Gulf Coast Chenier Plain Fresh and Oligohaline Tidal Marsh
Geology
This system occupies recent alluvial deposits.
Landform
Along bay margins and outlets of coastal rivers where freshwater inflow is sufficient to drive marsh composition. Sites may be interspersed with areas of open water.
Soils
Saturated, very deep, mineral soils, often with high organic content, at least at the surface. Ecoclasses (from Ecological Site Descriptions) include various FRESH and INTERMEDIATE MARSH types.
Parent Description
This herbaceous system occupies coastal sites with mucky soils and salinities less than 4 ppt. Dominants are graminoids, including Panicum hemitomon (maidencane), Paspalum vaginatum (seashore paspalum), Zizaniopsis miliacea (marshmillet), Typha latifolia (common cattail), Spartina patens (marshhay cordgrass), Schoenoplectus spp. (bulrushes), and Phragmites australis (common reed). Other wetland species such as Sagittaria spp. (arrowheads), Ludwigia spp. (water-primroses), and Vigna luteola (cow pea) may also be present. Some occurrences may have some woody cover with species such as Iva frutescens (bigleaf sumpweed) or Baccharis halimifolia (baccharis).
Ecological Mapping Systems
Chenier Plain: Fresh and Intermediate Tidal Marsh
As described for system, where woody cover is minor.
Distribution Map
Photos
Public Land Occurrence
- Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge: US Fish and Wildlife Service
- J. D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
- Lower Neches Wildlife Management Area: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
- McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge: US Fish and Wildlife Service
- Moody National Wildlife Refuge: US Fish and Wildlife Service
- Sea Rim State Park: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
- Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge: US Fish and Wildlife Service
Chenier Plain: Fresh and Intermediate Tidal Shrub Wetland
Sites with significant cover of woody species such as Iva frutescens (bigleaf sumpweed) and/or Baccharis halimifolia (baccharis). Arundo donax (giant reed) dominated sites may also be mapped as this type.
Distribution Map
Photos
