Acknowledgments THIS BOOKLET I S THE PRODUCT Of THE work of many individuals. Although it is based on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Wetlands Inventory (NWI), tlus booklet would not have been produced without the support and cooperation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Patrick Pergola served as project coordinator for the wetlands inventory and Dan Montella was project coordinator for the preparation of this booklet. Ralph Tiner coordi­ nated the effort for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Data compiled from the NWI serve as the foun­ dation for much of this report. Information on the wetland status for this area is the result of hard work by photointerpreters, mainly Irene Huber (University of Massachusetts) with assistance from D avid Foulis and Todd Nuerminger. Glenn Smith (FWS) provided quality control of the interpreted aerial photographs and draft maps and collected field data on wetland communities. Tim Post (N.Y. State D epartment of Environmental Conservation), John Swords (FWS), James Schaberl and Chris Martin (National Park Ser­ vice) assisted in the field and the review of draft maps. Among other FWS staff contributing to this effort were Kurt Snider, Greg Pipkin, Kevin Bon, Becky Stanley, and Matt Starr. The booklet was reviewed by several people including Kathleen Drake (EPA), G eorge H odgson (Saratoga County Environmental Management Council), John Hamilton (Soil and W ater Conserva­ tion District), Dan Spada (Adirondack Park Agency), Pat Riexinger (N.Y. State Department of Environ­ mental Conservation), Susan Essig (FWS), and Jen­ nifer Brady-Connor (Association of State Wetland Nlanagers). Several individuals were instrumental in providing information referenced in this report or material used to complete the wetlands inventory: George Hodgson, Steve Hill (FWS), Mark Silverman (USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service), Pat Riexinger, Jim Everard, Alan Koechlein, and Bill Miller (NYSDEC). I also thank those people who have contributed photographs. Photo credits are shown for each photo, except for those taken by the author This report should be cited as follows: Tiner, R.W. 2000. Wetlands of Saratoga County, New York. Vital Resources for People and Wildlife. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, Northeast Region, Hadley, MA. Prepared for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region II, New York, NY. Cooper­ ative National Wetlands lnventory Publication. 19 pp. Wetlands of Saratoga County, New York Vital Resources for People and Wildlife RALPH W. TINER Regional Wetland Coordinator U.S. fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Services 300 Westgate Center Drive Hadley, MA 01 035 A Cooperative Notional Wetlands Inventory Publication with funding Support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencyl January 2000 Contents Preface ii What Are Wetlands? 1 Wetlands Maps 6 General Distribution of Wetlands and Deepwater H abitats 7 Wetlands Inventory Acreage Summaries 8 Why Are Wetlands Worth Saving? 9 H ow Are W etlands Changing? 13 H ow Are Wetlands Being Protected? 14 What M ore Can Be Done to Conserve and Restore Wetlands? 17 Wetland Resource Guide 19 Copies of this booklet may be obtained from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Wetland Protection Section, Region II, 290 Broadway, New York, NY 10007-1 866 1 Although the jn/orma/ion in Ihis document has bun funded wholly or in par' hy llu u.s. Env inmmental Protl!cliOIl Agmry und!!r amslanu agrunll!nt DW14941821-0J-O to thl! U. S. Fish alld Wildlfft SU'fJiu, il may 1I()1 nl!((Ssari/y njlut thi! vj~ of Ihl! Agtmcy fltld 110 ojJidal mdorJl!ml!nt should k inJl!TTl!d. Preface T I'II S RE PO RT IS BAS ED LARGE LY ON A acreage exists in the county?, (2) where are wet­ wetlands inventory of Saratoga County, New York lands most abundant?, and (3) what types are conducted by the U.S. Fish and W ildlife Service's most common? The inventory results are present­ National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) Program. ed in a series of large-scale (1:24,000) maps T he NVVI is producing wetland maps and statisti­ (identifying the location, type, and shape of most cal information on the status and trends of the wetlands larger than 1-3 acres in size), a techni­ nation's wetlands. To date, wetland maps have cal report, and this booklet. The inventory uti­ been produced for approximatdy 90 percent of the lized 1985/86 aerial photography to map wet­ coterminous United States (lower 48 states). The lands. Wetlands were c1assif.ed to various types, earliest NWI maps are based on 19705 aerial pho­ including emergent, scrub-shrub, and forested tography and need updating, while the newest wetlands. For a full description of the NWI map­ maps are compiled from 1990s photography. The ping process, including the classification system, NWI was initiated to provide government age n­ please refer to the technical report Wetlands and cies and the American public with information on D eepwater Habitats of Saratoga COll llty, New York: the current status of wetlands to aid in resource The R esults of the Nati01ud Wetlands Inventory decision- making. Wetlands provide many impor­ which is available from the U.S. Fish and tant functions (e.g., flood storage, water quality W ildlife Service's Region 5 Office (see title page protection, shoreline stabilization, and habitat for for address). Copies of individual maps may be many fi sh and wildlife) and are among the nation's ordered from: Cornell Institute fo r Resource most valuable naturaJ resources. Since European Information Systems (IRIS), Resource Informa­ colonization, the coterminous U.S. has lost more tion Laboratory, 302 Rice Hall, Cornell Universi­ than half of its original wetlands. Further loss or ty, Ithaca, New York 14853, (607) 255-4864 or degradation of remaining wetlands will jeopardize 255-6520. wetland functions and the values they provide This booklet summarizes the results of the society. The wetlands survey for Saratoga County wetlands inventory for Saratoga County. It pro­ was completed with support from EPA and the vides brief descriptions of the area's wetlands, their National Park Service. distribution, and their values. In addition, the The inventory was designed to determine the booklet presents information on wetland protec­ status of wetlands and deepwater habitats in tion, recommendations to improve management Saratoga County. The inventory answers a few and conservation of wetlands, and lists of resource questions, including: (1) how much wetland agencies and additional readings. Emt:rgent wetland and laclIJtrjne deeP'Water habitat at Meny VIy (Adironda(k Park). n" What Are Wetlands? . WETLANDS A RE LANDS THAT ARE FLOODED nantly hydrophytes; (2) the substrate is pre­ or saturated at or near the ground surface for vary­ dominantly undrained hydric soil; and (3) the ing periods during the year. The term "wetland" is substrate is nonsoil and is sarurated with water derived from two words, "wet" and "land," This or covered by shallow water at some time dur­ ing the growing season of each year.2 implies that wetlands are lands that are at least periodically wct enough to limit uses of the land (e.g., usuaUy ca n't farm without draining and can't This definition focuses on three attributes: (1) build without filling). Wetlands are the collection the degree of flooding or soil saturation (wetland of wet environments that occur on the landscape, hydrology); (2) wetland vegetation (hydrophytes); including marshes, wet meadows, swamps, bogs, and (3) wet soils (hydric soils). All areas consid­ and seasonally inundated floodplains. Ponds and ered wetlands must frequently have an excess of the shallow water zones of lakes are also consid­ water for sufficient duration to stress plants and ered wetlands, while open water arcas deeper than animals not adapted for life in water or periodical­ 6.6 feet are classified as deepwater habitats. ly saturated soils. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with wide scientific peer review, developed a technical Where Do Wetlands Form? definition of wetland for the purpose of conduct­ ing a nationwide inventory of wetlands-the Wetlands form in areas subject to frequent flood­ National Wetlands l nventory (NWl). This defini­ ing or prolonged soil saturation. These areas may 2 Source: Classification of tion forms the foundation for the Service's official be covered by surface water from river overflow or HoTel/allds and Dupw(J­ wetland classification system which has been runoff from adjacent uplands. Waterlogging is ler Habitats of the adopted as the federal standard for reporting on oftcn associated with high groundwater tables. For Unifld Statts (1 979) the status and trends of America's wetlands: these wet conditions to have a significant impact published by the U.S­ Fish and Wildlife on plants, animals, and soil properties, water must Wetlands are lands transitional between ter­ Service, W.ashington, res trial and aquatic systems where the water be present for an extended period on a recurring D C 20240. table is usually at or near the surface or the basis. Scientists have determined that the mini­ 3 Source: Wetlands Char­ land is covered by shaUow water. For purposes mum wetness for a wetland is saturation within 1 aclnistia alld Bound­ arits (1995) published of this classification wetlands must have one foot of the ground surface for 2 weeks or more dur­ by National Academy or more of the foUowing three attributes: (1) at ing the growing season in most years (every other Press, W.ashingron, least periodically, the land supports predomi- year, on average).3 These areas are also wet for DC 20418. SellSonally Tempo rarilv Seasonallv Wetlands develop in Flooded Rooded WeIland Rooded Wetland ____y!!!nd _ (1W) Wetland 1W plaus where ground ~Jlland_ .. --- _._--_ ..- , .. - . _ ~~d • water discharges and/or surfau water aCCUlnU- • lales.