Impact of Canadian Power Plant Development and Flow Apportionment on the Poplar River Basin

摘要

A 300 megawatt coal-fired power plant has been constructed by Saskatchewan Power Corporation on the East Fork of the Poplar River about 4 miles north of the International Boundary, another 300 megawatt unit is under construction. The power plant and associated reservoir will result in a water use and will modify the transboundary flow of the Poplar River. This EIS addresses the impacts of several flow apportionment alternatives in addition to other potential impacts of the power plant on the U.S. part of the Poplar River Basin. The Poplar River flows will be reduced under conditions of the recommended apportionment. These reduced flows result in less water available for irrigation expansion. Fumigation under very stable conditions could result in elevated SO2 concentrations. The impact of fumigation events would be minimal because of the small area affected by one event. Comparison of the predicted concentrations of SO2, NOx and particulates with acute and chronic threshold limits for selected plant species indicated no detectable impacts on the terrestrial vegetation.