Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site F093BY002MI
Mucky Swamps
Last updated: 9/27/2023
Accessed: 11/13/2024
General information
Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 093B–Superior Stony and Rocky Loamy Plains and Hills
The Wisconsin portion of this MLRA is a mixture of high-relief moraines and flat till plains with interspersed glacial meltwater deposits. It is bordered on the north by glaciolacustrine deposits of Glacial Lake Duluth and on the south by extensive pitted and unpitted outwash plains. The approximate land area is just under 600,000 acres (935 sq miles).
The Penokee-Gogebic Iron Range runs through the middle of the Wisconsin portion of this MLRA and into Michigian. The range is a hilly, bedrock-controlled moraine. The bedrock outcropping is composed of igneous and metamorphic materials and was created by inland folding and faulting of the ancient Superior continent when it collided with the Marshfield continent about 1.8 billion years ago (Dott & Attig, 2004). Volcanic and intrusive bedrock occurs in some places. This bedrock is overlain by a thin layer of glacial till deposited by the Chippewa Lobe.
To the north of the range is a former spillway for Glacial Lake Ontonagon. The flowing meltwater cut deep channels into the morainal systems. Glaciofluvial landforms here include old beaches and dunes. South of the range, along the southern edge of this MLRA, are rolling collapsed end moraines, pushed to their extent by the Chippewa and Ontonagon Lobes. The landscape is dotted with abundant kettle lakes and swamps, especially in the eastern portion. Ice-walled lake plains and eskers are also found along these collapsed moraines.
Classification relationships
Wetland Forest Habitat Types (Kotar, 2017): Some of these sites are not forested, but sites are best represented by Fraxinus nigra - Acer rubrum/Impatiens capensis (FnArI) habitat type, with some sites represented by the Fraxinus nigra - Abies balsamea – Acer rubrum/Onoclea sensibilis (FnAbArOn) and Abies balsamea – Fraxinus nigra – Thuja occidentalis/Osmunda cinnamomea (AbFnThOs) habitat types.
Biophysical Setting (Landfire, 2014): This ES is mapped as Boreal Acidic Peatland System, Laurentian-Acadian Northern Hardwoods Forest – Hemlock, Laurentian-Acadian Alkaline Conifer-Hardwood Swamp; though, it is best represented by the latter.
WDNR Natural Communities (WDNR (2015): This ES is most similar to the Northern Sedge Meadow for open sites, and the Northern Hardwood Swamp for forested sites.
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): Superior Stoney and Rocky Loamy Plains and Hills, Eastern Part (93B)
USFS Subregions: Winegar Moraines (212Jc)
Small sections occur in the Gogebic-Penokee Iron Range (212Jb) subregion
Wisconsin DNR Ecological Landscapes: North Central Forest
Ecological site concept
The Mucky swamps ecological site is common throughout MLRA 93B in drainageways and depressions on till plains, moraines, stream terraces, floodplains, and sometimes outwash plains. These sites are characterized by very deep, very poorly drained soils that formed in organic deposits overlying loamy drift and sandy or loamy alluvium. These sites are subject to occasional ponding or flooding. Water is received primarily from precipitation, runoff from adjacent uplands, groundwater inflow, and stream inflow. Sites remain saturated during the growing season and meet hydric soils requirements. Soils range from moderately acid to slightly alkaline. These are wetlands.
Mucky swamps receive significantly more groundwater and stream inflow than their Acidic poor fens counterparts, resulting in a higher pH. In addition, adjacent upland sites are usually comprised of finer, more calcareous parent materials (ie. loamy till) and the runoff and groundwater Mucky swamps receive from these sites further buffer their acidity. Mucky swamps have improved growing conditions over Acidic poor fens for most plant species.
Associated sites
F093BY004MI |
Wet Lowlands Wet Lowlands occur on depressions and drainageways and form in loamy till or loamy alluvium underlain by dense sandy till or sandy and gravelly outwash. These sites are poorly drained and are higher up on the drainage sequence than Mucky swamps. They typically border Mucky swamps. |
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F093BY005MI |
Moist Lowlands Moist Lowlands occur on footslope positions across the landscape. They are not subject to flooding nor ponding. Soils form in till, lacustrine deposits, or outwash deposits and may be loamy to sandy. These sites are somewhat poorly drained and occur higher on the drainage sequence than Mucky swamps. |
F093BY011MI |
Dry Uplands Dry Uplands are found in the sandiest, most permeable soils on the driest landscape positions. They are very deep and excessively drained and occupy the highest position on the drainage sequence, whereas Mucky swamps occupy the lowest. |
Similar sites
F093BY001MI |
Acidic Poor Fens Like Mucky swamps, Acidic poor fens consist of deep herbaceous organic material, are very poorly drained, and remain saturated throughout year. They also occupy landscape depressions and the lowest positions on their drainage sequences. Acidic poor fens are more acidic than Mucky swamps and, as a result, the vegetative communities on these two sites are quite different. |
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F093BY004MI |
Wet Lowlands Wet Lowlands occur on depressions and drainageways and form in loamy till or loamy alluvium underlain by dense sandy till or sandy and gravelly outwash. The vegetative community of Mucky swamps may sometimes match that of Wet Lowlands. Wet Lowlands are not subject to flooding and are poorly (rather than very poorly) drained. |
F093BY003MI |
Floodplains These sites occur exclusively on Floodplains and form in sandy and loamy alluvium. The soils are subject to ponding and flooding. Mucky swamps may sometimes occur on floodplain landforms, but they are very poorly drained whereas Floodplains are poorly to moderately well drained. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
(1) Fraxinus nigra |
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Shrub |
(1) Alnus incana |
Herbaceous |
(1) Carex |
Click on box and path labels to scroll to the respective text.
Ecosystem states
State 1 submodel, plant communities
1.1.A | - | Increase -ponding frequency /duration |
---|---|---|
1.1.B | - | Increase ponding frequency/duration |
1.2.B | - | Decrease - ponding frequency/duration |
1.2.A | - | Increase - ponding frequency/duration. |
1.3.A | - | Decrease - ponding frequency/duration |