Improving Canadian Capacity for Predicting the Impacts of Natural and Human Disturbances on Boreal Water Resources Canadian Aquatic Laboratory for Interdiscplinary Boreal Ecosystem Research Canadian Excellence

Limited Understanding of Water Processes –flow and storage –movement and fate of nutrients –mobilization and transport of contaminants –linkages and interactions at the ecosystem level Climate Variability –impacts on all water processes –complicates the understanding will require adaptive strategies Water Resource Management –need for integrated tools –ecosystem level understanding required –training of personnel, the next generation Canadian Excellence

Boreal Water –Water quantity, quality, sustainability –Uncertainty as a liability to continued development Integrated solutions for ecosystem sustainability –Interdisciplinary research –Build Canadian capacity Building partnership –Investing in infrastructure –Field sites –Science communication

Scotty Creek (43%) Lake Isolated Bog Connected Bog Fen Peat Plateau

Laurier's Proposal Interdisciplinary Boreal Ecosystem Research - develop infrastructure to facilitate transformative research - deliver sound scientific understanding of ecosystem processes - Integrate findings to produce comprehensive models of land use change and climate variability - train the next generation of water resource managers - provide innovative tools for resource sustainability - communicate knowledge and develop understanding to ensure sustainable decision-making and environmental protection solutions based research: addressing uncertainty to reducing liabilities Canadian Excellence

Building Capacity for Predicting the Impacts of Natural and Human Disturbances on Boreal Water Resources. Understanding water and energy cycling (quantity and quality) nutrient and contaminant mobilization processes and interactions at an ecosystem level Predicting impacts of land use change integrating processes and interactions knowledge based understanding of aquatic sustainability Development of a community approach linking researchers with users communicating science government, water boards, downstream communities Training tomorrow's water managers today Canadian Excellence

Interdisciplinary Boreal Ecosystem Research Laboratory Three Themes Understanding & Describing Predicting Delivering & Training Physical Space Watershed Observation Field sites sites to be developed with partners Hydrology Unit Biogeochemistry Characterization Unit Molecular Biochemistry and Imaging Unit Predictive Modelling Unit Aquatic Culture and Testing Unit solutions based research: addressing uncertainty to reducing liabilities Canadian Excellence

The Project Field sites instrumentation and facilities Renovations to existing space expand characterization capacity 5 discipline based units Characterisation and instrumentation hydrological, geochemical, biological & integrative modelling Team of researchers active, internationally recognized, experienced Investment: $5 million solutions based research: addressing uncertainty to reducing liabilities Interdisciplinary Boreal Ecosystem Research Laboratory Canadian Excellence

GNWT/WLU Partnership for Interdisciplinary Boreal Ecosystem Research on Ecosystem Canadian Excellence

Dr. Hind Al-Abadleh Chemistry Dr. Michael English Geography Dr. Lucy Lee Biology Dr. Deborah MacLatchy Biology VP Academic and Provost Dr. James McGeer Biology Dr. Roderick Melnik Mathematics Canada Research Chair Tier I, Dr. Richard Petrone Geography Dr. William Quinton Geography Canada Research Chair Tier II, Dr. Robin Slawson Biology Dr. Scott Smith Chemistry Dr. Mike Wilkie Biology Dr. Brent Wolfe Geography NSERC Northern Research Chair, Canadian Excellence The Laurier Team

Laurier Team Expertise covering Climatology Hydrology Nutrient cycling Geochemistry Microbiology Mechanistic Physiology Acute & Chronic Toxicology Predictive Modelling Science Policy Integration Canadian Excellence

Active Research Program Core Researchers: (English, Petrone, Quinton, MacLatchy, Smith, Wilkie, McGeer, Wolfe, Melnick) - currently supporting more than 70 students & technical support staff - past 6 years more than 200 peer reviewed publications - well funded - delivering important and relevant science Network of Collaborations: - Aquatic research networks across Canada - IP3 * Network - Canadian Rivers Institute - Canadian Water Network - Hydrology Ecology & Disturbance Program - Western Boreal Forest Hydrology Group * Improved Process and Parameterisation for Prediction in Cold Regions Canadian Excellence