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Spatial analysis approaches for the evaluation and protection of groundwater resources in large watersheds of the Canadian Shield

Approches d’analyse spatiale pour l’évaluation et la protection des ressources en eaux souterraines dans les grands bassins versants du Bouclier canadien

Enfoques del análisis espacial para la evaluación y protección de los recursos hídricos subterráneos en las grandes cuencas del Escudo Canadiense

评价和保护加拿大地盾大流域地下水资源的空间分析方法

Abordagens de análise espacial para a avaliação e proteção dos recursos hídricos subterrâneos em grandes bacias hidrográficas do Escudo Canadense

Hydrogeology Journal volume 29, pages 2053–2075 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

This study focuses on the development of two GIS-based approaches that are used jointly to evaluate the groundwater resources associated with granular aquifers in shield environments. The first approach is a multi-criteria analysis (MCA) using an analytical hierarchic process (AHP) based on geological and hydrogeological data for ranking the probability of finding readily available groundwater resources in a specific territory. The second approach relies on GIS-based geometric calculations that were developed for evaluating the extent and volume of aquifers. The approaches are applied on a 100 × 100 m grid in a 185,000-km2 area corresponding to watersheds of the James Bay area in Quebec, Canada. The MCA-AHP approach revealed that the unconfined granular aquifers that present the highest aquifer potential (AP) are sparsely distributed and mostly associated with glaciofluvial formations such as the Harricana and Sakami moraines. The geometric calculations approach allowed for estimating that the total volume of groundwater stored in the unconfined granular aquifers reaches approximately 40 km3. When used jointly, the two approaches reveal that the shallow unconfined aquifers that require increased groundwater protection account for approximately 5% of the territory. In areas of confined granular aquifers, the highest APs are located in river valleys and lowlands. A sensitivity analysis conducted on the MCA-AHP approach revealed that the grid size does not significantly affect the results. Therefore, the approach was expanded northward, to a 490,000-km2 territory reaching the Ungava Bay area. The proposed method could be adapted and applied in other shield areas.

Résumé

Cette étude se concentre sur le développement de deux approches basées sur les SIG qui sont utilisées conjointement pour évaluer les ressources en eau souterraine associées aux aquifères granulaires dans les environnements de boucliers. La première approche est une analyse multicritères (MCA) utilisant un processus hiérarchique analytique (AHP) basé sur des données géologiques et hydrogéologiques pour classer la probabilité de trouver des ressources en eau souterraine facilement disponibles dans un territoire spécifique. La seconde approche repose sur des calculs géométriques basés sur le SIG qui ont été développés pour évaluer l’étendue et le volume des aquifères. Les approches sont appliquées sur une grille de 100 × 100 m dans une zone de 185,000 km2 correspondant aux bassins versants de la région de la Baie James au Québec, Canada. L’approche MCA-AHP a révélé que les aquifères granulaires libres qui présentent le potentiel aquifère (PA) le plus élevé sont épars et principalement associés à des formations fluvio-glaciaires telles que les moraines Harricana et Sakami. Les calculs géométriques ont permis d’estimer que le volume total d’eau souterraine stockée dans les aquifères granulaires libres atteint environ 40 km3. Utilisées conjointement, les deux approches révèlent que les aquifères libres peu profonds qui nécessitent une protection accrue des eaux souterraines représentent environ 5 % du territoire. Dans les zones d’aquifères granulaires captifs, les PA les plus élevés sont situés dans les vallées fluviales et les basses terres. Une analyse de sensibilité menée sur l’approche MCA-AHP a révélé que la taille de la grille n’affecte pas significativement les résultats. Par conséquent, l’approche a été étendue vers le nord à un territoire de 490,000 km2 atteignant la région de la baie d’Ungava. La méthode proposée pourrait être adaptée et appliquée à d’autres zones de bouclier.

Resumen

Este estudio se centra en el desarrollo de dos enfoques basados en SIG que se utilizan conjuntamente para evaluar los recursos hídricos subterráneos asociados a acuíferos granulares en ambientes de escudo. El primer enfoque es un análisis multicriterio (MCA) que utiliza un proceso jerárquico analítico (AHP) basado en datos geológicos e hidrogeológicos para clasificar la probabilidad de encontrar recursos de agua subterránea fácilmente disponibles en un territorio específico. El segundo enfoque se basa en cálculos geométricos basados en SIG que se desarrollaron para evaluar la extensión y el volumen de los acuíferos. Los enfoques se aplican en una cuadrícula de 100 × 100 m en un área de 185,000 km2 correspondiente a las cuencas hidrográficas de la zona de la James Bay en Quebec (Canadá). El enfoque MCA-AHP reveló que los acuíferos granulares no confinados que presentan el mayor potencial acuífero (AP) están escasamente distribuidos y asociados en su mayoría a formaciones glaciofluviales como las morrenas de Harricana y Sakami. El enfoque de los cálculos geométricos permitió estimar que el volumen total de agua subterránea almacenada en los acuíferos granulares no confinados alcanza aproximadamente 40 km3. Cuando se utilizan conjuntamente, los dos enfoques revelan que los acuíferos no confinados poco profundos que requieren una mayor protección de las aguas subterráneas representan aproximadamente el 5% del territorio. En las zonas de acuíferos granulares confinados, los mayores AP se encuentran en los valles fluviales y en las tierras bajas. Un análisis de sensibilidad realizado en el enfoque MCA-AHP reveló que el tamaño de la cuadrícula no afecta significativamente a los resultados. Por lo tanto, el enfoque se amplió hacia el norte, a un territorio de 490,000 km2 que alcanza la zona de la bahía de Ungava. El método propuesto podría adaptarse y aplicarse en otras zonas de escudo.

摘要

本研究旨在开发基于GIS的两种方法来评估地盾环境中与颗粒含水层相关的地下水资源。第一种方法是使用基于地质和水文地质数据的层次分析法(AHP)进行的多准则分析(MCA), 用于对在特定区域内寻找可利用的地下水资源的可能性进行排序。第二种方法依赖于基于GIS的几何计算, 该计算是为评估含水层的范围和容量而开发的。这些方法在面积为185,000 km2的100 × 100 m网格上应用, 该区域位于加拿大魁北克James湾区的流域。MCA-AHP方法揭示了呈现最高含水层潜力(AP)的潜水颗粒含水层零星分布, 并且主要与诸如Harricana和Sakami冰碛的冰川河流层相关。几何计算方法估算的潜水颗粒含水层中存储的地下水总量约为40 km3。两种方法结合使用时, 发现需要加强地下水保护的浅层潜水含水层约占该地区的5%。在承压的颗粒含水层地区, 最高的受影响的是位于河谷和低地的人。对MCA-AHP方法进行的敏感性分析表明, 网格大小不会显著影响结果。因此该方法向北扩展到490,000 km2的区域, 到达了Ungava湾地区。所提出的方法可以被修改并应用于其他地盾区域。

Resumo

Este estudo se concentra no desenvolvimento de duas abordagens baseadas em SIG que são usadas juntamente para avaliar os recursos hídricos subterrâneos associados à aquíferos intergranulares em ambientes de escudo. A primeira abordagem é uma análise multicritério (AMC) usando o processo analítico hierárquico (AHP) com base em dados geológicos e hidrogeológicos para classificar a probabilidade de encontrar facilmente recursos hídricos subterrâneos disponíveis neste território específico. A segunda abordagem depende de cálculos geométricos baseados em SIG que foram desenvolvidos para a avaliação da extensão e volume dos aquíferos. As abordagens são aplicadas sobre uma grade de 100 × 100 m numa área de 185,000-km2 correspondente a área da bacia hidrográfica de James Bay em Quebec, Canadá. A abordagem AMC-AHP revelou que os aquíferos livres intergranulares apresentam o maior potencial aquífero (PA), os quais estão esparsamente distribuídos e comumente associados com formações glacio-fluviais como os depósitos de morena Harricana e Sakami. A abordagem de cálculos geométricos permitiu estimar que o volume total de água subterrânea armazenada nos aquíferos livres intergranulares alcançou aproximadamente 40 km3. Quando as usamos juntamente, as duas abordagens revelaram que os aquíferos livres rasos, que requerem maior proteção da água subterrânea, representam aproximadamente 5% do território. Nas áreas dos aquíferos granulares confinados, os maiores PAs estão localizados nos vales de rios e planícies. Uma análise de sensibilidade conduzida na abordagem AMC-AHP mostrou que o tamanho da grade não afeta significativamente os resultados. Portanto, a abordagem foi expandida para o norte, para um território de 490,000 km2 correspondente a área de Ungava Bay. O método proposto pode ser adaptado e ampliado em outras áreas de escudo.

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Acknowledgements

The essential contribution of the Cree Nation of Eastmain Chief and band council, tallymen, community members and of the Cree Nation Government is acknowledged. The authors wish to highlight the essential contributions of Melissa Saganash and Kenneth Cheezo to the development of this research project. The authors thank the two anonymous reviewers and editor for constructive comments that greatly contributed to this manuscript.

Funding

This project was possible thanks to funding from the Ministère de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques du Québec (MELCC: project no. 2058049), the UQAT foundation (FUQAT: project no. 2058036) and the Cree Human Resources Development (CHRD) program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Groundwater Research Group, Institut de Recherche en Mines et en Environnement, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 341 rue Principale Nord, Amos, J9T 2L8, Canada

    S. Nadeau, E. Rosa, V. Cloutier & D. Mayappo

  2. UMR 5600, École Supérieure des Mines de Saint-Étienne, 158 cours Fauriel, 42023, Saint-Étienne, France

    S. Nadeau, F. Paran & D. Graillot

  3. Cree Nation of Eastmain, 76 Nouchimi, Eastmain, J0M 1W0, Canada

    D. Mayappo

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  1. S. Nadeau
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Nadeau, S., Rosa, E., Cloutier, V. et al. Spatial analysis approaches for the evaluation and protection of groundwater resources in large watersheds of the Canadian Shield. Hydrogeol J 29, 2053–2075 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-021-02367-3

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Keywords

  • Groundwater protection
  • Multi-criteria analysis
  • Land management
  • Geographic information systems
  • Canada