Wetlands

Wetlands are those areas where the water table is at, near, or above the land surface for a significant part
of most years. The hydrologic regime is such that aquatic or hydrophytic vegetation usually is
established, although alluvial and tidal flats may be nonvegetated. Wetlands frequently are associated
with topographic lows, even in mountainous regions. Examples of wetlands include marshes, mudflats,
and swamps situated on the shallow margins of bays, lakes, ponds, streams, and manmade impoundments
such as reservoirs. They include wet meadows or perched bogs in high mountain valleys and seasonally
wet or flooded basins, playas, or potholes with no surface-water outflow. Shallow water areas where
aquatic vegetation is submerged are classed as open water and are not included in the Wetland category.