WETLAND VEGETATION Ruth M. Ladd, P.W.S. Policy Analysis and Technical Support Branch U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New England District

Many types of wetlands Swamp (has trees and/or shrubs) Marsh (salt and fresh) Bog

Forested swamp

Shrub swamp

Marsh

Wet meadow

Coastal Wetlands: Land Under the Ocean

Coastal Beach

Coastal Dunes

Role in identifying wetlands Three parameters of wetlands: hydrology, vegetation, and soils. Hydrology is critical but highly variable. Wetland soils, once developed, are fairly permanent Vegetation provides “clue” of presence or absence or changes in hydrology

UPL, FACU, FAC, FACW, OBL? Species vary in their likelihood to be present in or absent from wetlands US Fish and Wildlife Service’s “National List of Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands” lists likelihood of presence in wetlands Morphological adaptations to wet conditions

Adventitious roots

Shallow root systems

Inflated stems and leaves

Use of vegetation in delineations Wetland species dominate the wetland Use of plots (upland and wetland) Observations of adaptations Problem situations

Vegetation changes: –cut –removed –altered Look at other parameters

Conclusion Vegetation is one of the clues to the presence or absence of wetlands Be careful about relying on vegetation exclusively!