Original Articles: 2014 Vol: 6 Issue: 3
Isotopic conceptualization of groundwater system in semiarid mountain watersheds in the North Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada
Abstract
Because of important role hydrodynamic investigation in multi-layer aquifer system with complex surface system plays in water sustainability, multiple isotopic analysis including Deuterium, oxygen 18were employed to identify the groundwater recharge, mixing, surface water and groundwater interactions and mountain system recharge distributions in Northern Okanagan comprising of Deep Creek watershed and Fortune Creek watershed. The stable isotopic compositions profiles of surface waters indicate that Deep Creek obtains water from local and regional aquifers in dry seasons, Fortune Creek receives groundwater from regional aquifers in the main valley in drought and lose water in the upper of the fluvial fan in wet season. The stable isotopic data and plots qualify the groundwater mixing, exchange between aquifers, groundwater flow path. The sources to moderate regional aquifer were identified with isotopic data. Environmental isotopes provides significant and specific hydraulic information in hydrological studies.