Habitat Zone 3: Wetlands

The Wetlands area is a low-lying habitat that is seasonally wet and supports bulrush, sedges, swamp milkweed, and scratch grass with stands of showy milkweed along the edge. A higher diversity of native plants was planted to the already existing plant composition to provide additional fall nectar for pollinators. Specifically added were Joe Pye weed, additional swamp milkweed, tall evening primrose, and water groundsel. This area contributes to a greater diversity of pollinator species and other wildlife by providing unique plants that would not grow elsewhere in the habitat. In addition, the Wetlands provide a number of other benefits such as flood protection, nutrient balance, and improved water quality. A frequent sighting on the cusp of the Wetlands are monarch butterflies.

Audio 3 Transcriptions (audio time, minutes 3:05):

So, why is it that our landscape doesn’t look like Florida or Maine or Tennessee or some other state east of Nebraska? Water! Or, shall we say… lack of it! Utah is the second driest state in the United States. The drastic change that results from the simple addition of water is easily noticeable in Utah. Any bird’s eye view of wetlands (meaning lakes, rivers, or streams) in our state shows a strong ribbon of green indicating an abundance of plants and other plentiful and vibrant life in areas with lots of water. The plentiful water and nutrients naturally feed bacteria, insects and plants, which in turn feed wildlife, birds, fish and, yes, humans. These waterways also provide a travel corridor for so many species as the high plant diversity offers shelter and food for migrating mammals, birds, and yes, pollinators. As an example, the monarch butterfly who migrates to and from southern California and Utah, prefers these areas with higher moisture in Utah to find nectar as well as their host plant - milkweed. The water in and around the Great Salt Lake is a lifeline to millions of birds and other wildlife as they make their way north and south along migratory pathways. It functions as a resting place and provides fuel for their long journeys.    

A wetland can be defined as a distinct ecosystem that is flooded by water, either permanently or seasonally. The small wetland at this site is fed by a nearby spring that brings water close to the surface much of the year. This increases plant diversity for the Perry Pollinator Habitat site. 

Wetlands, streams, marshes and floodplains are all connected in what is called a watershed. A watershed is defined by an area where all of the water, whether on the surface or underground, eventually drains to the same place. You are now standing in the Great Salt Lake Watershed, where all water flows to the Great Salt Lake. The Great Salt Lake has no outlet, so all water that flows to the lake remains in the lake until it evaporates. This was not always the case as about 15,000 years ago the lake was about 32,000 square miles in size (about the size of the state of Maine)! If you were standing here at that time, you would be standing under at least 50 feet of water. A natural dam broke under the pressure of the historic Salt Lake to create a catastrophic flood that flowed over the Snake River Plain, to the Columbia River, and eventually on to the Pacific Ocean.

Long way to say, wetlands are the true lifeblood of the planet - they are so valuable to us and the ecosystems we depend on! So, preserve water as the precious resource it is for all of us, pollinators and humans alike! A great way to start is to plant a native pollinator garden wherever you can.

This is Mindy Wheeler of Utah State University working with native plants and pollinators.