3.0 WATER AND AIR: MONITORING AND INTERPRETATIONS 



3.1 Poplar River Power Station Operation 



In 1999, the average capacity factor for Unit No. 1 was 88.6 percent. The average capacity factor for 

 Unit No. 2 was 81.1 percent. The capacity factors are based on the maximum generation rating of 



305.0 MW/h for Unit No. 1 and 310.0 MW/h for Unit No. 2. Total power generated from both units 

 was 4, 1 85, 100 gross megawatt-hours. There were no construction projects undertaken during 1999. 

 Similar to other years, scheduled maintenance was completed in the fall and spring of 1 999. 



3.2 East Poplar River 



3.2.1 Streamflow 



Streamflow in the Poplar River basin was well above normal in 1999 due to near-record level snowpack 

 in the region. The March to October recorded flow of the Poplar River at International Boundary, an 

 indicator of natural flow in the basin, was 38,010 cubic decametres (dam^) (30,830 acre-feet), which was 

 377 percent of the 1 93 1 to 1 990 median seasonal flow. A comparison of 1 999 monthly mean discharge 

 with the 1931-90 median discharge is shown in Figure 3.1. 



• O--- Med Ian ofMonthly Mean Discharge for 1931-90 

 -O— Monthly Mean Discharge for 1999 



. 400 



T3 



. 350 § 



o 



o> 



300 « 

 o 

 a. 



250 g 

 u. 

 o 



200 3 



o 



150 .E 



o 

 D) 



100 s 



JZ 



o 

 50 -^ 



—6 

 OCT 



Figure 3.1 Discharge during 1999 as Compared with the Median Discharge from 

 1931-1990 for the Poplar River at International Boundary. 



