A groundwater flow model was developed for the proposed Reeb Quarry and surrounding area. The property is located south of the Wainfleet Bog and west of the City of Port Colborne. An active quarry and a rehabilitated quarry are located on lands to the north and southwest of the property, respectively.
The primary objective of the model was to better understand the local hydrogeology and to assess the potential impact of quarry development on groundwater levels, groundwater discharge to streams, and nearby water users. Longer-term objectives included using the model to provide guidance on managing water use at the quarry and to minimize the potential for adverse impacts as construction of the quarry proceeds. The model area extended from the Lake Erie shoreline in the south to the Welland feeder canal in the north and is bounded by the Welland Canal to the east.
Model development started with an assessment of bedrock and overburden stratigraphy, aquifer and aquitard properties, and rates of groundwater recharge. Of particular concern was the extent and continuity of fractures which control flow in the shallow bedrock. Bedding plane fractures were found to be the primary fracture set and form continuous transmissive zones while less frequent vertical jointing limits flow between units. Fracture frequencies and spacing decreased with depth.
A three-dimensional groundwater flow model was calibrated to match observed water levels while also matching estimates of discharge from the existing quarries. The model was calibrated to both pre- and post-quarry conditions. Model results illustrated the complex interplay between the dipping bedrock layers, existing quarries, and deep agricultural drain systems. The model confirmed that while horizontal gradients are generally small, vertical gradients can be large, particularly near the existing quarries.