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Wetland Classification and Mapping
of Seward, Alaska
Map Unit Descriptions Ecosystem: Discharge Slope Map Component: SPS
Seward Area Extent: 2 wetland polygons; 16.6 acres |
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A willow, sedge and bluejoint reedgrass dominated opening in the larger of the two wetlands mapped as SPS. This wetland is diverse, consisting mainly of a spruce forest, but supports this and other openings, in addition to small areas of upland. |
Wetland Indicators Type: Mineral soil Average depth to water table: not measured Organic layer thickness: not measured Average depth to redoximorphic features: not measured Common Soils: probably Typic Cryosaprists, or Typic Cryaquods (Histic) Plant communities: Sitka alder - devil's club (Alnus viridis ssp. sinuata - Oplopanax horridus) Sitka sedge (Carex sitchensis) Mountain hemlock / rusty menziesia - early blueberry (Tsuga mertensiana / Menziesia ferruginea - Vaccinium ovalifolium) Bluejoint reedgrass - field horsetail (Calamagrostis canadensis - Equisetum arvense)
NWI: PFO4B HGM: Terrene Slope Throughflow |
Two wetlands in the Seward area were mapped as SPS, a discharge slope dominated by Sitka spruce forest. On is large and diverse, and lies on a footslope above the Snow River. The other is small and lies in a ravine north of Bear Lake; it was not visited. The large diverse SPS is primarily spruce forest, but supports many openings, some with areas of peatland. It also support small upland inclusions over a diverse microtopography.
