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Marsh Headwater Stream |
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System: Riverine
SubSystem: Natural Streams State Protection: Not Listed Federal Protection: Not Listed State Rarity Rank: S4 
A State Rarity Rank of S4 means: Apparently secure in New York State. Global Rarity Rank: G4
A Global Rarity Rank of G4 means: Apparently secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Did you know? The largest rodents in North America, American beavers (Castor canadensis), commonly construct dams across marsh headwater streams. By damming these streams, beavers raise water levels and create a protective moat around their lodge; within the deepest waters of their impoundments, they store food for the winter. When the dam is breached and water slowly drains from the pond, wetland plants colonize the exposed edges; once the water drains enough to be limited to the old stream channel, the area that was once a beaver pond has cycled back into a marsh headwater stream. |
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| State Ranking Justification | [-] |
There are several thousand occurrences statewide. Many documented occurrences have good viability and are protected on public land or private conservation land. This community has statewide distribution, and includes several high quality examples. The current trend of this community is probably stable for occurrences on public land, or declining slightly elsewhere due to moderate threats related to development pressure or alteration to the natural hydrology.
| Short-term Trends | [-] |
The number and miles of marsh headwater streams in New York have probably remained stable in recent decades as a result of water quality regulations. Several examples have shown improvement in water quality in recent decades attributed to improved treatment of municipal and industrial waste (Bode et al. 1993).
| Long-term Trends | [-] |
The number and miles of marsh headwater streams in New York are probably comparable to historical numbers, but the water quality of several of these streams likely declined significantly prior to the enforcement of water quality regulations (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Water 2000).
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Home | Advanced Search | About Us Animal Guides | Plant Guides | Community Guides © 2004-2012 New York Natural Heritage Program, a partnership between the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry Please cite this page as:
New York Natural Heritage Program. 2013. Online Conservation Guide for Marsh Headwater Stream. Available from: http://www.acris.nynhp.org/guide.php?id=9940. Accessed June 19th, 2013. 
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