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Abstraction of groundwater from a well beside a stream can result in depletion of stream discharge. The ability to estimate stream depletion due to pumping is necessary for water rights management, which requires an understanding of hydraulic connectivity between aquifers and streams. Evaluation of hydraulic connectivity is required for water licensing decisions in BC under the WSA. This report documents the results of a multi-level regional stream vulnerability assessment in the Fraser Valley.
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Author: Middleton, M.A.; Allen, D. M.
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Date Published: Sep 2017
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Report ID: 52925
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Audience: Government and Public
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Abstraction of groundwater from a pumping well located beside a stream can result in sourcing of the pumped water directly from the stream and consequent depletion of stream discharge. Sensitive streams, as designated under the Water Sustainability Regulation under the Water Sustainability Act, are particularly at risk if hydraulically connected to an aquifer from which groundwater is abstracted.
The purpose of this study was to build an understanding of the interaction between groundwater and sensitive streams for the purpose of identifying streams that are more vulnerable to groundwater abstraction. The project was carried out collaboratively between Simon Fraser University and the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. It consisted of two parts; first, a targeted Phase 1 field investigation at Steele Park in Langley, B.C. aimed at determining the impacts of pumping on aquifer-stream interactions; and second, a multi-level regional stream vulnerability assessment in the Lower Fraser Valley for determining the vulnerability of other similar types of stream-aquifer systems in order to identify streams that might be similarly impacted by groundwater abstraction. This report documents the results of the multi-level regional stream vulnerability assessment. Hall et al. (2017) report on the Phase 1 field investigation.
A multi-level stream vulnerability assessment was carried out in the Fraser Valley following the methodology described in Vulnerability Assessment for Groundwater Dependent Streams by Middleton and Allen (2016). This broad-scale ranking framework was designed to determine stream vulnerability to groundwater abstraction. Level I Assessments (or screening assessments) involve ranking each aquifer (Low, Moderate, or High), based on the productivity and demand classes as defined in Berardinucci and Ronneseth (2002). The rankings are then used to determine the action required as the outcome of the Vulnerability Assessment. The Level I Assessments were completed on an aquifer basis, and the ranking for each aquifer applies to all stream segments that intersect the assessed aquifer.
Level I Vulnerability Assessments were completed for 53 aquifer-steam systems in the Lower Fraser Valley, British Columbia. Of these, 5 are ranked high, 27 moderate, and 21 low for Potential Stream Vulnerability. The 5 ranked high include: 0008 (Vedder River Fan), 0015 (Abbotsford-Sumas), 0027 (Aldergrove), 0035 (Hopington) and 0041 (Brookswood). The recommended action for the high and moderate ranked aquifer-stream systems is to proceed to a Level II Assessment.
A Level II Vulnerability Assessment was completed for seven streams within the Lower Fraser Valley: 1) Fishtrap Creek; 2) Bertrand Creek, 3) Sumas River, 4) West Creek, 5) Salmon River, 6) Serpentine River, and 7) Nicomekl River. Due to the complex nature of the aquifers in some of the watersheds, some of the aquifer-stream systems were evaluated on both the watershed basis, as well as on an aquifer basis.
Sumas River watershed was rated low vulnerability and no further action is recommended unless there is a significant change in water demand, at which point a Level II re-assessment would be required. Monitoring is recommended to detect changes in the system.
Serpentine River watershed was rated medium vulnerability and no further action is recommended unless there is a significant change in water demand, at which point a Level II re-assessment would be required.
Eight aquifer-stream systems or watersheds were rated high vulnerability
- Fishtrap Creek watershed
-Bertrand Creek watershed
- West Creek watershed
-Salmon River watershed
-Salmon River - Aquifer 035 system
-Salmon River - Aquifers 027 and 033 system
-Nicomekl River watershed
-Nicomekl River - Aquifer 058 system
The recommended action is to proceed to a Level III Vulnerability Assessment which aims to quantify the impacts to the stream from groundwater-related stressors.
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Report Type
Subject
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Region - Lower Mainland |
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Watershed Groups - 100 - Fraser |
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Water Information - Groundwater |
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