﻿172 Nichols: The vegetation of Connecticut 



the remoter parts of its flood plain. When the strean 

 its banks these latter areas are flooded, and after the recession of 

 the water there may be left behind more or less extensive shallow- 

 ponds. Such ponds may be seen along the Connecticut River and 

 elsewhere, but usually they are of a very temporary nature. Far 

 more common than marginal ponds are marginal swamps. These 

 may originate in the manner just described, but more often seepage 

 water is responsible in large measure for the maintenance of the 

 swampy condition. Swamps due to seepage will be discussed 

 presently. 



Coastal Lakes, Ponds, and Swamps are formed mainly behind 

 barrier beaches, in sheltered bays and harbors, and along the 

 lower courses of the larger rivers. The ecological relations of 

 these will be considered in a later paper, in connection with plant 

 societies along the coast. 



The Effect of Topography and Ground Water Level on the 

 Character of Lakes, Ponds, and Swamps. — It is evident that topog- 

 raphy, as moulded by physiographic forces, is an all-important 

 factor in governing the distribution of lakes and ponds. This is 

 also true with respect to swamps, but it is further true, as will be 

 pointed out presently, that swamps may be developed in areas 

 where bodies of standing water could not exist. Yet while their 

 development is dependent on suitable topographic conditions, 

 the presence or absence of lakes, ponds, and swamps is further 

 conditioned by the relation between the level of the land surface 

 and the water table; and this in turn is influenced by the amount 

 of precipitation and the character of the substratum. The 

 surface of the ground water rises and falls with the land surface, 

 but with smaller differences of elevation. Thus, while it reaches 

 its highest elevation in the hills it stands farthest from the surface 

 of the ground there. Similarly, in the depressions it stands lower, 

 but is nearer the surface of the ground. Wherever it reaches the 

 surface, lakes, ponds, streams, or swamps may be formed.* 

 Owing to the variation in the amount of precipitation at different 

 seasons of the year, the level of the water table is constantly 



