Water & Wetlands 101 Lindsay Rogers Nebraska Game & Parks Commission

1. Water & Wetlands 101 Lindsay Rogers Nebraska Game & Parks Commission

2. Characteristics of Water 1 oxygen 2 hydrogen

3. Characteristics of Water Hydrogen bonds are very strong. So, water “sticks” to itself. This is called cohesion. When water “sticks” to other things, this is called adhesion.

4. Characteristics of Water What does this mean for life?

5. Characteristics of Water The warmer water is, the faster these molecules move…. The farther apart they get.

6. Characteristics of Water The farther apart they get…. But there is an exception.

7. Characteristics of Water Water is one of the only substances on earth that actually gets less dense when it freezes. What does this mean for life?

8. Characteristics of Water What does this mean for life?

9. Wetlands of Nebraska

10. What is a wetland? The state of Nebraska has adopted the federal definition of wetlands… “Those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soils.

11. What defines a wetland? Three environmental characteristics define wetlands: 1. Vegetation 2. Hydric Soils 3. Hydrology

12. What defines a wetland? 1. Vegetation: wetlands have a prevalence of water loving plants which are adapted to growing in saturated soils. Examples include: swamp milkweed, cattails, bulrush, arrowhead, smartweed, water lily, and bladderwort.

13. What defines a wetland? 2. Hydric soils: soils that developed under saturated conditions which limit the amount of oxygen available to soil development. In general, wetlands produce two types of soils… Gleyed soils and organic soils.

14. Hydric Soil Types Gleyed Soils are produced when mineral rich or inorganic soils are exposed to anaerobic conditions (i.e. they are saturated). This allows a reduction of the iron in the soil creating a grey color.

15. Hydric Soil Types Organic Soils are produced when there is a high amount of vegetation, and yet, because of anaerobic conditions, there is very little decomposition creating an build-up of organic material. An example of this is peat or bogs.

16. What defines a wetland? 3. Hydrology: area is saturated by water at some point during the growing seasons of plants. Some wetlands are saturated year-round; others may only be saturated for one month.

17. Wetland Hydrology - Groundwater influenced. - water table ABOVE wetland. - longer lived wetlands due to constant inflow of groundwater.

18. Wetland Hydrology - Groundwater influenced. - water table ABOVE wetland. - longer lived wetlands due to constant inflow of groundwater.

19. Wetland Hydrology - NOT groundwater influenced. - water table BELOW wetland. - Generally shorter lived due to lack of constant groundwater inflow.

20. Wetland Hydrology - NOT groundwater influenced. - water table BELOW wetland. - Generally shorter lived due to lack of constant groundwater inflow.

21. Why are wetlands important? Improve water quality Provide habitat for wildlife Reduce flooding Prevent soil erosion Supply water and recharge groundwater Produce food Recreation and education opportunities

22. Why are wetlands important? Activity # 4: Wetland Metaphors

23. Types of Wetlands in Nebraska Nebraska has 4 different types of wetlands. Playa lakes/Playa wetlands Sandhills wetlands Saline wetlands Riparian wetlands

24. Types of Wetlands in Nebraska

25. Playa Lakes/Playa Wetlands Definition: Wind-formed, nearly circular small depressions with a layer of clay coating the bottom. The clay prevents water from seeping into the ground. Location: Across much of the southern half of Nebraska with some small areas in north- eastern parts of the state.

26. Playa Lakes/Playa Wetlands There are 4 major complexes of playas in Nebraska: Rainwater Basin Central Table Playas Southwest Playas Todd Valley Playas

27. Sandhills Wetland Definition: Mostly freshwater wetlands which include wet meadows, shallow marshes, and open lakes. Fed by groundwater… namely the Ogallala Aquifer. Location: North-central Nebraska; though out the Sandhills regions. Unique characteristics: Highly alkaline wetlands are located in the western portion of the region.

28. Saline Wetland Definition: shallow wetlands which form from inflows of groundwater. The groundwater passes through the bedrock which contains salts making the water highly saline. Location: Occur only in Lancaster and Saunders counties in Nebraska.

29. Riparian Wetland Definition: Wetland areas closely associated with rivers, streams, and lakes. Location: Along all major rivers and streams across Nebraska; especially the Elkhorn, Platte, and Missouri Rivers.

30. Wetland Food Webs When we think of food webs, we often think of plants growing in soil as the first level.

31. Wetland Food Webs When we think of food webs, we often think of plants growing in soil as the first level.

32. Wetland Food Webs For wetlands, the food web usually starts with water!!

33. Wetland Food Webs For wetlands, the food web usually starts with water!!

34. Wetland Food Webs For wetlands, the food web usually starts with water!!

35. Questions?