Research Article

Field methods for measuring hydraulic properties of peat deposits

  1. J. M. Hogan1,*,
  2. G. van der Kamp2,
  3. S. L. Barbour3,
  4. R. Schmidt2

Article first published online: 18 OCT 2006

DOI: 10.1002/hyp.6379

Issue

Hydrological Processes

Hydrological Processes

Special Issue: Canadian Geophysical Union — Hydrology Section

Volume 20, Issue 17, pages 3635–3649, 15 November 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

Hogan, J. M., van der Kamp, G., Barbour, S. L. and Schmidt, R. (2006), Field methods for measuring hydraulic properties of peat deposits. Hydrol. Process., 20: 3635–3649. doi: 10.1002/hyp.6379

Author Information

  1. 1

    Canada North Environmental Services, 4-130 Robin Crescent, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7L 6M7, Canada

  2. 2

    National Water Research Institute, 11 Innovation Blvd., Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7N OX4, Canada

  3. 3

    Department of Civil Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, S7N 5A9, Canada

*Canada North Environmental Services, 4-130 Robin Crescent, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7L 6M7.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 18 OCT 2006
  2. Article first published online: 18 OCT 2006
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 5 MAR 2006
  4. Manuscript Received: 1 AUG 2005

Funded by

  • Royal Canadian Geographical Society
  • Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
  • University of Saskatchewan, Action Plan 2000
  • Prince Albert Model Forest Association

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Keywords:

  • peat;
  • field methods;
  • drainage tests;
  • pumping tests;
  • hydraulic conductivity;
  • storativity

Abstract

New field techniques were developed and tested to evaluate peat storativity and hydraulic conductivity in a Boreal fen. Enclosed drainage tests and pumping tests were successfully completed in the thawed peat above an impermeable frozen layer and then repeated when the peat was fully thawed. A loading test experiment constrained values of vertical hydraulic conductivity within an order of magnitude for the peat below a depth of 2 m. An inherent advantage of these tests is that volumes of undisturbed peat on the scale of cubic metres may be characterized. Storativity of the fen peat as determined by enclosed drainage tests ranged from about 1·0 at the peat surface to 0·35 at a water table depth of 0·15 m. Laboratory drainage tests of peat cores gave similar, but widely scattered results. Hydraulic conductivity near the surface was as high as 9·0 × 10−3 ms−1 determined with pumping tests and in the range of 10−6 to 10−5 ms−1 below a depth of 2 m, estimated with the loading test. Slug tests gave similar results. Pumping tests, enclosed storativity tests and loading tests are practical large-scale field tests for determining peat properties. Copyright © 2006 Crown in the right of Canada, and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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