The Wetlands
The Rund Woodlands contains a small wetland as listed on the Statewide and National Wetland Inventory. A wetland is any area with prolonged saturation, regardless of the water source. Typically wetlands have water present for at least a portion of the year, soils developed under wet conditions, and distinctive plants or wildlife that are uniquely adapted to seasonal or year-round wet soils.
Wetlands are a natural filter for nutrients and pollutants, assisting in recharging groundwater through aquifers. These aquifers are where the Rund Woodlands well gets its water. The wetlands help control flooding by moving, storing and absorbing water, protecting the Woodlands and the buildings on site. Wetlands are a beautiful open space for outdoor recreation, as well as an essential habitat for many important species that are or become a food source, in turn, protecting biodiversity.
The wetland at the Rund Woodlands is classified as PEM1C. This 0.28 acre Freshwater Emergent Wetland habitat is located at the southwest corner of the Woodlands and crosses over onto the neighboring properties as well. It is a small marshy area that mostly fills up from a seasonal rivulet, rainwater, and snow runoff. The rivulet crosses the back (northern) portion of the Woodland and runs off to the west side of the property line. (PEM1C) sits at the bottom of the hill, and some water from the rivulet may make its way down into the swale of PEM1C. Both PEM1C and the rivulet house perennial plants that are present for most of the year and are surrounded by established trees. While the rivulet is not listed on the national wetland inventory, I believe it to be a wetland and thus will be treated as such. More information on the classification of PEM1C is listed below.
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The Plan
The Rund Woodlands' goals for PEM1C.
GOAL 1: Delineation
A wetland delineation is a lot like a physical survey of the wetland. Consultants come in, and find the boundaries of your wetland, as well as an analysis of the vegetation and wildlife.
GOAL 2: Stewardship Plan
Once the Delineation is completed, it’s data will be taken and a Stewardship Plan can be developed, outlining the proper maintenance, care, and enhancement / development of the Wetlands.
GOAL 3: Interpretive Area
Implementation of the Stewardship Plan starts. Interpretive areas and signage are created.
Classification Code: PEM1C
System Palustrine (P) : The Palustrine System includes all nontidal wetlands dominated by trees, shrubs, persistent emergents, emergent mosses or lichens, and all such wetlands that occur in tidal areas where salinity due to ocean-derived salts is below 0.5 ppt.
It also includes wetlands lacking such vegetation, but with all of the following four characteristics: (1) area less than 8 ha (20 acres); (2) active wave-formed or bedrock shoreline features lacking; (3) water depth in the deepest part of basin less than 2.5 m (8.2 ft) at low water; and (4) salinity due to ocean-derived salts less than 0.5 ppt.
Class Emergent (EM) : Characterized by erect, rooted, herbaceous hydrophytes, excluding mosses and lichens. This vegetation is present for most of the growing season in most years. These wetlands are usually dominated by perennial plants.
Subclass Persistent (1) : Dominated by species that normally remain standing at least until the beginning of the next growing season. This subclass is found only in the Estuarine and Palustrine systems.
Water Regime Seasonally Flooded (C) : Surface water is present for extended periods especially early in the growing season, but is absent by the end of the growing season in most years. The water table after flooding ceases is variable, extending from saturated to the surface to a water table well below the ground surface.