Chapter 8 

 The Palustrine 

 System 



Author: Stewart Fefer 



The coastal zone of Maine has many types of freshwater vegetated wetlands and 

 these comprise most of the palustrine system. Major types are bogs, marshes, 

 wooded swamps, and small, shallow, permanent, or intermittent ponds. Most 

 palustrine wetlands are discrete units; often they are near or connected to 

 lakes, river channels or estuaries, or on river flood plains and slopes; some 

 are islands of shallow areas in lakes or rivers (Cowardin et al. 1979), where 

 vegetation persists throughout the year. The palustrine wetlands of the 

 characterization area constitute an area of approximately 189,702 acres 

 (75,881 ha) or about 9% of the total land and freshwater area. Palustrine 

 wetlands are the dominant wetland type in coastal Maine comprising 347o of the 

 aquatic system according to preliminary National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) 

 data. Most palustrine wetlands are privately owned and have limited public 

 access . 



Palustrine areas 

 their hydrologica 

 groundwater supp 

 and export of ene 

 fects on neighb 

 wetlands during c 

 Maine are unique 

 U.S. Atlantic coa 

 aesthetic, and 

 areas is often de 



are valuable to the ecology of coastal Maine partly because 

 1 characteristics aid in controlling floods, recharging 

 lies, and maintaining minimum stream flows. The accumulation 

 rgy and nutrients by palustrine areas can have profound ef- 

 oring habitats. Many species of fish and wildlife depend on 

 ertain phases of their life cycles. Certain bogs in coastal 

 in that they are not found in such abundance elsewhere on the 

 St. Palustrine wetlands also have recreational, educational, 

 economic value. The impact of human activities on palustrine 

 structive. 



The palustrine wetland classification system developed by Davis (1906; table 

 8-1) is generally applicable to the coast of Maine. It illustrates the com- 

 plexity of palustrine wetlands. The NWI classifies palustrine wetlands ac- 

 cording to standardized definitions of palustrine classes (habitat types). 

 This method of classification results in a hierarchical system based upon dom- 

 inant vegetative life forms (figure 8-1). Marshes and bogs are the two major 

 types of palustrine wetlands in coastal Maine. This chapter details the 



8-1 



10-80 



