 This study identifies that during a mesic, non-drought, year, most peatlands in the boreal plains region of Canada are potential sources of groundwater to adjacent forest lands, while boreal forest lands are not reliable sources of groundwater recharge. The dominant hydraulic gradient under mesic climatic conditions is from peatlands to adjacent forest lands, opposite of the topographic gradient. This research highlights the need for alternative conceptualizations of catchment hydrology in water-limited regions of the boreal. This article was authored by K. J. Hockinson, E. S. Peterson, K. J. DeVito and others.