Wetland Classification and Mapping of the Kenai Lowland, Alaska
Map Unit Descriptions
Ecosystem: Tidal
Map Unit: T04; T40; T0-4
Extent:
T04: 4 wetland polygons; 34.4 ha; 0.02% of wetland area; 0.02% of wetland polygons.
T0-4: 3 wetland polygons; 12.4 ha; 0.01% of wetland area; 0.02% of wetland polygons.
T40: 1 wetland polygon; 12.1 ha; 0.01% of wetland area; 0.01% of wetland polygons.
 A T04 complex in a lagoon north of Nikiski (polygon 1135).
A T0-4 complex at the base of the Homer Spit. (polygon 50583). |
Wetland Indicators Type: Tidal Average depth to water table: T0: n/a T1: at least 150 cm; n=1 T2: n/a T3: at least 150 cm; n=1 T4: 114 cm; n=4
Organic layer thickness:
T0: n/a T1: 48.0 cm; n=1 T2: n/a T3: 23.5; n=2 T4: 25.5; n=2 Average depth to redoximorphic features: T0: n/a T1: 0.0 cm; n=1 T2: n/a T3: 0.0; n=2 T4: 0.2 cm; n=5 Common Soils: At T3 and T4 unnamed "Typic cryaquents" were recorded. Common Plant communities: T0 Component: Mud, tidal flat
T1 Component: T2 Component: T3 Component: Marsh arrowgrass – Seaside arrowgrass T4 Component: |
T04, T40 and T0-4 wetlands are found at nearly all protected estuaries and lagoons. T0 is the bare mud tidal flat component, and T4 is an alkaligrass component. T04 and T40 consist of a complex of bare tide flat (mud) with Alkalaigrass, either Nutka or Hulten's (Puccinnellia nootkaensis, or P. grandis respectively). The most abundant component is named first.
Tide flat / Creeping alkalaigrass (P. phryganodes) wetlands are also common, but these are named T2.
T4 loosely corresponds with Vince and Snow's (1984) 'Outer Mudflats Zone 2', estimated to be inundated on higher spring tides, or an average of 15 times per summer on the Susitna Flats (with a range of 10-20 times per summer), in upper Cook Inlet, Alaska. Vince and Snow found that water was retained for 2-5 days per inundation. T0 is bare mud, devoid of vegetation.
