Overview

Program Manager: Alfonso Rivera

Summary

The Groundwater Geoscience Program assesses aquifers and makes the data available through the Groundwater Information Network.

The extent of Canada's groundwater supply (aquifers) is being assessed. Up to 2009, 12 of the 30 key regional aquifers had been mapped and evaluated. In this third phase of the program, approved for the period of 2009 to 2014, the mapping and assessment of seven additional aquifers have been initiated and should be completed by 2014.

The Groundwater Geoscience Program is intentionally designed to establish a defensible and useful scientific data framework which can be used by provincial or local authorities responsible for managing groundwater on a regular basis, but which is also appropriate for use in a co-management regime, when necessary. These management activities may also include scientific cooperation and shared management in the case of transboundary aquifers crossing the Canada/United States border.

In this third phase, the program seeks to increase the cooperation with the provinces, territories, and universities, as well as with the U.S. federal and state agencies in developing groundwater knowledge by providing a robust scientific database, information and models to support frameworks for responsible management of the aquifers in making informed decisions for groundwater resources.

This Groundwater Geoscience Program is built on the successes of the two previous phases of the program: 2002-06 Groundwater Program, and the Groundwater Mapping Program 2006-09. The Groundwater Geoscience Program activities will be jointly developed with partners, with other federal departments as well as provincial governments.