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Wetland Classification and Mapping of the Kenai Lowland, Alaska
Map Unit Descriptions Ecosystem: Discharge Slope Map Units: SLM; SML; SSM; SMS; SMA; SMG: Black Spruce complexes
Extent: SLM: 54 wetland polygons; 430.6 ha; 0.30% of wetland area; 0.33% of wetland polygons. SML: 38 wetland polygons; 303.3 ha; 0.21% of wetland area; 0.23% of wetland polygons. SSM: 13 wetland polygons; 62.8 ha; 0.04% of wetland area; 0.09% of wetland polygons. SMS: 9 wetland polygons; 55.4 ha; 0.04% of wetland area; 0.05% of wetland polygons. SMA: 5 wetland polygons; 33.6 ha; 0.02% of wetland area; 0.03% of wetland polygons. SMG: 4 wetland polygons; 26.4 ha; 0.02% of wetland area; 0.02% of wetland polygons. |
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An SLM wetland near Starisky Creek (polygon 2832).
An SML wetland near Kasilof (polygon 11585).
An SMA wetland near Clam Creek (polygon 2414).
An SMG wetland adjacent to Soldotna Creek near the outlet to Sevena Lake (polygon 575). |
Wetland Indicators Type: Mineral Soil or Peat Average depth to water table: SM: 39.7 cm; n=8 SL: 35.0 cm; n=113 SS: 31.1 cm; n=13 SA: n/a SG: n/a Organic layer thickness: SM: 48.0 cm; n=6 SL: 34.8 cm; n=126 SS: 44.5 cm; n=15 SA: 105.3 cm; n=6 SG: 5.0 cm ; n=1 Average depth to redoximorphic features: SM: n/a SL: 26.3 cm; n=78 SS: 26.1 cm; n=7 SA: 30.8 cm; n=4 SG: n/a Common Soils: SM: CLAM GULCH, STARICHKOF, SPENARD, SLIKOK, COAL CREEK SL: CHUNILNA, SPENARD, COAL CREEK, NIKOLAI, TRUULI, DOROSHIN SS: STARICHKOF, TLIKAKILA, SNOWDANCE, FORELAND, DOROSHIN SA: STARICHKOF, SPENARD, NIKOLAI, BELUGA SG: KALIFONSKY Common Plant communities: SM component: Black spruce / Woodland horsetail - Labrador tea (Black spruce / Barclay's willow / Field horsetail) Black spruce / Crowberry - Lingonberry Black spruce / Field horsetail - Dwarf birch SL component: Lutz spruce / Barclay's willow / Bluejoint Lutz spruce / Field horsetail – Bluejoint Lutz spruce / Sitka alder / Field horsetail Lutz spruce / Barclay's willow / Field horsetail / Crowberry Lutz spruce / Rusty menziesia / Field horsetail Lutz spruce / Barclay's willow / Ericaceous shrub Lutz spruc/ Barclay's willow / Field horsetail SS component: Barclay's willow / Bluejoint - Field horsetail Barclay's willow / Bluejoint / Marsh fivefinger White spruce replaced Lutz spruce in the community below, at the one site visited: Lutz spruce / Barclay's willow / Bluejoint SC component: |
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Accuracy assessment: 3 polygons interpreted as SLM on
aerial photographs were field checked. 1 remained SLM. 1 each
was revised to SLA and SM. 4 polygons interpreted as SML on aerial photographs were field checked. None remained SML. 2 were revised to SLS; 1 each was revised to SLA and SM. 1 polygon interpreted as SSM on aerial photographs was field checked and revised to DW5A2. 1 polygon interpreted as SMG on aerial photographs was field checked and remained SMG. 1 polygon interpreted as SCM on aerial photographs was field checked and remained SCM. |
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Black spruce (Picea mariana) Discharge Slope Ecosystem complexes are uncommon. The most frequent complex occurs when the black spruce component (SM) mixes with another cogener's component- usually the Lutz spruce (P. X lutzii) (SL), but also the white spruce (P. glauca) component (SG).
The ranges of the three Kenai Peninsula spruces are more or less distinct. There is a sharply defined climatic gradient on the Kenai Peninsula and spruce distribution seems to follow this gradient. Lutz spruce is more common in the maritime southern peninsula and black and white spruce are more common on the continental northern peninsula. Mixed stands occur in intermediate locations, especially between Kasilof and Ninilchik. The geographic range of white spruce overlaps with black spruce, but ecologically white spruce is typically an upland plant, although it is occasionally found in wetlands. White spruce is also more common inland, in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, out of the project area. Where their ecological and geographic ranges overlap, complexes occur.
Dense willow and alder stands are also more common on the southern peninsula, so those complexes also tend to occur where black spruce overlaps with these shrubs, especially between Ninilchik and Kasilof.
In Homer, the names SMLd and SLMd refer to wetlands that were either SML or SLM but are now disturbed.
