3.3.2.1 Saskatchewan 



In 2003, SaskPower reduced its monitoring network from 180 piezometers to about 85 piezometers after 

 receiving approval from Saskatchewan Environment. This reduction was based on modelling studies 

 undertaken by SaskPower. 



In past years the groundwater response to pumping has been illustrated through a regional drawdown 

 map prepared by SaskPower. However, the 2003 drawdown map indicated an apparent expansion in the 

 cone of depression in the vicinity of the International Boundary during 2003. Given that the 2003 

 withdrawals were the lowest in the past four years, and one of the lowest in the past 13 years, the 

 apparent expansion was anomalous. This was confirmed by the absence of any significant increases in 

 drawdown in Montana's monitoring wells (Figure 3.13). It was therefore decided to incorporate 

 hydrographs for several monitoring wells near the border as opposed to the drawdown map. 

 Hydrographs of these selected wells are shown in Figures 3.11 and 3.12. While there are some 

 anomalous data points in the hydrographs, they do clearly show that there have not been significant 

 changes in groundwater levels in the Hart Coal seam at the international boimdary in the past ten years. 

 Of particular note are monitoring wells M81 1 and M507 along the international boundary. 



The goal of the Salinity Control Project is to lower ground-water levels in the Empress sands below 

 Morrison Dam to approximately pre-reservoir levels. This is equivalent to roughly two to three mefres 

 of drawdown, and was achieved by the end of 1995 and again by the end of 1996. However, reduced 

 production over the past several years and increased recharge from higher reservoir levels and 

 precipitation has led to a significant contraction in the project's cone of depression with the cone of 

 depression being negligible at the end of 2003. 



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