Wildlife and Plants
An estimated 80% of Utah’s wildlife depend on wetlands at some point in their lives, and wetlands provide food, shelter, and water sources for most of the charismatic species we know through hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing. Wetlands also support unique plant species adapted to living in constantly or intermittently wet conditions. Wetlands around Great Salt Lake play such a key role for bird populations that the Audubon Society has designated five areas around the lake as Globally Important Bird Areas. Because wetlands are such an uncommon feature in Utah, the state’s wetlands also support many uncommon and rare native plants and animals, some of which are found nowhere else in the world. However, some of these rare plants and animals are undergoing population declines due to wetland loss and degradation. Protecting our wetlands is vital for conserving the plants and animals that depend on them.
Birds
Wetlands throughout the state support large populations of breeding birds and are important stopovers for millions of migratory birds as they migrate between breeding grounds and winter locations. Diverse wetland habitats support diverse groups of birds, including shorebirds and wading birds on mudflats and playas, secretive marsh birds hidden amongst thick bulrushes and cattails, waterfowl in aquatic beds and open water, and songbirds in riparian wetlands.
Mammals
The aquatic vegetation and woody shrubs found in wetlands are preferred forage for many large mammals like elk and moose. Beavers, another common wetland mammal, feed on aquatic and riparian vegetation, and often create their own wetland habitat along streams by building dams. Wetlands also represent important water sources for many upland mammals in arid parts of the state.
Amphibians
Native amphibians in Utah include one salamander species and fourteen frog and toad species. Amphibians require aquatic habitats like beaver ponds, lakes, slow moving streams, and spring complexes for breeding, tadpole development, and hibernation. Feeding often happens in nearby wet meadows and riparian wetlands.
Fish
Riparian wetlands play an important role in protecting adjacent lakes and streams for both native fish and species introduced for sport. Riparian wetlands trap sediments, filter excess nutrients and other pollutants from surface runoff, and shade waterways to help maintain clean water and control stream temperatures. Some fish are also primarily found in wetlands; for example, the least chub is primarily known from spring complexes in the west desert of Utah.
Invertebrates
Many aquatic invertebrates, such as springsnails and clams, depend on shallow-water habitats found in Utah’s wetlands. The Central Basin and Range ecoregion of Utah is especially unique in that it is home to 18 species of springsnails, some of which are known from only a single spring location.
Plants
Wetlands are home to unique plant life. Many wetland plants have specialized adaptations to living in frequently inundated environments such as floating leaves, hollow stems that allow gas exchange from shoots to roots, and reproductive strategies such as floating propagules and seed release timed with spring floods. These adaptations create the distinctive forms of common wetland plants like duckweed, cattails, and bulrush.
Birds
Wetlands throughout the state support large populations of breeding birds and are important stopovers for millions of migratory birds as they migrate between breeding grounds and winter locations. Diverse wetland habitats support diverse groups of birds, including shorebirds and wading birds on mudflats and playas, secretive marsh birds hidden amongst thick bulrushes and cattails, waterfowl in aquatic beds and open water, and songbirds in riparian wetlands.
Mammals
The aquatic vegetation and woody shrubs found in wetlands are preferred forage for many large mammals like elk and moose. Beavers, another common wetland mammal, feed on aquatic and riparian vegetation, and often create their own wetland habitat along streams by building dams. Wetlands also represent important water sources for many upland mammals in arid parts of the state.
Amphibians
Native amphibians in Utah include one salamander species and fourteen frog and toad species. Amphibians require aquatic habitats like beaver ponds, lakes, slow moving streams, and spring complexes for breeding, tadpole development, and hibernation. Feeding often happens in nearby wet meadows and riparian wetlands.
Fish
Riparian wetlands play an important role in protecting adjacent lakes and streams for both native fish and species introduced for sport. Riparian wetlands trap sediments, filter excess nutrients and other pollutants from surface runoff, and shade waterways to help maintain clean water and control stream temperatures. Some fish are also primarily found in wetlands; for example, the least chub is primarily known from spring complexes in the west desert of Utah.
Invertebrates
Many aquatic invertebrates, such as springsnails and clams, depend on shallow-water habitats found in Utah’s wetlands. The Central Basin and Range ecoregion of Utah is especially unique in that it is home to 18 species of springsnails, some of which are known from only a single spring location.
Plants
Wetlands are home to unique plant life. Many wetland plants have specialized adaptations to living in frequently inundated environments such as floating leaves, hollow stems that allow gas exchange from shoots to roots, and reproductive strategies such as floating propagules and seed release timed with spring floods. These adaptations create the distinctive forms of common wetland plants like duckweed, cattails, and bulrush.
Species in Need of Conservation Attention
Springhead with piezometer at Gandy Salt Marsh in Snake Valley recording hourly water level data. Snake Valley is home to sensitive species, including least chub, Columbia spotted frog, and several springsnails.
Water diversions and associated alteration of aquatic habitats is the single most significant source of stress to Utah’s wildlife and habitat, according to the Utah Wildlife Action Plan 2015-2025 (UWAP). Accordingly, many of the plant and animal species in most need of conservation attention (as identified in the UWAP) are associated with aquatic features such as wetlands, streams, and riparian areas. Almost one-quarter of these animal species are wetland-dependent and an additional 39% depend on other aquatic habitats.
The UGS collaborates with partner agencies to collect and analyze monitoring data for wetland-dependent species in need of conservation attention. We maintain a network of shallow wells called piezometers in Snake Valley and Tule Valley to monitor groundwater discharge in key habitat for least chub and Columbia spotted frog. We also worked to help manage habitat data for the boreal toad with biologists from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, the U.S. Forest Service, and several non-profit-led citizen scientist organizations. During field surveys, we document any sensitive species we see and share that data with biologists, focusing on plants, amphibians, and mollusks.
Highlighted Scientific Publications
Open-File Report 740
Trait Data for Utah’s Central Basin and Range Wetland Plants
Open-File Report 744
Cache Valley Wetland Mapping: Supplemental Report
Contract Deliverable
Analysis of Landscape and Habitat Variables Associated with Boreal Toad (Anaxyrus boreas) Breeding Locations
Open-File Report 732
Snake Valley Hydrologic Monitoring: Ten-Year Report
Contract Deliverable
Characterization of Boreal Toad Breeding Habitat in Utah
Contract Deliverable
Characterizing Condition in At-Risk Wetlands of Western Utah: Phase I
Or Browse the Wetland Document Collection
A compilation of documents on wetland management, restoration, and wildlife, as well as unpublished reports and presentations.
Public Interest Articles
| Title | Topic | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the Wildlife? Improving Key Aquatic Habitats in the Updated Utah Wildlife Action Plan | Wetland Habitats | 2024 |
| IN-LIEU FEE WETLAND MITIGATION: A Boring Name For an Exciting Idea | Wetlands | 2023 |
| New, Novel, and Updated! Wetland Mapping Improves Across Utah | Wetland Mapping | 2022 |
| Is There a Wetland on Your Property? Identification and Next Steps | Wetlands | 2020 |
| Mapping Wetlands in the Upper Bear River Watershed | Wetlands | 2017 |
| Wetland Condition in the Weber River Watershed | Wetlands | 2016 |
| Wetland Monitoring in Snake Valley | Wetlands | 2014 |
| New Classification Scheme – Great Salt Lake Wetlands | Great Salt Lake | 2011 |
| Tooele Valley Wetlands- A Valuable but Potentially Endangered Resource | Wetlands | 2006 |
Wetlands Articles: 9
