10 

 3.0 EAST POPLAR RIVER 



3.1 Streamflow 



Streamflow in the Poplar River basin was below normal during 1991. The March to 

 October recorded volume of the Poplar River at the International Boundary, an indicator 

 of natural flow in the basin, was 3 720 cubic decameters (dam^) or 37% of the 1931 to 



1990 median seasonal flow. For the fifth consecutive year, the flow has been below 

 normal which is indicative of the prolonged drought in the great plains. A comparison of 



1991 with the 1961-90 median flow is shown in Figure 3.1. 



The recorded volume for the East Poplar River at the International Boundary was 2 110 

 dam^ in 1991. This volume is 61% of the median annual flow since the completion of 

 Morrison Dam in 1975. 



3.2 Apportionment 



In 1976 the International Souris-Red Rivers Engineering Board, through its Poplar River 

 Task Force, completed an investigation and made a recommendation to the governments 

 of Canada and the United States regarding the apportionment of waters in the Poplar 

 River basin. Although Canada and the United States have not officially adopted the 

 Apportionment Recommendation, the Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee has 

 adhered to the recommendation in each of its annual reports. Annex 4 contains the 

 apportionment recommendation. 



