Wetlands Nature Area

The Marsh

Freshwater marshes are a common sight throughout North America, making up the greatest percentage of all wetlands. These marshes are typified by a mixture of emergent, submergent and floating plants, interspersed with areas of open water. Water in marshes can range from a few inches to several feet in depth depending on the time of year.

Unlike the red maple swamp found elsewhere in the Riverlands, which is predominated by woody plants, this marsh area is made up of soft-stemmed, herbacious plants or of emergents, like cattails, sedges, rushes, grasses and arrowhead. These plants provide food and shelter for a variety of life, including muskrats, Virginia rails, red-winged blackbirds, soras and many waterfowl.

Continue to Cattails