Barrie, Lovers, and Hewitt Creeks: Tier 2 Model Update and Ecologically Significant Groundwater Recharge Assessment
The identification of significant groundwater recharge areas (SGRAs) was an important element of recent Source Water Protection initiatives in Ontario. Under SWP, the term “significant recharge” has been taken to be synonymous with high volume recharge. However, simply mapping areas of high recharge (HVRAs) may not be enough to protect the function of key wetlands, coldwater streams or fish spawning areas. To address this limitation, Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority retained Earthfx to develop a consistent and scientifically sound methodology for delineating ecologically significant groundwater recharge areas (ESGRAs) across the Lake Simcoe watershed.
Ecologically Significant Groundwater Recharge Assessment in the Central Lake Ontario Watersheds
The identification of significant groundwater recharge areas was a key element of recent Source Water Protection initiatives in Ontario. Under SWP, the term “significant recharge” has been taken to be synonymous with high volume recharge. However, simply mapping areas of high recharge (HVRAs) may not be enough to protect the function of wetlands, coldwater streams or fish spawning areas. To address this limitation, Earthfx updated the existing CLOCA hydrologic and groundwater models and applied particle tracking techniques to delineate the ecologically significant groundwater recharge areas (ESGRAs) supplying flow to wetlands and stream reaches.
Modelling of Environmental Flow Regimes for the East Holland River Subwatershed, York Region, Ontario.
The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) has adopted the Environmental Flow (E-Flow) approach to meet the requirements of the 2009 Lake Simcoe Protection Plan. The objective of this study was to assist the LSRCA in characterizing the E-flow regimes for ten key stream reaches within the East Holland River Subwatershed.
Integrated Groundwater and Surface Water Flow Analysis of the Oro Moraine for the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan
The Lake Simcoe Protection Plan contains policies requiring that each subwatershed in the Lake Simcoe Watershed undergo a Water Budget and Stress Assessment to understand the water demand and how the watershed will likely respond to future conditions such as land-use change, increases in water demand, and drought. The Plan also calls for the protection of significant groundwater recharge areas that sustain sensitive features such as cold-water streams and wetlands.
Humber River Watershed Management Plan
Working for the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), Earthfx provided key surface water and groundwater analysis components of the Humber River Watershed Plan. The watershed is the home to over 800,000 residents, including the western portion of the City of Toronto.
Rouge River Watershed Management Plan
Building on earlier work on the Oak Ridges Moraine, Earthfx worked with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) to develop key surface water and groundwater components of the Rough River Watershed Plan. Earthfx tasks included surface water modelling, land development impact assessment, climate change, and groundwater model simulations of the watershed. A surface water model was developed using the WABAS model, which Earthfx converted and applied in a fully distributed form for this study. Model simulations were used to evaluate changes in recharge and runoff patterns in the watershed due to land development and climate change. Sustainable Community scenarios included simulation of recharge enhancement due to pervious pavement, roof water management and other Low Impact Development (LID) practices.
