Grants and Contracts Details
Description
The Frances Johnson Palk State Nature Preserve in Pulaski County, KY contains several acid
seep wetlands in the heads of small ephemeral streams. This habitat contains occurrences of
three rare plants which are critically imperiled in Kentucky. This site contains one of the best
populations known in Kentucky for one of these organisms, which is also considered globally
rare and is a “Candidate Species” for listing by the US Fish and Wildlife Service under the
Endangered Species Act. For another species this is only the second known location in the
state. In addition, this site also harbors the only Kentucky population of a rare invertebrate.
When the Kentucky State Nature Preserve Commission’s (KSNPC) threatened and endangered
species list is revised, one or more of these species will likely be a state endangered species and
thus considered data sensitive at this time. Concern about the site has arisen recently due to a
perceived “drying” of the wetlands, which could have adverse effects on the sensitive species
that reside within. In an effort to better understand the hydrology of these systems and to
determine if the wetlands are becoming drier, we initiated a characterization study in 2009 with
the following objectives: 1) determine the influence of landscape position, geomorphology and
land-use on wetland hydroperiod, 2) determine the origin of water within the seeps, and establish
pathways for net water transformations (+ and -) in the system, 3) characterize channel formation
below seeps and establish whether the channels influence seep hydrology (i.e. draining), and 4)
determine if enhancement or restoration activities are needed to maintain/restore the hydrologic
character of these sites.
Status | Finished |
---|---|
Effective start/end date | 9/1/13 → 5/15/14 |
Funding
- KY Energy and Environment Cabinet: $2,000.00
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