Wetland Plants of the Great Salt Lake

Upland Plants Rather than a wetland community, this collection of upland plants represents species that are often found in or disperse to Great Salt Lake (GSL) wetlands—particularly under conditions of drought and disturbance. This listing is not comprehensive of upland plants, but the selected species often indicate previous or regular wetland disturbance, so they are important to note. Often disturbance to wetlands comes in the form of drought, which increases the likelihood of upland and invasive species establishing in a wetland.

Also, upland habitat and its plants benefit wetlands. A mosaic of upland habitat interspersed with wetland habitat provides structural diversity to wetland plant complexes and supports a wide variety of bird species. Although some wetlands surrounding GSL include small portions of upland habitat in their management plans, most upland habitat is not explicitly managed.

Plants Upland plants grow where soil conditions are dry, on small topographic rises within large marshes, or on elevated areas near roads and dikes. Due to the proximity of GSL to agricultural lands, many upland plants found in its wetlands are agricultural or pasture weeds. A group of upland plants, including bassia (Bassia hyssopifolia, p. 157) and intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium, p. 175), were deliberately planted after the construction of dikes and roads to prevent erosion.

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