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1) Vegetation Approximately 6.91 acres of wetlands are emergent wet meadows dominated by reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), and 1.93 acres are wet forest dominate by elm (Ulmus americana). A portion of the emergent wetlands also contain dead elms and mature silver maple and cottonwood trees. Surrounding most of the wetland areas is a shrub fringe varying in composition from dense stands of buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica and R. frangula) and honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica), to red osier(Cornus stolonifera) and round- leaved dogwood (C. rugosa). In the western and northeastern fringes of the northern section of Wetland Area 2, several native wetland forbs and monocots were found, which are indicative of the original plant community occur. Chief among these are tussock sedge (Carex stricta), fowl bluegrass (Poa palustris), swamp aster (Aster puniceus), tufted loosestrife (Naumbergia thyrsiflora) and hedge nettle (Stachys tenuifolia). Surrounding uplands are dominated by mature oak(Quercus alba; Q. rubra), cottonwood (Populus deltoides), or mesic oldfields dominated by brome (Bromus inermis) and a variety of ruderal forbs. Cottonwoods dominate most areas of the demolition waste, alternating with extremely thick stands of honeysuckle, while oak forest occupies most of the northern conservation area between Wetland Areas 2 and 3, and extends into the northern half of the adjacent subdivided parcels. This oak forest is of relatively good quality, with many young trees, a good number of mature canopy trees, and a comparatively open understory with few buckthorn or other invasive shrubs. During the wetland delineation, a number of breeding wood thrushes were heard in this area, which is another indicator of quality woodland habitat. The highest quality wetland habitat, in terms of native plant cover, is Wetland Area 3. This wet meadow is a shallow swale of about 0.85 acres on the east edge of the oak forest, within the northern conservation area. Dominated by tussock sedge, fowl bluegrass, and giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea), with a fringe of dogwood, this wet meadow is almost completely free of invasive weeds because it is hydrologically isolated and has never been disturbed by construction or fill activities. 2) Soils Wetland soils throughout the area were confirmed as Wacousta silty clay loams. Deep, mollic surface horizons, up to 14 inches thick, were common, with black matrix (N 2/0 or 10YR 2/1) and occasional yellowish red (5YR 5/6) mottles, concretions or oxidized root channels within a foot of the surface. Sulfidic odors were found in areas of long-duration flooding. The transition to upland hydrology was often indistinct, except for the disappearance of mottling within a foot of the surface. In these cases, wetland boundaries were established by hydrologic and vegetative criteria. In many areas, however, the wetland boundary was described by several feet of demolition waste. Containing concrete, gravel, brick, tile, and metal and glass debris, the surface of this fill material usually lay between 4 to 8 feet above the wetland soil surface. Mead&Hunt C236A002\C236-97A\12-97 6