URBS 150 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Sediment Control, Leachate, Impervious Surface
29 Apr 2017
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Document Summary
Wetlands are lands where saturation with water is the dominant factor determining the nature of the soil development and the types of plant and animal communities living in the soil and on its surface. Water is present at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods of time during the year, including during the growing season. Water saturation (hydrology) largely determines how the soil develops and the types of plant and animal communities living in the and on the soil. In regards to wetland hydrology, there are four possible sources of water: direct precipitation, runoff, groundwater inflow, and ocean tide water. Wetlands may support both aquatic and terrestrial species. The prolonged presence of water creates conditions that favor he growth of specially adapted plants and promote the development of characteristic wetland soils. Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs.
