A few more streams

Hydrologic Zones
.Upland Zone
.Collection Zone
.Conveyance Zone


Eutrophication
Combination of
Nutrient loading
Accelerated biological activity
And the buildup of organic deposits
Often described as the process of aging a waterbody



When Water and Soil Mix, Don't You Just Get Mud?


Wetlands
Highly sensitive
Highly significant
Highly problematic

Wetland Physical Attribute
-- Soils
-- Vegetation
-- Hydrology

A Wetlands Definition
The federal regulations implementing Section 404 of the Clean Water Act define wetlands as:
-- Those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water (hydrology) at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation (hydrophytes) typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions(hydric soils). Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas (40 CFR 232.2(r)).

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Wetlands Vegetation Characteristics
Vegetation - Hydrophytic
Obligate - Nearly always found in wetlands, i.e. cattails, swamp azaleas, white cedar
Facultative Wetlands - Occur in wetlands 2/3 of the time, i.e. pin oaks, elderberry
Facultative - 1/3 to 2/3 of the time, but also in uplands, i.e. red maples, witch hazels
Uplands - more likely in uplands, in wetlands less than 1/3 of the time, i.e. Beech, American Holly


Wetlands Soil Characteristics
Soils - Hydric
Organic - High percentage by volume of organic material because decomposition is slowed by a lack of oxygen
Mineral - Low percentage organic material, become hydric when saturated long enough to change properties

Wetlands Hydrology Characteristics
Hydrology
4 Sources of water
direct precipitation
runoff from adjacent lands including inflow of streams
groundwater inflow
ocean tide water
4 ways to lose water
evapotranspiration
seepage into the ground
stream discharge
tidal outflow


Wetland Identification
Specific Sites - Determinations
Large Scale - Not legally binding, not site specific
NWI (National Wetlands Inventory) --NJDEP
Remotely Sensed
Other Sources
USGS Maps
Soil Maps



Wetlands Ecological Significance
Population High
Diversity High
Biomass High
Productivity High