GNS Science Consultancy Report 2014/283
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DISCLAIMER This report has been prepared by the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Limited (GNS Science) exclusively for and under contract to Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by GNS Science, GNS Science accepts no responsibility for any use of or reliance on any contents of this report by any person other than Bay of Plenty Regional Council and shall not be liable to any person other than Bay of Plenty Regional Council, on any ground, for any loss, damage or expense arising from such use or reliance. Use of Data: Date that GNS Science can use associated data: April 2015 BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE White, P.A.; Tschritter, C. 2015. Groundwater resource investigations in the Upper Rangitaiki River Catchment, Bay of Plenty Region. Stage 1 – preliminary groundwater allocation assessment, GNS Science Consultancy Report 2014/283. 65 p. Project Number 630W0407 Confidential 2014 CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................... V 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 1 2.0 UPPER RANGITAIKI RIVER CATCHMENT – REVIEW OF GEOLOGY AND HYDROGEOLOGY ..................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Geological history and structure .................................................................................... 3 2.2 Geological units ............................................................................................................. 6 2.2.1 Basement ......................................................................................................... 6 2.2.2 Mangakino and other older volcanics and sediments ...................................... 7 2.2.3 Whakamaru Group ........................................................................................... 7 2.2.4 Matahina Formation ......................................................................................... 8 2.2.5 Kaingaroa Formation ........................................................................................ 8 2.2.6 Tauranga Group sediments .............................................................................. 9 2.2.7 Okataina volcanics ........................................................................................... 9 2.2.8 Taupo Group .................................................................................................... 9 3.0 METHODS ................................................................................................................ 10 3.1 Geological model ......................................................................................................... 10 3.1.1 Data sources .................................................................................................. 10 3.1.1.1 Topographic data .............................................................................10 3.1.1.2 Geological maps ..............................................................................10 3.1.1.3 Bore log data ....................................................................................11 3.1.1.4 Other data sources ..........................................................................12 3.1.2 Data checking ................................................................................................. 12 3.1.3 Grouping of formations ................................................................................... 13 3.1.4 Definition of boundary surfaces for major geological units ............................ 13 3.1.4.1 Basement .........................................................................................14 3.1.4.2 Pre-Whakamaru Group volcanics and sediments ...........................14 3.1.4.3 Whakamaru Group ...........................................................................14 3.1.4.4 Matahina Formation .........................................................................14 3.1.4.5 Kaingaroa Formation .......................................................................15 3.1.4.6 Tauranga Group sediments .............................................................15 3.1.4.7 Taupo Group ....................................................................................15 3.1.5 Assembly of geological model incorporating faults and fault blocks .............. 15 3.2 Groundwater allocation zones ..................................................................................... 16 3.3 Water budget and groundwater flows.......................................................................... 18 3.3.1 Rainfall and evapotranspiration ...................................................................... 19 3.3.2 Surface water inflow and groundwater inflow ................................................. 19 3.3.3 Surface water flow: base flow and quick flow ................................................. 19 3.3.4 Groundwater-surface water interaction .......................................................... 20 3.3.5 Groundwater outflow ...................................................................................... 20 3.3.6 Water use ....................................................................................................... 20 3.3.7 Water budget calculations .............................................................................. 22 GNS Science Consultancy Report 2014/283 i Confidential 2014 3.3.8 Zone 6: boundary of the groundwater catchment in the vicinity of Lake Rerewhakaaitu................................................................................................ 22 3.4 Minimum flow limits ..................................................................................................... 26 3.5 Groundwater available for allocation ........................................................................... 27 4.0 RESULTS: 3D GEOLOGICAL MODEL .................................................................... 28 4.1 Upper Rangitaiki River catchment model .................................................................... 28 4.1.1 Model description ........................................................................................... 28 4.1.2 Model datasets ............................................................................................... 30 4.2 Model Uncertainties ..................................................................................................... 30 4.2.1 Uncertainty in model input data ...................................................................... 31 4.2.1.1 Topographic data .............................................................................31 4.2.1.2 Geological map boundaries .............................................................31 4.2.1.3 Subsurface geological data ..............................................................31 4.2.2 Uncertainty in the model construction ............................................................ 32 4.2.2.1 Modelling software ...........................................................................32 4.2.2.2 Model structures ..............................................................................32 4.2.2.3 Layer surfaces .................................................................................32 4.2.2.4 Layer distribution ..............................................................................32 5.0 RESULTS: GROUNDWATER BUDGET .................................................................. 33 5.1 Groundwater catchment .............................................................................................. 33 5.1.1 Boundary of the groundwater catchment in the vicinity of Lake Rerewhakaaitu (zone 6) ................................................................................. 38 5.2 Groundwater budget components ............................................................................... 41 5.2.1 Rainfall and AET in the study area ................................................................. 41 5.2.2 Groundwater zone budgets ............................................................................ 41 5.2.3 Galatea Plain (zone 3) groundwater budget .................................................. 43 5.2.3.1 Groundwater-surface water interaction in the Galatea Plain ...........43 5.3 Groundwater available for allocation ........................................................................... 47 5.4 Groundwater allocation and groundwater use ............................................................ 48 5.5 Groundwater available for allocation, current allocation and estimated use ............... 48 6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................. 49 6.1 Geological data ............................................................................................................ 49 6.2 Low-flow gauging measurement programme .............................................................. 49 6.3 Minimum flow estimates .............................................................................................. 50 6.4 Groundwater chemistry and age dating ...................................................................... 50 6.5 Groundwater and surface water allocation policy ....................................................... 50 6.6 Current groundwater allocation and estimated use ..................................................... 51 6.7 Assessment