Laserfiche WebLink
materialized, this was the only method available to differentiate between wetlands of <br /> different types. <br /> The Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) cross-reference table (8420.0549 subp. <br /> 2.) indicates that Circular 39 Type 3 wetlands have a"C" water regime modifier. This is <br /> an inaccurate cross-reference and the intent of this technical paper is a clarification of the <br /> correct interpretation. There is also a common tendency to refer to bottomland hardwoods <br /> as Type 7 wetlands. This is also an inaccurate classification. <br /> The NWI paper maps do not use the water regime modifier "E" because it was difficult to <br /> interpret from the inherent limitations imposed by the remote sensed imagery. Therefore, <br /> most if not all Type 3 wetlands were given the designation "C". However, the following <br /> discussion will examine and clarify the differences between Circular 39 Types l, 1L, 2, 3, <br /> and 7 and the appropriate Cowardin water regime modifying terms. <br /> Circular 39 Wetland Types <br /> Type 1/1L—Seasonally Flooded Basins or Flats <br /> Type 1 wetlands are characterized by soil that is covered with water or is waterlogged <br /> during variable seasonal periods but is usually well drained during much of the growing <br /> season (italics added for emphasis). These wetlands may be found in upland depressions <br /> as well as in overflow bottomlands, i.e. river and stream floodplains. Within floodplains, <br /> flooding may occur in late fall, winter or spring. In upland contexts, basins or flats may <br /> be water filled during heavy rain events or following spring snow melt. Vegetation types <br /> vary greatly according to the season and the duration of flooding. Included within Type 1 <br /> are bottomland hardwoods as well as some herbaceous growths. Where the water has <br /> receded early in the growing season, smartweeds, fall panicum, tealgrass, chufa, redroot <br /> cypress and weeds (such as marsh elder, ragweed and cockleburs) are likely to occur. <br /> Shallow basins that are submerged only very temporarily usually develop little or no <br /> wetland vegetation (Shaw and Fredine 1956, p30). <br /> Since Circular 39 was developed for national application, the description of Type 1 <br /> wetlands covers a broad range of geographic contexts hence the reference to winter <br /> flooding. <br /> Cowardin et al (p. 28) in Table 4 describe Type 1 wetlands as seasonally flooded basins <br /> or flats, wet meadow, bottomland hardwoods and shallow freshwater swamps. The water <br /> regimes are described as temporarily flooded (A) or intermittently flooded (J). <br /> The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), within the regulatory <br /> framework of the Protected Waters and Public Wetlands framework has added the Type <br /> 1 L designator to more clearly clarify the Circular 39 classification method and to allow <br /> an accurate distinction to be made between bottomland hardwoods, seasonally flooded <br /> non-vegetated or herbaceous vegetated basins and hardwood swamps. The distinction on <br /> the basis of hydrology is clear and it was the intent of the DNR to differentiate between <br /> forested bottomland hardwoods and non-forested wetlands. <br />