What is a Marsh and what is a Swamp?

Marshes and swamps are two different things. A marsh is a place with standing water or soils saturated with water throughout most of the year, and grass-like vegetation:  cattails, sedges and grasses.  Swamps have the same moisture requirements, but are dominated by trees and shrubs.  They are more often flooded or saturated for shorter time periods.  In coming posts I will discuss the unique characteristics that define specific plant communities.  To help identify these plant communities I recommend a book published by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE):  Wetland Plants and Plant Communities of Minnesota and Wisconsin by Eggers and Reed.  You can view the entire book here, or purchase it here.  You can also learn more on my new website by clicking Wetland Plant Communities

An older addition

Local Marshes

Shallow, Open Water Communities

Deep Marsh

Shallow Marsh

Sedge Meadow

Wet Meadow

Low Prairie

Calcareous Fen

Local Swamps

Hardwood Swamp
Wetlands with trees

Shrub Carr

Alder Swamp

Other Wetlands
Seasonally Flooded Basins

Shallow Water Marsh : Poygan State Wildlife Area