Wetland Classification and Mapping of the Kenai Lowland, Alaska
Map Unit Descriptions
Ecosystem: Tidal
Map Component: T3
Extent: 10 wetland polygons; 11.7 ha; 0.01% of wetland area; 0.06% of wetland polygons.
 A T3 wetland in Mariner Park Lagoon, at the base of the Homer Spit (polygon 50732). |
Wetland Indicators Type: Tidal Average depth to water table: at least 150 cm; n=1 Organic layer thickness: 23.5 cm; n=2 Average depth to redoximorphic features: 0.0 cm; n=2 Common Soils: CLUNIE Common Plant communities: Marsh arrowgrass – Seaside arrowgrass
NWI: E2EM1P HGM: See Tidal Ecosystem Description |
T3 wetlands are often the first vegetated map component above the tide in estuaries and lagoons. T3 corresponds with Vince and Snow's (1984) 'Inner Mudflats Zone 5', estimated to be inundated on the higher spring tides, or an average of 8 times per summer on the Susitna Flats (with a range of 6-13 times per summer), in upper Cook Inlet, Alaska. Vince and Snow found that water was retained for only 2-3 hours per inundation. Bare ground is common and plant cover ranges from sparse to nearly 100%.
On estuaries where Tidal ecosystem map components segregate evenly, T3 components are found between bare mud flats (T0), or creeping alkaligrass (T2), below; and Nutka or Hulten's alkaligrass (T4) above. Often T3 is found in a complex with other map components, especially T4.
Organic "Clunie" series soils are common, however Vince and Snow (1984) found soils with a relatively low organic content on the Susitna River flats in Upper Cook Inlet Alaska.
