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Wetland Classification and Mapping of the Kenai Lowland, Alaska
Map Unit Descriptions Ecosystem: Headwater Fen Map Units: H34; H43
Extent: H34: 20 wetland polygons; 85.2 ha; 0.06% of wetland area; 0.12% of wetland polygons. H43: 13 wetland polygons; 52.4 ha; 0.03% of wetland area; 0.08% of wetland polygons. |
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 An H34 Headwater Fen at the head of Eastland Creek, a short run creek into upper Kachemak Bay (polygon 10596).
An H43 unit in the upper Starisky Creek watershed (polygon 2949). |
Wetland Indicators No Data for H4 Type: Peat Average depth to water table: H3: 14.1 cm; n=10 H4: n/a Organic layer thickness: H3: 138.0 cm; n=9 H4: n/a Average depth to redoximorphic features: n/a Common Soils: H3: STARICHKOF, SALAMATOF H4 Component (estimated): STARICHKOF, SALAMATOF Common Plant communities: H3 Component: Bog blueberry – Dwarf birch – Tufted hairgrass Tufted bulrush – Fewflower sedge H4 Component (estimated): Lutz spruce / Barclay's willow / Field horsetail / Crowberry Lutz spruce / Field horsetail – Bluejoint
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| Accuracy assessment: None of the polygons interpreted as H34 or H43 on aerial photographs were field checked. | |
The uncommon H34 and H43 map units are a shrubby fens with a woodland or forest component, in a headwater basin. These units have a deeper water table and a thick peat layer. If they are dominated by woodland or forest they are named H43; if the shrubby component predominates, H34. Typically these wetlands consist of a woodland edge surrounding a small central shrubby fen heading a primary stream near the upper elevational limits of arboreal growth. Typically, headwater fens occur above the limit of forest or woodland growth, but several have been mapped on the edge of that elevation limit. All of the wetland polygons mapped as H43 or H34 head primary streams in the upper Anchor River or Starisky Creek watersheds.
H3 components in the upper Anchor River watershed often contain a rare plant, elephant-head lousewort (Pedicularis groenlandica. Rank S1S2: imperiled to critically imperiled in the State of Alaska according to the Alaska Natural Heritage Program).
