WETLANDS Mangrove Swamp – Everglades National Park – Estuarine Wetland   

Wetlands Wetlands are areas that are periodically or permanently inundated by surface or ground water and support vegetation adapted for life in saturated soil. Wetlands include swamps, marshes, bogs and similar areas. January 2002

Wetlands are transitional environments between uplands and fully aquatic environments They are defined on the basis of Hydrology – presence and duration of water Vegetation – dominance of vegetation adapted to saturated soil conditions Soils – poorly drained and with evidence of low or fluctuating oxygen

Wetlands are NOT always wet! Wetland Hydrology Area is inundated or saturated to the surface for at least 5% of the growing season in most years Growing season is based on soil temperature and is determined for regions by the USDA Most years = 51 out of 100 years Wetlands are NOT always wet!

Hydrophytic Vegetation Plant species that are adapted for life in saturated soils Anaerobic soil conditions Soggy or waterlogged soils Require adaptations for better support Require adaptations for gas exchange Hydrophytes are plants growing in water or on substrates that are periodically deficient in oxygen

Hydric Soil A soil that is saturated, flooded, or ponded long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the root zone Tend to be dark in color and have mottles of iron staining

What do wetlands do? Wetland Functions Habitat : nesting, spawning, rearing and resting sites for aquatic and land species, food chain production Hydrology: protection of other areas from wave action and erosion, storage areas for storm water and flood water, ground and surface water aquifer Recharge Water : water quality protection, water filtration and Quality purification, treatment of nonpoint source runoff

Why are wetlands important? maintain biodiversity (animals, plants, and many trees) provide habitat for animals maintain water quality support commercial fishing, forestry reduce flood damage , store runoff hiking, fishing, hunting, bird watching, boating aesthetic value Did you know? Nationwide, an estimated 50 million people spend approximately $10 billion annually observing and photographing wetland-dependent birds. January 2002

NC-CREWS Primary Wetland Functions and Subfunctions Water Quality Nonpoint Source Removal Floodwater Cleansing Wildlife Habitat Terrestrial Wildlife Aquatic Life Potential Risk Wetland Extent and Rarity Replacement Difficulty Land Use Characteristics Hydrology Surface Runoff Storage Floodwater Storage Shoreline Stabilization January 2002

Example: Water Quality Function January 2002

Wetlands store runoff and provide habitat for animals What do we Know? Wetlands store runoff and provide habitat for animals   Development issues are causing animals to overcrowd other habitats.   

Common development issues Fertilizers from farming, construction sites, and home owners  Construction is killing off trees, plants and animals.   Animals are being run out of their homes and forced to overcrowd other wetlands.  

Wetland Classification Swamp Forest Bottomland Hardwood Pine Flat Hardwood Flat Managed Pine Freshwater Marsh Salt/Brackish Marsh Estuarine Scrub Shrub Estuarine Forest Maritime Forest Headwater Swamp Human Impacted Modifiers: Partially Drained/ Ditched Cut-over Cleared January 2002

Types of Wetlands Swamps - Depends on nutrient-rich ground water derived from mineral soils. Great Dismal Swamp

Swamp Forest January 2002

Types of Wetlands Marshes - Permanently or periodically flooded sites characterized by nutrient-rich water. Located around beaches. Ex. – Kitty Hawk or Corolla

Tidal Salt Marsh January 2002

Types of Wetlands  Bogs - Made by peat accumulation, usually dominated by moss. Bogs appear where the water at the ground surface is acidic. Bogs are generally formed by rain water

Wet Pine Flat Hard Wood Flat January 2002

Types of Wetlands Fens - Made by peat accumulation; may be dominated by sedge, reed, shrub or forest. Fens are mostly fed by surface or groundwater.

Common Wetland Plants Bladderwort Cattails Algae

Common Wetland Plants Spike Rushes Duckweed Waterweed Coontail Bulrushes Water Lily

Common Wetland Animals Leopard Frog Red-winged Blackbird Beaver Garter Snake Ducks Red Fox

Common Wetland Animals Whirligig Beetle Dragonfly Minnow Snail Tadpole Water Strider

Ritchey Woods Natural Area – Riparian Wetland

Walnut Creek Wetlands Not only has all of the qualities discussed previously but also is essential for filtering trash and pollutants coming from Raleigh All cities would love to have this natural filtration system that prevents trash from flowing all the way to the ocean From Raleigh-Little Rock Creek, Walnut Creek, The Neuse River, to the Atlantic Ocean