Laserfiche WebLink
Restructuring of the channel was intensified by periodic <br />flooding which was a normal part of the hydrologic cycle. This <br />' led to the formation of unvegetated areas. Species capable of <br />invading new sites .rapidly, as well as tolerating periodic <br />inundation were common along-the margins of the river. These <br />included willow (Salix spp.), cottonwood (Populus deltoides), <br />vast stands of prairie cordgrass ESpartina pectinata), and reed. <br />canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea)(Weaver 1960). <br />Areas that were less frequently flooded were often inhabited <br />by green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), box elder (Acer negundo), <br />American elm (Ulmus americans), bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa), and <br />peach-leaved willow (Salix amygdaloides). Understory species <br />frequently included dogwood (Cornus spp.), wolfberry <br />(Symphoricarpos spp.), poison ivy (Rhus radicans), elderberry <br />(Sambucus canadensis), Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus <br />quinquefolia), and wild grape (Vitis spp.). Sites with flood <br />frequencies of 150 years or more were occupied by several oak <br />species (Quercus spp.), hickory (Carya spp.), hackberry (Celtic <br />occidentalis), black walnut (Juglans nigra), sycamore (Platanus <br />occidentalis), basswood (Tilia americans) and pawpaw (Asimina <br />triloba)(Weaver 1960). <br />Prairies frequently occurred on the floodplain and-were <br />dominated by grasses such as prairie cordgrass, Canada wildrye <br />(Elymus canadensis), switchgrasses (Panicum spp.), and reed <br />- 9 - <br />