IDENTIFYING ZONES OF GROUNDWATER DISCHARGE IN AN URBAN BEDROCK STREAM

Identifying zones of groundwater discharge in streams flowing over bedrock or in confined channels in urban settings can be difficult. These settings prevent the use of traditional methods such as seepage meters and mini-piezometers. In order to overcome these difficulties we propose the use of ground based thermal imaging and stream gauging to identify zones of groundwater discharge. Thermal imaging has been used successfully to identify annual temperature gradients between groundwater and surface water in various settings. Based on previous work, we apply these thermal imaging techniques to the highly urbanized Scajaquada Creek in Buffalo, NY to identify zones of groundwater discharge through fractured bedrock. These results are expected to help support future restoration work within the Creek by identifying zones of potential mixing between groundwater and surface water.