The role of groundwater in loading of nutrients to a restricted bay in a Precambrian Shield lake. Part 1 – Conceptual model and field observations

Van Stempvoort, Dale R.; Robertson, William D.; MacKay, Ross; Collins, Pamela; Brown, Susan J.; Danielescu, Serban; Pascoe, Timothy

doi:https://open-science.canada.ca/handle/123456789/1919

The role of groundwater in loading of nutrients to a restricted bay in a Precambrian Shield lake. Part 1 – Conceptual model and field observations

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DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2021.06.009

Language of the publication

English

Date

2021-09-18

Type

Article

Author(s)

Van Stempvoort, Dale R.
Robertson, William D.
MacKay, Ross
Collins, Pamela
Brown, Susan J.
Danielescu, Serban
Pascoe, Timothy

Publisher

Elsevier

Abstract

Previous studies of the nutrient budgets of lakes in Precambrian Shield regions have generally ignored the role of groundwater as a source or sink (influx or efflux) of nutrients. This paper and its companion (Part 2) address this science gap by probing the role of groundwater in the nutrient balance for a restricted bay of a Precambrian Shield lake that has undergone extensive shoreline development. In Part 1, we introduce a conceptual model of the relevant processes, including the role of groundwater. A cottage study site is described, concentrations of nutrients and septic tracers (artificial sweeteners), water levels and other data are reported. This includes data from samples of the septic wastewater plume in groundwater at the cottage, and samples from the bay. The artificial sweetener data indicate seepage of septic plumes to the bay, but significant attenuation of septic-derived nutrients in the subsurface. These data are used for numerical modeling in Part 2.