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Groundwater Resources of New Zealand Research Programme (GWR) Abigail Lovett 1 , Zara Rawlinson 1 , Uwe Morgenstern 2 , Troy Baisden 3 , Magali Moreau 1 , and Catherine Moore 2 1 GNS Science Wairakei Research Centre, Taupo, 2 GNS Science Water Dating Laboratory, Avalon, 3 GNS Science National Isotope Centre, Gracefield GWR1: Physical Hydrogeology Contact: Zara Rawlinson ([email protected]) Aim: Determine hydrogeological and structural characteristics of New Zealand's aquifer systems. Planned Research: 1. Develop a national framework for aquifer mapping and classification; and 2. Develop methodologies to characterize spatial variations of key properties within aquifers Importance: This research will provide the fundament for further resource assessment and will be utilised for a number of purposes, including: improved public communication resources; capability to monitor national groundwater volumes at a robust enough level to detect trends; and to enable knowledge from well- studied catchments to support under-studied catchments. GWR2: Water Flux Contact: Uwe Morgenstern ([email protected]) Aim: Determine the fluxes of water and key substances into, out of, and through New Zealand’s aquifers Current Research: 1. Groundwater dating techniques (Tritium, SF 6 , Halon1301, 14C) 2. Indicators for source of groundwater recharge (isotopes, argon, neon) 3 Techniques for quantifying groundwater storage and rates of recharge and flow 4. Link of groundwater flow metrics with geology 5. Groundwater - surface water interaction Importance: This research allows for quantifying lag time of nutrients from farms to waterways, understanding stream flow generation and groundwater store that feeds our rivers, validation of groundwater flow and transport models for improved management of water resources GWR3: Biogeochemical tracers Contact: Troy Baisden ([email protected]) Aim: Trace biogeochemical processes controlling the source and fate of nutrients, carbon, and sediment to support policy and management. Current Research: 1. Isotope indicators for source and fate of nitrate and ammonium, from soil to freshwater impacts 2. Nitrogen, carbon and biomarker dynamics in soil and sediment Importance: This research will ensure New Zealand government and industry can apply research using the best internationally available isotope and tracer techniques to manage freshwater impacts and understand potential implications of the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement in land and water ecosystems. GWR4: National Groundwater Monitoring Programme (NGMP) Contact: Magali Moreau ([email protected]) Aim: Conduct systematic, nationwide collection of groundwater samples, and analysis for key water quality parameters to provide a benchmark for: groundwater characterization, and monitoring of national state and trends. Current Research: 1. Collaboration with all 16 regional authorities in NZ, currently with a total of 110 monitoring bores 2. Report on NGMP results and analysis 3. Develop a plan for the future focus of NGMP Importance: Interpretation of the NGMP data allows for characterisation of the quality of New Zealand's groundwater resources at the national scale, and permits differentiation of natural chemical signatures and changes from those caused by human activity. GWR5: Resource Pressures Contact: Catherine Moore ([email protected]) Aim: Determine how human activities, climate change and other pressures affect New Zealand's groundwater resources, and associated ecosystems. Current Research: 1. Testing the impacts of climate change: through model tools that can assist decision making, and quantifying impacts on productive ecosystems 2. Develop methods for identifying land-use impacts on groundwater quality Importance: This research will assess the risks of, and design mitigation strategies for: (i) changes in level and seasonality of groundwater demand and supply caused changes in climate and land use; (ii) lower groundwater levels, more frequent and severe low flows in rivers, enhanced contamination, and sea water intrusion into coastal aquifers; (iii) threats to supply of drinking water, irrigation water, and agriculture. GNS Science presentations at NZHS directly associated with, or linked to research within GWR The rejected hypothesis - it’s contribution to science success Updating a national groundwater sampling protocol Classification of the New Zealand geological map into hydrogeological and aquifer properties Water budget of the Heretaunga Plains Smart Aquifer Characterisation of the Hutt Valley aquifer using novel age tracers Vertical stratification of groundwater age and geochemistry in the Wairau Aquifer Tritium-based transit times in hydrological systems Machine-Learning Based Assistance For Groundwater Model Calibration Sensitivity of recharge estimates to distribution of intensities in satellite and reanalysis precipitation products Hawke’s Bay Lysimeter Project: Installation to Data Collection - What have we learnt so far Methods for mapping uncertainty in modelled groundwater age Groundwater Chemistry And Residence Time In The Lower Hutt Aquifer: The Relationship To Iron Bacteria Stratification of groundwater age and quality at Lake Taupo from Push-drill tests Using leading-edge research to inform freshwater management policies: example of the Southland region, NZ SAM and Decision Crash Testing Models POSTERS - A Stable Isotope map of N3 Groundwaters (Vanessa Trompetter) - The power of radioactive isotopes in hydrology (Johannes Kaiser) - Groundwater residence times and chemistry of Pukekohe and Bombay basalt aquifers (Rob v.d. Raaij) - A mass balance approach to quantifying groundwater discharge in gravel-bed rivers in New Zealand (Heather Martindale) GWR6: Stakeholder Engagement Contact: Abigail Lovett ([email protected] ) Aim: Assist stakeholders to improve social, cultural, environmental and economic outcomes. Current Research: 1. Dissemination of GWR research outputs 2. Training courses and workshops 3. Translating science research into policy, and economics 4. Geo-forensic applications for authentication and origin studies Importance: This research will ensure that science completed in projects GWR1 - GWR5 is disseminated, in a usable format, and taken-up by end- users and stakeholders. Current pathways include: publication of journal papers; presentations at conferences and workshops; release of publically available tools and information; and collaboration through co-funding projects. Research completed at the National Isotope Centre includes applications of isotopes for added value including: authentication of products (e.g., manuka honey, organic produce); and traceability and provenance of indigenous resources and heritage materials. 2017 Dating Young Groundwater course: a two-day course with a practical focus on application of Tritium, SF 6 and CFC techniques will be delivered. The course content will include key concepts and methods in using environmental tracers for better understanding sources and dynamics of young groundwater. To register your interest and receive further information please contact Jin at: [email protected] and/or visit our website. The GWR Programme was established to deliver all of GNS Sciences’ hydrogeology research, and is ‘core’ funding provided by New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment. Collaboration with national and regional authorities, research institutions, industry organisations, and other CRI’s is integrated throughout the programme. The primary aim of GWR is to inform ways to improve the sustainable management of, and economic returns from groundwater resources in New Zealand. There are currently six projects within GWR including: physical hydrogeology, water flux, biogeochemical tracers, National Groundwater Monitoring Programme (NGMP), resource pressures, and stakeholder engagement. Hydrogeological maps of NZ showing the most recent aquifer boundaries, aquifer potential, and depositional environments. Presenter Day/Time Project* Stewart Cameron Tuesday, 10:00 GWR6 Magali Moreau Tuesday 11:00 GWR4 Rogier Westerhoff Tuesday 11:15 GWR1 Paul White Tuesday 15:45 GWR2/GWR6 Mike Toews Tuesday 15:45 SAC/GWR2 Uwe Morgenstern Tuesday 16:15 GWR2 Michael Stewart Tuesday 16:15 GWR2 Michael Friedel Wednesday 11:15 GWR5 Rogier Westerhoff Wednesday, 12:00 SAC/GWR1 Abigail Lovett Wednesday 13:30 GWR2 Chris Daughney Wednesday 13:45 SAC/GWR2 Rob van der Raaij Wednesday 16:15 GWR2 Uwe Morgenstern Thursday 12:30 GWR1/GWR2 Magali Moreau Thursday 14:00 F&F/GWR6 Catherine Moore Friday 16:00 SAM/GWR5 *SAM: Smart models for Aquifer Management: [email protected] *SAC: Smart methods for Aquifer Characterisation: [email protected] *F&F: Fluxes and Flows, Southland: [email protected] GWR co-funded projects were established in 15/16 and continued in 16/17 with the aim to increase collaborative environmental research in NZ. GWR funding has been set aside to support staff and laboratories to partner with regional councils, universities, or other organisations on projects that are aligned with GWR. Please contact [email protected] if you are interested in submitting and expression of interest, or would like more information on the GWR co-funded project initiative. Map of NZ showing the location of active NGMP sites, known aquifers, and main cities. Responding to climate change and other Resource Pressures to safeguard drinking water supplies, water-dependent industries (e.g. agriculture) and ecosystems At risk: • Drinking water supplies, • Lakes, rivers and estuaries, • Water-dependent sectors of the economy agricultural, industrial, and tourism Integrated surface and groundwater models Ongoing supply and quality of groundwater Pasture and forest production models Decision & Risk Assessments Fertiliser traceability for water quality studies Isoscape mapping for authentication and origin of biological products. GWR website Nitrate from Environment Southland bores, for samples collected in March 2013 and July 2016. GWR poster
