Cowardin System Lookup Tool

Cowardin System¹ Example:
Example	System	Subsystem	Class	Subclass	Modifier
L1UBHh	L	1	UB		Hh
L1UBHh	Lacustrine	Limnetic	Unconsolidated Bottom	none	Permanantly Flooded\Impounded
Note:Subsytem, Subclass and Modifiers may not always be present.

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Modifiers
Water regime	Non-tidal	A=temporarily flooded B=Saturated C=seasonally flooded D=seasonally flooded, well drained E=seasonally flooded, saturated F=semi-permanently flooded G=intermittently exposed H=permanently flooded J=intermittently flooded K=artificially flooded W=intermittently flooded, temporary Y=saturated, semi-permanent, seasonal Z=intermittently exposed, permanent U=unknown
Tidal	K=artificially flooded L=sub-tidal M=irregularly exposed N=regularly flooded P=irregularly flooded S=temporary R=seasonal T=semi-permanent V=permanent U=unknown
Water chemistry	Coastal halinity	1=hyperhaline 2=euhaline 3=mixohaline (brackish) 4=polyhaline 5=mesonhaline 6=oligohaline 0=fresh
Inland salinity	7=hyperhaline 8=euhaline 9=mixonhaline 0=fresh
PH modifiers	a=acid t=circumneutral i=alkaline
Soil		g=organic n=mineral
Special modifiers		b=beaver d=partially drained, ditched f=farmed h=diked, impounded r=artificial substrate s=spoil x=excavated

1 - Cowardin, L. M., V. Carter, F. C. Golet, E. T. LaRoe. 1979. Classification of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the United States. U. S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C. Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online. http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/1998/classwet/classwet.htm (Version 04DEC98).