|
Wetland Classification and Mapping of the Kenai Lowland, Alaska
Map Unit Descriptions Ecosystem: Relict Glacial Lakebed Map Units: LB46; LB64; LB4-6
Extent: LB46: 300 wetland polygons; 2964.2 ha; 2.09% of wetland area; 1.82% of wetland polygons. LB64: 236 wetland polygons; 2493.2 ha; 1.76% of wetland area; 1.43% of wetland polygons. LB4-6: 11 wetland polygons; 116.5 ha; 0.08% of wetland area; 0.07% of wetland polygons. |
|
 A segregated LB46 unit on the small relict lakebed near Caribou Lake, 22 miles northeast of Homer (polygon 10653).
A mixed LB64 unit near Clam Creek (polygon 2118).
A segregated LB4-6 wetland (polygon 28481). |
Wetland Indicators Type: Peat Average depth to water table: LB4: 19.5 cm; n=50 LB5: 57.0 cm; n=2 LB6: 31.4 cm; n=46 Organic layer thickness: LB4: 116.0 cm; n=52 LB5: 78.5 cm; n=2 LB6: 70.2 cm; n=62 Average depth to redoximorphic features: LB4: 79.0 cm; n=3 LB5: n/a LB6: 51.0; n=14 Common Soils: LB4: STARICHKOF, DOROSHIN, SALAMATOF, NIKOLAI LB6: STARICHKOF, KALIFONSKY, DOROSHIN, NIKOLAI Common Plant communities: LB4 component: Sweetgale - Shrubby cinquefoil Sphagnum moss - Ericaceous shrub Bog blueberry – Dwarf birch – Tufted hairgrass
LB5 component:
LB6 component: Black spruce / Woodland horsetail - Labrador tea Black Spruce / Crowberry - Lingonberry Lutz spruce / Barclay's willow / Field horsetail / Crowberry |
|
Accuracy assessment: 61 polygons interpreted as LB46 on aerial photographs were field checked. 40 remained LB46; 3 were revised to LB64; 2 each were revised to LB2-6 and LB4-6; 1 each was revised to: DW35A, DW4, LB23, LB24, LB2-4, LB26, LB34, LB36, LB43, LB62, LBSF, SL, SLS and SM. 49 polygons interpreted as LB64 on aerial photographs were field checked. 32 remained LB64, 4 were revised to LB62; 3 were revised to LB6, 2 were revised to upland; 1 each was revised to: DW5A, DW5A3, DWR, LB26, LB42, LB5, SG and SL. 2 polygons interpreted as LB4-6 on aerial photographs were field checked. Neither remained LB4-6; 1 each was revised to DW3-5A and LB43. |
|
LB46 and LB64 are complexes of the shrubby (LB4) and forested (LB6) components on Relict Glacial Lakebed Ecosystems. If the shrubby component is dominant the unit is named LB46, and if woodland or forest predominates it is named LB64. They can be segregated or mixed, if segregated they form bands, with the LB6 component often bordering the upland, or at least the edge of the relict lakebed surface, and the LB4 component often bordering a wetter sedge (LB2) or sphagnum- dominated (LB3) component towards the center of the lakebed. If mixed, they typically occur at the edges of lakebeds, often as fingers of forest extending towards the center of the peatland.
On the northern peninsula, black spruce (Picea mariana) forests are common, and in the south, Lutz spruce (P. X lutzii) tends to dominate the LB6 component.
