Including groundwater dependent ecosystems in water management: Why it is important and why can’t we do it better?

Marie Larocque, Stéphanie Pellerin

In the proceedings of: GeoOttawa 2017: 70th Canadian Geotechnical Conference; 12th joint with IAH-CNC

Session: EcoSystem and Climate Change

ABSTRACT: Groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) such as springs and wetlands are found when groundwater discharges to the surface, forming ecosystems that rely on groundwater for a stable water inflow of relatively constant temperature and quality. GDEs are particularly sensitive to sustained decreases in groundwater levels, which can result from groundwater pumping, urban or agricultural development, and climate changes. Groundwater level declines that can impair GDE functions and resulting services are difficult to separate from inter-annual water level variations, and often remain unnoticed until they become large enough to endanger traditional groundwater uses. Because the conditions, triggers and thresholds under which groundwater discharge occurs in GDEs are still poorly understood, it is difficult to identify and prevent the impacts of climate changes and anthropogenic stressors on these ecosystems. This talk summarizes what are the main challenges to consider GDEs in water management with specific examples from the province of Quebec.

RÉSUMÉ: Les EDES sont particulièrement sensibles aux baisses soutenues de niveaux de nappe pouvant résulter de pompage, du développement urbain ou agricole, et de changements climatiques. Les baisses de niveaux de nappe qui peuvent altérer les fonctions écosystémiques des EDES sont souvent difficiles à identifier à court et moyen terme. Elles demeurent souvent non interfèrent avec changements irréversibles sont largement installés dans les écosystèmes. Les conditions des eaux souterraines a lieu dans les EDES sont toutefois encore mal comprises, ce qui limite leur prise en compte . Cette présentation résume les principaux défis à exemples québécois.

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