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Written on: July 24th, 2024 in Natural Resources, Wetland Research
By Gabby Vailati and Brittany Sturgis, DNREC’s Watershed Assessment and Management Section
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Habitat and Biology Program began in the early 1990s after the passing of the Clean Water Act and awareness about local water quality began increasing. The program assessed a vast number of streams and assigned each a grade for their overall health and function. The work is ongoing and streams in the piedmont region of Delaware are being re-evaluated for habitat and stream health – go science!
The DNREC Habitat and Biology Program evaluates the biological, physical and chemical pieces of a stream and combines these components to assign a grade for a stream’s habitat quality and its biology. These grades are categorized as severely degraded, moderately degraded, good or excellent. These grades do not necessarily have to be the same; a stream may grade moderately degraded for habitat but good for biology, and vice versa. Are you curious about the health of your local stream? Check this neat resource out. The streams that are classified as severely or moderately degraded may then be placed on the State’s 303(d) list of impaired waters, meaning that they are subject to the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) process. TMDLs are meant to ensure actions are taken to limit the pollutants that enter the stream. If you’d like to learn more about Delaware TMDLs, visit here.
The first step in grading a stream’s health is to look at the biology present within the stream. We do this by collecting any and all aquatic macroinvertebrates (bugs) that live in the stream – we love finding those critters that live under the rocks! These types of bugs are important because they live a portion of their lifecycle within the stream itself. We use different field techniques to find the bugs while they are living in the water. The aquatic macroinvertebrates are important because we know that certain bug types can tolerate pollution, while others cannot (mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies). If a stream has a lot of the intolerant bugs, then it scores a higher grade for biological stream health because the intolerant bugs are very sensitive to water pollution.
After we collect bugs, we perform a stream habitat assessment to look at the health of the surrounding land. Some habitat characteristics that are evaluated include the vegetation type along the bank, the amount of sediment/dirt that has accumulated within the stream, the amount of overhead shade, the number of riffles (think ripples in the water around rocks), or how embedded rocks are in the ground of the stream. How embedded rocks are within the ground can tell us about available surface area a bug has for shelter and reproduction. A rock only 25% embedded in the ground provides a niche habitat and is most ideal, while a rock embedded about 75% in the ground is less than ideal with less surface area available for use by the aquatic macroinvertebrates. Riffles, where rocks may break the water’s surface and create bends in the stream, are a great way to judge habitat in a stream as well. Riffles attract a wide array of bug types and make a stream more diverse. These factors can help tell us about the different habitats available in the stream, or the stability of the stream. Water quality parameters (dissolved oxygen, nitrogen, etc.) are also collected at each site. We then combine all of the bug, habitat and water quality scores to rate and score the stream.
All of this is a fancy way of saying our streams are very important. Whether used for recreation or drinking water or wildlife habitat, these streams feed into larger bodies of water that we all rely on. Keeping these streams healthy benefits all of us in the long run. Next time you’re near a stream, take a moment to appreciate all the tiny, diverse bugs that call it home and remind yourself that these streams are a small part of a much larger system of water.
Written on: July 22nd, 2024 in Outreach, Wetland Research
By Alison Stouffer, DNREC’s Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program
Have you ever wondered what wetlands look like around the country? For the most dedicated among us, you might travel to all 50 states to find out. Alternatively, you can grab your favorite car snack (mine is Twizzlers), get comfy on the couch, and buckle your metaphorical seatbelt as you join me on the first installment of the WMAP cross country road trip. Today we are headed to the wetlands of the western United States!
Despite covering almost half of the land area of the United States, the western states, specifically west of the Rockies, contain very few wetlands. Less than 5% of each state is covered by wetlands, excluding Alaska, which boasts 43% land cover by wetlands (the largest in the US!) 1. However, the West is a highly varied region of the country where you can find marine west coast forest, tundra, desert, boreal forest, rocky shores, northwestern forested mountains, great plains, and tropical forests. With such a wide range of ecosystems comes a wide range of wetland types.
As each state contains multiple types of wetlands, we have a road trip packed full of interesting stops which only allows time for the occasional bathroom break, one wetland point-of-interest per state, and the necessary pitstops for food and fuel.
Alaska
Today we will be visiting Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska’s largest boreal wetland basin and the third largest wildlife refuge in the nation. Located at the junction of the Yukon, Porcupine, and T’eedriinjik (Chandalar) rivers, the refuge encompasses around 11.1 million acres of low-lying wetlands and a mosaic of approximately 40,000 small lakes and streams. While multiple types of wetlands are present within the Yukon Flats, boreal peatlands (specifically bogs) are of special note due to their insulating properties that help protect permafrost from thawing over the spring and summer months. This is particularly important since permafrost stores carbon, helping to combat climate change.
Washington
A short plane ride south and we are at our next stop, Mount Saint Helens Wildlife Area in the state of Washington. Encompassing approximately 10,500 acres of land, this wildlife area contains a variety of wetland and riparian habitats, including tidal mudflats. The tidal mudflats are a type of non-vegetated wetland that can be found along the North Fork Toutle River and is the result of an eruption of Mount St. Helens in the 1980s.
Oregon
It’s just a quick hop, skip, and a jump south to Oregon, where we will be trading in our vehicle for a vessel. So grab a kayak or canoe, zip up your lifejacket, and paddle on to Blind Slough Swamp Habitat Reserve. Located along the Columbia River, this habitat reserve protects a pocket of forested Sitka spruce swamp, a small remnant of a previously common wetland ecosystem that has been logged and diked for pasture. Sitka spruce trees are salt-tolerant with elevated root platforms to help them thrive in brackish swamp environments.
California
Continuing our road trip south along Highway 101 to California, we will be chugging along down to SoCal to visit an island system just offshore from Santa Barbara. Channel Islands National Park consists of 5 islands located in a unique spot with significant upwelling where cool, nutrient-rich ocean currents mix with warm coastal currents. These characteristics, in conjunction with shallow, clear waters, create the prime conditions in which seagrass (a type of submerged aquatic vegetation or SAV) beds can grow and thrive.
Nevada
Hope you’re A/C is working because it’s going to be a hot one! Having driven down the Pacific coast, we will now be turning our road trip east towards the state of Nevada and the Mojave Desert. Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is the epitome of a desert oasis. Fueled by the Amargosa River, an underground river, this refuge encompasses approximately 12 spring systems. Pools form around these springs creating unique wetland habitats for a range of plants and animals found nowhere else in the world.
Utah
Our desert adventures continue as we head northeast to the Bonneville Salt Flats, a 30,000-acre barren patch of salt encrusted land. Crust depths range from one inch along the edges up to five feet near the center. The Bonneville Salt Flats are a remnant of the ancient Lake Bonneville, which deposited the salt layer seen today as it dried up. Despite its inhospitable appearance, the salt flats are a unique example of playa wetlands. Playas are seasonal lakes that remain dry until a rain event. For the flats, the wet season runs through the springtime, inundating the area with a thin layer of water that will eventually evaporate; thus, continuing the cycle.
Idaho
All the salt from Utah made me hungry for fries, so we shall continue our drive north to Idaho, the Potato State. With everyone’s favorite form of potato in hand, we will now be stopping to explore the freshwater marshes of Harriman State Park. Charged by Henry’s Fork of the Snake River and freshwater springs, this park boasts an abundance of marsh on the fringes of several water bodies scattered throughout the park. As such, their level of inundation varies seasonally with precipitation and water levels of the river.
Montana
Zigzagging our way east again, we are headed to the northern Great Plains of Montana to stop at a Nature Conservancy property called the Comertown Pothole Prairie Preserve. These pothole prairies formed from glaciers scraping along the terrain leaving behind a collection of small depressional wetlands that fill with snowmelt in the spring. The Preserve protects this unique ecosystem from agricultural plowing, in turn protecting a handful of threatened and endangered waterfowl and bird species that breed in the shallow waters.
Wyoming
Road trips can be long and boring with so much driving. But it is always worth it once you make it to your destination. On this stop, we will be visiting the 4th most popular National Park in the United States, Yellowstone National Park. Wetlands account for over 10% of the park, with some hydrothermal pools – a distinguishing feature of Yellowstone – falling within this classification. While the extreme heat creates challenging conditions for survival, it hasn’t kept thermophiles (heat loving organisms) away!
Colorado
The end of our road trip is near as we continue south to my favorite state, where I was born and raised, Colorado! Rather than visiting a specific park, refuge, or preserve, I thought we would explore the fens and wet meadows of Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests. In Colorado, these wetlands are found in high-elevation, low temperature montane and alpine regions and are fed by snowmelt in the late spring and summer months. There are an estimated 1,700 fens within GMUG National Forests.
Hawaii
For the final stop of our wetland road trip (part 1), we will be flying to Hawai’i Island to visit Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park. Wetlands are an integral part of the natural and cultural significance of this park. One example is that of the unique anchialine pools, some of which were historically used for aquaculture. These brackish pools form in nearshore lava beds where freshwater from land mixes with saltwater from underground tunnels connecting to the ocean. Despite being a rare habitat, over 200 of the ~1,000+ pools found worldwide are located within the boundaries of the National Historical Park.
Next Stop: Wetlands of the Southwest
We covered a lot of ground on the first installment of our cross-country road trip! Those wetlands that we were fortunate enough to visit here are only a smattering of what the United States has to offer. Be sure to reserve your spot for the next chunk of our road trip, where we will be headed to the states of the Southwest. Until then, rest up, stretch out those legs, and start planning your return to these wonderful western wetlands!
Written on: July 22nd, 2024 in Natural Resources, Outreach
By Olivia Allread, DNREC’s Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program
Get your gloves out and your hoses turned on, we’re going to the garden to get to know wetlands in this blog installment. Now the hobby of gardening may seem like a daunting task, and taking care of plants may seem even more challenging to the novice. But you don’t need a huge yard or diggable ground to get into this type of landscaping – gardening with wetlands in mind. Ranging from peat-free soil to making a mini wetland at home, one small step can help us take a leap forward in how we view our mosaic landscape, all while representing wetland habitats.
While our backyards cannot fully recreate the expansiveness of a natural wetland, these micro-ecosystems represent, and even perform, some of the same functions as large wetlands do. Some of those similar functions are to restore and boost biodiversity, improve water quality by filtering out pollutants, and reduce or mitigate flooding and storm surge. These gardening practices also provide habitat for beneficial critters like pollinators or aquatic insects, and can be filled with native plant species – which require less water and pesticide use! Some of the more intrinsic enjoyments have to do with how we find happiness in nature; wetland gardens or landscapes with water features can be a calm space to rest our busy minds after a long day. Everything from boosted physical activity to decreased stress levels, its pretty well-know that being outside is a good thing.
Let’s dig into how to garden with wetlands in mind.
Mini Wetland Container Pond
Who doesn’t love a good repurposing project? This type of wetland garden is great if you have a balcony or patio, plus can repurpose something from your home like a wooden barrel or old sink; be sure the container is watertight. Start by finding a space that gets some sun but doesn’t have full sunlight all day long, then place whatever container you’re using in its spot before adding a layer of clean gravel or small stones at the bottom. Next, it’s best to create varying levels in the container using pieces of wood or rocks, making an easy in-and-out route for visiting critters and providing spots for plants to sit on if needed. Then, get planting. You only need a few aquatic plants to oxygenate the water and provide habitat. Also, picking plant species that like to be submerged or that can survive just on the surface is best – utilize your local garden center or pond supplier as a resource. Last, fill it with water. It’s ideal to use rainwater since it has fewer chemicals than tap, so feel free to collect some ahead of time. Nature will do its magic with little maintenance required, the plants should clear up any algae, and wildlife may come next.
Going Peat-free In Your Garden
If you’re trying to make environmental conscious choices at home, the supplies or materials you use in landscaping is a great place to start. We’ve talked before about the importance of peatlands and the use of peat on our blog, but long story short; peat takes a really long time to form, and when it’s removed from wetlands for gardening supplies it releases stored carbon dioxide back out into the atmosphere. Which isn’t good. So, the moral of the story is, use peat-free soil or compost. It allows you to play a role in the fight against climate change and protects the exploitation of crucial wetland habitats. Just remember that soil and compost are two different things and be sure to read the label closely on both. Labels such as “peat-reduced”, “natural”, or “environmentally friendly” say nothing about the peat content in the product. On the bright side, some suppliers are promoting peat-free alternatives such as wood fiber and coconut coir. There are even recipes out there to make your own peat-free potting soil!
Rain Gardens
As a tried-and-true eco-friendly landscaping method, rain gardens have been around since the 1990’s thanks to our neighboring state of Maryland. Also called bio-retention ponds, rain gardens are shallow hollows or depressions that collect rainwater and allow it to gradually drain into the soil. These areas are designed to cope with conditions from droughts to floods and are planted with water-loving species that provide benefits to humans and nature alike. Below are some of the characteristics and benefits of a good rain garden.
Rain gardens provide some similar value and functions as natural wetlands and are a simple way to protect your watershed. Other factors that come into play when trying out this method are size, location, soil type, plant species, and maintenance. If you’re looking to install a rain garden in Delaware, or just want more information, visit these three rain garden resources: University of Delaware Cooperative Extension, DNREC Yard Adaptation, and Delaware Nature Society.
Mini Drainpipe Wetland
Now this technique is a must-try at home, you’re going to turn your drainpipe into a wetland. This wetland has three parts: a gravel filter pot that keeps your water free from debris, a drainage area that is rainwater-fed with aquatic and wetland plants, and another drainage area that is a mini floodplain to release water slowly. The materials needed for this are not a heavy lift, but it may take a few hours to create the entire wetland system. You will need: two big containers or tubs, sand or clay soil, aquatic and water-loving plants, peat-free aquatic soil, stone/wood/brick/mud for bonding material, a small sheet of membrane for water to pass through, horticultural grit, and gravel. It may seem like a lot, but the result is something quite amazing that filters runoff while being an attractive feature that also provides a source of water and habitat for small wildlife. You can create this habitat in the tiniest, most urban of settings and boom – you’ve turned your boring downspout into your very own wetland preserve. A more detailed step-by-step process is available here.
One of the biggest landscaping challenges is changing your perspective on what is beautiful or useful in your yard. It’s time to get rid of that green, manicured lawn and rip out those Bradford pears. Turn off your irrigation and hit up your local native plant nursey while you’re at it. As this shift in the paradigm grows, there is more room for wild and wonderful yard practices like gardening with wetlands. Whether you have an acre, a side garden, or a rooftop terrace, it’s easy to take steps in creating a mini wetland of your own that provides the value you want. The landscape practices we covered not only enrich our current gardens or outdoor spaces but provide an ecosystem we can continue to learn from. Using a “green thumb” is easier than you think – help us build awareness of the value of wetlands in your own backyard.
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