Aquifer depressurization and water table lowering induces landscape scale subsidence and hydrophysical change in peatlands of the Hudson Bay Lowlands

Balliston, Nicole; Price, Jonathan S.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158837

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…This study represents the first long‐term documentation of indirect effects of underground mining on such an environment in Estonia, which is a crucial research gap in Estonian conservation management and policy (Lõhmus et al, 2019). Similar effects of mine‐induced deep drainage have been recorded in Canada on various wetlands near an operating open pit diamond mine (Balliston & Price, 2023; Gautrey, 2018; Whittington & Price, 2013). Another published case study comes from Russia, close to Tomsk, where groundwater pumping negatively impacted nearby wetlands, including bogs (Dyukarev & Pologova, 2011; Kopysov et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 61%

“…For example, rapid peat subsidence could alter bog's microtopography, creating new slopes or steepening the existing ones. This could increase lateral flows and lead more water to marginal areas where it infiltrates through preferential ‘windows’ (Balliston & Price, 2023; Waddington et al, 2015). While bog vegetation generally changes slowly, (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, despite peat properties, cross-cutting conductive structures can compromise the apparent spatial homogeneity of these well-humified, dense and poorly conductive peat layers. Several examples are known from similar systems: peat cracks and sinkholes (Kvaerner & Snilsberg, 2011), calcareous bioherms (Balliston & Price, 2023) and buried eskers (Comas et al, 2011). In Selisoo, the subpeat topography also contributes to the heterogeneity of hydraulic isolation capability.…”

Section: Hydrogeological Modifiers Of the Mining Impactmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Only a limited number of studies exist documenting changes in water regimes in mires resulting from mining‐induced drainage (e.g. Balliston & Price, 2023; Kværner & Snilsberg, 2011; Whittington & Price, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Underground mining magnifies drought impacts in an adjacent protected raised bog

Kohv,

Paat,

Lõhmus

et al. 2023

Ecohydrology

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Stable and high water levels are crucial for wetland ecosystems, impacting their state, vegetation and conservation. To make informed conservation decisions, it is essential to consider the full range of ecosystem‐level threats associated with artificially lowered water levels. This becomes particularly challenging when dealing with diffuse and indirect impacts, such as ombrotrophic bogs near underground mining activities that extract groundwater. In this study, we monitored water tables using automatic pressure loggers over an 11‐year period in a protected hemiboreal bog and in drained peatland surrounding it in northeastern Estonia. The bog is located within the groundwater cone of depression caused by an adjacent oil‐shale mine, approximately 60–70 m deep. By comparing monitoring points along the bog‐drained forest gradient and analysing time series data, we were able to distinguish the influences of climate and mining activities on water levels in the bog. Our findings indicate that mining activities have clear effects on deeper bedrock aquifers and the bog itself, exacerbating the impacts of recent drought events. The dynamics of the hydraulic heads at different monitoring points reveal local infiltration ‘windows’ within the bog, likely resulting from underlying fracture zones in the bedrock. Considering the escalating intensity of climate change, mires' vulnerability to these combined impacts is expected to increase. Therefore, adopting a precautionary and forward‐thinking conservation strategy is crucial when addressing ongoing or future drainage and mining activities near protected wetlands.

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