wetlands of nebraska
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Wetlands of Nebraska
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What is a wetland?The state of Nebraska has adopted the federaldefinition of wetlands
Those areas that are inundated or saturatedby surface or groundwater at a frequency andduration sufficient to support, and that under
normal circumstances do support, aprevalence of vegetation typically adapted forlife in saturated soils.
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What defines a wetland?Three environmental characteristics definewetlands:
1. Vegetation
2. Hydric Soils
3. Hydrology
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What defines a wetland?
1. Vegetation: wetlands have a prevalence ofwater loving plants which are adapted togrowing in saturated soils.
Examples include:swamp milkweed, cattails, bulrush,arrowhead, smartweed, water lily,
and bladderwort.
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What defines a wetland?
2. Hydric soils: soils that developed undersaturated conditions which limit the amountof oxygen available to soil development.
In general, wetlands produce two types ofsoils Gleyed soils and organic soils.
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Gleyed Soils are producedwhen mineral rich or
inorganic soils are exposed toanaerobic conditions (i.e.they are saturated). This
allows a reduction of the ironin the soil creating a greycolor.
Hydric Soil Types
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Hydric Soil Types
Organic Soils are producedwhen there is a high amountof vegetation, and yet,because of anaerobicconditions, there is very littledecomposition creating an
build-up of organic material.An example of this is peat orbogs.
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What defines a wetland?
3. Hydrology: area is saturated by water atsome point during the growing seasons ofplants.
Some wetlands are saturated year-round;others may only be saturated for one month.
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Wetland Hydrology
- Groundwaterinfluenced.
- water table
ABOVE wetland.
- longer lived wetlands due to constant
inflow of groundwater.
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Wetland Hydrology
- Groundwaterinfluenced.
- water table
ABOVE wetland.
- longer lived wetlands due to constant
inflow of groundwater.
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Wetland Hydrology
- NOT groundwater
influenced.
- water table
BELOW wetland.
- Generally shorter lived due to lack of
constant groundwater inflow.
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Wetland Hydrology
- NOT groundwater
influenced.
- water table
BELOW wetland.
- Generally shorter lived due to lack of
constant groundwater inflow.
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Why are wetlands
important?Improve water quality
Provide habitat for wildlifeReduce flooding
Prevent soil erosion
Supply water and recharge groundwaterProduce food
Recreation and education opportunities
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Types of Wetlands in Nebraska
Nebraska has 4 different types of wetlands.
Playa lakes/Playa wetlandsSandhills wetlands
Saline wetlandsRiparian wetlands
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Types of Wetlands in Nebraska
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Playa Lakes/Playa WetlandsDefinition: Wind-formed, nearly circular smalldepressions with a layer of clay coating the bottom.The clay prevents water from seeping into the
ground.
Location: Across muchof the southern half ofNebraska with somesmall areas in north-eastern parts of the state.
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Playa Lakes/Playa Wetlands
There are 4 major complexes of playas in Nebraska:Rainwater Basin
Central Table PlayasSouthwest PlayasTodd Valley Playas
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Sandhills Wetland
Definition: Mostly freshwater wetlands whichinclude wet meadows, shallow marshes, and openlakes. Fed by groundwater namely the OgallalaAquifer.
Location: North-central Nebraska; though out theSandhills regions.
Unique characteristics:Highly alkaline wetlandsare located in the western
portion of the region.
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Saline WetlandDefinition: shallow wetlands which form frominflows of groundwater. The groundwater passesthrough the bedrock which contains salts making
the water highly saline.
Location: Occur onlyin Lancaster and
Saunders countiesin Nebraska.
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Riparian Wetland
Definition: Wetland areas closely associated withrivers, streams, and lakes.
Location: Along allmajor rivers and streamsacross Nebraska;especially the Elkhorn,Platte, and MissouriRivers.