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Freshwater Tidal Wetlands
Freshwater tidal wetlands occur in the intertidal zone along coastal rivers, upstream from the Estuarine system where salinity ranges from 0.5 ppt to 0 ppt. They extend along the edges of rivers and their tributaries to the head of tidal influence, which can be up to 20 miles inland along the shorter coastal river to 143 miles inland along the Columbia River. The tidal cycle is similar to that on the coast, but timing is delayed and the amplitude of tidal surge attenuates further upstream to about 3 feet at Portland and 1 foot near Bonneville Dam. Freshwater tidal wetlands can be herbaceous, shrubby, or forested, and like salt marshes are hydrated by meandering tidal creeks. Plant species diversity in these wetlands is extremely rich, and many of thousands of acres have been diked, drained, and farmed.
Habitat: Edges of tidal rivers and streams
Water regime: Tidal, regularly to irregularly flooded
Water chemistry: Fresh
Ecoregion*: BM = Blue Mountains, BR = Northern Basin and Range, CB = Columbia Basin, CR = Coast Range, EC = East Cascades, KM = Klamath Mountains, WC = West Cascades, WV = Willamette Valley | ||||
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Scientific & Common Name | Global & State Rank | Ecoregion* | ||
Athyrium filix-femina - Scirpus microcarpus Marsh [Provisional] Lady fern (Christy 2004: 67) |
G4S3 | CR | ||
Bidens cernua Marsh [Provisional] Nodding beggars-tick marsh (Murray 2000: 12; Christy 2004: 69) |
G3S3 | CR, WV | ||
Bidens frondosa Marsh [Provisional] Leafy beggars-tick (Christy 2004: 70) |
G4S4 | CR, WV | ||
Ceratophyllum demersum Western Aquatic Vegetation Coontail (Christy 2004: 101; Crowe et al. 2004: 69; NS) |
G5S5 | CR, WV | ||
Eleocharis palustris Marsh Creeping spikerush (Murray 2000: 17; Christy 2004: 113; Crowe et al. 2004: 66; Christy 2014: 33; NS) |
G5S5 | CR, WV | ||
Elodea canadensis Aquatic Vegetation Short-awn foxtail (Christy 2016: 12) |
G5S5 | CR, WV | ||
Equisetum fluviatile Marsh Water horsetail (NS) |
G4S3 | CR, WC | ||
Fontinalis (antipyretica, neomexicana) Nonvascular Aquatic Vegetation Fountain moss (Christy 2004: 152; NS) |
G5S5 | CR, WV | ||
Lilaeopsis occidentalis Marsh [Provisional] Lilaeopsis (Christy 2004: 128) |
G3S3 | CR, WV | ||
Persicaria amphibia Marsh [Provisional] Water smartweed (Christy 2004: 135) |
G5S3 | WV | ||
Picea sitchensis / Cornus sericea / Lysichiton americanus Swamp Forest Sitka spruce / creek dogwood / skunk cabbage (Christy 2004: 29; NS) |
G2S1 | CR | ||
Populus trichocarpa / Cornus sericea / Lysichiton americanus Riparian Forest Black cottonwood / creek dogwood / skunk cabbage (Christy 2004: 32; NS) |
G1S1 | CR, WV | ||
Sagittaria latifolia Herbaceous Vegetation Wapato (Christy 2004: 139; NS) |
G3S2 | CR, WV | ||
Salix hookeriana - (Malus fusca) / Carex obnupta - Lysichiton americanus Wet Shrubland Hooker willow - (Oregon crabapple) / slough sedge - skunk cabbage (Christy 2004: 54; NS) |
G3S3 | CR | ||
Schoenoplectus acutus Marsh Hardstem bulrush (Christy 2004: 141; Crowe et al. 2004: 70; NS) |
G5S5 | CR, WV | ||
Schoenoplectus pungens (estuarine) Salt Marsh [Provisional] Common three-square (freshwater tidal) (Christy et al. 1998: 128, as S. americanus) |
G3S2 | CR, WV | ||
Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Temperate Marsh Softstem bulrush (Crowe et al. 2004: 70; NS) |
G5S5 | CR, WV | ||
Scirpus microcarpus Marsh Small-fruited bulrush (Murray 2000: 25; Christy 2004: 142; Crowe et al. 2004: 134; Wells 2006: 133; NS) |
G4S4 | CR, WV | ||
Sparganium angustifolium Aquatic Vegetation Narrowleaf bur-reed (Murray 2000: 26; Christy 2004: 144; Crowe et al. 2004: 58; Wells 2006: 156; NS) |
G4S3 | CR, WV | ||
Sparganium eurycarpum Aquatic Vegetation Broadfruited bur-reed (Christy 2004: 145; Christy 2014: 47; NS) |
G4S3 | CR | ||
Typha (latifolia, angustifolia) Western Marsh Cattail (broadleaf cattail, narrowleaf cattail) (Murray 2000: 29; Christy 2004: 149; Crowe et al. 2004: 56; Wells 2006: 157; NS) |
G5S5 | CR |