Wetlands
The
term “Wetlands” as classified by the US Fish and Wildlife
Service can be broken into eight classifications ranging from “Type
1- Seasonally Flooded” to “Type 8- Bogs”, depending on
the hydrology soil type and vegetaion that they support. Typical MNL
“wetland” restoration projects include seasonally flooded
and shoreline, shallow water situations.
Seasonally flooded wetlands are areas that are usually well- drained throughout most of the growing season that are subject to occasional flooding. These areas include storm water ponds, retention basins, or simply the low areas of a restored prairie. They play host to a wide variety of herbaceous species including grasses, forbs, sedges and rushes. Herbaceous vegetation in these areas can range from low, ground cover species like Canada Anemone (Anemone canadensis) to heights of over six feet such as Cord Grass (Spartina pectinata).
MnDot
seed mixes that apply to these areas include 25A. Shoreline restorations
include the portion of an area that encroaches upon and includes the
shallow water portion of permanently inundated bodies of water including
ponds, lakes, streams and rivers. The vegetation that comprises these
areas includes some of the same species found in the seasonally flooded
areas to more true, wetland species including some shallow submerged
and emergent species. Due to the range of growing conditions these species
take on a variety of forms from the aquatic White water lily (Nymphaea
tuberosa) to the Wild Iris (Iris versicolor).
While some seed mixes can be used as a foundation for restoring these areas, the use of seedling plants is usually the most effective method of restoring these areas.
Typical Minnesota Species include:
| Species | Type | Color | Height |
| Canada Blue Joint (Calmagro stis Canadensis) | Grass | Green | 5' |
| Marsh Marygold (Caltha palustris) | Forb | Yellow | 2' |
| Sedges (Carex spp.) | Grass | Green | 5' |
| Wild Iris (Iris versicolor) | Forb | Blue | 3' |
| Pickerel Plant (Pontederia cordata) | Aquatic forb | Blue | 4' |
| Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia) | Forb | White | 2' |
| Bulrushes (Scirpus spp.) | Grass | Green | 5' |
| Cord Grass (Spartina pectinata) | Grass | Green | 6' |
| Meadow Sweet (Spirea alba) | Shrub | White | 3'-6' |