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5831 Cedar Lake Road Minneapolis, MN 55416 (612) 544-1761, (800) 484-3852, Fax (612) 525-2021, hydric@aol.com Issue #3 July, 1996 Wetlands: Classifications & Types If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and strrims like a duck,st must be a duck. But what if there were no such word as duck? How would a person succinctly tell another he had just seen a duck? Each wetland classification has a unique combination of biological and hydrological characteristics. These differences have been identified by the U.S. Fish and @idlife Service so that features may be outlined and labeled on aerial photos and then complied into wetlands maps. The system used is called the Cowardin Classification System and is familiar to persons who use National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) maps. Tha State of Minnesota uses this system as well as another generally called the Circular 39 system. Both systems have advantages and disadvantages. The Cowardin System is most useful in providing detailed information while the Circular 39 System provides a useful means of quickly and easily describing most wetlands in Minnesota. One refers to the wetland by "Type" when using Circular 39 and by "classification" when using the Cowardin System. There are eight wetland "types" while there are numerous wetlands "classifications". Circular 39 describes ponds and lakes, but not rivers and streams. Cowardin describes all of these areas and goes into great detail as to the length of time water is present, water depth, movement, vegetation communities and man-made and natural modifiers. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service developed Circular 39 in the 1950's and replaced it with the Cowardin System in the 1970's. The Cowardin System was designated as the standard for wetlands classification by the Federal Geographic Data John Anderson is certified as a "Mapping Scientist, Remote Sensing" by the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing and as a "Professional Wetlands Scientist" by the Society of Wetlands Scientists. Committee (FGDC) in 1995. It is now required to be used by all federal agencies and in related contract work. Land use managers and others rely on the Cowardin System for detailed infiormation. However, the Circular 39 wetland types are used more widely in administration of the WCA. Wetlands classes and types within these systems are comparable. Illustrations showing comparable wetlands types and classifications have been developed by the Department of Natural Resources. .e e 0~ v ` , e ee ~~ ® e ee ~v-~''~ e. ~1.'% iJ~ ee