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Wetland Classification and Mapping of the Kenai Lowland, Alaska
Map Unit Descriptions Ecosystem: Kettle Map Component: K4; K4d
Extent: 654 wetland polygons; 3480.0 ha; 2.46% of wetland area; 3.96% of wetland polygons. |
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 A K4 wetland north of Kasilof (polygon 8783). |
Wetland Indicators Type: Mineral or Peat Average depth to water table: 30.2 cm; n=32 Organic layer thickness: 74.9 cm; n=32 Average depth to redoximorphic features: 46.7 cm; n=6 Common Soils: STARICHKOF, SLIKOK, DOROSHIN, CLAM GULCH Common Plant communities: Black spruce / Woodland horsetail - Labrador tea Lutz spruce / Woodland horsetail
NWI: PFO4B HGM: Terrene Basin groundwater-dominated Throughflow (headwater) |
| Accuracy assessment: 98 polygons interpreted as K4 on aerial photographs were field checked. 68 remained K4; 8 were revised to SM; 5 each were revised to LB6 and upland; 2 each were revised to: K43, SL and SLS; 1 each was revised to: DW5A3, K2-4, K34, SAL, SAS and SSL. | |
The K4 map component occurs on a kettle-kame landscape with a water table somewhat below the surface, and is typically forested. It is the most common Kettle Ecosystem wetland, and the third most common wetland in the project area. It occupies the zone between the shrubby K3 component and either a broad discharge slope (especially on Late Wisconsin surfaces) or the adjacent upland (on older surfaces). Black spruce (Picea mariana) is the common dominant, however, on the southern peninsula a few K4 components are dominated by lutz spruce (P. X lutzii).
K4 units are common on their own, or in complex with the shrubby K3 component.
In Homer, the name K4d refers to a wetland that was K4 but is now disturbed.
