The Dorset Catchments: A History of Boreal Shield Catchment Research in Central Ontario, CA

Since the early 1970s, the Dorset research catchments have been site to longterm monitoring and study of Shield terrestrial catchment processes, their linkages to inland aquatic ecosystems and influence from both natural variation and human activities. Located on the Precambrian Shield in central Ontario, Canada, covered by mixed Great Lakes-St. Lawrence forest, research has provided important insight into cold region hydrologic processes such as streamflow generation, wetland and groundwater-surface water interactions, transit time estimates and hydrological modeling, influence of hydrology on biogeochemical processes and exports, and catchments linkages to lake nutrient budgets and ecology. From early research efforts driven by concerns over impacts from cottage development and acid rain on soils, rivers and lakes, studies have examined impacts of stressors of forest harvesting, calcium depletion, road salt application and climate change, and extended from headwater to larger river basin scales. This poster will offer a historical arc of scientific findings generated from the Dorset catchments with the aim of honoring and illustrating the legacy and the power of partner-based research.