WETLAND VEGETATION

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WETLAND VEGETATION

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

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Many types of wetlands

• Swamp (has trees and/or shrubs)
• Marsh (salt and fresh)
• Bog

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Forested swamp
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Shrub swamp
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Marsh
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Wet meadow
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Coastal Wetlands Land Under the Ocean
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Coastal Beach
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Coastal Dunes
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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

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UPL, FACU, FAC, FACW, OBL?

• Species vary in their likelihood to be present in
  or absent from wetlands
• US Fish and Wildlife Services National List of
  Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands lists
  likelihood of presence in wetlands
• Morphological adaptations to wet conditions

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Adventitious roots
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Shallow root systems
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Inflated stems and leaves
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Use of vegetation in delineations

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

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Problem situations

• Vegetation changes
• cut
• removed
• altered
• Look at other parameters

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Conclusion

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

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