Tamarack swamp in Michigan, USA. Welcome to a rich tamarack swamp. This particular forested wetland is dominated by tamarack trees and dogwoods (Cornus spp.). This tamarack swamp is found in an outwash channel at the base of a glacial moraine and highly affected by groundwater. Groundwater at a consistent 50 degrees flows up from limestone rich bedrock creating an alkaline pH, and maintains a fairly consistent water level year round. The unique hydrology fosters a diverse and rare plant and animal community including showy lady slipper (Cypripedium reginae), turtlehead (Chelone glabra), and the federally endangered massasauga rattlesnake.