DNR - 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