Characterizing groundwater flow paths in an undeveloped region through synoptic river sampling for environmental tracers

Brian D. Smerdon, W. Payton Gardner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Synoptic sampling of three rivers for a suite of environmental tracers is shown to be an efficient way to gain an understanding of groundwater flow paths for a previously unstudied large area in Alberta, Canada. For regional-scale characterization, classical hydrogeological techniques are limited by the location and number of groundwater wells. This study demonstrates that rivers can become an easily accessible location to sample the distribution of groundwater flow paths discharging to surface water. Modelling of groundwater discharge to the rivers and groundwater mean age helps generate knowledge of groundwater circulation for a large area, which is useful for conceptual model development and focusing future characterization efforts. Results indicate that the benchland areas in this region, with higher topographic relief, had hydrogeological conditions that favoured deeper groundwater circulation with a modelled mean age greater than 100 years from recharge to discharge. Lower relief areas, which coincide with a transition in bedrock formations in this region, appeared to have much shorter and shallower groundwater circulation. The approach required a field program completed in 5 days and financial budget approximately equivalent to drilling a single borehole and installing a monitoring well. It is concluded that under the right conditions, where few classical observation points exist and knowledge is limited, synoptic sampling of rivers can be used to develop scientifically defensible conceptual models at a comparable scale to regional planning and resource management.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere14464
JournalHydrological Processes
Volume36
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2022

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