Wetlland classification, identification, delineation-2005

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Modifier"C" Seasonally Flooded(Seasonal) Surface water is present for extended periods especially early in the growing season but is absent by the end of the season in most years.When surface water is absent,the water table is often near the surface. Santos and Gauster(1993, pg 31) add that the water table, after flooding ceases, is very variable,extending from saturated to a water table well below the surface.This accurately describes the situation that frequently occurs within reed canary grass wetlands where there is saturation to the surface or even several inches of inundation after snow melt. In most years, by the end of May, surface water is no longer evident in many of these basins.During June,the water table continues to recede until by August,the water table may be two or more feet below the surface. Many of these areas are used for livestock pasturing and for harvesting meadow hay.Wetlands with a"C"modifier that consist predominantly of reed canary grass should be categorized as either Type 1 or Type 2 depending on the length of time that water is present. This modifier is the most difficult to specifically assign to a Type 1,Type 2 or Type 3 category as it could apply to any of the three. Modifier"D" Seasonal Well-Drained(No comparable Cowardin category) Santos and Gauster(1993,pg 31)describe this modifier as applying where surface water is present for extended periods especially early in the growing season.The water table,after flooding ceases falls well below the ground surface. This modifier would appear to apply to floodplain and bottomland hardwood forests(Type 1 L)as described above.Modifiers"C"and"D"seem to overlap to a certain extent and could.also apply to reed canary grass wetlands as well. Modifier"E" Seasonal Saturated(No comparable Cowardin category) Surface water is present for extended periods especially early in the growing season, and remains saturated near the surface for most of the growing season(Santos and Gauster 1993,pg 31). This modifier would appear to apply to fens,sedge and rush meadows,some Type 6 shrub swamps,Type 7 Hardwood Swamps and Type 8 bogs.Some reed canary grass wetlands might fall into this category but most seem to be dried out by early to mid-summer. Modifier'IF" Semipermanently Flooded(Semipermanent) Surface water persists throughout the growing season in most years.When surface water is absent, the water table is usually at or very near the land surface(Cowardin et al 1979, pg 22; Santos and Gauster 1993, pg 31). This modifier applies to Type 3 cattail marshes and may also apply to some hardwood swamps such as black ash, conifer bogs and Type 6 alder shrub swamps.