Fresh Water Marshes

park photo

Wild rice is a nice discovery in the park fresh water marsh.

Fresh water marshes, like saltwater marshes, form at many latitudes, and are the most common type of wetland. They may be fed by ground water or precipitation, becoming dry in droughts or flood daily with tides. They may form at the edge of lakes, along rivers and streams, and along the coast in low lying areas. If they are along the coastal plain they may be tidal or not. Fresh water marshes are characterized by soft stemmed plants like grasses and sedges. These plants may root in land under the water and grow above the water, float, or be submerged under the water. Plant diversity varies with location and depth of the water. Fresh water marshes are probably the most diverse type of wetland.