ABSTRACT
This chapter explains how hydrologie processes produce various southern forested wetlands. Hydrogeomorphic (HGM) functional analysis classifies wetlands based on geomorphic setting, water source, and dominant flow direction. A major strength of this classification is the relationship of classes with hydrologie processes that produce wetlands. The three types of hydrology that can create wetlands based on the water balance are rainwater hydrology, groundwater hydrology, and surface water hydrology. Rainwater hydrology is determined by climate, drainage density, soil permeability, and land slope. Groundwater hydrology is dominant in several wetlands in this province, but flood-plains of large rivers will also have surface water hydrology. On the lower Coastal Plain, elevation and erosion are least, and rainwater hydrology will create wetlands on interstream divides.
