Map Unit Descriptions
Geomorphic Component: Kettle
Map Units: K2-4; K24; K42
Extent:
K2-4: 89 wetland polygons; 572.1 ha; 0.40% of wetland area; 0.54% of wetland polygons.
K24: 11 wetland polygons; 42.8 ha; 0.03% of wetland area; 0.07% of wetland polygons.
K42: 10 wetland polygons; 72.1 ha; 0.05% of wetland area; 0.06% of wetland polygons.
 A segregated K2-4 wetland near Kasliof (polygon 9478). A central sedge-dominated area (not visible) is ringed by a shrubby peatland (left foreground) then a forest (right).
A segregated K24 wetland in the Soldotna Creek watershed (polygon 630).
A segregated K42 wetland behind the moraine east of Sterling (polygon (21925). |
Wetland Indicators Type: Peat Average depth to water table: K2: 9.1 cm; n=39 K3: 28.1 cm; n=60 K4: 30.2 cm; n=32 Organic layer thickness: K2: 136.0 cm; n=41 K3: 98.8 cm; n=60 K4: 74.9 cm; n=32 Average depth to redoximorphic features: K2: 18.0 cm; n=6 K3: 19.0 cm; n=3 K4: 46.7 cm; n=6 Common Soils: K2: STARICHKOF, DOROSHIN, SALAMATOF K3: STARICHKOF, DOROSHIN, TRUULI, NIKOLAI, SALAMATOF, CHUNILNA K4: STARICHKOF, SLIKOK, DOROSHIN, CLAM GULCH Common Plant communities: K2 Component: Sphagnum moss / Tall cottongrass Tufted bulrush - Tall cottongrass Sphagnum moss - Creeping sedge K3 Component: Sphagnum moss - Ericaceous shrub Sphagnum moss – Manyflower sedge
K4 Component: |
Accuracy assessment: 18 polygons interpreted as K2-4 on aerial photographs were field checked. 11 remained K2-4; 2 each were revised to K34 and K4; 1 each was revised to: K23, K43 and LB36. 2 polygons interpreted as K24 on aerial photographs were field checked. 1 remained K24, the other was revised to K32. 2 polygons interpreted as K42 on aerial photographs were field checked. Both remained K42. |
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Wetlands mapped as K2-4 complexes are infrequent and occur segregated into concentric rings with a central sedge-dominated plant community (K2) surrounded by shrubbier communities with a deeper water table (K3), then by woodland or forest (K4). Some Kettles lack the shrubby component, and these are mapped as K42 or K24 depending on whether (K42) or not (K24) the forest covers more area than the sedge-dominated portion of the wetland polygon.
South of Clam Gulch, K2-4 wetlands can be found mixed together as a forested kettle with a wet, hummocky understory. Where kettles are larger, such as on the large moraine between Nikiski and Sterling, K24 complexes may be mapped separately from a central pond (K1).
In Homer, the name K2-4d refers to a wetland that was K2-4 but is now disturbed.
