Information on water content of Medicine River valley sand and gravel deposits

Sand and gravel deposits in the Medicine River valley of Alberta are significant groundwater resources characterized by high permeability and variable saturated thickness, resulting in notable water content and aquifer potential. These unconsolidated alluvial and glacial deposits—often occurring as non-uniform, layered bodies along the river valley—tend to have saturated thicknesses that range regionally from about 2 to 14 meters where conditions are favorable, though the specific distribution in the Medicine River area may show local variability.ags.aer+2

Water Content and Aquifer Properties

• Sand and gravel deposits in such settings possess high void space between grains, allowing them to hold and transmit substantial quantities of water.waterportal

• Groundwater yield in similar alluvial aquifers in central Alberta can reach as much as 100 cubic metres per day per well, provided the deposits are thick and fully saturated.open.alberta

• The permeability is typically high, which supports rapid groundwater recharge and good well yields if the deposit lies below the water table.open.alberta+1

• The actual water content (volumetric) for loose, fully saturated sand and gravel is typically 20-30% of the deposit’s total volume, depending on grain size distribution and compaction; more coarse, well-sorted deposits tend toward the higher end.open.alberta+1

Regional Hydrogeology Context

• Medicine River valley deposits are generally part of the broader buried valley and recent alluvial aquifer systems common in Alberta, which are essential for local groundwater supply and have historically provided fresh, accessible water sources.rdrwa+1

• These deposits are sensitive to overlying land use and are recharged primarily by precipitation and, to a lesser extent, by river infiltration during high flow periods.waterportal+1

• The hydraulic conductivity of such deposits can exceed 10^-4 to 10^-2 m/s, supporting both groundwater extraction and natural baseflow to the river.open.alberta+2

Aquifer Risk and Management

• Because of their high permeability, these deposits are also vulnerable to contamination and rapid changes in water table, particularly from surface activities or flooding.albertawilderness

• Responsible management—especially within the 1:100 year floodplain—is essential to maintain both water quantity and quality in these sand and gravel aquifers.albertawilderness

In summary, the Medicine River valley’s sand and gravel deposits store and transmit large amounts of groundwater, with water content and yield highly dependent on local thickness and degree of saturation, making them critical yet sensitive components of the region’s hydrology.rdrwa+3

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2. https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/c66931e1-b067-4179-96af-ac47f1b31910/resource/3e20340d-18f3-4b43-8152-8aac61373390/download/Section_11_Terrain_and_Soils.pdf
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5. https://rdrwa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/rdr_sowr_4_05_medicine1.pdf
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7. https://ags.aer.ca/document/ESR/ESR_1975_02.pdf
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14. https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/ce79f272-b691-4507-bb5c-73ea22576e4d/resource/60a9777b-9c4e-4afc-ae41-6aa94ba0d0b9/download/hydrogeology-baseline.pdf
15. https://ags.aer.ca/document/OFR/OFR_1959_01.pdf
16. https://www.ualberta.ca/en/earth-sciences/facilities/collections-and-museums/minerals-of-alberta/sand-and-gravel.html
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20. https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/fdedd210-7599-494c-b89e-7e3eb1a5d5bb/resource/bd21e14f-749a-4a9e-b9fc-340226bdce89/download/aenv-focus-on-groundwater-2005-08.pdf