Leaching of nitrogen is a function of the nitrogen species and soil drainage properties. These three processes were considered in this analysis, since they can significantly affect water quality and the conditions controlling the function of the mechanism can be described. For this reason, it is not considered in this analysis. Uptake by the plant community is addressed in another analysis. The image shown to right is a 1995 SPOT satellite image overlaid with National Wetlands Inventory wetland polygons that have been color coded to reflect the results of the analysis.
Blue areas indicate wetlands for which there are insufficient data to analyze.
Please click on the map to see a larger view. Those wetlands that rate as moderate to high in capacity may be particularly important in protecting water quality in the region. Because these wetlands have some ability to moderate nitrogen levels, they are most likely providing important water quality benefits to waters that flow from or through them. Nitrogen fixing to sediments was insignificant in this county, due mostly to the fact the the soils are composed of sand or organic matter. Clay soils are rare, so permanent fixing of ammonium to sediments is negligible in most areas.