Biofinder

Using Biofinder, I found out that my site on the Winooski River is one of Vermont’s highest priority landscapes. I also found out that there are rare and uncommon animal species at my site. My site is part of a riparian wildlife connectivity area, and is a highest priority surface water and riparian area. It makes sense to me that my site is of high priority to the area because riparian areas help mitigate the effects of flooding and other ecological processes. Riparian areas also help mitigate effects of stormwater runoff, because some of the runoff will percolate down into the ground before reaching the river and flowing into Lake Champlain.

Wetland, Woodland, Wildland

Although I am not very confident in this classification, I believe that my site may be a Calcareous Riverside Seep. I came to this conclusion after classifying it as an open and shrubby wetland and a wet shore. The substrate of my site is almost completely exposed bedrock, so that is why I think it might be a Calcareous Riverside Seep. There is also a lot of moss growing on my site, and according to Wetlands, Woodlands, Wildlands, this type of community supports strong bryophyte growth. I would classify the area around my site as a River Sand or Gravel Shore, but where my site is specifically is about 90% exposed bedrock.