Water tracks look like river channels on aerial photos. They receive runoff from across the peatland surface, putting them in the fen category of water chemistry and vegetation. Often formed on glacial outwashes and beach ridges, their sandy soils allow groundwater to percolate up from the water table below to join the surface run-off. Watertracks are bordered by swamp forests or raised bogs. Island shapes may be ovoid, tear drop, or circular, reflecting variations in hydrology.
Spring fens are similar to water tracks with tree islands.
They are a network of nonforested channels that branch, then rejoin, as they drain through the swamp forest. Their waters are alkaline, reflecting their ground water source. Known as mire complexes, they are classified by size and arrangement of bog, fen, and mineral soil formations. Table 5.1 shows landforms contained in representative peatland SNAs. Peat Landforms in Minnesota SNAs Plant Communities Despite the varied and often harsh conditions of peatland landforms, many plants grow in all of these wetlands.