|  |
 Printer Friendly
 Text Version  Email Page
| Aquatic Landscape Features |
|
The 48 aquatic landscape features (see table below) were based on an existing stream classification for Michigan (Seelbach et al. 1997), general wetland types (USEPA 2005a), lake features (Wetzel 2001, Kalff 2002), and other landscape components or characteristics identified through scientific literature review as important to a significant number of aquatic SGCN. Location/distribution maps of aquatic landscape features were generated using spatial data from several sources, including the DNR (Seelbach et al. 1997, Breck 2004, DNR 2004a, DNR 2005a), Detroit Zoological Institute (2005), Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI 2000), MNFI (2005), the National Ocean and Atmospheric Association (NOAA 2004), The Nature Conservancy (TNC; DePhilip 2001), the University of Michigan (2005), USFWS (USFWS 2005) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS 2005a). The maps are included in the Landscape Feature Summaries.
| LANDSCAPE FEATURE |
DESCRIPTION |
| Great Lakes |
| Shoreline |
0-3 m deep |
| Nearshore |
3-30 m deep |
| Offshore |
>30 m deep |
| Inland Lakes |
| Ponds |
Open water <5 acres |
| Small lakes |
Open water 5-99 acres |
| Medium lakes |
Open water 100-999 acres |
| Large lakes |
Open water >1000 acres |
| Lake characteristics |
| Wave-washed shore |
|
| Trophic status: eutrophic |
|
| Trophic status: mesotrophic |
|
| Trophic status: oligotrophic |
|
| Stratified |
|
| Connectivity: drainage |
|
| Connectivity: seep |
|
| Rivers |
| Cold headwaters/small tributaries |
<40 mi2 catchment area |
| Cool headwaters/small tributaries |
<40 mi2 catchment area |
| Warm headwaters/small tributaries |
<40 mi2 catchment area |
| Headwaters/small tributaries |
<40 mi2 catchment area |
| Cold medium |
40-179 mi2 catchment area |
| Cool medium |
40-179 mi2 catchment area |
| Warm medium |
40-179 mi2 catchment area |
| Medium |
40-179 mi2 catchment area |
| Cold large |
180-620 mi2 catchment area |
| Cool large |
180-620 mi2 catchment area |
| Warm large |
180-620 mi2 catchment area |
| Large |
180-620 mi2 catchment area |
| Very large |
>620 mi2 catchment area |
| Rivers characteristics |
| Gradient: slow |
0.0-4.9 ft/mi |
| Gradient: moderate |
5.0-9.9 ft/mi |
| Gradient: fast |
10.0-69.9 ft/mi |
| Gradient: very fast |
>70.0 ft/mi |
| Banks: sand |
|
| Banks: clay |
|
| Banks: rock |
|
| Intermittent |
|
| Wetlands |
| Bog |
Characterized by floating or surface vegetative mats, such as sphagnum moss mats, and most of water is provided by precipitation |
| Fen |
Nutrient-rich wetland fed primarily through ground and surface waters |
| Ephemeral wetland |
Semi-permanent wetlands that vary dramatically seasonally or annually |
| Inland emergent wetland |
Areas with permanent water dominated by non-woody vegetation that breaks the surface (e.g., marshes) |
| Swamp |
Areas with permanent water dominated by woody vegetation |
| Floodplain |
|
| Aquatic characteristics |
| Rock substrates |
Bedrock, rock, cobble and gravel substrates |
| Soft substrates |
Sand, silt, mud and organic substrates |
| Clay substrates |
|
| Vegetation |
|
| Woody structure |
|
| Turbid water |
|
| Clear water |
|
|
|
|
|
