Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Spartina patens is dominant in these meadows and forms a distinct "cowlicked" appearance. Characteristic associates include Agrostis stolonifera (= var. palustris), Carex straminea, Argentina anserina (= Potentilla anserina), Festuca rubra, Eleocharis palustris, Ptilimnium capillaceum, Schoenoplectus pungens, Schoenoplectus americanus, and Spartina pectinata. Other associated species more common to polyhaline (>18 ppt) salt marshes include Juncus gerardii, Triglochin maritima, and Solidago sempervirens, which occur sporadically.

Dynamics:  Brackish marsh vegetation responds to interacting gradients of salinity and inundation. There is seasonal variation in inundation, with dramatic flooding events during the spring from snowmelt and precipitation in the upper watershed, which delay the growing season in these environmental settings (Barrett 1989). The brackish meadows are also subject to semidiurnal flooding by spring or storm tides. Since the meadows tend to occur behind natural levees that form along river and creek banks, drainage is impeded and the duration of flooding longer. The relatively infrequent tidal flushing combined with evaporation of ponded tidal water increases the substrate salinity of these meadows. As brackish conditions diminish, species composition shifts to more freshwater species and the organic matter content in soils decreases.