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Wetland Classification and Mapping of the Kenai Lowland, Alaska
Map Unit Descriptions Ecosystem: Discharge Slope Alder Discharge Slope Complexes: SSA; SAS; SAM; SAG
Extent: SSA: 17 wetland polygons; 108.6 ha; 0.08% of wetland area; 0.10% of wetland polygons. SAS: 9 wetland polygons; 49.6 ha; 0.03% of wetland area; 0.05% of wetland polygons. SAM: 3 wetland polygons; 19.5 ha; 0.01% of wetland area; 0.01% of wetland polygons. SAG: 1 wetland polygon; 3.8 ha; 0.00% of wetland area; 0.01% of wetland polygons. |
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 An SSA wetland with a significant bluejoint grass component, at the edge of Beluga Lake, in the City of Homer (polygon 50314).
An SAG unit at the edge of a peatland complex in the City of Kenai (polygon 8432).
An SAS wetland at the headwaters of Woodard Creek, in the City of Homer (polygon 50182). |
Wetland Indicators Type: Mineral Soil Average depth to water table: SA: 24.2 cm; n=5 SM: 39.7 cm; n=7 SS: 31.1 cm; n=13 SG: n/a Organic layer thickness: SA: 105.3 cm; n=6 SM: 48.0 cm; n=6 SS: 44.5 cm; n=15 SG: 5.0 cm; n=1 Average depth to redoximorphic features: SA: 30.8 cm; n=4 SM: n/a SS: 26.1 cm; n=7 SG: n/a Common Soils: SA: STARICHKOF, SPENARD, NIKOLAI, BELUGA SM: CLAM GULCH, STARICHKOF, SPENARD, SLIKOK, COAL CREEK SS: STARICHKOF, TLIKAKILA, SNOWDANCE, FORELAND, DOROSHIN SG: KALIFONSKY Common Plant communities: SA component:
SM component: Black spruce / Woodland horsetail - Labrador tea Black Spruce / Crowberry - Lingonberry Black spruce / Field horsetail - Dwarf birch SS component: Barclay's willow / Bluejoint - Field horsetail Barclay's willow / Bluejoint / Marsh fivefinger SG component: White spruce communities are undefined. White spruce occasionally replaces black or Lutz spruce in the following communities: Lutz spruce / Barclay's willow / Bluejoint Lutz spruce / Dwarf birch - Field horsetail (Black spruce / Barclay's willow / Field horsetail) Black spruce / Field horsetail - Dwarf birch
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| Accuracy assessment: The only unit field checked was SSA: 2 polygons interpreted as SSA on aerial photographs were field checked. They were both revised, 1 to SAL the other to SAC. | |
The most abundant are the SSA and SAS (willow / alder) units, which are primarily concentrated at the edge of the project area on the slopes of the bluff northeast of the Fox River. The three black spruce / alder Discharge Slope wetlands are found along Kalifornsky Beach Road at the margin of a large relict glacial lakebed; and the single white spruce / alder discharge slope is located in the City of Kenai at the margin of a smaller relict glacial lakebed near Beaver Creek road.
