Hydrogeology of the Pine Lake Research Basin, Alberta, Canada

Abstract

The Pine Lake research basin occupies a 90-square-mile (230 km²) parkland environment in south-central Alberta. Various types of existing and field-generated geologic, geophysical and hydrologic data were employed to fully evaluate the hydrogeology of the research basin. The study area is underlain by permeable sandstones, mudstones and coals of the thick Paskapoo Formation. Major sandstone aquifers are present at shallow depths where their hydraulic conductivity is estimated to average between 10 and 50 igpd/ft² (0.5 to 2.5 m/day). Surficial geology is characterized by a thin mantle of glacial drift. The water-table configuration is a subdued replica of the topography. Groundwater flow is from broad recharge areas on the main divides to discharge areas in the valley bottom. Sodium-bicarbonate groundwater dominates the basin and has evolved primarily via carbonate dissolution and cation exchange processes. Correlation between hydrochemical facies and groundwater flow patterns is poor. The groundwater regime in the research basin is most appropriately treated as a steadystate, regionally unconfined system in a heterogeneous and anisotropic rock media. Recommendations for instrumentation and future hydrologic studies in the Pine Lake area include installation of a piezometer network, further aquifer testing and numerical modeling of the watershed.