Wetland_Overview

	Natural Features *Wetland Overview* What is a wetland? Many of us recognize wetlands when we see cattails, ducks and open water, but wetlands come in many different varieties all over the landscape. Wetlands can be found in woodlands, adjacent to rivers and streams, in open areas, along roadsides and even in your backyard. Often times, wetlands don’t even seem to actually be “wet” because they do not need to have standing water to be a wetland by definition. Because wetlands are so varied and unique, they are one of the most diverse and biologically rich ecosystems in the world. In Michigan, certain wetlands are regulated by the state. This means that certain actions or changes within a wetland are illegal unless you have a permit. Please read the Protecting Van Buren Township’s Wetlands section below for more details about what can and cannot be done in certain wetlands and what you can do to help protect this valuable resource. The Benefits of Wetland Protection Most of the wetlands found in Van Buren Township are found in either wooded areas or along side a creek or the Lower Huron River. In addition to providing our community with aesthetic resources, wetlands provide six major functions that benefit wildlife, water quality and our community as a whole. Preventing flooding and protecting streambanks Wetlands are depressions in the landscape and they help to capture water when it rains. This allows the rainwater to soak into the ground slowly, rather than letting it rush quickly into fragile creeks and streams causing banks to erode. In this capacity, wetlands act like big sponges in our landscape, slowing down and absorbing excess water from a rainstorm that could be potentially damaging. This combined action of slowing down and storing storm water runoff protects property by reducing downstream flooding and streambank erosion. Recreation In Michigan, hunting and fishing for wetland dependent wildlife species, such as ducks and deer, is a major recreational and tourism activity. In addition to active recreation, many people enjoy wetland areas for passive recreation activities such as hiking, bird watching and nature photography. Water quality protection for our creeks Wetlands act as filters that capture and treat stormwater pollutants before they reach our waterways. Nutrients, such as excess phosphorus and nitrogen from lawn fertilizers, contribute a large amount of pollution to the river by increasing algae growth thus decreasing the oxygen in the water that is essential for aquatic life. Wetlands can filter out approximately 90 percent of the phosphorus and 80 percent of the nitrogen in polluted stormwater. Wildlife habitat and plant diversity Wetlands are home to approximately 30 percent of Michigan’s threatened and endangered plants and 60 percent of our threatened and endangered animals. By offering food, nesting areas, and shelter, wetlands are vital to the survival of many species of our local wildlife. Waterfowl and non-game birds - like Great Blue Herons, wood ducks and red-winged blackbirds - depend on wetlands for feeding and resting areas during their spring and fall migration. Resident birds, like the downy woodpecker and white-breasted nuthatch, use wetlands for nesting materials and feeding areas. In addition to supporting many birds, wetlands provide habitat for most species of freshwater fish, amphibians, and reptiles for part or all of their life cycle, since they provide safe breeding areas and provide cover from predators. Finally, since wetlands provide productive habitat for many insects, they serve as a significant source of food for many species of fish, turtles, snakes, frogs and toads. Larger mammals that you might see in area wetlands are deer, raccoon and red fox. Groundwater recharge Wetlands capture water in the landscape and can hold much of the water until it soaks down into the groundwater table. The groundwater is then cooled and cleaned by the soil as it travels below the ground before flowing into our creeks and rivers. Recognizing a wetland There are so many different types of wetlands – wooded, cattail, open water, etc. – that they are often difficult to recognize if you don’t know what signs to look for. However, an understanding of some basic wetland characteristics can help you know if an area could be defined as a wetland or not. For instance, wetlands, under normal conditions, should exhibit at least two out of three of the following characteristics: 1) Evidence of “wetland hydrology” or periodic inundation of water When standing water is not present and obvious, some common indicators of wetland hydrology are: watermarks at the bases of trees; drift lines of branches and leaves that have been pushed against trees or vegetation by water; the bases of trees are broader then their middle and seem to be grasping the earth; dark, water-stained leaves on the ground; or areas of bare soil indicating that standing water exists at the surface for a relatively long time. If you see an area that exhibits these indicators and has a dominance of water-loving plants or hydric soils, it is likely that you have found a wetland. 2) A dominance of water-loving (hydrophytic) vegetation Some common plant species to look for in a wetland are Cattails, Bulrushes, Spotted Touch-me-not, Common Reed, Purple Loosestrife, Silver Maple, Eastern Cottonwood, American Elm and Green Ash. If you see an area where these species clearly occur more than other plants, and there is evidence of wetland hydrology or hydric soils, then it is likely that you have found a wetland. 3) Hydric soils Soils that have been saturated by water at or near the surface for a prolonged period of time during the growing season (about 14 or more days) will exhibit certain characteristics. Usually found under an organic muck or topsoil layer, hydric soils will be a grayish color, sometimes with yellowish-orange spots or mottles. The gray color indicates the lack of air and oxygen in the soil due to water saturation. Orange mottles within a gray soil can indicate soils that are alternately saturated and unsaturated during the growing season. Often, you’ll need to dig a hole about 12 inches deep to determine a hydric soil. Although scientists use a special color chart to determine hydric soils, if you find an area with the above soil characteristics along with water-loving plants or evidence of hydrology, it is likely that you have found a wetland. Go to next