May 2024 • Nebraskaland 31
groundwater. Its soils are saturated, and they form in low
oxygen conditions, otherwise known as anaerobic conditions,
over a long period of time. The cold and wet conditions
drastically slows down plant decomposition, and the partly
digested plant matter found in fens turns into a type of soil
we call "peat" and "muck."
Fens are found in various climates, including warmer and
arid regions, such as the Sandhills of Nebraska. If you see
a fen from the side of the road, you would hardly know it.
However, when you set foot on one, it will feel like standing
on a waterbed in places. This is due to the bouncy nature of
the peat and muck soils and their proximity to groundwater.
Fen ecology is fascinating and supports a diversity of plant
and animal life. Scientists and researchers are still learning
about how these unique ecosystems function.
Legend has it that cows, cars and tractors have been
swallowed by fens. During a later excursion, that legend
became fact.
Two boiling sand springs bubble to the surface of a fen wetland connected by a steady stream of sand and cold water.
Through the cold upwellings of water, fens can support ancient plant communities that once thrived during the ice age.
DAKOTA ALTMAN
