CEN Clearwater Lake Research Station
Location
Situated in Nunavik on the shores of Clearwater Lake (Lac à l’ Eau Claire, 56°20’ N, 74°27’ W), the station is about 125 km inland from the eastern coast of Hudson Bay.
History
CEN research has been conducted here since 1980, but the station buildings are recent, built in 2000 and upgraded in 2011. The buildings were originally built by outfitters but have been considerably upgraded by the CEN. The three buildings can accommodate nine people. They are equipped with solar-powered electricity, running water, dry toilettes, and oil heating. The station is accessible from June to October by float plane or helicopter. About 10 km to the southeast, there is a natural airstrip maintained by Air Inuit. However, a river separates the station from the airstrip.
Research
Past research has focused on regional ecosystem dynamics, specifically on the response of the forest to disturbances such as fire and insect outbreaks, dendrochronology, riparian vegetation and biodiversity, periglacial processes, secular variations in water levels, and hydrology. Other research topics have covered limnology of the two basins, geological and geomorphological history, and biophysical features of the area. Wildlife studies (birds, caribou, small mammals, fish, and biting insects) have also been conducted, as well as archeological studies (recently). CEN operates three climate stations in and around the western basin of the lake, one of which is on a small island directly in the centre of the basin. In addition to scientific literature, CEN has extensive climate data since 1986 which are available through Nordicana D: www.cen.ulaval.ca/nordicanad/.
Biodiversity
Clearwater Lake is the second largest natural lake of the province of Québec (2243 km2). It sits at an altitude of 240 m, the limit reached by the postglacial sea, and drains into Hudson Bay via Clearwater River (Rivière à l’ Eau-Claire) with a maximum outflow rate of 150 m3/s. The lake features two adjacent, circular basins (26 and 36 km in diameter) that were created by a meteoritic impact about 290 ± 20 million years ago (Permian Age). Even though vascular plant diversity is low on regional granite gneisses, the volcanic breccias (clastic-textured extrusive igneous rocks) situated on the islands of the western basin (11 islands forming a circle) are populated by 250 vascular species, 15% of which are specific to the shores. Avifauna is abundant and the islands constitute an enclave for shrub tundra in an area that is rather characterised by forest tundra.
Human Presence
Clearwater Lake is situated within the boundaries of a provincial park and on aboriginal land. First Nations people, the Cree, still use the land extensively for hunting and fishing, especially during spring and autumn. There are no permanent settlements around the station, the closest village Umiujaq is about 135 km west on the shores of Hudson Bay. Access to the station is organised by CEN from the Whapmagoostui-Kuujjuarapik Research Station.
Climate
Access
Clearwater Lake is an isolated station in a provincial park; therefore all research activities must be proposed and planned in advance. Contact CEN for more information (cen@cen.ulaval.ca).
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