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 

 and International Trade Canada 

 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada 



Saskatchewan Environment and 

 Resource Management 

 Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada 



Ladies and Gentlemen: 



Herein is the 16* Annual Report of the Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee. This report 

 discusses the Committee activities of 1996 and presents the proposed schedule for 1997. 



During 1996, the Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee continued to fulfil the 

 responsibilities assigned by the governments under the Poplar River Cooperative Monitoring 

 Agreement dated September 23, 1980. Through exchange of Diplomatic Notes, on 

 March 12, 1987, the Arrangement was extended to March 1991. In July 1992, another exchange 

 of Diplomatic Notes extended the Arrangement retroactively from March 31, 1991 to March 31, 

 1996. In December 1995, a request was made by the Committee to extend the Arrangement for 

 another five years. In addition, the Arrangement was modified to terminate the quarterly exchange 

 of data and substimte an aimual exchange of data. 



The enclosed report summarizes current conditions and compares them to guidelines for specific 

 parameter values that were developed by the International Joint Commission under the 1977 

 Reference from Canada and the United States. After examination and evaluation of the monitoring 

 information for 1996, the Committee finds that the measured conditions meet the recommended 

 objectives. However, the Committee notes that the flow-weighted concentration of total dissolved 

 solids in streamflow in the East Poplar River at the International Boundary continues to increase 

 and is approaching the long-term objective of 1,000 milligrams per litre. 



During 1996, monitoring continued in accordance with Technical Monitoring Schedules outlined 

 in 1995 Armual Report of the Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee. 



Yours sincerely, 



Robert Davis 

 Chairnj^jrVnited States Sectio 



.^^^^^ 



Richard Kellow 



Chairman, Canadian Section 



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Jacjs^mlts 



Member, United States Section 



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Darryl Nargang 



Member, Canadian Section 



