Wetlands of Nebraska

7/29/2019 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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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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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.

Wetlands of Nebraska

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