21 

 3.3.2 Ground-Water Levels 



3.3.2.1 Saskatchewan 



In 1996 nineteen new piezometers were installed in the Hart Coal Seam and a further eighteen 

 piezometers from the Frenchmen aquifer testing program were added to the supplementary supply 

 monitoring network that year. With these extensive additions, no new piezometers have been added 

 to the monitoring network since that time. Currently, about 1 80 piezometers are monitored as part of 

 this project. Figure 3.14 shows the December 1999 drawdowns of the Hart Coal Seam. There were 

 no significant changes in the magnitude and extent of drawdowns from previous years. The one meter 

 drawdown contour currently remains about two kilometers north of international boundary. There have 

 not been significant changes in the cone of depression for the past several years suggesting that the 

 system has approached a semi-equilibrium condition. However, minor drawdown fluctuations in 

 response to climatic and production variations can be expected. 



The goal of the Salinity Project is to lower ground-water levels in the Empress Sands below Morrison 

 Dam to approximately pre-reservoir levels. This is equivalent to roughly two to three metres of 

 drawdown, and was achieved by the end of 1995 and again by the end of 1996. However, reduced 

 production over the past four years and increased recharge from higher reservoir levels and 

 precipitation have led to a significant contraction in the project's cone of depression. One-meter 

 drawdown cones are now restricted to the area around PW87103 and PW87104 on the east side of the 

 river and the immediate vicinity of PW90 1 09 on the west side. Figure 3.15 shows the December 1 999 

 drawdowns. 



Increased salinity in the project area has resulted in questions as to whether the current project design 

 is sufficient to control salinity. SaskPower conducted a study of the salinity project which has provided 

 recommendations for a long-term solution for the operation of the project. SaskPower expects to 

 provide a recommended course of action in 2000. 



