Abstract: Many types of wetlands are characterized by distinct plant communities, so vegetation can be used to easily identify these wetlands. Plant communities of drier wetlands, in particular temporarily flooded and seasonally saturated types, are often represented by plants that grow at least equally well in uplands and wetlands. This makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to simply use vegetation to identify these wetlands. Moreover, the upper boundaries of wetlands in areas of low topographic relief usually have a plant community containing both wetland and terrestrial species. These two situations require that other factors be considered to positively identify these areas as wetlands. This paper discusses the use of plants for wetland identification and how certain soil properties can be used to help make more difficult wetland determinations. It also addresses the impracticality of using specific hydrologic requirements to identify and even define wetlands. Finally, a new approach to wetland identification-the Primary Indicators Approach-is introduced. This method is an attempt to use only properties that are unique to wetlands for their identification, in marked contrast to the Federal government's three-parameter or three-criteria approach. Certain plants and plant communities have been used to indicate the presence of wetlands. These wet habitats occur along the natural soil mois-
Publication Year: 2016
Publication Date: 2016-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 7
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