Determination of groundwater flow-through regimes of shallow lakes and wetlands from numerical analysis of stable isotope and chloride tracer distribution patterns

Turner, Jeffrey V.; Townley, Lloyd R.

doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2005.07.050

Cited by 47 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Using the electrical conductivity contrasts, the amount of groundwater discharge was quantified at discrete locations using a simple two-component mixing model. Turner and Townley (2006) used chloride concentrations to identify the zone of lake-water discharge to the underlying aquifer for lakes in the Swan Coastal Plain of southwestern Australia. Analyses were based on the fact that there was both isotopic (see the following) and chemical enrichment in lake water due to evaporation relative to the groundwater flowing into and beneath the lakes.…”

Section: Use Of Geochemistry and Temperaturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Using an array of multi-level piezometers beneath and downgradient of the lakes, zones of lake-water loss to the aquifer could be clearly identified. Turner and Townley (2006) used their results to improve numerical modeling of flow through the groundwater-lake system, allowing better estimations of groundwater inputs and discharge zones to the lakes as well. They maintained that such an approach can aid decision-making regarding land and groundwater use.…”

Section: Use Of Geochemistry and Temperaturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Isotopic methods are often used in conjunction with geochemical analyses (Genereux and Jordon 2006;Praamsma and Novakowski 2006;Turner and Townley 2006). In the case of the Costa Rican study by Genereux and Jordon (2006), depleted 18 O concentrations in groundwater discharging to a low-elevation stream indicated their source was precipitation at high elevation.…”

Section: Use Of Stable Isotopes 18 O and 2 Hmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This analysis was only effective in summer due to the similarity of winter-time 2 H and 18 O concentrations in surface water and groundwater. Turner and Townley (2006) also used stable isotopes to delineate the area in an aquifer that was receiving water from lakes on the Swan Coastal Plain of western Australia based on the fact that isotopic enrichment was occurring in the lakes due to evaporation. Along with chloride concentrations (as described previously) the analyses allowed validation of numerical models that could enhance groundwater and land management.…”

Section: Use Of Stable Isotopes 18 O and 2 Hmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For Turner and Townley (2006) using chloride concentrations had the advantage over stable isotopes in that there was no upper limit chloride enrichment due to evaporation. Enrichment of stable isotopes by evaporation, however, was limited by exchange processes across the air-water interface.…”

Section: Use Of Stable Isotopes 18 O and 2 Hmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Review: Groundwater management and groundwater/surface-water interaction in the context of South African water policy

Levy

2011

Hydrogeol J

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Groundwater/surface-water interaction is receiving increasing focus in Africa due to its importance to ecologic systems and sustainability. In South Africa's 1998 National Water Act (NWA), water-use licenses, including groundwater, are granted only after defining the Reserve, the amount of water needed to supply basic human needs and preserve some ecological integrity. Accurate quantification of groundwater contributions to ecosystems for successful implementation of the NWA proves challenging; many of South Africa's aquifers are in heterogeneous and anisotropic fractured-rock settings. This paper reviews the current conceptualizations and investigative approaches regarding groundwater/surface-water interactions in the context of South African policies. Some selected pitfall experiences are emphasized. The most common approach in South Africa is estimation of average annual fluxes at the scale of fourth-order catchments (~500 km 2 ) with base flow separation techniques and then subtracting the groundwater discharge rate from the recharge rate. This approach might be a good start, but it ignores spatial and temporal variability, potentially missing local impacts associated with production-well placement. As South Africa's NWA has already been emulated in many countries including Zambia, Zimbabwe and Kenya, the successes and failures of the South African experience dealing with the groundwater/surface-water interaction will be analyzed to guide future policy directions.

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Section: Use Of Geochemistry and Temperaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Use Of Geochemistry and Temperaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Use Of Stable Isotopes 18 O and 2 Hmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Use Of Stable Isotopes 18 O and 2 Hmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Use Of Stable Isotopes 18 O and 2 Hmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Review: Groundwater management and groundwater/surface-water interaction in the context of South African water policy

Levy

2011

Hydrogeol J

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Groundwater flow and heterogeneous discharge into a seepage lake: Combined use of physical methods and hydrochemical tracers

Kaźmierczak

Müller

Nilsson

et al. 2016

Water Resources Research

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Groundwater discharge into a seepage lake was investigated by combining flux measurements, hydrochemical tracers, geological information, and a telescopic modeling approach using first two‐dimensional (2‐D) regional then 2‐D local flow and flow path models. Discharge measurements and hydrochemical tracers supplement each other. Discharge measurements yield flux estimates but rarely provide information about the origin and flow path of the water. Hydrochemical tracers may reveal the origin and flow path of the water but rarely provide any information about the flux. While aquifer interacting with the lake remained under seemingly steady state conditions across seasons, a high spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the discharge to the lake was observed. The results showed that part of the groundwater flowing from the west passes beneath the lake and discharges at the eastern shore, where groundwater springs and high discharge zones (HDZs) are observed at the lake bottom and at seepage faces adjacent to the lake. In the 2‐D cross section, surface runoff from the seepage faces delivers 64% of the total groundwater inputs to the lake, and a 2 m wide offshore HDZ delivers 13%. Presence of HDZs may control nutrient fluxes to the lake.

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A review of groundwater–surface water interactions in arid/semi‐arid wetlands and the consequences of salinity for wetland ecology

2008

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In arid/semi-arid environments, where rainfall is seasonal, highly variable and significantly less than the evaporation rate, groundwater discharge can be a major component of the water and salt balance of a wetland, and hence a major determinant of wetland ecology. Under natural conditions, wetlands in arid/semi-arid zones occasionally experience periods of higher salinity as a consequence of the high evaporative conditions and the variability of inflows which provide dilution and flushing of the stored salt. However, due to the impacts of human population pressure and the associated changes in land use, surface water regulation, and water resource depletion, wetlands in arid/semi-arid environments are now often experiencing extended periods of high salinity. This article reviews the current knowledge of the role that groundwater-surface water (GW-SW) interactions play in the ecology of arid/semi-arid wetlands. The key findings of the review are as follows:1. GW-SW interactions in wetlands are highly dynamic, both temporally and spatially. Groundwater that is low in salinity has a beneficial impact on wetland ecology which can be diminished in dry periods when groundwater levels, and hence, inflows to wetlands are reduced or even cease. Conversely, if groundwater is saline, and inflows increase due to raised groundwater levels caused by factors such as land use change and river regulation, then this may have a detrimental impact on the ecology of a wetland and its surrounding areas. 2. GW-SW interactions in wetlands are mostly controlled by factors such as differences in head between the wetland surface water and groundwater, the local geomorphology of the wetland (in particular, the texture and chemistry of the wetland bed and banks), and the wetland and groundwater flow geometry. The GW-SW regime can be broadly classified into three types of flow regimes: (i) recharge-wetland loses surface water to the underlying aquifer; (ii) discharge-wetland gains water from the underlying aquifer; or (iii) flow-through-wetland gains water from the groundwater in some locations and loses it in others. However, it is important to note that individual wetlands may temporally change from one type to another depending on how the surface water levels in the wetland and the underlying groundwater levels change over time in response to climate, land use, and management. 3. The salinity in wetlands of arid/semi-arid environments will vary naturally due to high evaporative conditions, sporadic rainfall, groundwater inflows, and freshening after rains or floods. However, wetlands are often at particular risk of secondary salinity because their generally lower elevation in the landscape exposes them to increased saline groundwater inflows caused by rising water tables. Terminal wetlands are potentially at higher risk than flow-through systems as there is no salt removal mechanism. 4. Secondary salinity can impact on wetland biota through changes in both salinity and water regime, which result from the hydrological and hydrogeo...

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Determination of groundwater flow-through regimes of shallow lakes and wetlands from numerical analysis of stable isotope and chloride tracer distribution patterns

Cited by 47 publications

References 18 publications

Review: Groundwater management and groundwater/surface-water interaction in the context of South African water policy

Review: Groundwater management and groundwater/surface-water interaction in the context of South African water policy

Groundwater flow and heterogeneous discharge into a seepage lake: Combined use of physical methods and hydrochemical tracers

A review of groundwater–surface water interactions in arid/semi‐arid wetlands and the consequences of salinity for wetland ecology

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