Characterizing Hydrological Balance and Hydrochemistry of a Chronosequence of Newly Formed Wetlands within the Athabasca Oil Sands Region using Isotopic and Geochemical Tracers

Wendlandt, Michael Edwin

Characterizing Hydrological Balance and Hydrochemistry of a Chronosequence of Newly Formed Wetlands within the Athabasca Oil Sands Region using Isotopic and Geochemical Tracers

dc.contributor.advisor	Dr. Ciborowski, Jan
dc.contributor.advisor	Dr. Birks, Jean
dc.contributor.author	Wendlandt, Michael Edwin
dc.contributor.committeemember	Dr. Wrona, Fred
dc.contributor.committeemember	Piercey, Jessica
dc.date	2023-11
dc.date.accessioned	2023-09-19T18:59:44Z
dc.date.available	2023-09-19T18:59:44Z
dc.date.issued	2023-09-06
dc.description.abstract	Wetlands account for approximately 65% of the land area of the oil sands surface mining region, many of which have been lost due to resource extraction. Mined areas are reclaimed using saline-sodic materials present in both surficial geology and residual tailings, affecting wetlands constructed or naturally (“opportunistically”) forming within reclaimed landscapes. Newly-forming wetlands’ hydrological properties and ecological trajectories are poorly known. As part of the Boreal Wetland Reclamation Assessment Program, a chronosequence study design was used to infer the trends in water balance and geochemistry of 80 wetlands aged 2 to 40 years and varying in hydroperiod, salinity, and degree of riparian disturbance. Half of the wetlands were in reclamation landscapes of oil sands lease areas. The other half, located outside of the mining lease, which were considered ‘reference’ comparators. The region’s low-relief and wetland-dominated landscapes rendered traditional hydrological methods difficult to implement, so stable isotopes and geochemical tracers were used to infer the water balances. Isotope hydrological balances measured as Evaporation: Inputs ratio (E/I) varied significantly among wetlands on the two types of landscapes. Ratios for wetlands found on-lease were significantly higher (0.08-1.23) than those found off-lease (0.01- 0.46). Radon concentration (a proxy for groundwater inputs) in surface water of wetlands showed no significant difference between disturbance type and age. Analysis of hydrochemical facies revealed that NaCl and Mixed-water types dominated on-lease wetland waters, while in off-lease wetlands, Ca/MgHCO3 water type was dominant. Total dissolved solids concentrations were significantly higher in on-lease wetlands (2239 ± 1437 mg/L) than off-lease wetlands (766 ± 484 mg/L). ANCOVA analysis indicated that the largest effects on both TDS and Na:Ca ratios were landscape type and E/I(18O), while age played a less significant role. In contrast, Cl:HCO3 ratios were only influenced significantly by wetland age. Thus, surficial geology and evaporation effects seem to drive the large differences between wetlands found on and off lease; wetland age may play a role in decreased salinity found on and off the mining landscape. These findings may provide a useful comparative metric for reclamation success in landscapes possessing similar hydrological and hydrochemical facies.
dc.identifier.citation	Wendlandt, M. E. (2023). Characterizing hydrological balance and hydrochemistry of a chronosequence of newly formed wetlands within the Athabasca oil sands region using isotopic and geochemical tracers (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/1880/117013
dc.language.iso	en
dc.publisher.faculty	Graduate Studies
dc.publisher.institution	University of Calgary
dc.rights	University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subject	Isotope hydrology
dc.subject	Newly formed wetlands
dc.subject	Reclamation
dc.subject	Radon
dc.subject.classification	Ecology
dc.subject.classification	Hydrology
dc.title	Characterizing Hydrological Balance and Hydrochemistry of a Chronosequence of Newly Formed Wetlands within the Athabasca Oil Sands Region using Isotopic and Geochemical Tracers
dc.type	master thesis
thesis.degree.discipline	Biological Sciences
thesis.degree.grantor	University of Calgary
thesis.degree.name	Master of Science (MSc)
ucalgary.thesis.accesssetbystudent	I require a thesis withhold – I need to delay the release of my thesis due to a patent application, and other reasons outlined in the link above. I have/will need to submit a thesis withhold application.