This data release is a compilation of data that characterize Alberta groundwater springs. It was compiled from several government datasets and reports, and fieldwork conducted by Alberta Geological Survey (AGS) staff members.
The source datasets include the digitized Alberta Research Council (ARC) Hydrogeology Map Series, the AGS Springs of Alberta report, ARC water chemistry data, Groundwater Resources Information Services (GWRIS) Index, Alberta Environmental Protection (AEP) springs, AGS Northeastern Alberta (NEALTA) project springs, field work conducted by Dr. J. Tóth and R. Stein, and other more recent spring sampling projects.
The data release includes field measurements and water chemistry analyses, as well as some isotope data. Where they are available the dataset also includes references to reports for further information. The data is housed within two primary tables that are related to each other in a one-to-many relationship through the unique identifier field, UID. Also included in the data release are four reference tables containing descriptions of certain data attributes.
Some spring locations are provided as the center of the LSD, however there are some locations which are centered on a quarter section. Therefore, the geographic location information may only be accurate to within several hundred metres. More recent location data, i.e. generated by GPS technology, may be more accurate, but may be inconsistant for temporal reasons as well as for the variety of observers.
Some of the data were generated by digitizing locations from 1:250,000 scale maps (Digital Hydrogeological map series, Tóth Field Studies). These locations will be as accurate as the scale of the map allows.
During the course of the project, some locations were checked in the field, but in many cases it is impossible to determine if the location provided by previous observers is correct even after visiting the site. Springs can cease in one location and re-emerge in others over time. It is the author's impression that most springs' locations provided from the various data sources were generally within a few hundred metres of the expected site.
Environment Water Well Database (2010 release)
Record count=2846
The data were obtained from Alberta Environment's annual Water Well Database release (2010) in the form of a CD. The data were selected (Proposed use=Springs) and uploaded to an Access database. All information was uploaded in its original form, straight from the source with the exception of elevation, which was converted to metres from feet. All other data were entered as they existed in the source dataset and any errors originating at the source were carried into this dataset. The data were checked as part of the larger dataset, but no detailed verification was conducted. Units of measurement for the chemical data were imported as is from the source (i.e. mg/L or meq/L) and they are recorded in the 'Original units of measure' (OUOM) field. Some of the source locations did not include latitude and longitude. For those data the locations were calculated from the Dominion Land Survey location to the center of the LSD using AGS in-house software. In cases where the original data were located to the quarter section (i.e. NW, SW, NE, SE), the centre of the quarter section was used. Latitude and longitude are provided in NAD83 projection.
Alberta Research Council (ARC) chemistry Springs
Record count=1012
The data were obtained from the ARC chemistry tables in AGS's internal database. Digital data were selected (Sample_source=Spring) and uploaded to an Access database. All information was uploaded in its original form, straight from the source with the exception of elevation, which was converted to metres from feet. All other data were entered as they existed in the source dataset and any errors originating at the source were carried into this data set. The data were checked as part of the larger dataset, but no detailed verification was conducted.
Units of measurement for the chemical data were imported as is from the source (i.e. mg/L or meq/L) and they are recorded in the 'Original units of measure' (OUOM) field. Latitude and longitude were calculated from LSD source locations. For those data the locations were calculated from the Dominion Land Survey location to the center of the LSD using AGS in-house software. In cases where the original data were located to the quarter section (i.e. NW, SW, NE, SE), the centre of the quarter section was used. Latitude and longitude are provided in NAD83 projection.
Battle River
Record count=47
The data were obtained from field observations during the AGS Battle River project and uploaded to an Access database. All information was uploaded in its original form, straight from the source. All data was entered as it existed in the source dataset and any errors originating at the source were carried into this dataset. The data were checked as part of the larger dataset, but no detailed verification was conducted. No samples were taken during the field work. Latitude and longitude were obtained from GPS. Latitude and longitude are provided in NAD83 projection.
Digitized Hydrogeological Map Series
Record count=2300
The data were obtained from AGS DIG 2009-0002 "Locations of Alberta Springs" and uploaded to an Access database. All information was uploaded in its original form, straight from the source. All data were entered as they existed in the source dataset and any errors originating at the source were carried into this dataset. The data were checked as part of the larger dataset, but no detailed verification was conducted. Units of measurement for the chemical data were imported as is from the source (i.e. mg/L or meq/L) and they are recorded in the 'Original units of measure' (OUOM) field. Latitude and longitude were digitized from 1:50,000 scale maps. Latitude and longitude are provided in NAD83 projection.
Groundwater Resource Information Series (GWRIS) INDEX
Record count=3228
The data were selected from the GWRIS tables in AGS' internal database (driller=11110) and uploaded to an Access database. All information was uploaded in its original form, straight from the source. All data were entered as they existed in the source dataset and any errors originating at the source were carried into this dataset. The data were checked as part of the larger dataset, but no detailed verification was conducted. Units of measurement for the chemical data were imported as is from the source (i.e. mg/L or meq/L) and they are recorded in the 'Original units of measure' (OUOM) field. Latitude and longitude were calculated from LSD source locations. For those data the locations were calculated from the Dominion Land Survey location to the center of the LSD using AGS in-house software. In cases where the original data were located to the quarter section (i.e. NW, SW, NE, SE), the centre of the quarter section was used. Latitude and longitude are provided in NAD83 projection.
NEALTA project
Record count=136
The data were obtained from field observations during the AGS NEALTA project and uploaded to an Access database. All information was uploaded in its original form, straight from the source. All data were entered as they existed in the source dataset and any errors originating at the source were carried into this dataset. The data were checked as part of the larger dataset, but no detailed verification was conducted. Units of measurement for the chemical data were imported as is from the laboratory analysis (i.e, mg/L or meq/L) and they are recorded in the 'Original units of measure' (OUOM) field. Latitude and longitude were obtained from GPS. Latitude and longitude are provided in NAD83 projection.
Saline Fens in Northeastern Alberta
Record count=18
The data were obtained from AGS OFR 2011-09 "Inorganic Water Chemistry of Saline Fens in Northeastern Alberta (NTS 74D)" and uploaded to an Access database. All information was uploaded in its original form, straight from the source. All data were entered as they existed in the source dataset and any errors originating at the source were carried into this dataset. The data were checked as part of the larger dataset, but no detailed verification was conducted. Units of measurement for the chemical data were imported as is from the source (i.e. mg/L or meq/L) and they are recorded in the 'Original units of measure' (OUOM) field. Latitude and longitude were obtained using GPS. Latitude and longitude are provided in NAD83 projection.
Springs Compilation
Record count=34
The data were obtained from field observations during the AGS Springs Compilation project and uploaded to an Access database. All information was uploaded in its original form, straight from the source. All data were entered as they existed in the source dataset and any errors originating at the source were carried into this dataset. The data were checked as part of the larger dataset, but no detailed verification was conducted. No samples were taken during the field work. Latitude and longitude were obtained from GPS. Latitude and longitude are provided in NAD83 projection.
Springs of Alberta
Record count=568
The data were obtained from AGS ESR 1982-03 "Springs of Alberta" and uploaded to an Access database. All information was uploaded in its original form, straight from the source. All data were entered as they existed in the source dataset and any errors originating at the source were carried into this dataset. The data were checked as part of the larger dataset, but no detailed verification was conducted. Units of measurement for the chemical data were imported as is from the source (i.e. mg/L or meq/L) and they are recorded in the 'Original units of measure' (OUOM) field. Latitude and longitude were calculated from the center of the LSD. Latitude and longitude are provided in NAD83 projection.
Springs Remote Sensing Project
Record count=14
The data were obtained from field observations during the AGS Springs Remote Sensing project and uploaded to an Access database. All information was uploaded in its original form, straight from the source. All data were entered as they existed in the source dataset and any errors originating at the source were carried into this dataset. The data were checked as part of the larger dataset, but no detailed verification was conducted. No samples were taken during the field work. Latitude and longitude were obtained from GPS. Latitude and longitude are provided in NAD83 projection.
Tóth Field Studies
Record count=73
The data were obtained from AGS INF 143 "Hydrogeological Field Notes by Dr. József Tóth: 1964-1969, Central and Southern Alberta" and the accompanying DIG releases and uploaded to an Access database. All information was uploaded in its original form, straight from the source. All data were entered as they existed in the source dataset and any errors originating at the source were carried into this dataset. The data were checked as part of the larger dataset, but no detailed verification was conducted. Units of measurement for the chemical data were imported as is from the source (i.e. mg/L or meq/L) and they are recorded in the 'Original units of measure' (OUOM) field. Latitude and longitude were digitized from 1:250,000 scale maps. Latitude and longitude are provided in NAD83 projection.
Wiau Springs
Record count=12
The data were obtained from AGS GEO 2002-06 "Baseline Discharge and Geochemistry of the Wiau Channel Springs, 1999 - 2001, Athabasca Oil Sands (in situ) Area, Alberta" and uploaded to an Access database. All information was uploaded in its original form, straight from the source. All data were entered as they existed in the source dataset and any errors originating at the source were carried into this dataset. The data were checked as part of the larger dataset, but no detailed verification was conducted. Units of measurement for the chemical data were imported as is from the source (i.e. mg/L or meq/L) and they are recorded in the 'Original units of measure' (OUOM) field. Latitude and longitude were obtained from GPS. Latitude and longitude were obtained from GPS. Latitude and longitude are provided in NAD83 projection.