Bicarbonates 

Boron-diss 

Cadalua-Dias 

Calclum-Diss 

Carbonates 

Chloride-Diss 

Chromium -Diss 

Co balt-Diss 

Colour 

Conductivity 

Copper-Diaa 

Fluorlde-Dlss 

Iron-Diss 

Lead-Dlss 

Nagnesiua-Dlss 

Manganese -Diss 

Mercury-Dlss 

Molybdenum-Dlss 

PH 

Potaasium-Dlss 

Selenium-Diss 

Sillca-Diss 

Sodluo-Diss 

Strontlum-Dls8 

Sulphate-Dlss 

TDS 

Uranlua-Diss 

Vanadlum-Dlss 

Water Level 

Zlnc-Diss 



Pot-Titration 




A 


AA-Dlrect 




3** 


Flaaeless AA 




A 


AA-Direct 




A 


Calculated 




A 


Colourimetry 




3** 


AA-Solvent Extract 


(MIBK) 


A 


AA-dlrect 




A 


Calculated 




A 


Colourimetry 




A 


AA-Direct 




A 


AA-Solvent Extract 


(MIBK) 


A 


Comparator 




A 


Conductivity meter 




3** 


AA-Solvent Extract 


(MIBK) 


A 


Specific Ion Electrode 


A 


AA-Direct 




A 


AA-Solvent Extract 


(MIBK) 


A 


AA-Direct 




A 


AA-Direct 




A 


Flameless AA 




A 


AA-Solvent extract 


(N-Butyl 


A 


acetate) 






Electrometrlc 




3** 


Flame Photometry 




A 


Hydride generation 




A 


Colourimetry 




A 


Flame Photometry 




A 


AA-Dlrect 




3** 


Colourimetry 




3** 


Gravimetric 




3** 


Fluorometry 




3** 


AA-Direct 




A 
A 
A 


AA-Solvent Extract 


(MIBK) 



No zinc or iron for piezometers C533 or C53A. 

♦Computer Storage and Retrieval System - Saskatchewan Environment and Public 

Safety. 
Symbols: AA - atomic absorption. A - Annually. 3 - Three tlmea per year 

AA-Solvent Extract (MIBK): sample acidified and extracted with Methyl 

Isobutyl Ketone. 
♦♦Analyze annually only for piezometer Nos. C741 and C742. 



12 



R. 27 



R.26 



T.I 




Ash 
Lagoons 



1/5 



21 



A 



1CALE 

•OO KXM HTtll 

J ■ 1 k, 




CANAOA 



US. A. 



GROUND WATER QUALITY MONITORING (CANADA) 



- 13 



GROUND WATER PIEZOMETERS TO MONITOR 

POTENTIAL DRAWDOWN DUE TO COAL 

SEAM DEWATERING 

Responsible Agency: Saskatchewan Environment and Public Safety 
Measurement Frequency: Quarterly 



Piezometer 




Tip of Screen 


Number 


Location 
NW14-1-27W3 


Elevation (m) 


52 


738.43 


506A 


SW4-1-27W3 


748.27 


507 


SW6-1-26W3 


725.27 


509 


NW11-1-27W3 


725.82 


510 


NW1-1-28W3 


769.34 



Perforation Zone 
(depth in metres) 

43 - 49 (in coal) 

81 - 82 (in coal) 

34 - 35 (in coal) 

76 - 77 (in coal) 

28 - 29 (in layered 
coal and clay) 



- 14 




GROUNDWATER PIEZOMETERS TO MONITOR POTENTIAL 
DRAWDOWN DUE TO COAL SEAM DEWATERING 



- 15 - 



GROUND WATER PIEZOMETER LEVEL MONITORING - ASH LAGOON AREA 

SCHEDULE A - PIEZOMETERS IN TILL 

Responsible Agency: Saskatchewan Environment and Public Safety 



Station 

la 
lb 
lc 

2a l 
2a 2 

2a 3 

2a4 

2b 

2c 

3a 

3b 

3c 

6a i 
6a 2 
633 
6a4 

7*1 
7a 2 
7a 3 
7a4 
C534 

8a! 
8a 2 
8a 3 
834 
8b! 
8b 2 
8b 3 
8 Cl 
8c 2 
8c 3 

8d 

9a 1 
9a 2 
9a 3 
9a 4 
9bi 
9b 2 
9b 3 
9b 4 



Piezometer No. 

C716 

C717 

C711 

C712A 

C712B 

C712C 

C712D 

C718 

C719 

C713 

C720 

C721 

C763A 
C763B 
C763C 
C763D 
C729A 
C729B 
C729C 
C729D 
C534 

C730A 
C730B 
C730C 
C730D 
C727A 
C727B 
C727C 
C726A 
C726B 
C726C 

C748 

C764A 
C764B 
C764C 
C764D 
C728A 
C728B 
C728C 
C728D 



Frequency of Measurement 

All piezometer levels 
are measured quarterly 



- 16 - 



R. 27 



R 26 




US. A. 



PIEZOMETER INSTALLATION SITES - SCHEDULE "A" PIEZOMETERS IN TILL 



17 - 



GROUND WATER PIEZOMETER LEVEL MONITORING - ASH LAGOON AREA AND 
INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AREA 



SCHEDULE B - PIEZOMETERS IN EMPRESS GRAVEL 
Responsible Agency: Saskatchewan Environment and Public Safety 



Station 






Immediate Ash Lagoon Area 


Piezometer No. 


1 




C731 


6a 




C763E 


6b 




C765A 


C529 




C529 


C530 




C530 


C532 




C532 


C533 




C533 


C538 




C538 


8 




C730E 


9 




C728E 


West of Ash Lagoon 


Area 




11 




C743 


14 




C740 


16 




C756 


South of Ash Lagoor 


i Area 




C525 




C525 


C526 




C526 


C527 




C527 


C539 




C539 


C540 




C540 


18 




C741 


20 




C736 


21 




C742 


22 




C733 


23 




C732 


24 




C734 



Frequency of Measurement 

All piezometers are 
monitored quarterly 



- 18 - 



R 27 



T.I 



R 26 



LEGEND 

Pitioa»t*ri ■■ EaaartM 
• Oro.al 

^ Pitzoaiitari ■ Hart S« 

8 sit 



>s (D16 



/7 C530 C540 

I* ia si 



CANADA 



A 




US. A. 



PIEZOMETER INSTALLATION SITES - SCHEDULE *B* PIEZOMETERS IN EMPRESS GRAVEL 



19 



AMBIENT AIR QUALITY MONITORING 
Responsible Agency: Saskatchewan Environment and Public Safety 



No. on Map Location 
1 Coronach 



Parameters Reporting Frequency 

Sulphur Continuous monitoring with 

Dioxide hourly averages as summary 
statistics. 



International 
Boundary* 



Wind speed 
and 
direction 

Total 

Suspended 
Particulates 



Sulphur 
Dioxide 



Continuous monitoring 
with hourly averages as 
summary statistics. 

24-hour samples on a 
6-day cycle, corresponding 
to the National Air 
Pollution Surveillance 
Sampling Schedule. 

Continuous monitoring with 
hourly averages as summary 
statistics. 



Total 

Suspended 
Particulates 



24-hour samples on 
6-day cycle, corresponding 
to the National Air 
Pollution Surveillance 
Sampling Schedule. 



METHODS 



Sulphur Dioxide 



Saskatchewan Environment and Public Safety 
Colourimetric Titration, 
Pulsed Fluorescence 



Total Suspended 
Particulates 



Saskatchewan Environment and Public Safety 
High Volume Method 



* This station is operated by Saskatchewan Power. 



- 20 - 




AMBIENT AIR QUALITY MONITORING (CANADA) 



- 21 



SOURCE EMISSION MONITORING 
Responsible Agency: Saskatchewan Environment and Public Safety 

No. on Map Station Location Parameters Sampling Frequency 

1 At Poplar River Sulphur Dioxide, Continuously reported 
Power Plant Nitrogen Dioxide, as Hourly Averages 
Opacity. 



METHODS 

Sulphur Dioxide Saskatchewan Environment and Public Safety 

Ultraviolet Absorption 

Nitrogen Dioxide Saskatchewan Environment and Public Safety 

Chemi luminescence 

Opacity Saskatchewan Environment and Public Safety 

Optical 



- 22 - 



R 27 



R 26 



T.I 




Astl 

Lagoons 



A 

SCALE 



MO IOOO UtTKCI 

-■ ■ 1 L, 



CANADA 



USA. 



SOURCE EMISSION MONITORING 



- 23 - 



POPLAR RIVER 



COOPERATIVE MONITORING ARRANGEMENT 



TECHNICAL MONITORING SCHEDULES 



1989 



UNITED STATES 



- 25 - 



STREAMFLOW MONITORING 

Responsible Agency: United States Geological Survey 

i.. 
No. on Map Station Number Station Name 

*1 06178000 (11AE008) Poplar River at International Boundary 

*2 06178500 (11AE003) East Poplar River at International 

Boundary 



* International gauging station 

- 26 - 




CANADA 
USA. 



HYDROMETRIC GAUGING STATIONS (UNITED STATES) 



- 27 - 



SURFACE WATER QUALITY MONITORING 

Station Location 

Responsible Agency: U.S. Geological Survey 



No. on 
Map 



USGS 
Station 

No. 

06178000 
06178500 

06179000 



Station Name 

Poplar River at International Boundary 

East Poplar River at International 

Boundary 

East Poplar River near Scobey 



PARAMETERS 



Sampling Frequency 



Analytical 
nethod ho. 1 



90410 
01106 
00610 
00625 
01000 
01002 
01010 
01012 
01020 
01025 
01027 
00915 
00680 
00940 
01030 
01034 
00060 
00095 
01040 
01042 
00061 
00950 
01046 
01045 
01049 
01051 
00925 
01056 
01055 
01065 
01067 
00615 
00630 
00300 
70507 
00400 
00665 
00935 
00931 
80154 
80155 
01145 
01147 
00955 
00930 
00945 
70301 
00010 
00020 
00076 
80020 
01090 
01092 



Alkalinity-lab 

Aluminus-diaa 

Ammonia-tot 

AmmomatOrg N-tOt 

Araenic—diaa 

Araenic-tot 

beryl lium-dies 

Beryllium-tot/rec 

Boron— diaa 

Cadmium— diaa 

Cadaiuar*Cot/rec 

Calcium 

Carbon-tot Org 

Chloride— diaa 

Chroaium-diaa 

Chromium- tot/rec 

Color 

Conductivity 

Copper— diaa 

Copper- tot /rec 

Diacbarge-inat 

Fluoride 

Iron— diaa 

Iron— tot/rec 

Lead-diaa 

Lead-tot/rec 

Magneaium-diaa 

Hanganeae— diaa 

Hanganeae— tot/rec 

Nickel-diaa 

Nickel tot/rec 

Nitrite-tot 

Nitrate+Ni trite-tot 

Oxygen— diaa 

Fhoa, Ortho-tot 

pH 

Phopboroua-tot 

Potaaeium-diaa 

SAI 

Sediment-cone. 

Sediment- load 

Selenium— diaa 

Selenium tot 

Silica 

Sodium 

Sulfate-diaa 

Total Diaaolved Solida 

Temp Water 

Temp Air 

Turbidity 

Uranium-diee 

Zinc-diaa 

Zinc-tot/rec 



Elect. Titration 

AA 

Color imetric 

Colorimetric 

AA, hydride 

AA, hydride 

AA 

AA-Peraulfate 

ICP 



AA-peraulfate 

AA 

Wet Oxidation 

Ion chromatography 

AA 

AA-peraulfate 

Electrometric, viaoal 

Wheatatone Bridge 

AA 

AA-peraulfate 

Direct meaaur. 

Electrometric 

AA 

AA-peraulfate 

AA 

AA-peraulfate 

AA 

AA 

AA-peraulfate 

AA 

AA-peraulfate 

Color laetrlx 

Colorimetr ic 

Winkler/meter 

Colorimetric 

Electrometric 

Colorimetric 

AA 

Calculated 

Pi It rat ion-gravimetric 

Calculated 

AA, hydride 

AA, hydride 

Colorimetric 

AA 

Colorimetric 

Calculated 

Toluene 

Toluene 

Nephelometric 

Fluorimetric 

AA 

AA-peraulfate 



•Computer atorage and retrieval ayatem - 0SCS 

Symbola: C-continuoua; D-daily; H-monthly; HC-monthly compoaite; A-annually 
at high flov; SA-aemi-annually at low and high flow; AA-atomic 
abaorption; tot-total; rec-recoverable; diaa-diaaolved 




CANADA 

U.S.A. 



SURFACE WATER QUALITY MONITORING STATIONS (UNITED STATES) 



- 29 



GROUND WATER QUALITY HON I TOR INC 

Station Locations 

Responi ible Agency: Montana Bureau of Nino and Ceology 







Total Caaine, 


Perforation 


Hap 


Well 


Depth Diaaeter 


Zona 


Number 


Location 


(a) <ca) 


Aquifer (■) 


2 


37N47E17DABB 


79 3.8 PVC 


Hart Coal 76-79 


3 


37N47E23AADD 


36 3.8 PVC 


Hart Coal 33-36 


4 


37N48E23BBCC 


104 3.8 FVC 


Pox Hllla- 102-104 
Hell Creek 


5 


37N47E1ABBB1 


16 10.2 FVC 


Alluviua 10-15 


6 


37N47E1ABBB2 


25 10.2 PVC 


Hart Coal 19-2S 


7 


37N47E12BBBB 


43 10.2 PVC 


Hart Coal 39-45 


8 


37N47E13AADD 


14 10.2 PVC 


Alluviua 10-13 


9 


37N47E13ADAA01 


43 








63 10.2 PVC 


Port Union 16-62 


10 


37N48E5BABB 


13 10.2 PVC 


Alluvlua-Coal 7-13 


11 


37M48E5AAAA 


67 IS. 2 STEEL Fox HllW- 6S-67 








Hell Creek 


12 


37N47E Sec 11 DDDD 


26 S.08 


Hart Coal 15-18 


13 


37M47E Sec 3 CCCC 


62. S 10.2 


Hart Coal S6-S9 


U 


37N47E Sec 4 IBAB 


82.6 10.2 


Hart Coal 75-78 


IS 


37N47E Sec 3 BBAA 


89 10.2 


Hart Coal 83-86 


16 


37M46E Sec 3 ABAB 


26 10.2 


24-25 


17 


37N47E Sec 16 DDDD 


88 10.6 


Hart Coal 80-83 


18 


37N46E Sec 1 BBBA 


90 10.2 


Hart Coal 80-82 


19 


37N47E Sec 13 AAAB 


59 10.2 


Hart Coal 54-56 


20 


37H47E Sec 24 CCCC 


22 S.08 


19-22 


21 


37N47E Sec 6 DBAA 


106 10.2 


Hart Coal 100-103 


22 


37N47E Sec 9 CBCC 
Parameters 


21 10.2 


18-21 


Storet* 




Analytical 


Sampling Frequency 


Code 


Parameter 
Bicarbonaces 


Method 


Station No. 


00440 


Electroraetric 


Sample collection 






Titration 


is annually 


01020 


Boron-dlss 


Emission Plasma 


for all locations 






1CP 


Identified above. 


00915 


Calcium 


Emission Plasma 




00445 


Carbonates 


Electrometrlc 


The analytical method 






Titration 


descriptions are those 


00940 


Chloride 


Ion Chromatography of the Montana Bureau 








of Mines and Geology 


00095 


Conductivity 


Wheatstone Brdg 


Laboratory where the 


01040 


Copper-dlss 


Emission Plasma, 
ICP 


samples are analyzed. 


00950 


Fluoride 


Ion Chromatography 


01046 


Iron-dlss 


Emission Plasma, 


ICP 


01049 


Lead-dlss 


Emission Plasma, 


ICP 


01130 


Llthlum-dlss 


Emission Plasma, 


ICP 


00925 


Magnesium 


Emission Plasma, 


ICP 


01056 


Manganese -diss 


Emission Plasma, 


ICP 


01060 


Molybdenum 


Emission Plasma, 


ICP 


00630 


Nitrate 


Ion Chromatography 


00400 


pH 


Electrometrlc 




00935 


Potassium 


Emission Plasma, 


ICP 


01145 


Selenlum-dlss 


AA 




00955 


Silica 


Emission Plasma, 


ICP 


00930 


Sodium 


Emission Plasma, 


ICP 


01080 


Strontlum-diss 


Emission Plasma, 


ICP 


00445 


Sulphate 


Ion Chromatography 


22703 


Uranium 


Fusion Flurometr 


Ic 


00190 


Zinc-diss 


Emission Plasma, 


ICP 


70301 


TDS 


Calculated 





'Computer storage and retrieval system - United States Geological Survey 
Symbols: AA-Atomlc Absorption; ICP-Inductlvely Coupled Plasma Unit 



- 30 




GROUND WATER QUALITY MONITORING (UNITED STATES) 



- 31 - 



GROUND WATER LEVELS TO MONITOR 



POTENTIAL DRAWDOWN DUE TO 



COAL SEAM DEWATERING 



Responsible Agency: Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology 



No. on Map Sampling 

2 to 22 Determine water levels 

quarterly 



- 32 




GROUNDWATER PIEZOMETERS TO MONITOR POTENTIAL 
DRAWDOWN DUE TO COAL SEAM DEWATERING 



- 33 - 



AMBIENT AIR QUALITY MONITORING 

Responsible Agency: State of Montana 

Air Quality Bureau 



No. on Map Location 

2 Richardson 

5 Flaxville 

6 TV Tower Hill 

7 Scobey Downtown 

8 Four Buttes 

TYPES OF SAMPLING 

Sulfation Rate - Monthly Averages 

METHODS 

Methods of Air Sampling and Analysis, 2nd Edition , "Tentative Method of 
Analysis of the Sulfation Rate of the Atmosphere (Lead Dioxide Plate 
Method - Turbidimetric Analysis," p. 691. 



34 - 




7 Scobey 6 



AMBIENT AIR QUALITY MONITORING (UNITED STATES) 



35 - 



ANNEX 3 



REPORTS REVIEWED DURING 1988 



BY THE POPLAR RIVER BILATERAL MONITORING COMMITTEE 



1 - 



REPORTS REVIEWED DURING 1988 
BY THE POPLAR RIVER BILATERAL MONITORING COMMITTEE 



1. Saskatchewan Power Corporation, 1987, Poplar River Power Station, 
Uranium in Groundwaters, Environmental Programs, 12 p. 

2. Linton, L. R., McDonald, R.A. and Hamilton, H.R., 1988, Evaluation 
of the Transboundary TDS and Boron Water Quality Objectivies for 
the Poplar River, Environment Canada, Water-Quality Branch, Regina, 
Saskatchewan, 78 p. 



- 2 - 



ANNEX 4 



RECOMMENDED FLOW APPORTIONMENT 



IN THE POPLAR RIVER BASIN 



BY THE INTERNATIONAL SOURIS-RED RIVERS ENGINEERING BOARD, 



POPLAR RIVER TASK FORCE (1976) 



- 1 



*RECOMMENDED FLOW APPORTIONMENT 
IN THE POPLAR RIVER BASIN 

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

1. 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. 

2. 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 con- 
fluence of Goose Creek and Middle Fork. 

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

i) When the total natural flow of the Middle Fork Poplar 
River, as determined below the confluence of Goose Creek, 
during the immediately preceding March 1st to May 31st 
period does not exceed 4,690 cubic decametres (3,800 
acre-feet), then a continuous minimum flow of 0.028 
cubic metres per second (1.0 cubic feet per second) 
shall be delivered to the United States on the East 
Poplar River at the International Boundary throughout 
the suceeding 12 month period commencing June 1st. In 
addition, a volume of 370 cubic decametres (300 acre-feet) 
shall be delivered to the United States upon demand at 
any time during the 12 month period commencing June 1st. 

li) 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 decametres (3,800 
acre-feet), but does not exceed 9,250 cubic decametres 
7,500 acre-feet), then a continuous minimum flow of 0.057 

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

-2- 



cubic metres per second (2.0 cubic feet per second) shall 
be delivered to the United States on the East Poplar River 
at the International Boundary during the succeeding period 
June 1st through August 31st. A minimum delivery of 0.028 
cubic metres per second (1.0 cubic feet per second) shall 
then be maintained from September 1st through to May 31st 
of the following year. In addition, a volume of 617 cubic 
decametres (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 decametres (7,500 
acre-feet), but does not exceed 14,800 cubic decametres 
(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 617 cubic decametres (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 decametres (12,000 acre-feet) then a con- 
tinuous 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 suceeding 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 decametres 
(1,000 acre-feet) shall be delivered to the United States 
upon demand at any time during the 12-month period com- 
mencing 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. 

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

-3- 



ANNEX 5 



METRIC CONVERSIONS 



- 1 - 



METRIC CONVERSION FACTORS 

ac = 4,047 m 2 = 0.404 7 ha 

ac-ft = 1,233.5 m 3 = 1.2335 dam 3 

C° = 1.8 F° 

cm = 0.3937 in. 

cm 2 = 0.155 in 2 

dam 3 = 1,000 m 3 = 0.8107 ac-ft 

ft 3 = 28.3171 x 10 -3 m 3 

ha = 10,000 m 2 = 2.471 ac 

hm = 100 m = 328.08 ft 

hm 3 = 1 x 10 6 m 3 

I.gpm = 0.0758 L/s 

in = 2.54 cm 

kg = 2.20462 lb = 1.1 x 10~ 3 tons 

km = 0.62137 miles 

km 2 = 0.3861 mi 2 

L = 0.3532 ft 3 = 0.21997 I. gal = 0.26420 U.S. gal 

L/s = 0.035 cfs = 13.193 I.gpm = 15.848 U.S. gpra 

m = 3.2808 ft 

m 2 = 10.7636 ft 2 

m 3 = 1,000 L = 35.3144 ft 3 = 219.97 I. gal = 264.2 U.S. gal 

m 3 /s = 35.314 cfs 

mm = 0.00328ft 

tonne = 1,000 kg - 1.1023 ton (short) 

U.S. gpm = 0.0631 L/s 

For Air Samples 

ppm ■ 100 pphm = 1000 X (Molecular Weight of substance/24.45) mg/m 3 

- 2 -