Upper Peninsula Resource Conservation and Development Council

Have you ever heard of a fen? Fens are pretty cool wetlands that you can find all over Michigan and especially in the Upper Peninsula. They're like nature's own mix of grasses, flowering plants, shrubs, and even some small trees. These unique spots usually pop up in places that were shaped by glaciers, like outwash plains and low dips in the land. The soil in fens tends to be pretty soggy, and it can be anywhere from a little acidic to more on the alkaline side, sometimes even having that special alkaline marl. What makes fens stand out from other wetlands is that they actually build up peat over time and get their water from mineral-rich soils or rocks underneath. A bunch of natural things influence what plants grow there and how they interact, like how groundwater flows, changes in water levels, and even stuff like erosion and fires. Plus, you’ve got the activities of insects, wind, and beavers also shaking things up a bit. It's a wild little ecosystem! Fens can be divide...