Type 2 Wetlands: Wet Meadows

wetland restorationwetland types
Written By Kristin Shardlow

Admired for their diverse plant communities and their ability to support rare and valuable species, wet meadows are considered invaluable wetland ecosystems that provide essential environmental and economic services.

Understanding Wet Meadows

While similar to the Type 1: Seasonally Flooded Basin class, wet meadows hold a few key distinctions which set them apart. Wet meadow wetlands exist within depressional areas, such as basins and sloughs, and are also present within agricultural settings. The soil in a wet meadow is usually without standing water during most of the year, but it stays consistently waterlogged within a few inches of the surface. Type 2 Wetlands are noticeable during the spring and other wet times of the year, but they are more challenging to identify during dry periods or if they are planted through. 

The wet meadow wetland classification encompasses a handful of sub-types, including wet/low prairies, sedge meadows, and the rare but ever-so-important calcareous fen.

Characteristics specific to Type 2 Wetlands

Soil Profile: Wet meadow solid composed of organic or mineral material formed in lowlands that are often adjacent to marshland. The soil may contain mottles (spots or blotches of different colors within soil strata) of a gray to orange coloration within the uppermost 12 inches. Many wet meadows, including calcareous fens, hold a sedge-derived layer of well-decomposed sapric peat.

Vegetation: Wet meadows are dominated by sedges (Carex sp.), with species such as rushes (Juncus sp.), water-loving grasses and broadleaf wildflowers being commonly found as well. A few species that can be identified in these wetlands are lake sedge, beaked sedge, swamp milkweed, cardinal flower, redtop, reed grasses, manna grasses and prairie cordgrass. This wetland type also supports rare species, including the small white lady’s slipper orchid and wild sweet william. Woody shrub species such as willow can also be present within a wet meadow.

Fauna: The wet meadow ecosystem supports a variety of invertebrate and animal species. The plant communities that exist within this wetland type supply key food sources for varying insects, which in turn supports songbird populations. In addition to this, wet meadows provide nesting habitat for migratory waterfowl. Another interesting species that plays a role within the wet meadow community is the beaver. By building their dams in adjacent areas, beavers can cause substantial flooding throughout a wet meadow. Beaver-induced flooding plays an important role in maintaining existing wetland plant communities, as the occasional rising water levels limit the spread of encroaching trees and shrubs.

Functions & Benefits

Wetlands, including those listed under the wet meadow classification, provide an array of ecosystem services that support environmental needs and offer economic opportunity. Highlighted below is a list of benefits that a Type 2 Wetland offers:

Flooding/Erosion Control: During heavy precipitation events throughout the seasons, wet meadows collect floodwater and stormwater runoff, which reduces the likelihood of flooding and subsequent erosion in surrounding areas. 

Filtration & Water Quality: By capturing runoff, the vegative and soil systems of wet meadows allow for water in neighboring ecosystems to percolate through the soil and recharge the groundwater table. This process effectively filters excess sediments and nutrients that have accumulated in the water. By retaining runoff and filtering out pollutants, wet meadows protect surface water habitats and enhance overall water quality.

Habitat & Species Diversity: As noted previously, wet meadows provide habitat that meets the needs for rare and/or threatened species, thereby securing a future for these populations.

Economic Value: Wet meadows also offer desirable activities for humans. Hunters and outdoorsmen value wet meadows for their waterfowl production, fur harvest, and additional hunting and trapping opportunities. Seasonal haying and selective timber harvest can also be permissible in wet meadows, providing additional avenues of value.

Mitigation Partners, Inc. Founders Dax Dickson & Tory Christensen

Kristin Shardlow
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Type 1 Wetlands: Seasonally Flooded Basins and Floodplain Forests
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Type 3 Wetlands: Shallow Marshes