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Wetland Classification and Mapping of the Kenai Lowland, Alaska
Map Unit Descriptions Ecosystem: Discharge Slope Map Component: SM
Extent: 289 wetland polygons; 1978.6 ha; 1.40% of wetland area; 1.75% of wetland polygons. |
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 A narrow black spruce discharge slope with an ericaceous shrub understory near Clam Gulch (polygon 11633). |
Wetland Indicators Type: Mineral Soil or Peat Average depth to water table: 39.7 cm; n=8 Organic layer thickness: 48.0 cm; n=6 Average depth to redoximorphic features: n/a Common Soils: CLAM GULCH, STARICHKOF, SPENARD, SLIKOK, COAL CREEK Common Plant communities: Black spruce / Woodland horsetail - Labrador tea (Black spruce / Barclay's willow / Field horsetail) Black spruce / Crowberry - Lingonberry Black spruce / Field horsetail - Dwarf birch
NWI: PFO4Bn,g HGM: Terrene Slope Outflow |
| Accuracy assessment: 25 polygons interpreted as SM on aerial photographs were field checked. 20 remained SM, 1 each was revised to: DW5A, DWSA, K34, Rea and SL. | |
SM is a Discharge Slope Ecosystem map component dominated by a black spruce (Picea mariana) forest. SM wetlands are most common north of Clam Gulch where discharge slopes tend to occur as a narrow, steep foot- and/or toeslope, often too narrow to map. Because of this, SM is underrepresented on the map, although it is nearly ubiquitous where black spruce and peatlands co-occur. SM can be considered at least a small part of nearly every peatland edge north of Clam Gulch, and at edges where black spruce is present on the southern peninsula. It rarely forms complexes with other components; the SLM unit, where black and Lutz spruce mix on a foot or toe slope is the most common.
