Predictive depth-to-bedrock mapping to assess groundwater vulnerability at the catchment scale on the Canadian Shield

Most rural municipalities on the Canadian Shield rely on underground aquifers as their primary source of drinking water. Groundwater is prone to many anthropogenic and natural sources of contamination. The objective of the research project is to develop an innovative technique to predict and map the depth of the bedrock surface across large scales using different kind of field instruments and statistical mapping. Depth-to-bedrock is one of the most important variables required to assess the vulnerability of groundwater resources because it represents a significant change in physical properties of the subsurface and it controls runoff as well as near-surface groundwater flow on hillslopes. However, depth-to-bedrock is still a difficult variable to measure and map. The research project will therefore address this challenge and provide a new framework for groundwater vulnerability assessment on the Canadian Shield.

Faculty Supervisor:

Daniel Fortier;Roxane Maranger

Student:

Partner:

Municipality of Saint-Hippolyte

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Public administration

University:

Université de Montréal

Program: