Wetlands Poster - Grade School

DEFINITIONS

Ground water - Ground water is water found in pores or cracks in sand, gravel, and rock beneath the land surface. Discharging ground water sustains streamflow and supplies water to springs and wells.

Surface water - Water that is on the Earth's surface, such as rivers, streams, reservoirs, lakes, ponds, and oceans.

Deepwater habitat - Habitats that are permanently flooded lands lying below the deepwater boundary of wetlands. The surface water is permanent and often deep (greater than, 2 meters) so that water, rather than air, is the principal medium within which the dominant organisms live.

Saltwater - Water that contains at least one-half of 1 percent salt. Example: greater than 5 parts salt per 1000 parts water.

Freshwater - Water that contains less than one-half of 1 percent salt. Example: less than 5 parts salt per 1000 parts water.

Flood - An overflow or inundation that comes from a river, lake, or body of water that exceeds its natural banks or water level.

Emergent plants - Plants that are partially covered with water but can support themselves above the water.

Water table - The top of the water within an unconfined aquifer.

REFERENCES

Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States. Cowardin et al. December 1979. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. GPO Stock No. 020-010-00524-6.

Wetland Status and Trends in the Conterminous United States Mid-1970's to Mid-1980's. Dahl, T.E. and Johnson, C.E. 1991. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. ISBN 0-16-035916-3. This publication is for sale from: U.S. Government Printing Office Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP Washington, DC 20402-9328 Cost: $2.75.

Nature Scope Wading into Wetlands. National Wildlife Federation. 1989. 1400 16th Street N.W., Washington, DC 20036-2266; 202/797-6800.

W.O.W.: The Wonders of Wetlands: an educator's guide . Slattery, B.E. 1991. Environmental Concern Inc., P.O. Box P, St. Michaels, MD 21663.

Pond Life: A Golden Guide. Reid, George K. 1967. Golden Press. ISBN 0-307-63535-X.

A Field Guide to Birds. The Peterson Field Guide series. 1964. Peterson, Roger Tory. The Riverside Press.

Wetlands and Wildlife. Alaska Wildlife Curriculum. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation. P.O. Box 3-2000, Juneau, AK 99802-2000; 907/465-4190.

Discover Wetlands. Washington Department of Ecology. Wetlands Section, Mail Stop PV-11, Olympia, WA 98504; 206/459-6774. NOTE: Contains extensive resource references.

EPA's Wetland Protection Hotline. 1-800-832-7828, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (EST).