Saline Wetlands
Description:
Saline wetlands are areas where upwelling of saline groundwater is discharged onto the land surface. Saline wetlands are most often found from the Rocky Mountain Front Range to the Eastern Plains and in the Centennial Valley, but maybe found anywhere in the state. While non-natural saline seeps exist, these are natural landscape features. The vegetation that grows in these wetlands are specially adapted to dealing with saline environments and are considered as halophytes. The hydroperiod (pattern of water-level fluctuations in a wetland) is very important in determining the continuum of water from near fresh to hypersaline and the vegetative composition within saline wetlands. Where drier margins can support less salt-tolerant species and wetter regions true halophytes. These are unique wetlands and care should be taken to identify what is a natural saline wetland and non-natural saline seeps before any control measures are taken.1,2
Function and Values:
Saline wetlands are natural features on the landscape that pose an added constraint on the species able to survive in them. Due to these constraints and the proportion of Saline wetlands in the landscape, species able to thrive in them tend to be rarer. Saline wetlands are also important habitats to other species such foraging and breeding locations for migratory shorebirds, including the federally endangered Piping Plover. 1,2
Photos of Saline Wetlands:
Photo by Larry Urban
"Alkaline (Saline) wetland near Melstone, MT"
Photo by Rick Sojda, USGS (Click image to enlarge)
"Examples of plants able to survive in wetlands as the salinity increases, Red Rock NWR"
Photo by Rick Sojda, USGS
"Saline wetland in the Powder River Floodplain, Southeastern Montana"
Distribution Map of Saline Wetlands:
Potential Stressors:
Salinity Control Measures: "Not all saline seeps are non-natural and the result of salinization due to land use changes. Before any control measures are undertaken the area should be evaluated by a professional. Contact your local Conservation District of the Montana Salinity Control Association."
Cattle: "The USFWS recommends that saline wetlands be fenced to reduce the impacts cattle have on the vegetation surrounding and potential breeding habitat for shorebirds. This is especially relevant in Northeastern Montana where it is estimated that the Endangered Piping Plover nest 60% of the time among vegetation bordering saline wetlands." 1
Reference:
1 http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/life_histories/B079.html
2 http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Charadrius+melodus
