Elm Swamp
By: Kayleigh, Hannah, Carson, Mark, Rose, Brendan,
George, Tyler, Molly, Sarah, Erin, and Laura
Geography and Timeline
- Soil samples
- Geology study
- Glaciers
- History of Champlain Valley
Events from the Past Billion Years
-One Billion Years ago - Adirondacks formed,
New England was under a broad shallow sea
called the Iaeputus Ocean.
-400 Million Years Ago - The Taconic Orogeny
forms the Green Mountains by thrusting and
deforming the Iaeputus Ocean sediments over
the Adirondacks.
-65 Million Years Ago - Rifting and formation
of the Champlain Valley and the Atlantic
Ocean.
The Glacial Period of Lake Champlain
Fort
Ann
Stage
Coveville
Stage
Champlain
ModernSea
Lake
•Spillway
created
in of St.
retreat
Champlain
•Ice•Glacial
retreated
north
Whitehall,
NY
commenced
Lawrence
Valley
•Isostatic rebound raised
•Lake
became
shallower,
•Lake
formed
the
lake
above
seainlevel
•Salt
water
entered
areas
filled
most of
Hudson
andthe
still
below
sea
level
•Saltwater
drained,
Champlain
Valley
Champlain
Valleys
because
of
glaciers
and
the
freshwater entered the lake
lake extended north to
Montreal and Ottawa
How the Swamp Changed Since the Webbs
Bought Shelburne Farms
Dr.Webb converted part of Elm
Swamp into a 9 hole golf course.
Dutch Elm Disease killed
the Elm Trees.
Even though the Elms are gone, the Swamp effects many plants
and animals including birds, bees, and Red Ash trees.
By George Tang, Tyler Stetson, Rose Long, and
Brendan McVeigh
Test site #3
Test site #2
Test site #1
Test site #4
Green Frog
Freshwater
Snail
May Fly
Water
Scavenger
Beetle
Caddisfly
True Bug
Dragonfly Larvae
Damselfly
Larvae
Time
Temperature (C)
pH
Dissolved Oxygen (%)
Conductivity (mS)
9:20 AM
17.7
7.2
39.3
0.621
• There is a correlation between habitat quality and diversity of
life.
• Higher dissolved oxygen supports a greater diversity of life.
• Higher conductivity indicates a higher concentration of nutrients
which support swamp life.
•The pH remained relatively constant throughout the swamp.
• The lake supported the least life due to rough, strong waters.
• The greatest diversity of life was found in areas with the highest
dissolved oxygen and the greatest water depth.
Spatial Mosaic:Our Mission
• To find out more information on the
cattails inhabiting the swamp
• To find out what species of plants are
in the swamp
• To characterize the ages of the large
trees in the swamp
Plants found in the swamp
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Red Ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
Swamp Candle(Lysimachia terrestris)
American Elm(Ulmus americana
White Oak(Quercus alba)
Narrow leaf Cattail(Typha angustifolia)
Common Cattail(Typha latifolia)
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
•Why they grow here…
•Why they are separated...
We used an increment borer to determine
the age of the Red Ash trees. But...
WHERE ARE THE ELMS OF ELM SWAMP?
Gone, but not forgotten.
Historic photos show us that there was once a healthy stand of elm trees
in this marsh. In the middle of the 20th century, Dutch Elm Disease swept
through the United States killing off most of the stately American Elms.
The trees in Elm Swamp were no exception.
The spread of Dutch Elm Disease made its way across the United States
beginning in the 1930's. The disease is caused by a fungus, called
Ophiostoma, which is carried by a bark beetle. This fungus eats away at
the leaves of the tree and slowly kills it. Native American Elms are now
a rare sight because they have been devastated by this outbreak. In 1979,
Derick Webb had to cut down the last of these beautiful trees in Elm
Swamp.
Golf Anyone?
Historic photos also show us that this area was once managed for hay
between the elm trees. A golf course, used by the Webb family, was once
a feature that bordered the swamp. In fact, part of this site was excavated
to create a golf green, altering the landscape and creating the distinct
circular wet area that you may see to this day.
HAYING UNDER THE ELMS IN
ELM SWAMP CIRCA 1900.