Wetland Classification and Mapping of the Kenai Lowland, Alaska
Map Unit Descriptions
Ecosystem: Tidal
Map Unit: T5-7
Extent: 1 wetland polygon; 1.3 ha; 0.00% of wetland area; 0.01% of wetland polygons.
 The single T5-7 wetland, in Mud Bay at the Base of the Homer Spit (polygon 50595). |
Wetland Indicators Type: Tidal Average depth to water table: T5: 8 cm; n=1 T7: 22 cm; n=1 Organic layer thickness: T5: at least 150 cm; n=1 T7: n/a Average depth to redoximorphic features: T5: n/a T7: 0 cm; n=1 Common Soils: CLUNIE Common Plant communities: T5 Component: T6 Component: T7 Component: |
The single T5-7 wetland, in Mud Bay at the base of the Homer Spit, is a mix of Ramensk's sedge (T5), Lyngbye's sedge (T6) and beachrye (T7). The three components gradually intergrade, landward from Ramensk's sedge, through Lyngbye's sedge to beachrye.
These are common tidal wetland components, but they typically segregate into bands wide enough to map separately at 1:25,000.
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 found that water was retained for 2-3 days per inundation.
The T6 component corresponds with Vince and Snow's 'Inner Sedge Marsh Zone 7', estimated to be inundated on only the highest spring tides, or an average of 2 times per summer on the Susitna Flats (with a range of 0-5 times per summer), in upper Cook Inlet, Alaska. Vince and Snow found that water was retained for greater than 5 days per inundation.
Vince and Snow (1984) describe 'Riverbank Levees' dominated by other grasses, and that "Still higher levees featured [Beachrye] and large forbs..." Their lower elevation riverbank levee floods an average of 1 time per summer; probably higher T7 beachrye berms or levees flood only when storms correspond with the highest spring tides.
