UPLAND 



ESTUARINE 



UPLAND 



ESTUARINE 



INTERTIDAL SUBTIDAL INTERTIDAL 



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Fig. 3. Distinguishing features and examples of habitats in the Estuarine System. EHWS = extreme high water of spring tides; 

 ELWS = extreme low water of spring tides. 



Classes. Rock Bottom, Unconsolidated Bottom, Aquatic 

 Bed, Streambed, Rocky Shore, Unconsolidated Shore, and 

 Emergent Wetland (nonpersistent). 



Lacustrine System 



Definition. The Lacustrine System (Fig. 5) includes wet- 

 lands and deepwater habitats with all of the following 

 characteristics: (1) situated in a topographic depression 

 or a dammed river channel; (2) lacking trees, shrubs, per- 

 sistent emergents, emergent mosses or lichens with 

 greater than 30% areal coverage; and (3) total area ex- 

 ceeds 8 ha (20 acres). Similar wetland and deepwater 

 habitats totaling less than 8 ha are also included in the 

 Lacustrine System if an active wave-formed or bedrock 

 shoreline feature makes up all or part of the boundary, 

 or if the water depth in the deepest part of the basin ex- 

 ceeds 2 m (6.6 feet) at low water. Lacustrine waters may 

 be tidal or nontidal, but ocean-derived salinity is always 

 less than 0.5%o. 



Limits. The Lacustrine System is bounded by upland 

 or by wetland dominated by trees, shrubs, persistent 



emergents, emergent mosses, or lichens. Lacustrine 

 Systems formed by damming a river channel are bounded 

 by a contour approximating the normal spillway elevation 

 or normal pool elevation, except where Palustrine wet- 

 lands extend lakeward of that boundary. Where a river 

 enters a lake, the extension of the Lacustrine shoreline 

 forms the Riverine-Lacustrine boundary. 



Description. The Lacustrine System includes perma- 

 nently flooded lakes and reservoirs (e.g., Lake Superior), 

 intermittent lakes (e.g., playa lakes), and tidal lakes with 

 ocean-derived salinities below 0.5°/oo (e.g., Grand Lake, 

 Louisiana). Typically, there are extensive areas of deep 

 water and there is considerable wave action. Islands of 

 Palustrine wetland may lie within the boundaries of the 

 Lacustrine System. 



Subsystems. 



Limnetic— All deepwater habitats within the Lacus- 

 trine System; many small Lacustrine Systems have no 

 Limnetic Subsystem. 



Littoral.— All wetland habitats in the Lacustrine 

 System. Extends from the shoreward boundary of the 



