Estuarine ecosystems are under enormous stress due to rapid coastal developments and climate change. Proper management of these important ecosystems requires a good understanding of their key processes. In this thesis, riparian groundwater-surface water interaction is explored for an aquifer-estuary system primarily by a series of numerical experiments. The work focuses on riparian-scale groundwater flow and salinization. The overall aim of the study was to extend our understanding of aquifer-estuary exchange, which is currently centered on the lower marine estuarine reach, to middle estuaries (i.e., the estuary reach that has variable salinity). The numerical experiments were guided by previous studies and observations made from an exploratory field investigation conducted in and next to Sandy Creek, a macro-tidal estuary incised in the alluvial aquifer of the Pioneer Valley, North-eastern Australia (Longitude 49.11°, Latitude -21.27°). The following observations were made from the field investigation: Sandy Creek estuary experiences a variable salinity regime in its mid reaches that consists of periods of 1) freshwater flushing due to up catchment-derived flooding, 2) persistent freshwater conditions for at least 2 months following the flooding, 3) tidal salinity fluctuations and 4) constant near-seawater salinity; laterally extensive and disconnected aquitards were found to occur at the field site; Sandy Creek had an essentially ‘vertical’ bank slope. Numerical simulations were conducted using the finite element modeling code FEFLOW for saturated unsaturated, variable-density groundwater flow and solute transport, to examine the influence of the following factors on aquifer-estuary exchange: a tidally varying estuarine salinity and hydraulic head, a seasonal freshwater flush (i.e., estuary with freshwater and an elevated stage due to an up catchment sourced flood), near estuary aquitard layers, lateral asymmetry (about the estuary centerline) in hydraulic conductivity and regional hydraulic gradients. The simulations neglected seepage face development after numerical experiments showed that for a vertical bank estuary interacting with a sandy loam aquifer, seepage face effects on groundwater flow and associated salinity distribution were minimal. The following observations were drawn from the range of numerical experiments considered. Tidal salinity fluctuations in the estuary (varying between 0 and 1 - i.e., using a relative salinity scale where a salinity of 1 is seawater) produced flow paths and residence times that were distinctly different to the constant seawater salinity case. While the constant average 0.5 salinity case and the corresponding tidally-varying salinity case (i.e., salinity varying between 0 and 1) produced somewhat comparable results in terms of RUC and RLC (RUC represents groundwater discharge to the estuary that originated from recharge to the estuary bank and RLC groundwater discharge to the estuary that originated from recharge through the estuary bed), whereas flow paths and the total salt mass in the aquifer differed. Freshwater flushing simulations indicated that the near-estuary aquifer responds rapidly to a 2-day ‘wet season’ flushing event with a short-lived freshwater lens created through freshening of the hyporheic zone. Annual cycling of the seasonal flushing led to significant disruption of the estuary water circulation in the aquifer thereby impacting on residence times, transport pathways, and RUC and RLC, and acting to potentially remobilize groundwater and contaminants previously trapped in continuous and semi-continuous re-circulation cells. Although groundwater flow paths determined using tide-averaged velocity vectors were representative of flow paths from transient tidally driven flow vector field, residence times calculated from the two flow fields were markedly different. The influence of riparian scale aquitards and lateral asymmetry (about the estuary centreline) in hydraulic gradients and hydraulic conductivity on groundwater flow and associated salinity distribution was also found to be sensitive to estuarine salinity conditions. The results indicate that observations made about aquifer-estuary interaction in the lower estuary may not be directly applicable to the middle estuary. According to the simulations, tidal salinity variations in the estuary are important factors that affect hyporheic-riparian salt transport processes and that the use of a time averaged estuarine salinity as an approximation to variable salinity conditions is unsuitable for the accurate prediction of the near-estuary dynamics in middle estuaries. This study was based on a two dimensional representation of the riparian scale interaction and it is clear that future research needs to focus on the three-dimensionality of the aquifer-estuary system, incorporating spatially and temporally varying flow and transport characteristics. That is, many estuaries are tortuous and the aquifer geology spatially complex such that assumptions required for the two-dimensional section will most likely restrict application to the field. The tidal dynamics in the middle estuary is also expected to generate three dimensional aspects to the aquifer-estuary interaction. Thus further investigation that explicitly models the hydrodynamics and salt transport in the estuary and estuarine morphology is required to refine the insight provided by the simple conceptual model adopted in this study.

Thesis (M. App. Sc.)--Carleton University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 148-158). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--San Jose State University, 1997. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 112-122).

Kyoto University (京都大学) / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第14136号 / 工博第2970号 / 新制||工||1441(附属図書館) / 26442 / UT51-2008-N453 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科社会基盤工学専攻 / (主査)教授 中川 一, 教授 関口 秀雄, 教授 藤田 正治 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当

From introduction: This study is concerned with the factors responsible for mineralisation of water in the Great Fish River, in particular the irrigation return flow and groundwater seepage components. A small irrigated area in the lower Fish River Basin was chosen for a detailed study of irrigation water input, groundwater and seepage water fluctuati ons, and the affect of soils and rocks on river water mineralisation. / KMBT_363 / Adobe Acrobat 9.53 Paper Capture Plug-in

No description available.

Groundwater seepage to surface water is an important process to peatland ecosystems; however, the processes controlling seepage zone distribution and magnitude are not well understood. This lack of process-based understanding makes degraded peatland ecosystems difficult to restore and problematic for resource managers developing a sustainable design. Degraded peatlands, particularly abandoned cranberry farms, often have drainage ditches, applied surface sand, and decreased stream sinuosity to artificially lower the water table and support agriculture. These modifications disconnect the surface and groundwater continuum, which decreases thermal buffering of surface water significantly. The combination of a decreased influx of thermally buffered groundwater, a naturally low surface gradient, minimal canopy, and strong solar input causes surface water temperature extremes that degrade ecosystem health. Through strategically incorporating the natural processes to restore groundwater discharge to restored surface streams, surface water temperature extremes will be buffered promoting a healthy, resilient wetland ecosystem. Therefore, it is critical to understand the spatial hydrogeologic constraints that induce groundwater seepage. Here we examine the spatial relationship between surficial groundwater seepage and the subsurface hydrogeologic structure within a mineraltrophic peatland environment. We use multiple field methods to develop a process-based conceptual model of the ground water seepage development at the site; these methods include geophysical, thermal, and isotopic techniques. The results indicate that there are two distinct forms of groundwater discharge to the peatland platform: diffuse lower-flux marginal seepage and discrete higher-flux interior seepage. Both types of groundwater discharge develop through interactions with subsurface peatland basin structure, specifically when the basin slope is perpendicular to the regional groundwater gradient. These observations also allow insight into the formation of the groundwater discharge through time. The strong correlation between the subsurface basin structure and surficial groundwater expression will allow resource managers to more efficiently locate groundwater seepage on large, complex sites, and develop comprehensive management and restoration strategies for these critical ecosystems.

The Lossen dam is an embankment dam in the Swedish river Ljusnan. The dam is founded on thick layers of stratified glaciofluvial sediments and till. Ever since construction, there have been problems with high pore pressures, large seepage flows and springs downstream of the right part of the dam. After the first filling of the reservoir, a large drainage trench was constructed downstream of the dam to lower pore pressures. Sinkholes and settlements downstream of the dam have occurred repeatedly over the lifetime of the dam, particularly in the area surrounding the large drainage trench. This study aims to investigate the causes of the sinkholes and assess the risks of internal erosion in the foundation and in the soil downstream of the dam. A model of the groundwater flow has been created in Visual MODFLOW. Calculations for assessing the soils susceptibility for contact erosion and suffusion have been performed, using soil gradation curves (both from the 1960s and from new samples). The results from the erosion calculations show that the probability of contact erosion being the sole cause of the internal erosion is minor. However, a majority of the soil samples tested are internally unstable (susceptible for suffusion). The possibility of backward erosion piping can not be dismissed but would need further investigation in order to be properly assessed. Due to the very heterogeneous structure of the soil in the area downstream of the dam, it is hard to predict the extent of the eroding soil layers and, thus, the future development of the erosion. A conclusion is that the soil downstream of the dam is subject to internal erosion, which is also the cause of the observed sinkholes and settlements. The internal erosion is probably not a threat to dam safety at the moment, but can possibly evolve as a problem in the future. Therefore close monitoring of the changes in seepage patterns and sediment transport is recommended. Possible solutions to stop the erosion include extending the drainage system with more pressure relief wells, and placing a filter blanket in the seepage exit area. / Lossendammen är en jorddamm i älven Ljusnan.  Dammen är byggd ovanpå tjocka lager av morän och isälvssediment. Sedan första dämningen 1962 har problem med höga portryck, stora läckageflöden och källsprång nedströms dammen uppkommit. Efter första dämningen grävdes ett stort dränagedike (kallat Slits 19) ut nedströms om dammen, för att sänka portrycken i området. Sjunkhål och sättningar har uppkommit återkommande under dammens livstid, speciellt i området kring slitsen. Målet med denna studie är att undersöka orsaken till de uppkomna sjunkhålen och sättningarna, samt att bedöma risken för fortsatt intern erosion i dammens undergrund och i jorden nedströms dammen. En modell över grundvattenflödet i området har skapats i Visual MODFLOW. Jordens fallenhet för kontakterosion och suffusion har beräknats med hjälp av kornfördelningskurvor från jordprover (majoriteten av vilka är från 60-talet, samt några nya). Resultaten från beräkningarna visar att risken för att kontakterosion initieras är liten. Däremot visar en majoritet av de testade kornfördelningskurvorna att jorden är internt instabil (har fallenhet för suffusion). Sannolikheten för att bakåtskridande erosion initieras kan inte uteslutas baserat på det underlag som förelegat, men en pålitlig bedömning skulle kräva ytterligare undersökningar. Eftersom jorden under och nedströms dammen är väldigt heterogen, och de olika lagrens storlek och utbredning är okänd, är det svårt att förutspå hur erosionen kommer att utvecklas i framtiden. Slutsatsen är att jorden nedströms dammen utsätts för fortlöpande inre erosion. Inre erosion är också orsaken till de uppkomna sjunkhålen och sättningarna. I nuläget är erosionen ingen risk för dammsäkerheten, men kan komma att bli det i framtiden. Noggrann övervakning av eventuella förändringar i läckagemönstren och sedimenttransport är viktig. Bland möjliga lösningar för att avstanna erosionen finns utökning av dränagesystemet med nya filterbrunnar, samt att lägga ett filtrerande skyddslager över området där källsprången sker.

In the early years of the 20th century the first tailing dams were constructed, the upstream tailing dam being the first type. Before this the tailings were disposed in the nearest stream or river. This caused legal issues between farmers and the mining companies, which ended the random discharge of the tailings. During the 20th century many tailing dams collapsed raising questions whether the technology is sufficient and safe. The known failures are just a fraction of the actual number since not all failures are documented. If a tailing dam were to break the consequenses could be fatal not only on impact but longterm, affecting many generations to come. This paper analyses an active tailing dam in China using the software COMSOL 3.4. The main aspects are the seepage, stability and pollution transport of the unsaturated upstream tailing dam. The results indicate that the dam at this point in time is stable, based on the aspects studied, the inputdata and models that were created.

Seepage-related erosion is one of the predominant mechanisms responsible for incidents and failures of dams and levees. Current geotechnical engineering practice consists of comparing expected exit gradients with the critical gradient of the soil at the seepage exit point. The critical gradient is generally considered as the ratio of soil buoyant unit weight and the unit weight of water, suggesting that the critical gradient only depends on the void ratio and specific gravity of the solids. However, in the field and in research, it has been observed that piping can initiate at average gradients much lower than unity due to concentrations in flow and non-vertical exit faces. Therefore, there is a need for deeper understanding of the granular scale mechanisms of the piping erosion process. This thesis presents the results of a laboratory study to assess the effects that soil properties and exit face configurations have on the potential for initiation of piping and the piping mechanisms. By using a laboratory device designed and constructed specifically for this study, the critical gradients needed to initiate piping in a variety of sandy soils were measured to assess the effects that parameters such as gradation, grain size, and grain shape have on the critical gradients. The tests are also used to observe the grain scale mechanisms of piping erosion initiation. The ultimate goal of the study is to develop an empirical, but mechanism-based, grain-scale model that can take into account the effects of converging flows, non-horizontal exit faces, and soil properties while assessing the potential for piping erosion to occur.