Fen 



» 



Bog 



Marsh 



Sedge, grass, or reed-dominated minerotro{rfuc peatlands. 

 The water table is at. or close to, the surface most of the 

 time. Minerotrophic means that the water source has been in 

 contact with mineral soils and provides a much greater 

 supply of nutrients. 



A generalized term for a wetland that develops in a deprcs 

 sion, such as a lake with poor drainage. Generally character 

 ized by extensive peat deposits, acidic water, floating sedge, 

 heath shrubs, and often the presence of coniferous trees. The 

 water table is usually close to the surface without standing 

 water (except where there are open ponds). 



A wetland on mineral soils dominated by herbaceous 

 (nonwoody) plants, often developing in shallow ponds or 

 depressions, river margins, tidal areas, and estuaries. Waters 

 are not acid. 



Meadow 



Can- 



Refers to herbaceous wetlands on mineral soil and may be 

 synonymous with wet meadow. Generally occur in season 

 ally flooded basins and flats, and soils usually are not wet 

 during the entire growing season. 



Wetlands that occur on organic soil composed of 

 minerotrophic peat, having greater than 25 percent shrubs 

 that may form very dense cover creating thicket, or the 

 overstory may be open. Usually there is abundant water that 

 retards peat decomposition. Willow is common dominant in 

 Rocky Mountain carrs. 



Shrub Wedand 



Wetlands dominated with shrubs found on either organic or 

 mineral substrate. When on organic substrate with an 

 ombotrophic water source (water source from precipitation 

 which is also the major source of nutrients), they are called a 

 shrub bog. When on organic substrate with a minerotrophic 

 water source, they are considered a carr. When on mineral 

 substrate with a fresh water source, they are called a shrub 

 wetland, with a saline water source, a saline shrub wetland. 



Levels below the subcategories are not formally defined, but are assumed to be similar to that 

 of the USFWS (Cowardin et al. 1979) procedure. 



Use, Testing, Validation: This procedure was intended to present a broad description of the 

 wetland systems in the Rocky Mountains along with an abundance of supportive information 

 on geology, climate, hydrology, and management. The document provides information into 

 wetland ecology that is considered necessary reading to anyone attempting to describe or 

 manage wetlands. 



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