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Spatial dataset of DRASTIC aquifer intrinsic vulnerability of groundwater for specific study areas in BC, as reported in technical summary reports which are made available through the BC government's Ecological Reports Catalogue (EcoCat). For the study areas covered by each report and a link to each report in EcoCat, please see the EcoCat Reports Index spatial dataset: https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/386396c7-befe-4357-8088-21f1834a2e76 For more information (including an explanation of the DRASTIC method) please see "A Guide to the Use of Intrinsic Aquifer Vulnerability Mapping" at https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/acat/public/viewReport.do?reportId=23346

The dataset was developed as part of the Risk Assessment Framework for Coastal Bedrock Aquifers project completed by Simon Fraser University, for the BC Ministry of Environment and the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. Features in the dataset show the vulnerability of coastal aquifers on the Gulf Islands to salt water intrusion, based on their intrinsic susceptibility (aquifer properties such as distance from the coast and topography) and groundwater pumping (well density and type of use). This link refers to the Master of Science Thesis Report prepared by Jeanette Klassen in 2015 as a component of the collaborative study between Simon Fraser University and the Province of British Columbia.

A measure of the intrinsic susceptibility of an aquifer representing the tendency or likelihood for contaminants to reach a specified position in the groundwater system after introduction at some location above the uppermost aquifer. The method used to create the dataset is described in the metadata associated with the dataset. The dataset is a general assessment of the vulnerability of the hydrogeological unit considered as a whole. It features the local and regional qualifiers in a controlled vocabulary list referring to the extent where the vulnerability value is valid.

The dataset was developed as part of the Risk Assessment Framework for Coastal Bedrock Aquifers project completed by Simon Fraser University, for the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. Features in the dataset show the vulnerability of coastal aquifers on Salt Spring Island to salt water intrusion, based on their intrinsic susceptibility (aquifer properties such as distance from the coast and topography), groundwater pumping (well density and type of use) and coastal hazard (coastal morphology and vulnerability to flooding from storm surges). This link refers to the Master of Science Thesis Report prepared by Jeanette Klassen in 2015 as a component of the collaborative study between Simon Fraser University and the Province of British Columbia.

The Aquifer Vulnerability Index (AVI) is a method of assessing the vulnerability of aquifers to surface contaminants in Alberta. An aquifer is a geological formation that is permeable enough to transmit sufficient quantities of water to possible to support the development of water wells. In the assessment of aquifer vulnerability to potential contamination, the depth to the aquifer and the types of geological materials above them are considered. For example, aquifers closer to the surface overlain with pervious surface materials are more vulnerable to contaminants, as compared to aquifers found deeper and covered with a thick layer of impervious material.

Polygon features represent developed ground water aquifers in BC (that have been mapped). Most aquifer boundaries are delineated based on geology, hydrology and topographic information. Some aquifer boundaries stop at the border of BC mapsheet boundaries due to resource or data constraints at the time of mapping.

Legally defined Local Trust Area polygons were drawn from metes and bounds descriptions as written in Letters Patent for the Local Trust Areas in the province of British Columbia. A polygon dataset that includes all of the administrative areas currently in the Administrative Boundaries Management System (ABMS) is available here. A complimentary point dataset that defines the administrative areas is also available available here. Other individual datasets are available from the following records: https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/islands-trust-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/municipalities-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/regional-districts-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/electoral-areas-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/province-of-british-columbia-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc

A legally defined Islands Trust polygon was drawn from metes and bounds descriptions as written in Letters Patent for the Islands Trust in the province of British Columbia. A polygon dataset that includes all of the administrative areas currently in the Administrative Boundaries Management System (ABMS) is available here. A complimentary point dataset that defines the administrative areas is also available available here. Other individual datasets are available from the following records: https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/local-trust-areas-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/municipalities-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/regional-districts-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/electoral-areas-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/province-of-british-columbia-legally-defined-administrative-areas-of-bc

The confinement describes the types of aquifer: confined, unconfined and semi-confined. Confined aquifer is bounded from above and below by impervious formations. Unconfined aquifer has a water table which serves as its upper boundary. Semi-confined aquifer is in between.

The Social Vulnerability component of the National Human Settlement Layer (NHSL) includes information about broad spatial patterns of social vulnerability at the neighbourhood scale, and indicators about the capacities for a community to withstand and recover from disaster events based on intrinsic characteristics of housing, family structure, individual autonomy and financial agency.

Information in the model provides a means of comparing relative levels of social vulnerability from one region to another across Canada and helps to identify specific dimensions within a community that contributes to their relative levels of social vulnerability. This information is not intended for site-specific study, but instead to understand broad patterns of social characteristics and vulnerability across multiple census dissemination areas.