HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2003 



The Poplar River Power Station completed its twentieth full year of operation in 2003. The two 

 300-megawatt coal-fired units generated 4,470,455 gross megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity. 

 The average capacity factors for Units No. 1 and 2 were 84.5 percent and 83.0 percent, 

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

 both Unit No. 1 and Unit No. 2. Similar to other years, scheduled maintenance was completed in 

 the spring and fall of 2003. 



Monitoring information collected in both Canada and the United States during 2003 was exchanged 

 in the spring of 2004. Several changes were made in the Technical Monitoring Schedules for the 

 year 2003. The ground- water monitoring network operated by SaskPower was reduced from 180 

 piezometers to about 85 piezometers after approval from Saskatchewan Environment. This 

 reduction was based upon modeling studies undertaken by SaskPower. In 2003, due to a reduction 

 in available fiinding and using specific conductance to estimate total dissolved solids (TDS), the 

 number of surface-water-quality samples collected at both Poplar River boundary stations by the 

 U.S. Geological Survey was reduced from six per year to four per year. In 2004, the number of 

 surface-water-quality samples collected at these stations will be reduced further, with the U.S. 

 Geological Survey collecting four samples and Environment Canada collecting none. 



The recorded volume of the Poplar River at International Boundary from March 1 to May 3 1 , 2003 

 was 10,050 dam^ (8,150 acre-feet). Based on International Joint Commission (IJC) recom- 

 mendations and the assumption that the recorded flow is the natural flow, the United States was 

 entitled to a minimum discharge on the East Poplar River of 0.085 cubic metres per second (mVs) 

 (3.0 cubic feet per second (ft^/s)) for the period June 1, 2003 to August 31, 2003 and 0.057 m^/s 

 (2.0 ftVs) for the period September 1, 2003 to May 31, 2004. The minimum flow of 0.028 mVs 

 (1.0 ft^/s) for the period January 1 to May 31, 2003 had previously been determined on the basis of 

 the Poplar River flow volume for March 1 to May 3 1 , 2002. Daily flows in 2003 met or exceeded 

 the minimum flow recommended by the IJC except for June 7-11, June 13 to September 9, 

 September 1 1 , and December 28-3 1 . 



In addition to the minimum flow, the IJC apportiormient recommendation entitles the United States 

 to an on-demand release to be delivered on the East Poplar River during the twelve-month period 

 commencing June 1. Based on the runoff volume of 3,960 dam^ (3,210 acre-feet) recorded at the 

 Poplar River at International Boundary gauging station for March 1 through May 31, 2002, the 

 United States was entitled to an additional release of 370 dam^ (300 acre-feet) from Cookson 

 Reservoir during the succeeding twelve-month period commencing June 1, 2002. Montana 

 requested this release to be made between May 1 and May 31, 2003. A volume of 386 dam^ (313 

 acre-feet), in addition to the minimum flow, was delivered during this period. 



The 2003 five-year TDS flow-weighted concentrations were below the long-term objective of 

 1,000 milligrams per litre (mg/L). The maximum monthly value calculated in 2003 was 887 mg/L, 

 which was less than the maximum monthly value in 2002. Boron water-quality sample data was 

 incomplete and no analysis was conducted. 



Ill 



