Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee 



Dq)artnient of State 

 Washington, D.C., United States 



Governor's Office 



State of Montana 



Helena, Montana, United States 



Department of External Affairs 

 and International Trade Canada 

 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada 



Saskatchewan Environment and 

 Resource Management 

 Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada 



Ladies and Gentlemen: 



Haein is tfie 15* Annual Report of the Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee. This rq»rt 

 discusses the Committee activities of 1995 and presents the proposed schedule for 1996. 



During 1995, the Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee continued to fulfil the 

 responsibilities assigned by the governments under the Poplar River Cooperative Monitoring 

 Agreement dated Sq)tember 23, 1980. Through exchange of Diplomatic Notes, on 

 March 12, 1987, the Arrangement was extended to March 1991. In July 1992, another exchange 

 of Diplomatic Notes extended the Arrangement retroactively fhjm March 31, 1991 to March 31, 

 19%. In addition, the Arrangement was modified to terminate the quarterly exchange of data and 

 substitute an annual exchange of data. 



The enclosed rqwrt summarizes current conditions and compares them to guidelines for specific 

 parameter values that were developed by the International Joint Commission under the 1977 

 Reference from Canada and the United States. After examination and evaluation of the 

 monitoring information for 1995, the Committee finds that the measured conditions meet the 

 recommmded objectives. However, the Committee notes that the flow-weighted concentration 

 of total dissolved solids in streamflow in the East Poplar River at the International Boundary 

 continues to increase and is approaching the long-term objective of 1,000 milligrams per litre. The 

 Committee also notes that there is the need to finalize the three unresolved parameters - pH, 

 mercury in fish, and unionized ammonia. 



During 1995, monitoring continued in accordance with Technical Monitoring Schedules outlined 

 in 1992 Annual Report of the Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee. 



Yours sincerely. 



Robert Davis 

 Chairman^nited States Section 



Richard Kellow 



Chairman, Canadian Section 



/Ce . ^ . ~X .:t-c 



GirffFritz 

 Member, Uni 



States Section 



4^— 



2C 



Darryl Nargang 

 Member, Canadian Section 



