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Bog-
standing body of water with no underground spring of fresh water to feed
it. The water is generally cold, extremely acidic and low in oxygen. Photo |
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Bottomland
Hardwoods- river swamps found along rivers and streams in the flood
plains of the Southeast and South-central United States. Photo |
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Fens-
Fens are a type of open freshwater, and in some ways are very similar to
bogs and in others very different. Like bogs, Fens are found in the Northern
Hemisphere, more specifically the Northeastern United States, the Great
Lakes Region, and much of Canada. Fens also get ample precipitation, short
growing seasons, low temperatures in some seasons, and high humidity in
other seasons. The main similarity besides location and weather conditions
is that Fens are also peat forming wetland habitats.Fens
have high nutrient mineral levels and support a diverse plant and animal
community.The Fen Wetlands are covered
by grasses, sedges, reeds, and seasonal wildflowers.As
most wetlands do, Fens prevent and/or reduce the risk of floods. They improve
water quality. And, most importantly, Fens provide a habitat for unique
plant and animal communities. Photo |
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Mangrove
Swamps- are found in the transitional zone of the southward-creeping
waters of the Florida Everglades to the salty waters of tidal estuaries
and along the gulf and Florida Bay coasts. |
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Marsh-
is a treeless wetland that is dominated by grasses.
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Tidal- |
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Saltwater-
are estuarine habitats for plant and animal species that can tolerate a
mixture of both salt and freshwater. Low marshes are dominated by the most
important plant species in the estuary, saltmarsh cordgrass. These regularly
flooded marshes serve as critical habitat for juvenile fish and a variety
of invertebrates, including shrimp, fiddler crabs, marsh crabs, the marsh
periwinkle and the Atlantic ribbed mussel. High marshes are salt marsh
habitats that flood irregularly due to strong winds or exceptionally high
tides. The most common plant species found in high marshes is black needlerush,
a dark, sharp-tipped, stiff marsh rush. Other species include saltmarsh
fleabane, a three-foot plant with long, fleshy sharp-toothed leaves and
lavender to pink flowers; sedges, such as American and Olney threesquare;
and saltmarsh aster, a scraggly plant with daisylike flowers. |
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Freshwater
are found along lakes and rivers. |
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Swamps-
a wetland that is dominated by trees; freshwater swamps are found inland,
and saltwater swamps occur along protected coastal areas. |
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Prairie
Potholes- Since most of them are in the prairies and they’re often
round like a pot, they are called prairie potholes. Some of them are temporary;
others are permanent, depending on their size and amount of rainfall.
Bulrushes, sedges and cattails grow on the edges and make great hiding
and nesting places for birds and other animals. Photo |
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Playa-
Playas are shallow, flat-bottomed basins found in the arid southern Great
Plains of Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Colorado. |
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Pocosins-
Pocosins, meaning “swamps-on-a-hill”, are unique upland wetlands situated
in deep organic soils known as peats. Pocosins are similar to bogs, in
fact, they are known as the “Southern bogs”. Their floor is covered with
sphagnum moss, their soils are acidic and low in nutrients, and they are
dominated by evergreen shrubs. |
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Vernal
Pools- Vernal pools or ponds usually develop in the spring, when
rain and melting snow fill in depressions in the ground. Vernal pools usually
dry up as the weather gets warmer. Vernal pools are often breeding
grounds for frogs and other amphibians. Some organisms in vernal
pools are adapted to survive through the dry season. Algae and protozoans
dig into the mud and make a cyst or hard cover out of lime!
This protects the organisms until water fills the pond in the spring. Photo |
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Wet
Meadows-Wet meadows account for the largest number of acres of
wetlands in Colorado, are common at elevations below 9,000 feet, the may
occur naturally or as a result of irrigation and are often used for hay
production and livestock grazing.These
wetlands may provide habitat for animals such as mallards, pintails, chorus
frogs, and boreal toads.Some commonly
found plants include tufted hairgrass, manna grass, redtop, and arctic
rush. |
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Helps to reduce
damage caused by flooding |
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Captures nitrates
and phosphates to improve water quality |
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Produce many
commercial products including rice, blackberries, cranberries, blueberries,
and peat moss |
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Provides food
and a home for a large variety of species |
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Helps protect
shorelines from erosion |
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Helps control
the increase of runoff in urban areas |
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Can help in
correcting acid mine drainage |
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Underground
Aquifer recharge |
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Wetland
Protection Act: protects wetlands and the public interests they
serve, including flood control, prevention of pollution and storm damage,
and protection of public and private water supplies, groundwater supply,
fisheries, land containing shellfish, and wildlife habitats. |
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401
Water Quality Certification Program: Under section 401 of the federal
Clean Water Act, activities proposing discharges to water bodies or wetlands
require a state Water Quality Certification. |
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Conservation
Reserve Program (CRP): CRP was authorized under the Food Security
Act. CRP allows the federal government to enter into contracts with agricultural
producers to remove highly erodible crop land and cropped wetlands from
production in return for annual rental payments. |
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The
Swampbuster provision of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade
Act: Swampbuster discourages the conversion of wetlands by draining,
dredging, or leveling |