Biography:
Ashley is a graduate student from the Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences at University of Victoria. Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in Geoscience from Vancouver Island University. She has worked with various Indigenous communities in British Columbia such as Xa’xtsa, Snuneymuxw, Snaw-naw-as, and Qualicum to pursue projects that focus(ed) on traditional plants and languages, groundwater resources, land conservation as well as alternative energy solutions. Ashley is working with Dr. Tom Gleeson to pursue research at Sloquet and has a strong passion for groundwater research and management. She is very excited to be working together with project partners to answer complex questions about the hydro-geothermal setting of Sloquet thermal springs.
Project: Evaluating the Hydro-Geothermal Setting of Sloquet Thermal Springs
Researchers from the University of Victoria are working collaboratively Xa’xtsa First Nation, TTQ Economic Development Corporation, and Recreation Sites and Trails British Columbia to scientifically evaluate the source of Sloquet Hot Springs. Ashley along with Dr. Tom Gleeson, will be exploring the local and regional geology of Sloquet while further investigating groundwater flow systems to understand the distribution of thermal fluid flow. The purpose of research is to determine the depth thermal fluids originate and temperature of water at depth, structural controls that characterize the system, flow rates of the main thermal seep and distribution of seepage sites proximal to Sloquet. Research will contribute to the development of two conceptual models that show the hydro-geothermal setting of Sloquet for the community to use for future decision making.
