Interaction of groundwater and shallow lakes on outwash sediments in the sub-humid Boreal Plains of Canada

Smerdon, Brian; Devito, K. J.; Mendoza, Carl

doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2005.04.001

Cited by 112 publications

(146 citation statements)

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“…Previous studies of groundwater exchange in Boreal plains ecosystems of Alberta have focused primarily on upland dominated watersheds (Ferone and Devito, 2004;Smerdon et al, 2005). The results presented here are the first reported estimates of groundwater contributions for wetland dominated watersheds which dominate northeastern Alberta in the vicinity of oil sands developments near Fort McMurray.…”

Section: Relevance To the Water Budgetmentioning

confidence: 83%

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The contribution of groundwater discharge to the overall water budget of two typical Boreal lakes in Alberta/Canada estimated from a radon mass balance

Schmidt

Gibson

Santos

et al. 2010

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Radon-222, a naturally-occurring radioisotope with a half-life of 3.8 days, was used to estimate groundwater discharge to small lakes in wetland-dominated basins in the vicinity of Fort McMurray, Canada. This region is under significant water development pressure including both oil sands mining and in situ extraction. Field investigations were carried out in March and July 2008 to measure radon-222 distributions in the water column of two lakes as a tracer of groundwater discharge. Radon concentrations in these lakes ranged from 0.5 to 72 Bq/m 3 , while radon concentrations in groundwaters ranged between 2000 and 8000 Bq/m 3 . A radon mass balance, used in comparison with stable isotope mass balance, suggested that the two lakes under investigation had quite different proportions of annual groundwater inflow (from 0.5% to about 14% of the total annual water inflow). Lower discharge rates were attributed to a larger drainage area/lake area ratio which promotes greater surface connectivity. Interannual variability in groundwater proportions is expected despite an implied seasonal constancy in groundwater discharge rates. Our results demonstrate that a combination of stable isotope and radon mass balance approaches provides information on flowpath partitioning that is useful for evaluating surface-groundwater connectivity and acid sensitivity of individual water bodies of interest in the Alberta Oil Sands Region.

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Section: Relevance To the Water Budgetmentioning

confidence: 83%

“…These parameters influence the general composition of the lake water budget. Lakes in upland dominated watersheds are dominated by groundwater inputs, whereas surface water runoff is of insignificant relevance (Ferone and Devito, 2004;Smerdon et al, 2005).…”

Section: Relevance To the Water Budgetmentioning

confidence: 99%

The contribution of groundwater discharge to the overall water budget of two typical Boreal lakes in Alberta/Canada estimated from a radon mass balance

Schmidt

Gibson

Santos

et al. 2010

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The opposite was true in the water loss phase, when surface water displayed a more pronounced shift than groundwater. This 442 R. ARAGÓN, E. G. JOBBÁGY AND E. F. VIGLIZZO asymmetrical behaviour can be explained by a differential predominance of ground to surface water fluxes and also by changes in the hydrological connectivity throughout the landscape (Ward et al, 2002;Smerdon et al, 2005;Martin andSoranno, 2006, Jackson et al, 2009). In addition, evaporative water losses can achieve higher rates for surface water bodies than groundwater, given that year-round tank evaporation usually exceeds the potential evapotranspiration of the typical crop and pasture covers of the Pampas (Viglizzo et al, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surface and groundwater dynamics in the sedimentary plains of the Western Pampas (Argentina)

2011

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Sedimentary plains with extremely flat topography, such as the Pampas in Argentina, often display flooding-drought cycles. Changes in water table depth and surface water coverage affect natural and cultivated vegetation, wildlife, and people. Here, we describe groundwater dynamics and water-body expansion in a 10-year flooding cycle in the valuable agricultural lands of Western Pampas. We analysed water-table depth, surface water coverage, and rainfall from 1996 to 2005 covering ¾28 000 km 2 . We characterized the dynamics of water storage based on groundwater observations and remote sensing estimates of the coverage (LANDSAT) and elevation (ENVISAT) of water bodies as well as water storage anomalies captured by the gravity recovery and climate experiment (GRACE). Surface water coverage fluctuated from 3 to 28% and groundwater levels displayed a ¾2Ð5 m change. Regional water storage raised by ¾800 mm with 63% of this water accretion accounted by groundwater. Ground and surface water dynamics were closely coupled but this link differed between lowlands and highlands and depending on whether the system was at the gaining or retraction stage. This asymmetrical behaviour was likely caused by shifts in regional connectivity. Regional surface C groundwater storage compared well with water storage anomalies obtained from GRACE, suggesting that this tool may represent a methodological shortcut to estimate water storage changes. The tight connection between ground and surface water, and the relatively slow process of cumulative water accretion and coalescence of water bodies that precedes flood events offer the opportunity of developing warning systems that could help land managers to adapt to climate changes.

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“…As reviewed above, recent studies have significantly expanded our understanding of shallow groundwater processes in this hydrogeologically complex terrain. However, much still needs to be done, particularly in understanding the pivotal role of wetlands, ponds, and lakes as connectors between surface and groundwater systems (e.g., Ferone and Devito 2004;Smerdon et al 2005;Devito et al 2012). Further development of isotope and mass balance approaches, along with other remote sensing platforms that detect soil moisture through dielectric properties (e.g., Canadian Space Agency's Radarsat; Parks and Grunsky 2002) or gravity fields (e.g., NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE); Schmidt et al 2008), may help to better understand the complex hydrogeologic processes and the patterns they create in this landscape.…”

Section: Prognosismentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts and prognosis of natural resource development on water and wetlands in Canada’s boreal zone

et al. 2015

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Industrial development within Canada's boreal zone has increased in recent decades. Forest management activities, pulp and paper operations, electric power generation, mining, conventional oil and gas extraction, nonconventional oil sand development, and peat mining occur throughout the boreal zone with varying impacts on water resources. We review impacts of these industries on surface water, groundwater, and wetlands recognizing that heterogeneity in the dominance of different hydrologic processes (i.e., precipitation, evapotranspiration, groundwater recharge, and runoff generation) across the boreal zone influences the degree of impacts on water resources. Through the application of best management practices, forest certification programs, and science-based guidelines, timber, pulp and paper, and peat industries have reduced their impacts on water resources, although uncertainties remain about long-term recovery following disturbance. Hydroelectric power developments have moved toward reducing reservoir size and creating more natural flow regimes, although impacts of aging infrastructure and dam decommissioning is largely unknown. Mineral and metal mining industries have improved regulation and practices, but the legacy of abandoned mines across the boreal zone still presents an ongoing risk to water resources. Oil and gas industries, including non-conventional resources such as oil sands, is one of the largest industrial users of water and, while significant progress has been made in reducing water use, more work is needed to ensure the protection of water resources. All industries contribute to atmospheric deposition of pollutants that may eventually be released to downstream waters. Although most industrial sectors strive to improve their environmental performance with regards to water resources, disruptions to natural flow regimes and risks of degraded water quality exist at local to regional scales in the boreal zone. Addressing the emerging challenge of managing the expanding, intensifying, and cumulative effects of industries in conjunction with other stressors, such as climate change and atmospheric pollution, across the landscape will aid in preserving Canada's rich endowment of water resources.Key words: natural resources, development, hydrology, biogeochemistry, cumulative effects, water quality, water quantity. Résumé :Le développement industriel dans la zone boréale canadienne s'est accru au cours des récentes décades. Les activités en aménagement forestier, les opérations dans les pâtes et papiers, la génération de pouvoir électrique, les mines, l'extraction de l'huile et du gaz conventionnel, le développement non conventionnel des sables bitumineux ainsi que le prélèvement de la tourbe s'effectuent sur l'ensemble de la zone boréale avec divers impacts sur les ressources hydriques. Les auteurs passent en revue les impacts de ces industries sur l'eau de surface, l'eau souterraine et les terrains humides, tout en reconnaissant que l'hétérogénéité de la dominance des différents processus ...

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Interaction of groundwater and shallow lakes on outwash sediments in the sub-humid Boreal Plains of Canada

Cited by 112 publications

References 40 publications

The contribution of groundwater discharge to the overall water budget of two typical Boreal lakes in Alberta/Canada estimated from a radon mass balance

The contribution of groundwater discharge to the overall water budget of two typical Boreal lakes in Alberta/Canada estimated from a radon mass balance

Surface and groundwater dynamics in the sedimentary plains of the Western Pampas (Argentina)

Impacts and prognosis of natural resource development on water and wetlands in Canada’s boreal zone

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