Dr. Hazen Russell

Dr. Russell is a researcher at the Geological Survey of Canada in sedimentology and a project lead in the Groundwater Geoscience Program. He received his B.Sc. (1982) at Memorial University of Newfoundland, an MSc (1993) from Laval University, and his PhD (2001) in Earth Sciences at the University of Ottawa. He has been at the GSC since 1996. He is the co-project lead for C1W.

Hazen applies the basin analysis approach to advance regional understanding of groundwater and to aid in the mapping of key Canadian aquifers. He applies GIS and sedimentological techniques to landform, outcrop and core data analysis. This work forms the basic control dataset for geophysical interpretation, stratigraphic modelling, aquifer heterogeneity and aquifer mapping studies. The focus of this work is to develop an understanding of the geological history of sedimentary basins, including the history of basin fluids. This knowledge framework then provides an ability for predicting and modelling the distribution, extent and heterogeneity of aquifers.

What is your role in the C1W project?

With Dr. Frey of Aquanty, I am co-lead of the C1W project and provide geological expertise for surficial, geology, bedrock geology, and hydrostratigraphic content. I also share the load of coordinating project communication, developing collaborative partnerships, and exploring end-user groups.

What benefits do you think C1W will bring to Canada/Canadians?

C1W is a foundation R&D activity that is establishing a national framework to support modelling of the water cycle with a focus on shallow groundwater and surface-water relationships under historic and future climate scenarios. It is an initiative to see how such model results can support decision makers in geographic, social (e.g., First Nations) and economic (e.g. Forestry, Agriculture) communities under conditions of increasing environmental change and stress.