Assessing and managing groundwater vulnerability on the Avon Peninsula.
详细信息
文摘
The Avon Peninsula,located north of Windsor in rural Nova Scotia,is the site of a proposed 400-hectare gypsum quarry expansion project,currently undergoing a Provincial Environmental Assessment. Land use on the Peninsula is divided between approximately 200 farms and residences,an existing 450-hectare gypsum quarry,and a central forested area. The distinct bedrock formation known as karst that underlies the peninsula is characterized by a high degree of connectivity between the surface and the subsurface,rendering karst aquifers particularly vulnerable to groundwater contamination. Concerns about the potential for negative impacts on water quality and quantity as well as the loss of local rural character have prompted some residents to oppose the quarrys expansion plan. The quarrys management cautions that if the expansion is not permitted,the operations will be terminated within five years,resulting in the loss of 165 jobs. The Avon Peninsula is an area where significant and long-term land-use decisions are under consideration. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the vulnerability of the Avon Peninsulas karst aquifer to groundwater contamination. From these findings,recommendations were formulated for land-use policies and protective measures that can be taken at the Provincial and Municipal levels to ensure the preservation of groundwater quality. The Swiss EPIK Method was selected to evaluate the intrinsic vulnerability of the Avon Peninsulas karst aquifer to contamination. The results of the EPIK analysis suggest that the Peninsula is highly vulnerable to groundwater contamination. The removal of vegetation and soil associated with the quarrying process will result in the creation of new zones of high vulnerability to groundwater contamination. Headwater streams draining from the peninsula to the larger surrounding river systems are positioned to intersect karst surface features,creating the potential for surface water and surface contaminants to enter the subsurface and impact groundwater quality. Few mechanisms exist for Municipalities and the Province of Nova Scotia to enact land-use restrictions in the sole interest of water quality protection. However,the regulation of pits and quarries is conducted using a land-use planning tool known as Environmental Assessment EA). EA requires a consideration of the environmental impact of a proposed undertaking,and relies on meaningful public consultation. The potential for groundwater contamination is a factor considered in the evaluation of an EA. By informing the stakeholders involved in the EA of the Avon Peninsulas particularly vulnerable groundwater,an effective and informed discourse about the potential impacts of expansion can be fostered to contribute to the creation of a sustainable land-use plan.