Characteristic Plants Freshwater Tidal Marsh These plants are frequently found in this community type. Those with an asterisk are State Rank S2 Diagnostics often diagnostic of this community. These graminoid dominated marshes occur Herb along tidal rivers, with patches of forbs Community Description Chair-maker’s rush* locally abundant. Obligate freshwater Common arrowhead These tidal marshes are dominated by species are present, such as sweetflag, Eaton’s bur-marigold patchy stout herbs, typically a mixture yellow water-lily, large yellow pond-lily, or Nodding beggar ticks of wild rice, softstem bulrush, and pickerelweed. Northern water-plantain pickerelweed, often covering extensive Parker’s pipewort areas. Mixed in with the tall herbs Similar Types Pickerelweed* are lower forbs including several rare Brackish Tidal Marshes are most similar Softstem bulrush* species. Some marshes may have mudflats and grade into this type as salinity decreases. Tidal arrowhead dominated by forbs and low vegetation Freshwater Tidal Marsh Mixed Graminoid Shrub Marshes and Wild rice* in patches among the graminoids; many Pickerelweed - Macrophyte Aquatic Bed conservation attention. Heavy metals, have a very narrow band of low forbs near types can contain several of the same sewage overflows, and other pollutants the high tide/upland interface. Brackish Associated Rare Plants species, but do not occur in tidal settings. have degraded the substrate in many areas, marsh species, such as chair-maker’s rush, Beaked spikerush but some have recovered as water quality Eaton’s bur-marigold may be in these marshes as well, but at has improved over the past decades. Many Freshwater Tidal Marsh least some obligate freshwater plants such Conservation, Wildlife, and Long’s bitter-cress Management Considerations occur on or adjacent to public lands or Parker’s pipewort as pickerelweed, common arrowhead, private conservation lands. Some have been Tidal marshes provide valuable wildlife Pygmyweed sweet flag, and northern water-plantain managed for waterfowl by planting wild habitat and have received considerable Spongy arrowhead will also be present. Bryophytes are rice. With development of the uplands essentially absent. Stiff arrowhead that border these marshes, maintenance of Water-pimpernel Location Map appropriate wetland buffers can help reduce Soil and Site Characteristics degradation that could result from adjacent Associated Rare Animals Freshwater tidal marshes are associated land uses. Invasive species such as Japanese American oystercatcher with major rivers, in low-gradient areas knotweed and purple loosestrife have Black-crowned night-heron of the mid to upper tidal reaches. invaded the upper reaches at some sites. Least bittern Freshwater inputs lower the salinity to The prospect of sea level rise may also put Short-eared owl <1 ppt. Substrate is usually mud, or these systems at greater risk in the future. mud mixed with gravel. The tidal regime affects substrate and plant zonation. The tidal marshes of Maine’s larger Examples on Conservation estuaries, especially Merrymeeting Bay, are Lands You Can Visit important pre-migration staging habitat for • Merrymeeting Bay Wildlife thousands of waterfowl and wading birds. Management Area – Sagadahoc Co. The rare New England siltsnail inhabits • Muddy River Wildlife Management coastal marshes and small tidal rivers Area – Sagadahoc Co. where the water ranges from fresh to upper • Swan Island Wildlife Management Area brackish. – Sagadahoc Co. Distribution Upper tidal reaches of major rivers: most well known from the Kennebec and Torrey’s Bulrush Penobscot Rivers (Laurentian Mixed Forest Province). Landscape Pattern: Large Patch, often linear. Maine Natural Areas Program.