https://prism.ucalgary.ca/handle/1880/113547

He, J. 2021. The properties and hydrogeological function of alpine surficial deposits in a headwater watershed. University of Calgary.

Alpine surficial deposits such as moraine and talus are important conduits and reservoirs of groundwater and are capable of contributing large fractions of stream runoff. This work describes a combined fieldwork and modeling investigation, aimed toward characterizing the properties and hydrogeological function of various surficial deposits present within a headwater watershed in the Canadian Rockies. Hydrogeological properties such as hydraulic conductivity are highly heterogeneous between and even within surficial deposits. However, a moraine deposit located at the watershed outlet has a dominant influence on groundwater storage and flow. Restriction of discharge by this moraine “gatekeeper” has the effect of bolstering storage and baseflows over the low flow period. The function of this gatekeeper may also allow watershed-scale behavior to be well represented by simple relationships and data-frugal models which do not require detailed characterization of a site. Optimal model design must carefully select a level of complexity to avoid swinging between being over-parameterized and overly simplistic.

Masters, Mountain Water Futures