Abstract
Ancient river channels or subglacial drainage networks infilled with younger sediments can include significant deposits of highly permeable sands and gravels. Despite being hidden at surface, such systems are ubiquitous globally, can form highly productive groundwater reservoirs and have significant influence on regional hydrogeology, contaminant transport and local water resources. Consequently, the hydraulic characteristics of such buried-valley or “paleovalley” aquifers have been the subject of increasing study. In this study, the hydrogeology of the Sunset Paleovalley in Northeast British Columbia (NEBC, Canada) was conceptualized using data from newly installed, scientifically designed monitoring wells and available hydrogeological data for buried-valley aquifer systems in NEBC and the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. Using this conceptual model, a regional-scale, steady-state, groundwater-flow model was constructed to assess recharge magnitude and mechanisms, fluxes and residence times to inform aquifer management. The calibrated average aerial recharge rate was 16 mm/year, within the range of recharge estimates previously reported for NEBC (0.5–78 mm/year). The average residence times for buried valley sand/gravel and weathered bedrock aquifers were estimated at 3,200 and 2,900 years, respectively, and are indicative of a slowly flushed system, consistent with the 1,300 mg/L average total dissolved solids groundwater chemistry. The current groundwater extraction rates are a small fraction of the simulated groundwater discharge to the Kiskatinaw River. The findings can support management of groundwater resources in similar hydrogeological settings common to NEBC.
Résumé
D’anciens bras de rivière ou des réseaux de drainage sous-glaciaires comblés par des sédiments récents peuvent contenir des dépôts importants de sables et graviers fortement perméables. Bien qu’étant masqués en surface, de tels systèmes sont partout présents dans le monde, et peuvent constituer des réservoirs souterrains très productifs et ont une influence considérable sur l’hydrogéologie régionale, le transport des polluants et les ressources en eau locales. En conséquence, les caractéristiques hydrauliques de tels aquifères de vallées fossiles ou de « paléo-vallées » ont fait l’objet d’études de plus en plus nombreuses. Dans la présente étude, l’hydrogéologie de la Paléo-vallée de Sunset dans le Nord Est de la Colombie Britannique (NECB, Canada) a été conceptualisée à partir des données issues de puits de surveillance nouvellement créés et conçus scientifiquement et des données hydrogéologiques disponibles provenant des systèmes aquifères de la vallée fossile du NECB et du Bassin Sédimentaire de l’Ouest Canadien. Sur la base de ce modèle conceptuel, un modèle régional de l’écoulement des eaux souterraines en régime permanent a été établi pour évaluer l’amplitude et les mécanismes de la recharge, les flux et les temps de résidence, afin d’éclairer la gestion de l’aquifère. Le taux de recharge aérienne moyen calibré était de 16 mm/an, se situant dans la gamme d’estimations de la recharge rapportées antérieurement pour le NECB (0.5–78 mm/an). Les temps de résidence moyens dans les sables et graviers de la vallée fossile et les aquifères du socle altéré ont été estimés respectivement à 3,200 et 2,900 années, et sont révélateurs d’un système à ressuyage lent, cohérent avec la chimie des eaux souterraines à 1,300 mg/L de solides totaux dissous en moyenne. Les taux de prélèvement actuels des eaux souterraines sont une petite partie de la décharge simulée des eaux souterraines pour la Kiskatinaw River. Les résultats peuvent aider la gestion des ressources en eaux souterraines dans des contextes hydrogéologiques similaires que ceux de la NEBC.
Resumen
Los antiguos canales fluviales o las redes de drenaje subglacial recubiertos de sedimentos más jóvenes pueden incluir importantes depósitos de arenas y gravas altamente permeables. A pesar de estar ocultos en la superficie, estos sistemas son abundantes en todo el mundo, pueden formar depósitos de agua subterránea muy productivos y tienen una influencia significativa en la hidrogeología regional, el transporte de contaminantes y los recursos hídricos locales. Por consiguiente, las características hidráulicas de estos acuíferos de valle enterrado o “paleovalle” han sido objeto de un estudio cada vez más intenso. En este estudio, la hidrogeología del Sunset Paleovalley en el Northeast British Columbia (NEBC, Canadá) fue conceptualizada utilizando datos de pozos de monitoreo recientemente instalados y diseñados científicamente y datos hidrogeológicos disponibles para los sistemas acuíferos de valles enterrados en NEBC y en la cuenca sedimentaria del oeste de Canadá. Utilizando este modelo conceptual, se construyó un modelo de flujo de agua subterránea a escala regional y en estado estacionario para evaluar la magnitud y los mecanismos de recarga, los flujos y los tiempos de residencia para informar sobre la gestión de los acuíferos. La tasa de recarga media calibrada fue de 16 mm/año, dentro del rango de estimaciones de recarga previamente reportadas para el NEBC (0.5–78 mm/año). Los tiempos medios de residencia de los acuíferos de arena/grava del valle enterrado y de roca madre meteorizada se estimaron en 3,200 y 2,900 años, respectivamente, y son indicativos de un sistema de lavado lento, consistente con la química del agua subterránea de 1,300 mg/L de sólidos disueltos totales. Las tasas actuales de extracción de agua subterránea son una pequeña fracción de la descarga de agua subterránea simulada al río Kiskatinaw. Los resultados pueden servir de base para la gestión de los recursos hídricos subterráneos en escenarios hidrogeológicos similares a los del NEBC.
摘要
近代沉积物填充的古河道或次冰川的排水管网可能含有大量高渗透性的砂砾石沉积物。尽管在地面不可见, 但这种系统在全球范围内普遍存在, 可以形成高出水量的地下水库, 并对区域水文地质, 污染物运输和当地水资源产生重大的影响。因此, 这类埋谷或“古谷”含水层的水力特性已成为越来越多的研究主题。在这项研究中, 使用新近安装的和科学设计的监测井数据以及NEBC和加拿大西部沉积盆地的潜伏谷地含水层系统的可利用的水文地质数据, 对不列颠哥伦比亚省东北部(加拿大NEBC)Sunset古河谷的水文地质概念进行了概化。使用该概念模型, 建立了区域尺度的地下水稳定流模型来评估补给量及机理、通量和滞留时间, 从而为含水层管理提供依据。校准后的平均地表补给速度为16 mm/yr, 在NEBC前人研究的补给估计范围之内(0.5–78 mm/year)。估计掩埋谷砂砾石和风化基岩含水层的平均滞留时间分别为3,200年和2,900年, 表明是缓慢的渗流系统, 与1,300 mg / L的平均矿化度的地下水化学性质一致。当前的地下水开采量只是模拟的地下水向Kiskatinaw河排泄量的一小部分。这些发现可为NEBC常见的类似水文地质环境中的地下水资源管理提供支持。
Resumo
Canais de rios antigos ou redes de drenagem subglaciais cheios de sedimentos mais jovens podem incluir depósitos significativos de areias e cascalhos altamente permeáveis. Apesar de estarem escondidos na superfície, tais sistemas são onipresentes em todo o mundo, podem formar reservatórios de água subterrânea altamente produtivos e têm influência significativa na hidrogeologia regional, transporte de contaminantes e recursos hídricos locais. Consequentemente, as características hidráulicas de tais vales enterrados ou aquíferos em “paleovales” têm sido objeto de estudo crescente. Neste estudo, a hidrogeologia do Paleovale Sunset no Nordeste da Colúmbia Britânica (NECB, Canadá) foi conceituada usando dados de poços de monitoramento recentemente instalados e cientificamente projetados e dados hidrogeológicos disponíveis para sistemas aquíferos de vale enterrado em NECB e na Bacia Sedimentar do Canadá Ocidental. Usando este modelo conceitual, um modelo de fluxo de água subterrânea em escala regional, em estado estacionário, foi construído para avaliar a magnitude e os mecanismos de recarga, fluxos e tempos de residência para informar a gestão do aquífero. A taxa de recarga aérea média calibrada foi de 16 mm/ano, dentro da faixa de estimativas de recarga relatadas anteriormente para NEBC (0.5–78 mm/ano). Os tempos médios de residência para areia/cascalho de vale enterrado e aquíferos rochosos intemperizados foram estimados em 3,200 e 2,900 anos, respectivamente, e são indicativos de um sistema de descarga lenta, consistente com a química média total de sólidos dissolvidos da água subterrânea de 1,300 mg/L. As taxas atuais de extração de água subterrânea são uma pequena fração da descarga de água subterrânea simulada para o Rio Kiskatinaw. Os resultados podem apoiar a gestão dos recursos hídricos subterrâneos em configurações hidrogeológicas semelhantes comuns para NECB.
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Thanks are extended to Andrew Allen for partnering with the field work planning and data collection.
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This research is supported by the British Columbia Oil and Gas Commission, MITACS, and BC Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum Resources.
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Goetz, A.M., Beckie, R.D. & Cahill, A.G. Groundwater recharge in a confined paleovalley setting, Northeast British Columbia, Canada. Hydrogeol J 29, 1797–1812 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-021-02359-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-021-02359-3