fflGHLIGHTS FOR 1996 



The Poplar River Power Station completed its thirteenth full year of operation in 1996. The two 

 300-megawatt coal-fired units generated 4 355 700 gross megawatt hours of electricity which is 

 about 97 percent of the 1995 power and 99 percent of 1994 power. The average capacity factors 

 for Units No. 1 and 2 was 85.2 percent and 82.4 percent, respectively. 



Monitoring information collected in both Canada and the United States during 1996 was exchanged 

 in the spring of 1997. In general, the sampling locations, frequency of collection, and parameters 

 met the requirements identified in the 1996 Technical Monitoring Schedules set forth in the 1995 

 annual report. 



Streamflow in the Poplar River basin was above normal in 1996. The March to October recorded 

 flow for the Poplar River at the International Boundary, an indicator of namral flow in the basin, 

 was 20 100 cubic decametres (dan^) which was 199 per cent of the 1931 to 1990 median seasonal 

 flow. The 1996 recorded flow volume of the East Poplar River at the International Boundary was 

 2 510 dam\ This volume is 85 per cent of the median annual flow since the completion of the 

 Morrison Dam in 1975. Montana was entitled to a minimum discharge on the East Poplar River 

 of 0.085 cubic metres per second (nf/s) for the period June 1 to August 31, 1996 and 0.057 nf/s 

 from September 1, 1996 through May 31, 1997 based upon apportionment recommendations of 

 the International Joint Commission (UC). The on-demand release, in accordance with the UC 

 recommendations, entitled Montana to a release of 370 danf from Cookson Reservoir during the 

 twelve-month period commencing June 1, 1996. Montana requested this release to be made 

 between May 1 and May 30, 1996. A volume of 339 danf , in addition to the minimum flow, was 

 delivered during this period. 



The 1996 5-year total dissolved solids (TDS) flow-weighted concentrations continued to approach 

 the long-term objective of 1 000 milligrams per litre (mg/L). Boron concentrations for 1996 

 continued to remain well below the long-term objective of 2.5 milligrams per litre (mg/L). One 

 dissolved oxygen concenfration sample was below the objective of 4.0 mg/L. 



D. McNaughton, Environment Canada, at the request of the Bilateral Monitoring Committee 

 conducted an analysis comparing the water-quality on the Poplar River main stem at the 

 International Boundary with the East Poplar River. The report concluded that despite the fact that 

 the Poplar River is not directly affected by the discharge of cooling water from the Poplar River 

 Power Plant, it would appear that there are similarities in the long-term behaviour of water-quality 

 in this branch of the river to that observed in the East Poplar River. Measured and calculated 

 values for both TDS and Boron, however, remain well below the short- and long-term objectives 

 that were established for the East Poplar River. 



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