Facilitating the protection and restoration of species and ecosystems at risk on BC’s South Coast
Marshes
Marshes are probably one of the most commonly recognized wetland communities. This ecological community has a range of freshwater and marine forms, influenced by the fluctuations in local water tables and the tides. Soils may be mineral in nature or well-humified peat. Plant communities are typically emergent species tolerant of protracted shallow flooding.
Marshes tend to have permanent open water, which can very in depth and temperature. Unlike swamps, they are not typically forested and have a range of submerged, emergent and semi-aquatic vegetation, usually herbaceous such as grass, sedges, rush and cattail species. Water tolerant shrubs such as sweet gale and hardhack often form part of the perimeter vegetation. Marshes may be fed and sustained by groundwater and or surface water and levels can fluctuate seasonally or for tidal marshes - daily. On the South Coast, marshes occur in a range of sizes, often supporting extensive cattail, bulrush and pond lily communities. A number of extensive marsh complexes are the result of sloughs - such as disconnected Fraser River floodplain channels, having reduced flow velocity allowing for marsh characteristics to form. Marshes support species of conservation concern such as Oregon Spotted Frog, Northern Red-legged Frog and Western Painted Turtle. On the South Coast a number of blue-listed marsh communities (Sitka sedge - Pacific water-parsley, common spike-rush Herbaceous Vegetation, common cattail Marsh) and one red-listed type - three-way sedge, can be found.
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RESOURCES
For further information see:
A source for authoritative conservation information on thousands of plants and animals and hundreds of ecological communities in BC. From here connect to all provincial and federal recovery plans (including the SARA Registry), COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada), Identified Wildlife guidance and conservation requirements for specific species and ecological communities of conservation concern impacted by forestry activities) and links to E-Flora and E-Fauna (the Electronic Atlas of the Plants and Wildlife of British Columbia).
A joint venture resource providing comprehensive information on a range of species and ecological communities specific to the Coast Region of BC (including the South, Central and North Coast, Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii).
Environmental guidelines for urban and rural land development in BC.
Learn what species are at risk in your area, search by name, habitat type, regional district and forest district.
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