Marie-Amélie Boucher

Comparing various approaches for assessing groundwater recharge at a regional scale in the Canadian Shield

ABSTRACT Estimating groundwater recharge is crucial to ensuring the proper management of aquifers. In this study, net regional recharge and spatial potential recharge are estimated at four watersheds within the Charlevoix–Haute-Côte-Nord (CHCN) regions, Quebec Province, Canada. Four methods are applied based on available data. The first two approaches are regional water budget methods. These two methods differ in their estimation of vertical inflow (VI), which is estimated from two hydrological models: GR4J and HYDROTEL. The third method estimates potential recharge spatially over the study area. Finally, the streamflow data are analysed using the Eckhardt baseflow separation method to obtain an estimation of recharge, assuming that discharge is equal to recharge. According to the results of all investigated methods, the mean annual recharge for the CHCN region is approximately 183 mm, which is 18% of the total annual precipitation (P). The discussion section highlights uncertainties due to the assumptions of each method and the reliability of the data.

Changements climatiques et production hydroélectrique canadienne: où en sommes-nous?

The current state of knowledge regarding anticipated hydrological impacts of climate change on Canadian basins indicates that those impacts will be non-negligible. Hydroelectricity companies will have to adapt to anticipated changes. Most case studies presented in the recent literature indicate a shift toward earlier spring melt and an increase of liquid precipitation during winter. The magnitude of the changes to the hydrologic cycle varies from one province and one territory to another and between different catchments. Hydropower, which is one of the most important energy sources across the country, is dependent on the hydrological cycle. Consequently, hydropower producers must already develop adaptation strategies to face future changes in the hydrological cycle. However, the development of management strategies for hydropower production depends strongly on the individual characteristics of each watershed. Therefore, it is mostly done on a case-by-case basis. This is a lengthy process, but promising studies concerning the adoption of adaptive management practices indicate that in many cases it would allow hydropower producers to maintain their current level of production or even increase it. In the future, multi-criteria analysis of different adaptation strategies for hydropower production should gain importance. This will allow for the integration of political, social and environmental aspects as well as economic considerations in the balance.