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that Circular 39 Type 3 wetlands have a "C" water regime modifier. This is an inaccurate cross- <br /> reference and the intent of this technical paper is a clarification of the correct interpretation.There is <br /> also a common tendency to refer to bottomland hardwoods as Type 7 wetlands. This is also an <br /> inaccurate classification. <br /> The NWI paper maps do not use the water regime modifier"E"because it was difficult to interpret <br /> from the inherent limitations imposed by the remote sensed imagery.Therefore,most if not all Type <br /> 3 wetlands were given the designation "C". However, the following discussion will examine and <br /> clarify the differences between Circular 39 Types 1, 1L, 2, 3, and 7 and the appropriate Cowardin <br /> 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 during <br /> variable seasonal periods but is usually well drained during much of the growing season (italics <br /> added for emphasis). These wetlands may be found in upland depressions as well as in overflow <br /> bottomlands, i.e. river and stream floodplains. Within floodplains, flooding may occur in late fall, <br /> winter or spring. In upland contexts,basins or flats may be water filled during heavy rain events or <br /> following spring snow melt. Vegetation types vary greatly according to the season and the duration <br /> of flooding.Included within Type 1 are bottomland hardwoods as well as some herbaceous growths. <br /> Where the water has receded early in the growing season,smartweeds,fall panicum,tealgrass,chufa, <br /> redroot 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 wetland <br /> vegetation (Shaw and Fredine 1956, p30). <br /> Since Circular 39 was developed for national application,the description of Type 1 wetlands covers <br /> a broad range of geographic contexts hence the reference to winter flooding. <br /> Cowardin et al(p. 28)in Table 4 describe Type 1 wetlands as seasonally flooded basins or flats,wet <br /> meadow,bottomland hardwoods and shallow freshwater swamps. The water regimes are described <br /> as temporarily flooded (A) or intermittently flooded (J). <br /> The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), within the regulatory framework of the <br /> Protected Waters and Public Wetlands framework has added the Type 1L designator to more clearly <br /> clarify the Circular 39 classification method and to allow an accurate distinction to be made between <br /> bottomland hardwoods, seasonally flooded non-vegetated or herbaceous vegetated basins and <br /> hardwood swamps. The distinction on the basis of hydrology is clear and it was the intent of the <br /> DNR to differentiate between forested bottomland hardwoods and non-forested wetlands. <br /> Type 2—Inland Fresh Meadows <br /> Inland fresh meadows(Type 2)wetlands have soil that is usually without standing water during most <br /> of the growing season but is waterlogged to within at least a few inches of its surface. Vegetation <br /> includes grasses,rushes,sedges,and various broad-leaved plants.In northern environments,typical <br /> species representatives are carex, rushes, redtop, reedgrasses, mannagrasses, prairie cordgrass and <br /> Svoboda Ecological Resources 1350 Orono Oaks Drive <br /> Project No.: 2007-061-03 37 Ron Ridgeway <br />