MDT Montana Wetland Assessment Method 



Ma\' 25. 1999 



Abundant: 



Aquatic wetland bed class: 



Bog: 



Common: 



Emergent wetland class: 



Fen: 



Forested wetland class: 

 Functional unit: 

 Functional point: 



Game fish: 



Incidental habitat: 



Incidental use: 



Little to Xo use: 



Moderate use: 



Moss-lichen wetland class: 



Native fish species: 



GLOSSARY 



An estimated 50% or more of wetlands in the same Major Montana Watershed Basin are similar 

 in composition to the AA. 



.Anv areas of open water dominated by plants that grow principalh' on or below the water surface 

 for most of the growing season. Vegetation is non-persistent and includes submerged or floatmg- 

 leaved rooted vascular plants, free-floating vascular plants, submergent mosses, and algae. 



A peat-accumulating wetland that has no significant inflows or outflows and supports acidophilic 

 mosses, particularh' sphagnum (Mitch and Gossehnk 1993). 



An estimated 10-50% of wetlands in the same Major Montana Watershed Basin are similar in 

 composition to the AA. 



Vegetated wetland characterized by erect, herbaceous hydrophytes (e.g., sedges, rushes, grasses, 

 bulrush, cattail), excluding mosses and lichens. 



A peat-accxmiulating wetland that receives some drainage fixim surrounding mineral soil and 

 usually supports marsh-like vegetation (Mitch and Gosselink 1993). 



Vegetated wetland characterized by woody vegetation that is 6m (20 ft) tall or taller. 



A figure derived bv multiphing fimctional points for a grven AA by its estimated acreage. 



A numerical rating, ranging from to 1 . assigned to a particular function/value based on given 

 criteria. 



As listed in the Montana Code Annotated (1997). "game fish" means all species of the family 

 Salmonidae (chars, trout salmon, gravlmg. and whitefish); all species of the genus Stizostedion 

 (sandpike or sauger and walleyed pike or yeUowpike perch); all species of the genus Esox 

 (northern pike, pickerel, and muskellunge); all species of the genus Micropterus (bass); all 

 species of the genus Polyodon (paddlefish); all species of the famiiy Acipenseridae (sturgeon); all 

 species of the genus Lota (burbot or hng); and the species Ictalurus punctatus (channel catfish). 



Habitat that receives chance, inconsequential use by a given species or habitat conditions or the 

 known distribution of the species would indicate this level of use. This term implies that while it 

 may be conceivable that a given species may occur at an AA at a given point in time, the chance is 

 remote and the use is not likely to be repeated. 



AA receives chance, inconsequential use by a grven species or habitat conditions or the known 

 distribution of the species would indicate this le^•el of use. This term implies that while it may be 

 conceivable that a given species may occur at an AA at a grven point m time, the chance is remote 

 and the use is not likely to be repeated. 



AA is regularh', iofrequenth'. or sporadically used by exlremeh- small numbers relative to local 

 populations, or receives chance, inconsequential use in any numbers relative to local or transient 

 populations. 



AA is regularh' used in small numbers relative to local populations, or infrequenth' or 

 sporadically used in any numbers relative to local or transient populations. 



Wetland where mosses or hchens co\er substrates other than rock and where emergents. shrubs, 

 or trees make up less than 30% of area! cover. 



Implies a species indigenous to Montana; not necessarily to a given drainage or water bod}'. 



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