FORESTED 



SCRUB/SHRUB 





EMERGENT 



Figure 8-2. Distribution of palustrine wetland classes along a continuum 

 from the upland environment to deep water. 



DISTRIBUTION OF THE PALUSTRINE SYSTEM 



Palustrine wetlands comprise a total area of approximately 189,702 acres 

 (75,881 ha), or about 9% of the land and freshwater area of the coastal zone 

 (table 8-2). A total of 13,650 palustrine wetland units have been identified 

 by the NWI project in the characterization area (table 8-3). The number of 

 palustrine wetland units in each of the six coastal regions (which vary 

 greatly in size) ranges from 758 (region 1) to 3323 (region 4). Their total 

 surface area by region ranges from 57,831 acres (23,132 ha) in region 6 to 

 7096 acres (2838 ha) in region 1 (table 8-2). The palustrine wetlands com- 

 prise between 4% and 13% of the total upland and freshwater area in regions 1 

 and 6, respectively. Forested wetlands represent 56% of the area of palus- 

 trine wetlands in the coastal zone. They are the most numerous, are generally 

 the largest, and occupy the greatest area in each of the regions. Scrub/shrub 

 wetlands comprise 25% of the palustrine wetlands in the coastal zone. 

 Forested, scrub/shrub, and forested/scrub/shrub mixed wetlands together com- 

 prise more than 88% of the total area of palustrine wetlands in coastal Maine. 

 As these classes in Maine are primarily bogs, the figures reveal the preva- 

 lence of bogs in coastal Maine. 



The distribution of palustrine wetland classes in each of the towns in coastal 

 Maine is included in appendix A of chapter 2. 



8-6 



