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Wetland Classification and Mapping of the Kenai Lowland, Alaska
Map Unit Descriptions Ecosystem: Relict Glacial Lakebed Map Unit: LB1-4; LB41; LB1-5
Extent: LB1-4: 28 wetland polygons; 1287.9 ha; 0.91% of wetland area; 0.17% of wetland polygons. LB41: 2 wetland polygons; 2.9 ha; 0.00% of wetland area; 0.01% of wetland polygons. LB1-5: 1 wetland polygon; 9.8 ha; 01% of wetland area; 0.01% of wetland polygons. |
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 The LB1-4 portion of a large Relict Glacial Lakebed peatland near Kasilof (polygon 22143).
The LB1-4 portion of a large Relict Glacial Lakebed complex near Ninilchik (polygon 11925).
The single LB41 unit mapped to date, near Moose Point, along the Point Possession strip (polygon 6315).
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Wetland Indicators Type: Peat Average depth to water table: LB1: n/a LB2: 11.3 cm; n=32 LB3: 9.9 cm; n=13 LB4: 19.5 cm; n=50 LB5: 57.0 cm; n=2 Organic layer thickness: LB1: n/a LB2: 146.6 cm; n=36 LB3: 119.2 cm; n=13 LB4: 116.0 cm; n=52 LB5: 78.5 cm; n=2 Average depth to redoximorphic features: LB1: n/a LB2: n/a LB3: n/a LB4: 79.0 cm; n=3 LB5: n/a Common Soils: LB1: pond LB2: STARICHKOF, DOROSHIN LB3: STARICHKOF, DOROSHIN LB4: STARICHKOF, DOROSHIN, SALAMATOF, NIKOLAI Common Plant communities: LB1 component:
LB2 component: Tufted bulrush - Tall cottongrass Sweetgale – Dwarf birch / Water horsetail Tufted bulrush – Fewflower sedge
LB3 component: Sphagnum moss - Ericaceous shrub Sphagnum moss / Tall cottongrass Sphagnum moss - Manyflower sedge Tufted bulrush – Fewflower sedge Fewflower sedge – Tall cottongrass LB4 component: Sweetgale - Shrubby cinquefoil Sphagnum moss - Ericaceous shrub Bog blueberry – Dwarf birch – Tufted hairgrass
LB5 component: |
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Accuracy assessment: 4 polygons interpreted as LB1-4 on
aerial photographs were field checked. None remained LB1-4; 1 each was
revised to: LB21, LB24,
LB34 and LBSF.
1 of the polygons interpreted as LB41 on aerial photographs was field checked, it remained LB41. The single polygon interpreted as LB1-5 on aerial photographs was not field checked. |
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LB1-4 complexes cover the range of map components from open water (LB1) through sedge dominated communities (LB2) and sphagnum dominated communities (LB3) to shrub dominated communities (LB4) present at a scale too fine-grained to delineate separately. At one wetland the uncommon bluejoint grass (Calamagrostis canadensis) component ( LB5) is also present, that wetland is named LB1-5.
LB1-4 wetlands can occur as extensive shallow pools being slowly invaded by circular sphagnum islands, surrounded by shrubby peatland. They could also occur as a fine-textured mosaic of small pools, flarks and sphagnum mounds topped by shrubs. In many locations on the Kenai Lowlands it appears as though a sphagnum bog is in the processes of over-running flark vegetation.
LB1-4 wetlands are uncommon, but a few are extensive.
The two LB41 wetlands are small, one is near Moose Point, along the Point Possession strip, the other is near Kasilof. The single, unvisited, LB1-5 wetland occurs near Happy Valley, adjacent to Happy Valley Creek with a primary ATV travel corridor along a seismic line running through it. Bluejoint often indicates disturbance.
