Tidal Ecosystem Map Units: T45; T54

Wetland Classification and Mapping of the Kenai Lowland, Alaska

Map Unit Descriptions

Ecosystem: Tidal

Map Units: T45; T54

Extent:

T45: 2 wetland polygons; 33.2 ha; 0.02% of wetland area; 0.01% of wetland polygons.

T54: 1 wetland polygon; 27.8 ha; 0.02% of wetland area; 0.01% of wetland polygons.

[No pictures available]

Wetland Indicators

Type: Mineral or Peat

Average depth to water table:

T4: 114 cm; n=4

T5: 8 cm; n=1

Organic layer thickness:

T4: 25.5; n=2

T5: at least 150 cm; n=1

Average depth to redoximorphic features:

T4: 0.2 cm; n=5

T5: n/a

Common Soils: CLUNIE

Common Plant communities:

T4 Component:

Alkaligrass

T5 Component:

Ramensk’s sedge

These wetlands are complexes of the alkaligrass (T4; usually Puccinellia grandis or P. Hulténii), and Ramensk's sedge (T5; Carex ramenskii) components. They are found on the middle to upper reaches of protected tidal flats. The component covering the most ground is named first.

A T45 wetland lies just west of the Warren Ames Memorial Bridge at about river mile 4.5 along the Kenai River. The other two wetlands occur on the first broad point bar upstream on the east side of the Kasilof River.

The T4 component 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.

The T5 component corresponds with Vince and Snow's 'Outer Sedge Marsh Zone 3', estimated to be inundated on only the highest spring tides, or an average of 3 times per summer on the Susitna Flats (with a range of 0-5 times per summer), in upper Cook Inlet, Alaska. Vince and Snow also found that water was retained for 2-3 days per inundation.