The Marjorie Perry Nature Preserve wetlands area is 4.29 acres of open space land acquired in 2008. Schedule enough time to fully enjoy your visit.
What are wetlands?
Wetlands are areas that are saturated with water either year-round or seasonally. They vary widely because of regional and local differences in soils, topography (physical features of an area), climate, hydrology (occurrence, distribution, movement and properties of water) , water chemistry, vegetation, and other factors, including human disturbance. They are an important and unique ecosystem because they incorporate both land and water.
What is the purpose of wetlands?
Wetlands perform many different functions. They act as water storage which slows runoff, reduces flood peaks, and distributes stormflows over a longer period of time. They purify water through a unique filtration process whereby plant roots and microorganisms on plant stems and in the soil absorb fertilizers, manure, leaking septic tanks, municipal sewage, and other contaminants. They also create a rich habitat for plants and animals. More than one-third of threatened and endangered species live only in the dwindling USA wetlands.
How are wetlands naturally formed?
Wetlands can be formed in a few different ways.
Topogenous wetlands are dependent on the shape and form of the landscape. The ground beneath them has a layer of impervious rock, which keeps the water from draining away. Non-porous rocks may be present such as granite, slate, and shale. However, porous rock may be present, but it has a sufficient layer of softer materials such silt, clay, and charcoal to block all of the pores, making it impervious to water.
Soligenous wetlands are created through an emergence of water from the ground. Water drains through porous rock, but then hits a non-porous rock (such as limestone over shale) and moves sideways under the ground. This forms a line of springs.
The third formation is through floodplains, where excess water traveling down a river overflows the banks and spreads over the surrounding plain. These flooded areas have rich soil which has frequently been fertilized by sediments.
Are there different kinds of wetlands?
There are several types of wetlands depending on which of the two major classification systems you use. For our purposes, the wetlands you are currently viewing are classified as Palustrine. Palustrine systems include marshes, wet meadows, fens, playas, potholes, pocosins, bogs, swamps, and small shallow ponds.
What is the soil like in a wetland?
All wetlands have hydric soils. These soils are formed under conditions of saturation, flooding, or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part. Since the soil is lacking oxygen, only hydrophytic (adapted to growing in water) vegetation can flourish. Here are a few indicators of hydric soils: sandy soil with decomposing plant material at the surface, soil is brownish black or black and dull-colored, soil smells of rotten eggs (sulfur).
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Logging Requirements
TOTTS you will need:
- Yardstick or similar measuring device
- Latex glove or similar item
- Small ladle (optional but recommended for reaching into water)
- Hand sanitizer (optional but recommended until you can wash your hands properly)
To earn credit for this EarthCache, please email or message me your answers to the following questions. Please include your geocaching name and any others that were in your party. Please do not include answers in your log. You will have one week from your "Found It" log to submit your answers. No answers, no smiley. Thanks!
Using your measuring device, reach out about 12 inches (30.48 centimeters) from the edge of the water then take your measurements.
1.How deep is the water before you touch the bottom?
2. How much further can your measuring device go?
Using your gloved (or if you're feeling adventurous--ungloved) hand or ladle, reach into the water and take a small sample of the soil.
3. Is the texture silt (smooth) or sand (gritty)?
4. Is the color dark or light?
5. What does the soil sample smell like?
6. What do your answers to the previous questions tell you about this particular area of the wetlands?
Wander around the area and use your observations for the following questions.
7. In what direction do you think the water is flowing?
8. What direction is the water quality going to be the cleanest?
9. Do you think this wetland is either topogenous or soligenous? Why?
10. Why is this particular area a wetland?
(Optional) Post a photo of yourself on your wetland adventure!
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Sources
- American Rivers www.americanrivers.org
- Colorado Wetland Information Center www.cnhp.colostate.edu
- Department of Ecology of Washington State www.ecy.wa.gov
- "Economic Benefits of Wetlands" by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration www.oceanservice.noaa.gov
- U.S. Dept of Agriculture National Resources Conservation Service Soils www.nrcs.usda.gov
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service www.fws.gov
- U.S. Geological Survey www.water.usgs.gov
- "Wetlands" by Peter D. Moore
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