Welcome to Environmental Literacy Classroom

Wetland

In front of you is a nonalluvial seepage swamp, a type of wetland. Nonalluvial refers to the fact that it is not formed by, or substantially composed of, running stream water.  Seepage wetlands are those whose hydrology is controlled primarily by groundwater, rather than by surface runoff or streams.  The ground here is wet and often mushy year-round, but it may fill with water during rainstorms, eventually flowing into Reid’s Creek.

Further classification of wetlands is more complicated than one might think and depends upon how a particular site was formed, and also upon dominant underlying rocks and soils, pH (acidity) of the soil and water, dominant plant species, elevation, geography, and other factors.  While swamps such as the one here are often referred to as “bogs”, this is a misnomer in that bogs are a specific type of wetland dominated by sphagnum moss  that  receive their water entirely from atmospheric sources (rain, fog).  The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation has created a detailed guide to classifying the various types of Virginia wetlands.

As you continue walking on the ENLIT trail you will get a better view of this wetland on your left.  A Virginia Department of Forestry tree post provides information on Spice Bush (Lindera benzoin), a shrub commonly dominant in this type of wetland.  Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) can be seen from January through early fall and is a sure sign of wet soils. If you would like to see more of this wetland, turn left at ENLIT post number 15 and bear left to circle back around on the “bog’ trail to this post.

Importance of nonalluvial seepage swamps

Looking at this swamp, you might think it is a worthless breeding ground for mosquitos!  But many plants and animals depend on these wetlands.  Skunk cabbage is named for the noxious odor it emits (to attract pollinators), but because it emerges early in the year (January!), it provides large quantities of food for bears when they first emerge from hibernation. A variety of amphibians (salamanders and frogs) as well as odonates (dragon flies and damsel flies) are common residents of these swamps.  Spicebush fruit provides food for birds and the bush serves as a host plant for the larvae of the Spicebush Swallowtail and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies.

Because  wetlands are of great biological importance it is critical that they be protected from damage due to development and other anthropogenic (human-caused) activities.

Further information

https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Plants-and-Fungi/Skunk-Cabbage

https://www.oriannesociety.org/science-of-scales/seepage-swamps/?v=f69b47f43ce4

https://ncwildflower.org/northern-spicebush-lindera-benzoin-a-great-shrub-for-birds-and-more/

Photo credits: Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

The Rockfish Valley Foundation works to protect and educate on the land, air, waters, and living history of the Rockfish Valley. We are volunteer-led and donor-funded. For information on donating or volunteering please visit us at rockfishvalley.org