Our Madrona Marsh soil sample sites feature native coastal prairie (B1 and B2) and freshwater wetlands (B3 and B4), which serve as a crucial sanctuary for diverse plant life, migratory birds, and small wildlife. It consists of seasonal vernal pools in the southwest portion of the reserve in a low-lying, self-contained depression surrounded by upland coastal prairie habitat.
Site B1: Coastal Prairie
Site B2: Upland Prairie
Site B3: Vernal Pool
Site B4: Wetland Freshwater Marsh
How healthy is the soil at Madrona Marsh Nature Preserve?
ACTIVITY 1: Create a visual chart describing thedifferent habitat types and the level of organic matter measured for each of the sampled sites: B1 (coastal prairie), B2 (upland prairie), B3 (vernal pool), and B4 (freshwater marsh). Upload a digital copy of your chart below.
2026 Soil Test Results
B1: Coastal Prairie
B2: Upland Prairie
B3: Vernal pool
B4: Freshwater Marsh
Coastal prairies and upland prairies differ primarily by location, moisture source, and plant composition. Coastal prairies are humid, fog-influenced grasslands found along oceans (<100 km from the coast), while upland prairies typically exist on drier, well-drained upland slopes or hills within inland, continental environments. Many coastal prairie types have rich sandy-loamy soils with high organic content, known as mollisols. Coastal prairies are among Earth’s top carbon-sequestering ecosystems, storing a majority of the carbon into the soil as opposed to vegetative tissue.
Vernal pools are small, shallow, temporary wetlands that fill with rain/snow in spring and dry up by summer, harboring no fish and unique, adapted wildlife. In contrast, freshwater marshes are typically more permanent wetlands dominated by grasses and rushes, possessing deeper water, and sustaining varied biodiversity.