Sphagnum as an Indicator of Wetland Hydrology in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain Region

Using the presence of Sphagnum mats as a hydrology indicator during Federal delineations was suggested during field testing for the Southeastern Regional Supplement. However, some species of Sphagnum occur occasionally in uplands in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain Region, so this genus is not reliable enough to be a primary indicator of wetland hydrology. Instead, Sphagnum mats or cushions could be used as a secondary Class D hydrology indicator, which provides contemporary evidence of a saturated surface. A minimum cover requirement should be considered to ensure that Sphagnum is not mistakenly used as evidence of wetland hydrology in uplands. An on-site evaluation of the wet and mesic flatwood pine types is recommended to verify the association between the presence of wet-land hydrology and increased percent cover. Some Sphagnum species appear bleached or whitened when desiccated, so the presence of dead plants should not be used as evidence that wetland hydrology is lacking. The original document contains color images.