Comprehensive Wetland Summary and Report
Now that you have completed all course modules, you should be familiar with the basic components of a wetland. Effective wetland management includes describing and classifying the important characteristics of wetlands in order to evaluate wetland resources and function within the landscape. This helps decision makers determine their value and role in a watershed as well as assess associated risks in order to prioritize protection. In this field trip you are tasked with visiting a wetland of your choice and writing a report using the guidelines outlined below.
Objectives
- Be able to describe important characteristics of a wetland in context using appropriate terminology
- Demonstrate an understanding of key wetland indicators in situ
- Interpret the factors potentially involved in protecting said wetland and offer some insight in determining possible conservation concerns
Instructions
You must visit a wetland; this can be any wetland are as long as you physically attend the site. (No virtual “sites” will be accepted unless you have an SDS accommodation!) Some suggestions on or near campus include Riverfront Park at USF and Lettuce Lake Park. However, any wetland will suffice, including those directly on campus or near where you live, so long as you pick just one. While you are there you will take detailed notes including pictures about the wetland vegetation, soils, water, and classification. You will then write a report following the outline provided which should consist of the subsequent sections. The highlighted areas are where one or more pictures are required. You will then upload a pdf of your report to Canvas.[unique_solution]
Report Outline
- Introduction: include a brief opening paragraph
- Highlight the importance of wetlands and why they play a critical role within the landscape
- Take a selfie of you with your wetland and include it in this section of the report. It is important that you do this at the beginning of your report to ensure it was you who visited your site!
- Description of Site: provide a general study area description
- Where is it located, and how big is it? Also mention when (date and time of day) you made your observations
- Describe the geomorphology, climate, or other important factors
- How much open water is there vs vegetation?
- Take a “big picture” of the site and include it in this section of the Similar to those pictures seen in the lecture slides, I should be able to identify the type of wetland based on this picture
- Vegetation: identify and describe
- Take pictures of and identify the plant species in your wetland. If you cannot identify all species, provide a class (e.g. submergent, emergent) instead. Hint! Print out Mark’s PDF provided in Module 4 and bring it along to help you identify!
- Which of these species are hydrophytes?
- Describe in text the vegetation assemblage
- Based on this information, does it meet wetland criteria for having an abundance of hydrophytes?
- Water: note the major characteristics
- Describe what you can about the hydrology of your site and state what indicators of wetland hydrology you should be looking for
- Which of these indicators are present? Take pictures of any visible signs of these indicators (e.g. signs of intermittent flood areas)
- Based on this, do you think it meets the criteria for wetland hydrology? Why so (or not)?
- Soils: note major characteristics
- Describe what you can about the soil type and state what indicators of soil you should be looking for
- Which of these indicators are present? Take pictures of any visible signs of these indicators Note: You are not to disturb public sites in any way; use above ground indicators
- Based on what you see, does the site meet the criteria of having hydric soils?
- Wetland Classification
- Does your site meet all 3 criteria (vegetation, soils, water)?
- What kind of wetland is it? (e.g. tidal saltwater marsh)
- Using the Cowardin et al. paper, provide a complete classification and explain why you make each choice.
- Conclusion: Wetland Policy and Management
- To the best of your knowledge, is your wetland naturally occurring or part of a restoration effort? Pictures of the surrounding area may be beneficial to include here.
- Based on the previous information, what do you think are some of the functions or benefits your particular wetland provides?
Some final tips for your report:
- Make sure you take clear pictures of what you are describing. I need to be “transported” visually to your site and see your wetland as you did.
- Within reason, provide a few pictures where necessary for clarity in definitions but not excessively.