A methodology for identifying ecologically significant groundwater recharge areas

Marchildon, Mason; Thompson, Peter J.; Cuddy, Shelly; Wexler, Eliezer J.; Howson, Katie; Kassenaar, J.D.C.

doi:10.1080/07011784.2015.1080125

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…The improved understanding of how the natural system responded to a wide range of climatic conditions over the last century provides insight into its resilience to future climate change. Marchildon et al (2016) studied ecologically significant groundwater recharge areas (ESGRA) of the Oro Moraine in the glaciated landscape of southern Ontario. ESGRAs are areas of land supporting hydraulic pathways that sustain sensitive groundwater-dependent ecosystems, such as coldwater streams and wetlands.…”

Section: Preface To the Special Issuementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Groundwater flow modeling and particle tracking are integrative approaches which require abundant data to describe the studied conditions; data are usually acquired through aquifer characterization. Models can be used to understand flow directions to surface features (Marchildon et al 2016) and to quantify groundwater discharge to rivers and springs (Levison et al 2016). They are particularly relevant to understanding past and future conditions, which can be linked to climate change scenarios, as illustrated by Levison et al (2016).…”

Section: Preface To the Special Issuementioning

confidence: 99%

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Groundwater–surface water interactions in Canada

Larocque

Broda

2016

Canadian Water Resources Journal / Revue canadienne des ressour

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Section: Preface To the Special Issuementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Preface To the Special Issuementioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater–surface water interactions in Canada

Larocque

Broda

2016

Canadian Water Resources Journal / Revue canadienne des ressour

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“…It is well established that land use activities can degrade groundwater quality, but establishing linkages between land use activities, subsurface flow paths, and lake water quality is more challenging. To understand the underlying regional scale groundwater flow systems, for which flow and transport processes generally occur on a temporal scale that cannot be directly captured by field measurements, regional scale numerical groundwater models can be used (Kazmierczak et al, 2016; Marchildon et al, 2015). Integrated groundwater‐surface water models are widely used to characterize regional groundwater flow systems and inform water resource and water quality management decisions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Integrated groundwater‐surface water models are widely used to characterize regional groundwater flow systems and inform water resource and water quality management decisions. For instance, in Ontario, Canada, a large number of regional integrated groundwater‐surface water models have been developed to inform decisions related to drinking water source protection, water resource management, and water quality protection initiatives (Holysh & Gerber, 2014; Marchildon et al, 2015). Regional scale field LGD investigations are highly resource intensive and to better focus these investigations it may be possible to apply existing regional groundwater‐surface water models that are based on extensive data sources and rigorous calibration and validation routines but developed for various management purposes to provide preliminary estimates of LGD volumes and spatial patterns.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating lacustrine groundwater discharge to a large glacial lake using regional scale radon‐222 surveys and groundwater modelling

Wallace

Wexler²,

Malott³

et al. 2021

Hydrological Processes

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Lacustrine groundwater discharge (LGD) can be an important pathway for delivering pollutants to lakes but this pathway is often poorly characterized. Evaluating the potential impact of LGD on lake water quality requires understanding the magnitude and spatial variability of LGD, as well as understanding the age and flow paths of the discharging groundwater (e.g., recharge area, groundwater flow paths, and travel times). This study first compares LGD rates along two $40 km shoreline lengths of a large glacial lake, Lake Simcoe, Canada, that were independently estimated via a radon-222 ( 222 Rn) field survey and via regional scale groundwater-surface water modelling. Backward particle tracking analysis is then used to examine the age and flow paths of the LGD and thereby assess the potential for the LGD to deliver anthropogenic pollutants to the lake. The field and modelling results compare well with respect to the magnitude and spatial variability ofLGD. However, the comparison highlights the need for well-defined hydrogeological characterization if regional scale models are to be applied for LGD estimation. The particle tracking analysis indicates large variation in the groundwater flow path lengths and travels times (>1000 years to <50 years) for LGD along the shoreline. This illustrates that the LGD along different shoreline areas has varying potential to deliver anthropogenic pollutants to the lake. The study findings demonstrate the benefits of comparing independent field measured and model-simulated LGD estimates, and moreover suggest that it may be possible, in some cases, to use existing regional scale groundwater-surface water models, purpose-built for other water resource and quality objectives, to conduct preliminary evaluation of LGD contributions to lakes. Preliminary model-based evaluation would enable field efforts aiming to quantify and manage LGD to be better targeted rather than relying solely on regional scale field techniques that are often highly resource intensive.

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“…The potential for DFR is often considered to be enhanced in areas of hummocky topography (e.g., Marchildon et al, ). One such example is the surface of the Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM) in southern Ontario.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Land cover controls on depression‐focused recharge on the Oak Ridges Moraine, southern Ontario, Canada

Greenwood

Buttle

2018

Hydrological Processes

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The Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM) is a key hydrogeologic feature in southern Ontario. Previous research has emphasized the importance of depression‐focused recharge (DFR) for the timing and location of water recharge to the ORM's aquifers. However, the significance of DFR has not been empirically demonstrated, and the ORM's permeable surficial deposits imply that rainfall and snowmelt will largely recharge vertically rather than move laterally to topographic depressions. The exception may be during winter and spring, when concrete soil frost limits infiltration and encourages overland flow. The potential for DFR was examined for closed depressions under forest and agricultural land covers with similar soils and surficial geology. Air temperatures, precipitation, snow depth and water equivalent, soil water contents, soil freezing, and depression surface‐water levels were monitored during the winter and spring of 2012–2013 and 2013–2014. Recharge (R) was estimated at the crest and base of each depression using a 1‐dimensional water balance approach and surface‐applied Br− tracing. Both forest and agricultural land covers experienced soil freezing; however, forest soils did not develop concrete frost. Conversely, agricultural fields saw concrete frost, overland flow, episodic ponding, and subsequent drainage of rain‐on‐snow and snowmelt inputs in open depressions. Recharge at the base of open depressions exceeded that in surrounding areas by an order of magnitude, suggesting that DFR is a significant hydrologic process during winter and spring under agricultural land cover on the ORM. Closed topographic depressions under agricultural land cover on the ORM crest may serve as critical recharge “hot spots” during winter and spring, and the ability of the unsaturated zone beneath these depressions to modify the chemistry of recharging water deserves further attention.

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A methodology for identifying ecologically significant groundwater recharge areas

Cited by 4 publications

References 31 publications

Groundwater–surface water interactions in Canada

Groundwater–surface water interactions in Canada

Evaluating lacustrine groundwater discharge to a large glacial lake using regional scale radon‐222 surveys and groundwater modelling

Land cover controls on depression‐focused recharge on the Oak Ridges Moraine, southern Ontario, Canada

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