HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2004 



The Poplar River Power Station completed its twenty-first full year of operation in 2004. The two 

 300-megawatt coal-fired units generated 4,557,536 gross megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity. 

 The average capacity factors for Units No. 1 and 2 were 84.4 percent and 85.9 percent, 

 respectively. The capacity factors are based on the maximum generating rating of 305 MWh for 

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

 the spring and fall of 2004. 



Monitoring information collected in both Canada and the United States during 2004 was exchanged 

 in the spring of 2005. One significant change that occurred in 2004 was the suspension of surface- 

 water-quality sample collection at the East Poplar River boundary station by Environment Canada. 



The recorded volimie of the Poplar River at International Boundary from March 1 to May 31, 2004 

 was 8,410 dam^ (6,820 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 minimimi discharge on the East Poplar River of 0.057 cubic metres per second (m^/s) 

 (2.0 cubic feet per second (ftVs)) for the period June 1, 2004 to August 31, 2004 and 0.028 mVs 

 (1.0 ft^/s) for the period September 1, 2004 to May 31, 2005. The minimum flow of 0.057 mVs 

 (2.0 ftVs) for the period January 1 to May 31, 2004 had previously been determined on the basis of 

 the Poplar River flow volume for March 1 to May 31, 2003. Daily flows in 2004 met or exceeded 

 the minimum flow recommended by the IJC except for January 27 to March 25, when daily flows 

 were below the recommended minimum due to ice conditions in the channel. 



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

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

 commencing Jime 1. Based on the runoff volume of 10,050 dam^ (8,150 acre-feet) recorded at the 

 Poplar River at International Boundary gauging station for March 1 through May 31, 2003, the 

 United States was entitled to an additional release of 617 dam^ (500 acre-feet) from Cookson 

 Reservoir during the succeeding twelve-month period commencing June 1, 2003. Montana 

 requested this release to be made between May 1 and May 31, 2004. A volume of 728 dam^ (590 

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



The 2004 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 2004 was about 935 

 mg/L, which was slightly higher than the 2003 maximum monthly value of 887 mg/L, but lower 

 than the maximum value of 943 mg/L reported in 2002. Boron concentrations for 2004, though 

 based upon a limited number of water-quality samples, continued to remain well below the long- 

 term objective of 2.5 mg/L. 



