Wetland meadows are some of the most ecologically valuable environments on Earth. Instead of intrusive, traditional drainage management, wetland meadows can be embraced to foster biodiversity and sustainably treat water via phytoremediation.

1. Environmental Benefits
and Beauty of Wild
Wetland Meadows
Jay Archer
Landscape Ecologist
Green Jay Landscaping

2. To see the World in a Grain of Sand
And Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour
-William Blake,
Auguries of Innocence

3. WET MEADOW:
A type of marsh that
commonly occurs in poorly
drained areas such as
shallow lake basin, low-
lying farmland, and the land
between shallow marshes
and upland areas.
Supports incredible species
diversity and offers many
ecological benefits.

4. If there is magic
in the world,
it is contained in the
water.
Loren Eiseley

5. When is it most difficult to treat water?

6. Storm Water Treatment: Status
QuoRetention Ponds and Detention Ponds
• Disruptive
• Expensive
• Does not treat water
Graphic courtesy of Xavier University

7. Standing Water: A Public Health Issue
Healthy habitats supply natural
predators to mosquitos and pests

9. Thriving Plant Diversity
PLANT COMMUNITY:
“A snapshot of [plants] growing together at a
certain point in time. Over the procession of
seasons, plants associate and disassociate
freely with one another.”
– Claudia West
Principal, Phyto Studio

10. Rather than ‘What a beautiful garden,’ I prefer to
evoke the response ‘What a beautiful place.’
-- Larry Weaner, Larry Weaner Landscape Associates

11. “This 54 acre site (former sod farm) is now home to
35 species of birds, 200+ species of moths and butterflies,
wood turtle and various reptiles and amphibians.
Wet meadows are super valuable.”
- William E. Young, CERP, PWS
Senior Ecologist

12. Ecological Services of Wet Meadows
 Capacity for storm
water absorption
 Reduces impact of
flood events
 Prevents transport
of sediment
 Provides erosion control

13. Phytoremediation
Phytoremediation is the direct use
of living green plants for in situ, or
in place, removal, degradation, or
containment of contaminants in
soils, sludges, sediments, surface
water and groundwater.
 A low cost, solar energy driven
cleanup technique.
 Most useful at sites with shallow,
low levels of contamination.
 Useful for treating a wide variety
of environmental contaminants.
 Effective with, or in some cases,
in place of mechanical cleanup
methods.
Source: United Nations Environmental Program

14. “The times when it was enough for plants to just look pretty are
over. In today’s post-wild reality, plants have to provide way more
than just beauty and color around a house.
Plants have to help us clean rain water and air, sequester carbon
in the soil, and clean up pollutants in our cities.
Modern planting design has become more complex and
meaningful because of phyto technologies – they open up a
hopeful and inspiring new chapter in the evolution of planting
design and help us improve our own lives.”
Claudia West
Principal, Phyto Studio

15. Wet Meadows as Carbon Sinks
Peat deposits found beneath wetlands
attest to their longevity of carbon storage
Photo courtesy of Phytostudio

16. Chelone glabra
Wet Meadows: Havens of Biodiversity

18. Pancium anceps (Beaked Pancigrass)
& Pancium rigidulum (Redtop Panicgrass)
Wet Meadow in North Carolina
Euporatorium perfoliatum (Boneset)
Euporatorium fistu/osum (Joe Pye Weed)
& Veronia gigantea (Giant Ironweed)
Photos courtesy of Ernst Seed

19. Aster
Wet Meadows: Havens of Biodiversity
Image courtesy of Applied Ecological Services

20. 12 Spotted
Ladybug
on a
Sunflower
Wet Meadows: Havens of Biodiversity
Image courtesy of Applied Ecological Services

21. Andrena on Golden Rod
Wet Meadows: Havens of Biodiversity
Image courtesy of Applied Ecological Services

22. Agapostemon sp on Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa
Wet Meadows: Havens of Biodiversity
Image courtesy of Applied Ecological Services

23. Helophilus fly in
Blue Flag Iris
Wet Meadows: Havens of Biodiversity
Image courtesy of Applied Ecological Services

24. Designing Wet Meadows
• Establish Goals
• Manage Resources:
• Natural Resources
• Pollutants
• Money
• Time
• Establish Methods
• Quantifiable Objectives
• Measure Results
• Sustainable Longevity

25. Best Management Practices
Possibilities With Purpose
 Mow a path: encourage interaction!
 Signage – public awareness & engagement
 Environmental education
 Observe often
 Report results!

26. Benefits of Wet Meadows
• Satisfies LID (Low Impact Development) and
SSI (Sustainable Site Initiative) criteria
• Restores ecosystem services
• Response & adaptive management to climate
shift

28. Thank You!
Jay Archer
Landscape Ecologist, President
Green Jay Landscaping
203.461.2945
Jay@greenjaylandscaping.com
Greenjaylandscaping.com