3.0 WATER AND AIR: MONITORING AND INTERPRETATIONS 



3.1 Poplar River Pow er Station Operation 



In 1996, the average capacity factor for Unit No. 1 was 85.2 percent. The average capacity factor 

 for Unit No. 2 was 82.4 percent. The capacity factors are based on the maximum generation 

 rating of 297.8 MW/h for Unit No. 1 and 294.0 MW/h for Unit No. 2. Total power generated 

 from both units was 4,355,700 gross megawatt-hours which is about 97 percent of 1995 power 

 and 99 percent of 1994 power. 



The only activity completed on the ash lagoons during 1996 was the installation of a new discharge 

 culvert between Ash Lagoons 1 and 2. The construction of new ash dykes around Ash Lagoon 

 #2 may take place in 1997 to make room for future operations. 



3.2 East Poplar River 

 3.2.1 Streamflow 



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

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

 was 20 100 cubic decameters (dam') or 199 percent of the 1931 to 1990 median seasonal flow. 

 A comparison of 1996 mean monthly discharge with the 1931-90 median flow is shown in Figure 

 3.1. 



Figure 3.1 



o 



z 



8 



MEDIAN OF MCXmiLY MEAN DISCHARGE FOR 1931-90 



MONTHLY MEAN DISCHARGE FOR 1996 



s '<^ a 



o 

 cr 



< 0.5 



a 



MAR 



APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT 



Discharge during 1996 as Compared with the Median Discharge from 1931- 

 1990 for Poplar River at the International Boundary. 



