Deep Wetland

Description

The Reference State (1) describes the range of vegetative communities that occur on the Deep Wetland ecological site where the range of natural variability under historic conditions and disturbance regimes is mostly intact. The Reference State developed under the combined influences of climatic conditions, periodic fire activity, grazing by large herbivores, and impacts from small mammals and insects. Drainage by ditching, while common on Wet Land ecological sites, is uncommon on Deep Wetland sites. Deep Wetlands occupy the lowest landscape position, and it is generally not cost effective to excavate the long distances required to drain the water to an adjacent, lower elevation watershed.

The Reference State is a very stable state that is very resistant to any change that does not affect the associated water table. The Reference State includes the Reference Community (1.1) and the Shallow Water Community (1.2). These communities fluctuate with wetter and drier precipitation patterns.

Dominant plant species

1. broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia), grass

2. bulrush (Scirpus), grass

3. sedge (Carex), grass

4. swamp smartweed (Polygonum hydropiperoides), grass

Submodel