Appropriate Incorporation of Groundwater Flow Features and Processes in Small- to Large-Scale Hydrologic Models

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Groundwater (GW) plays a vital role in the hydrologic cycle as it is the largest component of available freshwater. GW is our most critical freshwater resource providing drinking water and food security, sustaining surface water (SW) bodies, and maintaining biodiversity. Therefore, diagnosing and predicting hydrologic changes with numerical models should appropriately account for GW flow and its interactions with SW. However, there are large differences in how this interaction is treated among existing modelling software requiring research as model results can have significant impacts on planning, water management, and policy. The overall goal of this 3-year project is to assess the appropriate incorporation of GW flow features and processes within hydrologic models for two representative watersheds in southern Ontario (S-ON) by constructing models of varying complexities that could impact SW flow. Project objectives include investigations of: 1) the total depth of subsurface materials that hydrologic models should consider; 2) the vertical and/or horizontal resolution of subsurface geologic heterogeneity that should be included; and 3) how GW extraction/injection are represented in large-scale hydrologic models. The research will be conducted by modifying the existing, prototype HydroGeoSphere (HGS) models of S-ON recently built by Aquanty, Inc. (Aquanty) and the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC), which are the project partners. Specifically, nested and/or standalone models for the Alder Creek Watershed (ACW) and the Grand River Watershed will be created from the S-ON HGS models. Project objectives will be achieved by performance assessment of HGS models of varying complexities by comparing simulation results with existing data from monitoring wells and hydrographs from gaging stations. The overall results could be utilized by various stakeholders to assess the appropriate incorporation of GW flow features and processes in small- to large-scale hydrologic models. The knowledge gained will help achieve the team's overarching goal to deliver risk management solutions informed by leading-edge and innovative decision-making tools to manage freshwater resources in Canada.