Journal article

The impact of urbanization on subsurface flow paths - A paired-catchment isotopic study

Jeremie Bonneau, Matthew J Burns, Tim D Fletcher, Roman Witt, Russell N Drysdale, Justin F Costelloe

JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY | ELSEVIER | Published : 2018

Abstract

Urbanization disturbs groundwater flow through the sealing of native soils with impervious surfaces and through modifications to the subsoil by constructed drainage and other infrastructure (trenches and excavations, e.g. water supply). The impact of these disturbances on groundwater contributions to urban streams (i.e. baseflow) is poorly understood. While high flows caused by impervious runoff to streams are a common focus of urban studies, the route taken by groundwater to become streamflow in urban landscapes is not generally considered. To assess the impact of urbanization on groundwater sources to streams, both rainfall and baseflow were sampled weekly for stable isotopes of water in t..

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Grants

Awarded by ARC Fellowship


Funding Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful to Peter Poelsma and Robert James for providing high quality streamflow data. J. Bonneau is supported by a studentship funded by Melbourne Water. T.D. Fletcher is funded by ARC Fellowship LP130100295. The authors show appreciation to four anonymous reviewers who greatly contributed, individually and collectively, to the improvement of this manuscript. Parks Victoria is thanked for the research permit that allowed sampling within a National Park.