Excess phosphorus is often identified as a major factor in the eutrophication of wetlands and lakes. Often attributed to agricultural practices, the specific source of a large part of this excess has been difficult to determine. The term "nonpoint" source is often used to broadly describe the inflow along waterways of significant amounts of this essential plant nutrient and other pollution. This research was intended to determine the effectiveness of using cattails (Typha), a common plant along waterways, as indicators of plant available phosphorus in the soil along these waterways. Two sites in the southern part of Michigan's lower peninsula (45°N,84°W) where cattails grew were systematically examined for phosphorus and certain cattail characteristics. Plant and soil data were gathered in a grid-like pattern to determine both the relationship of paired data and their spatial distribution across each site. One set of data was shown to be significant. At one site, the density of cattails is weakly correlated with Phosphorus concentrations. Of particular importance, the spatial distribution of both variables is also noticeably similar at the site. No significant correlation between other data was shown. There is also no apparent similarity in spatial distribution. Though weakly correlated, we were able to support a hypothesis that a reasonable correlation exists between cattail density and plant available phosphorus at one site. The spatial distribution of these traits are also similar suggesting that cattails may, in some cases, be useful as indicators of excess phosphorus, perhaps better defining its source than “nonprint”. / Department of Biology