Aquanty Staff Research Highlight – Athabasca Oil Sands Hydrology

We pride ourselves in our interdisciplinary scientific team and are so pleased when we can highlight the research of staff members. This week we are highlighting a recently published article by Aquanty’s newest hydrogeologist – Eric Kessel. Eric’s research is focused on the hydrology of the Athabasca oil sands region, specifically the dynamics of groundwater recharge and evapotranspiration in both natural and engineered wetlands.

This contribution by Kessel et al. is part of a pioneering and important body of research with the objective of reclaiming the disturbed landscape in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region. Wetlands, particularly peatlands, are ubiquitous in this region and serve a vital role on water conservation. Thus, incorporating peatlands in the post-mined landscape is critical. Kessel et al. investigate key recharge features within a construct peatland watershed and discuss the implications on water quality – a current challenge in designing such systems.

Preferential recharge in a reclaimed tailings sand upland: Implications on solute flushing

AUTHORS: E.D. Kessel, O.F. Sutton & J.S. Price.

Abstract:

Study region: A peatland watershed was constructed on a post-mined oil sands lease in Northern Alberta, Canada, with the intention of replicating the function of natural wetlands removed by surface mining.

Study focus: Given the potential for moisture limited conditions due to the sub-humid regional climate, ensuring sufficient water availability in these landscapes is a principal concern. This research demonstrates how small recharge basins can modify the hydrology to promote groundwater recharge critical for sustaining saturated conditions in a downgradient wetland.

New hydrological insights for the region: Location was important in determining the efficacy of recharge basins. Specifically, basins placed at the confluence of two hillslopes detained substantial volumes of runoff due to large upslope areas, contributing ~30% of the groundwater budget to the fen, while only occupying 1% of the upland area. Basins situated near low relief hillslopes or altogether isolated from a hillslope did not detain appreciable runoff and therefore had a minor role in recharging groundwater. Groundwater in the vicinity and downgradient of active recharge basins had considerably lower solute concentrations because of dilution. This suggests that basins can not only enhance recharge within engineered landscapes, providing a consistent and focused supply of water to upland aquifers, but offer relatively fresh groundwater to downgradient ecosystems. This could ameliorate the impact of high salinity present in oil sands process-affected materials.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE.

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HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Estimating Anthropogenic Effects on a Highly-Controlled Basin with an Integrated Surface-Subsurface Model