3.0 WATER AND AIR: MONITORING AND INTERPRETATIONS 



3.1 Poplar River Power Station Operation 



In 2005, the two 300-megawatt coal-fired units generated 4,345,960 gross megawatts (MW) of 

 electricity. The average capacity factors for Unit No. 1 and 2 were 81.5 percent and 80.7 percent, 

 respectively. The capacity factors are based on the maximum generating rating of 305 MW/h for both 

 Unit No.l and Unit No. 2. Similar to other years, scheduled maintenance was completed in the spring 

 and fall of 2005. 



3.2 Surface Water 



3.2.1 Streamflow 



Streamflow in the Poplar River basin was well below normal in 2005. The March to October recorded 

 flow of the Poplar River at International Boundary, an indicator of natural flow in the basin, was 4,950 

 cubic decametres (dam^) (4,010 acre-feet), which was 48 percent of the 1931-2000 median seasonal 

 flow of 10,290 dam^ (8,340 acre-feet). A comparison of 2005 monthly mean discharge with the 1931- 

 2000 median monthly mean discharge is shown in Figure 3.1. 



Median of Monthly Mean Discharge for 1931-2000 

 - Monthly Mean Discharge for 2005 



Apr 



May 



Aug 



Sep 



Figure 3.1 Discharge during 2005 as Compared with the Median Discharge from 

 1931-2000 for the Poplar River at International Boundary. 



