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

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!