30 Nebraskaland • May 2024
By Mariah Lundgren
Fens
Forever
here is a type of wetland found in the Nebraska
Sandhills that holds mystery and wonder — fens.
Unique and rare plant species make their home in this
boggy and bouncy land. Formed over thousands of years,
fens are an important part of our natural history and are
critical in cleaning our air and water. But fi rst, what makes
a fen a wetland?
What Are Wetlands?
Wetlands are defi ned by the presence of water, water-
loving plants and soils that have been developed in wet
conditions. Wetlands in the Sandhills are found where
the Ogallala Aquifer meets the surface in the valleys and
between the hills, along the shorelines of the many rivers
and streams, and on the edges of lakes. Impressively, the
Sandhills are 20,000 square miles, have more than 1 million
acres of wetlands and are one of the last truly wild landscapes
left in the Great Plains.
The Sandhills are the most intact temperate grassland left
in the world and have remained relatively undeveloped since
the westward movement of European-American settlers. The
sandy, porous soils make row crop agriculture challenging,
unlike much of the Great Plains, which has been turned to the
plow. However, with renewable energy development, such as
wind, encroachment of woody vegetation and the wealth of
groundwater that lies beneath, threats loom on the horizon.
Fens
In spring 2021, Platte Basin Timelapse producers Ethan
Freese, Dakota Altman and I spent three days with Nebraska
state botanist Gerry Steinauer and Nebraska wetland
program manager Ted LaGrange. The itinerary of this trip
was to explore three fens on public and private lands deep in
the heart of the Sandhills. So naturally, this trip coined the
name Fen Fest.
A fen is a type of wetland that is perpetually fed by cold
T
Wetlands are formed in depressions in sandhill areas where
groundwater intercepts the surface of the land. The most
notable complex is the Sandhills.
ILLUSTRATION BY TIM REIGERT, NEBRASKALAND
