The program proposes a system that would automate real-time groundwater level data collection at set frequencies, such as hourly, and thus allow trend analysis, but it would not make predictions of future water levels
The MD of Bighorn is weighing the cost of an automated groundwater monitoring program versus staff time to continue manually monitoring wells in Exshaw and Dead Man’s Flats.
The program was presented to the MD’s governance and priorities committee to gauge interest in proceeding with a new automated system, but committee member and Coun. Steve Fitzmorris suggested a more in-depth cost analysis should occur before any decisions are made at council.
“With this system, are we really going to get anything more than what we actually already have by just staff going out the few times they do through the week to collect the information during flooding times, as opposed to having this system?” he asked.
The program proposes a system that would automate real-time groundwater level data collection at set frequencies, such as hourly, and thus allow trend analysis, but it would not make predictions of future water levels.
“I see it’s not going to act as a warning system but more as just a monitoring system, so I’m looking for what the benefit is that all the ratepayers in the MD are gonna have to pay for this,” said Fitzmorris. “I want to make sure that it’s beneficial to administration to getting your jobs done and to the residents that are gonna use this to check the water levels.”
It was suggested by administration the program would free up time where staff are currently tasked with manually monitoring two wells in Exshaw and three wells in Dead Man’s Flats, beginning in April each year. Data collected on groundwater levels would instead be automatically collected and uploaded, and could be made publicly available at the MD’s discretion.
In Exshaw, the program recommends automatic monitoring of three existing separate well locations deemed by consultant Matrix Solutions Inc. to be “best suited to provide an accurate picture of the groundwater.”
“Along with spatial coverage, there are other considerations: well security, cell reception, other uses of the well, and location on public or private property. All of these are weighted similarly when considering suitability,” states a staff report.
Program costs, staff time and salary to be weighed
The cost to run the automated program would be $18,000 in its first year, with $6,000 of that as a one-time expense for the development and creation of a data management and flow system. Subsequent years would cost $12,000, covering project coordination, sensor set up and fieldwork.
Bighorn CAO Shaina Kelly said that while administration hasn’t yet compared the cost of the automated system to the staff time and salary typically required for manual monitoring, this analysis could be prepared and presented during draft budget discussions in October.
Manually monitoring is currently done about once per week starting April 1, until winter.
“Groundwater data collection is not arduous for staff when it’s done from time to time during weekdays. It becomes more difficult and time-consuming when the groundwater levels reach a stage that warrants more frequent monitoring and when monitoring is requested to take place on weekends,” said Kendra Tippe, manager of operational services with the MD.
She added it is also completed during regular working hours, except when required on weekends.
Reeve Lisa Rosvold asked how many weekends a year staff might be required to conduct additional monitoring.
No additional monitoring has been required for 2024 or 2023, Tippe said.
“Previous years there has been more of a need. I would say, six to eight weekends would be an average in the peak months, so June, July,” she said.
Consultant recommends automated monitoring program
Exshaw has experienced multiple flooding events over the years, including surface water flooding from Jura, Heart and Exshaw creeks in 2013 and a high groundwater flooding event in June 2020 that impacted the eastern portion of the hamlet, with reports of up to 50 centimetres of water swamping residences.
Bighorn’s director of operation services Bill Luka said groundwater data has been historically beneficial for monitoring the MD’s wastewater lagoon in Exshaw when groundwater may be impacting the facility, but also to keep a watchful eye on groundwater in the east.
“Just understanding the dynamics of what’s going on in the East Exshaw area has been beneficial. I believe there is a benefit to collecting some information,” he said.
The automated monitoring program comes at the recommendation of Matrix — the consultant hired by the MD to conduct a groundwater study investigating potential causes of the 2020 flood.
The Matrix study assessed whether a sediment pond on Exshaw Creek — with the influence of storms, snowpacks, creeks and the Bow River — has exacerbated groundwater flooding in the community following flood mitigation work in response to the 2013 flood.
The study, completed in 2022, shows the water table in Exshaw is rising, but likely due to a naturally increasing seasonal water table within the entire alluvial fan aquifer from rain and snowmelt.
“An early warning forecasting system predicting future groundwater levels would require several inputs from different areas such as surface water data, snowpack data, rainfall data, etc., as well as significant resources to evaluate their impact on groundwater levels,” states the staff report on the automated groundwater monitoring program.
“These variables are not being monitored in this scope.”
In addition to bringing back an in-depth cost analysis during early 2025 budget talks, Coun. Jen Smith also asked for a map of monitored wells in Dead Man’s Flats, which was not provided to the committee.
Rosvold said she values the data already collected by the MD but with the information provided, is of the mind that staff can continue the task.
“I think it’s important that we are collecting this data but I’m not so sure that we need to invest more into data loggers and for this to be done electronically,” she said.