Wetland Plants of the Great Salt Lake

Meadow Wetlands Meadow wetlands, typically referred to as meadows, are defined by temporary or seasonal shallow flooding or saturated soils. Meadows comprise nearly 390 km² (97,225 ac) around Great Salt Lake (GSL) and are divided into wet and salt meadows based on differences in typical salinity ranges and dominant plant species.55 Across these ranges, meadow plant communities are characterized by shorter grasses and sedges that are well-adapted to fluctuating water levels. Most meadows are either located on low-angled slopes at slightly higher elevation than submergent and emergent wetlands, or they are on the outside edges of depressions and streams. Due to frequent proximity to agricultural land, many GSL meadows are grazed by cattle.

Plants A number of plant species are important to wet and salt meadow, although specific species are representative of either wet or salt meadows because of salinity. While a wet meadow is an especially species-rich habitat because of low soil salinity, a salt meadow is unique because of its salinity tolerant plants.

Common spikerush (Eleocharis palustris, p. 83) is one important wet meadow species. It is often the first plant to grow in disturbed areas and can quickly colonize bare areas following a drawdown. However, common spikerush is intolerant of elevated salinity and stunts at salinities above 6 ppt.55 Wet meadows often contain grasses and forbs. Slimstem reedgrass (Calamagrostis stricta, p. 96) and timothy (Phleum pratense, p. 102) are two characteristic wet meadow grasses, although they are found 69