USE THIS FILE TO INTERPRET THE FRESHWATER WETLANDS TYPE FROM THE ALPHA-NUMERIC
LABEL CONTAINED IN THE COWARDIN ATTRIBUTE FIELD . THE TABLE IS FROM
COWARDIN, ET AL, 1979, 'CLASSIFICATION OF WETLANDS AND DEEPWATER HABITATS OF THE UNITED STATES',
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, FWS/OBS-79/31.
THE FIRST LETTER IN THE LABEL IDENTIFIES THE ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM.
IF THE LETTER IS FOLLOWED BY A NUMBER, THE NUMBER IDENTIFIES THE SUBSYSTEM.
NOTE THAT THE PALUSTRINE SYSTEM (P) HAS NO SUBSYSTEMS.
THE NEXT TWO LETTERS WOULD IDENTIFY THE CLASS OF THE WETLANDS.
THE NEXT NUMBER WOULD IDENTIFY THE SUBCLASS.
ANY SPECIAL MODIFIERS FOR THE AREA WOULD BE IDENTIFIED BY THE LETTERS
AT THE END OF THE LABEL.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE LABEL R4US2d WOULD BE INTERPRETED AS:
RIVERINE (R) SYSTEM
INTERMITTENT (4) SUBSYSTEM
UNCONSOLIDATED SHORE (US) CLASS
SAND (1) SUBCLASS
PARTIALLY DRAINED/DITCHED (d)
NOTE THAT MIXTURES OF TYPES CAN ALSO BE IDENTIFIED WITH THE TWO MAJOR
TYPES SEPARATED BY A '/' AS WITH PSS4Bh/PFO4Bh.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEVEL CODE LABEL
SYSTEM M MARINE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUBSYSTEM 1 SUBTIDAL
CLASS: RB ROCK BOTTOM
SUBCLASS: 1 BED ROCK
2 GRAVEL
CLASS: UB UNCONSOLIDATED BOTTOM
SUB-CLASS: 1 COBBLE/GRAVEL
2 SAND
3 MUD
4 ORGANIC
CLASS: AB AQUATIC BED
SUBCLASS: 1 ALGAL
2 ROOTED VASCULAR
6 UNKNOWN SUBMERGENT
CLASS: RF REEF
SUBCLASS: 1 CORAL
3 WORM
CLASS: OW OPEN WATER (UNKNOWN BOTTOM)
SUBSYSTEM: 2 INTERDIAL
CLASS: AB AQUATIC BED
SUBCLASS: 1 ALGAL
2 ROOTED VASCULAR
6 UNKNOWN SUBMERGENT
CLASS: RF REEF
SUBCLASS: 1 CORAL
3 WORM
CLASS: RS ROCKY SHORE
SUBCLASS: 1 BEDROCK
2 RUBBLE
CLASS: US UNCONSOLIDATED SHORE
SUBCLASS: 1 COBBLE/GRAVEL
2 SAND
3 MUD
4 ORGANIC
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SYSTEM E ESTUARINE
------------------------- -------------------------------------------------
SUBSYSTEM: 1 SUB-TIDAL
CLASS: RB ROCK BOTTOM
SUB-CLASS: 1 BEDROCK
2 BOULDER
CLASS: UB UNCONSOLIDATED BOTTOM
SUB-CLASS: 1 COBBLE/GRAVEL
2 SAND
3 MUD
4 ORGANIC
CLASS: AB AQUATIC BED
SUB-CLASS: 1 ALGAL
3 ROOTED VASCULAR
4 FLOATING VASCULAR
5 UNKNOWN SUBMERGENT
6 UNKNOWN SURFACE
CLASS: RF REEF
SUB-CLASS: 2 MOLLUSC
3 WORM
CLASS: OW OPEN WATER (UNKNOWN BOTTOM)
SUBSYSTEM: 2 INTERTIDAL
CLASS: AB AQUATIC BED
SUB-CLASS: 1 ALGAL
3 ROOTED VASCULAR
4 FLOATING SUBMERGENT
5 UNKNOWN SUBMERGENT
6 UNKNOWN SURFACE
CLASS: RF REEF
SUB-CLASS: 2 MOLLUSC
3 WORM
CLASS: SB STREAMBED
SUB-CLASS: 1 COBBLE/GRAVEL
2 SAND
3 MUD
4 ORGANIC
CLASS: RS ROCKY SHORE
SUB-CLASS: 1 BEDROCK
2 RUBBLE
CLASS: US UNCONSOLIDATED SHORE
SUB-CLASS: 1 COBBLE/GRAVEL
2 SAND
3 MUD
4 ORGANIC
CLASS: EM EMERGENT
SUB-CLASS: 1 PERSISTENT
2 NON-PERSISTENT
CLASS: SS SCRUB-SHRUB
SUB-CLASS: 1 BROAD-LEAVED DECIDUOUS
2 NEEDLE-LEAVED DECIDUOUS
3 BROAD-LEAVED EVERGREEN
4 NEEDLE-LEAVED EVERGREEN
5 DEAD
6 DECIDUOUS
7 EVERGREEN
8 ATLANTIC WHITE CEDAR
CLASS: FO FORESTED
SUB-CLASS: 1 BROAD-LEAVED DECIDUOUS
2 NEEDLE-LEAVED DECIDUOUS
3 BROAD-LEAVED EVERGREEN
4 NEEDLE-LEAVED EVERGREEN
5 DEAD
6 DECIDUOUS
7 EVERGREEN
8 ATLANTIC WHITE CEDAR
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SYSTEM R RIVERINE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUB-SYSTEM 1 TIDAL
CLASS: RB ROCK
SUB-CLASS: 1 BEDROCK
2 RUBBLE
CLASS: UB UNCONSOLIDATED BOTTOM
SUB-CLASS: 1 COBBLE/GRAVEL
2 SAND
3 MUD
4 ORGANIC
CLASS: SB STREAMBED
SUB-CLASS: 1 BEDROCK
2 RUBBLE
3 COBBLE/GRAVEL
4 SAND
5 MUD
6 ORGANIC
7 VEGETATED
CLASS: AB AQUATIC BED
SUB-CLASS: 1 ALGAL
2 AQUATIC MOSS
3 ROOTED VASCULAR
4 FLOATING VASCULAR
5 UNKNOWN SUBMERGENT
6 UNKNOWN SURFACE
CLASS: RS ROCKY SHORE
SUB-CLASS: 1 BEDROCK
2 RUBBLE
CLASS: US UNCONSLOIDATED SHORE
SUB-CLASS: 1 COBBLE/GRAVEL
2 SAND
3 MUD
4 ORGANIC
5 VEGETATED
CLASS: EM EMERGENT
SUB-CLASS: 2 NON-PERSISTENT
CLASS: OW OPEN WATER (UNKNOWN BOTTOM)
SUBSYSTEM: 2 LOWER PERENNIAL
CLASS: RB ROCK
SUB-CLASS: 1 BEDROCK
2 RUBBLE
CLASS: UB UNCONSOLIDATED BOTTOM
SUB-CLASS: 1 COBBLE/GRAVEL
2 SAND
3 MUD
4 ORGANIC
CLASS: AB AQUATIC BED
SUB-CLASS: 1 ALGAL
2 AQUATIC MOSS
3 ROOTED VASCULAR
4 FLOATING VASCULAR
5 UNKNOWN SUBMERGENT
6 UNKNOWN SURFACE
CLASS: RS ROCKY SHORE
SUB-CLASS: 1 BEDROCK
2 RUBBLE
CLASS: US UNCONSLOIDATED SHORE
SUB-CLASS: 1 COBBLE/GRAVEL
2 SAND
3 MUD
4 ORGANIC
5 VEGETATED
CLASS: EM EMERGENT
SUB-CLASS: 2 NON-PERSISTENT
CLASS: OW OPEN WATER (UNKNOWN BOTTOM)
SUBSYSTEM: 3 UPPER PERENNIAL
CLASS: RB ROCK
SUB-CLASS: 1 BEDROCK
2 RUBBLE
CLASS: UB UNCONSOLIDATED BOTTOM
SUB-CLASS: 1 COBBLE/GRAVEL
2 SAND
3 MUD
4 ORGANIC
CLASS: AB AQUATIC BED
SUB-CLASS: 1 ALGAL
2 AQUATIC MOSS
3 ROOTED VASCULAR
4 FLOATING VASCULAR
5 UNKNOWN SUBMERGENT
6 UNKNOWN SURFACE
CLASS: RS ROCKY SHORE
SUB-CLASS: 1 BEDROCK
2 RUBBLE
CLASS: US UNCONSLOIDATED SHORE
SUB-CLASS: 1 COBBLE/GRAVEL
2 SAND
3 MUD
4 ORGANIC
5 VEGETATED
CLASS: OW OPEN WATER (UNKNOWN BOTTOM)
SUBSYSTEM: 4 INTERMITTENT
CLASS: RB ROCK
SUB-CLASS: 1 BEDROCK
2 RUBBLE
CLASS: UB UNCONSOLIDATED BOTTOM
SUB-CLASS: 1 COBBLE/GRAVEL
2 SAND
3 MUD
4 ORGANIC
CLASS: SB STREAMBED
SUB-CLASS: 1 BEDROCK
2 RUBBLE
3 COBBLE/GRAVEL
4 SAND
5 MUD
6 ORGANIC
7 VEGETATED
CLASS: AB AQUATIC BED
SUB-CLASS: 1 ALGAL
2 AQUATIC MOSS
3 ROOTED VASCULAR
4 FLOATING VASCULAR
5 UNKNOWN SUBMERGENT
6 UNKNOWN SURFACE
CLASS: RS ROCKY SHORE
SUB-CLASS: 1 BEDROCK
2 RUBBLE
CLASS: US UNCONSLOIDATED SHORE
SUB-CLASS: 1 COBBLE/GRAVEL
2 SAND
3 MUD
4 ORGANIC
5 VEGETATED
CLASS: OW OPEN WATER (UNKNOWN BOTTOM)
SUBSYSTEM: 5 UNKNOWN PERENNIAL
CLASS: RB ROCK
SUB-CLASS: 1 BEDROCK
2 RUBBLE
CLASS: UB UNCONSOLIDATED BOTTOM
SUB-CLASS: 1 COBBLE/GRAVEL
2 SAND
3 MUD
4 ORGANIC
CLASS: AB AQUATIC BED
SUB-CLASS: 1 ALGAL
2 AQUATIC MOSS
3 ROOTED VASCULAR
4 FLOATING VASCULAR
5 UNKNOWN SUBMERGENT
6 UNKNOWN SURFACE
CLASS: RS ROCKY SHORE
SUB-CLASS: 1 BEDROCK
2 RUBBLE
CLASS: US UNCONSLOIDATED SHORE
SUB-CLASS: 1 COBBLE/GRAVEL
2 SAND
3 MUD
4 ORGANIC
5 VEGETATED
CLASS: OW OPEN WATER (UNKNOWN BOTTOM)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SYSTEM L LACUSTRINE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUBSYSTEM: 1 LIMNETIC
CLASS: RB ROCK BOTTOM
SUB-CLASS: 1 BEDROCK
2 RUBBLE
CLASS: UB UNCONSOLIDATED BOTTOM
SUB-CLASS: 1 COBBLE/GRAVEL
2 SAND
3 MUD
4 GRAVEL
CLASS: AB AQUATIC BED
SUB-CLASS: 1 ALGAL
2 AQUATIC MOSS
3 ROOTED VASCULAR
4 FLOATING VASCULAR
5 UNKNOWN SUBMERGENT
6 UNKNOWN SURFACE
CLASS: OW OPEN WATER (UNKNOWN BOTTOM)
SUBSYSTEM: 2 LITTORAL
CLASS: RB ROCK BOTTOM
SUB-CLASS: 1 BEDROCK
2 RUBBLE
CLASS: UB UNCONSOLIDATED BOTTOM
SUB-CLASS: 1 COBBLE/GRAVEL
2 SAND
3 MUD
4 GRAVEL
CLASS: AB AQUATIC BED
SUB-CLASS: 1 ALGAL
2 AQUATIC MOSS
3 ROOTED VASCULAR
4 FLOATING VASCULAR
5 UNKNOWN SUBMERGENT
6 UNKNOWN SURFACE
CLASS: RS ROCKY SHORE
SUB-CLASS: 1 BEDROCK
2 RUBBLE
CLASS: US UNCONSOLIDATED SHORE
SUB-CLASS: 1 COBBLE/GRAVEL
2 SAND
3 MUD
4 ORGANIC
5 VEGETATED
CLASS: EM EMERGENT
SUB-CLASS: 2 PERSISTENT
CLASS: OW OPEN WATER (UNKNOWN BOTTOM)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SYSTEM: P PALUSTRINE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUBSYSTEM: NO SUBSYSTEMS FOR THE PALUSTRINE SYSTEM
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLASS: RB ROCK BOTTOM
SUB-CLASS: 1 BEDROCK
2 RUBBLE
CLASS: UB UNCONSOLIDATED BOTTOM
SUB-CLASS: 1 COBBLE/GRAVEL
2 SAND
3 MUD
4 GRAVEL
CLASS: AB AQUATIC BED
SUB-CLASS: 1 ALGAL
2 AQUATIC MOSS
3 ROOTED VASCULAR
4 FLOATING VASCULAR
5 UNKNOWN SUBMERGENT
6 UNKNOWN SURFACE
CLASS: US UNCONSOLIDATED SHORE
SUB-CLASS: 1 COBBLE/GRAVEL
2 SAND
3 MUD
4 ORGANIC
5 VEGETATED
CLASS: ML MOSS-LICHEN
SUB-CLASS: 1 MOSS
2 LICHEN
CLASS: EM EMERGENT
SUB-CLASS: 1 PERSISTENT
2 NONPERSISTENT
CLASS: SS SCRUB-SHRUB
SUB-CLASS: 1 BROAD-LEAVED DECIDUOUS
2 NEEDLE-LEAVED DECIDUOUS
3 BROAD-LEAVED EVERGREEN
4 NEEDLE-LEAVED EVERGREEN
5 DEAD
6 DECIDUOUS
7 EVERGREEN
8 ATLANTIC WHITE CEDAR
CLASS: FO FORESTED
SUB-CLASS: 1 BROAD-LEAVED DECIDUOUS
2 NEEDLE-LEAVED DECIDUOUS
3 BROAD-LEAVED EVERGREEN
4 NEEDLE-LEAVED EVERGREEN
5 DEAD
6 DECIDUOUS
7 EVERGREEN
8 ATLANTIC WHITE CEDAR
CLASS: OW OPEN WATER (UNKNOWN BOTTOM)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MODIFIERS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WATER REGIME:
NON-TIDAL:
A TEMPORARILY FLOODED
B SATURATED
C SEASONALLY FLOODED
D SEASONALLY FLOODED/WELL DRAINED
E SEASONALLY FLOODED/SATURATED
F SEMIPERMANENTLY FLOODED
G INTERMITTENTLY EXPOSED
H PERMANENTLY FLOODED
J INTERMITTENTLY FLOODED
K ARTIFICIALLY FLOODED
W INTERMITTENTLY FLOODED/TEMPORARY
Y SATURATED/SEMIPERMANENT/SEASONAL
Z INTERMITTENTLY EXPOSED/PERMANENT
U UNKNOWN
TIDAL: K ARTIFICIALLY FLOODED
L SUBTIDAL
M IRREGULARLY EXPOSED
N REGULARLY FLOODED
P IRREGULARLY FLOODED
R SEASONAL TIDAL
S TEMPORARY TIDAL
T SEMIPERMANENT TIDAL
V PERMANENT TIDAL
U UNKNOWN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WATER CHEMISTRY
COASTAL HALINITY: 1 HYPERHALINE
2 EUHALINE
3 MIXOHALINE (BRACKISH)
4 POLYHALINE
5 MESOHALINE
6 OLIGOHALINE
0 FRESH
INLAND SALINITY: 7 HYPERSALINE
8 EUSALINE
9 MIXOSALINE
0 FRESH
pH MODIFIERS:
(FOR ALL FRESH WATER) a ACID
t CIRCUMNEUTRAL
l ALKALINE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOIL g ORGANIC
n MINERAL
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL MODIFIERS:
b BEAVER
d PARTIALLY DRAINED/DITCHED
f FARMED
h DIKED/IMPOUNDED
r ARTIFICIAL
s SPOIL
x EXCAVATED
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL CLASSES OF MODIFIED WETLANDS WERE ADDED TO THE COWARDIN SYSTEM
SPECIFICALLY FOR THE NJ MAPPING PROGRAM:
MODL LAWNS, STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AREAS
(AREAS ARE NOT NORMALLY INNUNDATED)
MODR RIGHTS-OF-WAY
(AREAS MAINTAINED BY UTILITIES)
MODAg AGRICULTURAL LANDS, TURF FARMS
(BOTH ROW CROP AND TURF CULTIVATION)
MODD DISTURBED AREAS
(SURFACE/VEGETATION DISTURBED. NATURE OF
ACTIVITY NOT READILY APPARENT)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------