Modelling peatland disruption in bisected bogs and the potential impacts for source water protection
Rory McPhail (Dalhousie University)

Our research focused on the consequences of bog-bisection for source water protection areas in Nova Scotia. In flat terrain and humid climates, raised bogs can form the topographic boundary of protected source watersheds. This was the case for our study site in Cape Breton, MacAskill Brook Dam Reservoir watershed. In our study we investigated the impacts of disruption to the non protected side of the peat bogs. The hydrologic properties of the two peat bogs on the watershed boundary were modeled using MODFLOW and calibrated using data from previously installed monitoring wells. Harvesting scenarios of 1m,3m and total peat extraction were simulated. The results of these scenarios showed that the water storage of the peat bogs will decrease by 219,000m3 to 1,570,000m3 depending on the harvest scenario. The carbon storage capacity will decrease by 24,300 metric tonnes to 156,000 metric tonnes and the groundwater divide will move away from the topographic divide by 107m to 398m and 41.2 m to 340 m Bogs 1 and 2 respectively. A GIS analysis was also performed to see if other watersheds in Nova Scotia have similar bisecting bogs. The results showed that six of the 10 randomly selected watersheds had bisected bogs.