Status of Alaska Wetlands

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PALUSTRINE OPEN WATER

THE AUTHORS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Jonathan V. Hall coordinates the National
Wetlands Inventor)' in the Alaska Region of the
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Ser\'ice.

W. E. Prayer is Dean ot the School of ForestiT
and Wood Products at Michigan technological
University. He specializes in natural resources
suney design and analysis.

Bill (). VVilen is Project Leader of the National
Wetlands InventoiA' for the U. S. Fish and
Wildlife Sen-ice.

DESIGN

Gale Gonimunications; St. Paul, MN

Cover photo: Cai'ihoii, Arctic Coastal Plain

PAEUSIRINE EMERtiENT EEOOHEl)

BP EXPLORATION (ALASKA) INC

Back cover photo: Yellow pond lily.
Cook Inlet - Susitna Lowland

This report is the result of extensive effort. Special
appreciation is extended to U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Sen'ice personnel including Don Woodard, Becky
Stanlev, Tom Dahl, Norm Mangrum, and Rene
Whitehead of the National Wetlands ln\entoiy
Group, St. Petersburg, Florida; Charles Storrs of
the Division of Habitat (-onsenation, Atlanta,
Georgia; and Da\id Dall of the National Wetlands
InwntoiT, Washington, D. C.

Manv indi\iduals from Geonex Inc. were respon-
sible for photo interpretation and map produc-
tion. Principal among these are Keith Patterson,
Sheila Ricardi, Marsha Martin, Todd
Neurminger, Barbara Schuster, Jim Dick, and
Da\e Fink. Their work is greatly appreciated.

Funding support from the U. S. Arm\' Corps ot
Engineers and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration's National ALirinc
Pollution Program Office is gratefully acknowl-
edged. Glen Yankus of the 11. S. Department of
Interior's Minerals Management Sen ice afso
a.ssisted in the studw

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Alaska Region
Anchorage, Alaska

Status of

Alaska
Wfetlands

by Jonathan V. Hall, W. E. Prayer and Bill O. Wilen

1994

■VKHJ DOCUMENT?

i^eOSITORY ITFM

OCT 1 1 1994
CLFMSON

Arctic Coastal Plain

PALUSTRINE OPEN WATER AND EMERGENT - FLOODED

BP EXPLORATION (ALASKA) INC

Pintails, Tni;i)ii Flats
PALL'STRINK HMERGKNT - FI.OODHD

Highlights

/Vlaska encompasses an area of 403,247,700
acres, including offshore areas involved in this
study. Total acreage of wetlands is 174,683,900
acres. This is 43.3 percent of Alaska's surface
area. In the lower 48 states, wetlands only occupy
5.2 percent of the surface area.

Deepwater habitats cover an aciditional
29,870,400 acres, or 7.4 percent of Alaska's
surface area.

Over 88 percent ( 154,917,300 acres) of Alaska
wetlands are under public management.

Palustrine scrub/shrub wetlands are extensive.
They cover 1 14,510,100 acres, which is almost
two-thirds of Alaska's wetlands.

Areas other than wetlands and deepwater habitats
account for 198,693,400 acres, less than half of
Alaska's area.

Brooks Range

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Contents

Highlights 3

Introduction 7

Overview 9

Classification System 11

Survey Procedure 15

Results 17

In Conclusion 29

Literature Cited 31

Appendix 32

left: Safety Harbor, Western Coastal Zone

ESTUARINE INTERTIDAL VEGETATED

J HALL

Mountain cranberry, Kuskokwim Highlands

PALUSTRINE SCRUB/SHRUB - SATURATED

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CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

J. he United States Fish and Wildlife Sendee has
major responsibility for the protection and man-
agement of migrator)' and endangered fish and
wildlife and their habitats. Of particular concern
are wetlands and associated deepwater habitats.
Since 1974 the Fish and Wildlife Sers'ice, through
its National Wetlands Inventoiy Project, has
inventoried the nation's wetlands. The purpose is
to de\'elop and disseminate comprehensive data
concerning the characteristics and extent of wet-
lands.

Results of a National Wetlands Inventoiy study
of wetland gains and losses in the lower 48 states
between the 1950's and 1970\s were published
by Frayer et al. (1983) and Tiner ( 1984). Of the
wetlands at the time of settlement in the area
now comprising the 48 contiguous states, only
46 percent remained in the mid-1970's. Between
the mid-1950''s and mid-1970's, there was a loss
of about 11 million acres of wetlands. During the
same period, approximately two million acres of
wetlands were created. This 20-year net loss of
nine million acres equates to an average annual
net loss of 458,000 acres of wetlands. An update
of this report for the nine-year period between
1974 and 1983 showed the wetland loss rate was
down to an average annual net loss of 290,200
acres (Dahl et al. 1991; Frayer 1991).

left: Oil pipeline, Arctic Coastal Plain

PALUSTWNE EMERGENT - FLOODED

J HALL

The statistical design used in the trend study for
the lower 48 states can be used with intensified
sampling to obtain reliable estimates for individ-
ual states or other selected geographical areas.
For example, this approach was used to evaluate
wetland trends in the Central Vallev of California
(Fraver and Peters 1990) and Florida (Fraver and
Hefner 1992).

This report presents results of a study on the sta-
tus of wetlands and deepwater habitats in Alaska.
This is the first report for Alaska. While it pro-
vides estimates of current status of Alaska wet-
lands and deepwater habitats, it does not provide
information on their trends and qualitv. It does,
howe\ er, proxide information on the amounts of
these areas managed by several federal agencies,
the State of Alaska, Natives and others.

ri£iht: Shaw Creek Flats,
Tanana-Kiiskokwim Lowland

PALUSTRINE SCRUB/SHRUB
AND EMERGENT - FLOODED

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CHAPTER TWO

Overview

Wetlands in Alaska include types commonly
referred to as bogs, muskegs, wet and moist tun-
dra, fens, marshes, swamps, mud flats, and salt
marshes. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Semce esti-
mates that during the 200-year period between
1780 and 1980, approximately '/lo of a percent of
the original wetland acreage in Alaska was lost
(Dahl 1990).

Common terms used for Alaska's deepwater
habitats include lakes, bays, sounds, fjords,
lagoons, and inlets. The two largest lakes in
Alaska are Lake lliamna (1,000 square miles) and
Becharof Lake (458 square miles). Large coastal
deepwater habitats include Kotzebue Sound,
Norton Sound, Bristol Bay, Cook Inlet, and the
labyrinth of fjords, inlets, and straits in the
Alexander Archipelago (southeast Alaska).
Lagoons formed behind barrier islands are com-
mon in northwest Alaska along the Chukchi Sea
and Bering Strait coasts.

Most regions of Alaska have a land surface that
includes extensive areas of wetlands. Treeless
expanses of moist and wet timdra underlain by
permafrost occur in the northern and western
portions. Interior Alaska contains millions of
acres of black spruce muskeg and floodplain
wetlands dominated by deciduous shrubs and
emergents. Shrub and herbaceous bogs are a con-
spicuous feature of the landscape in south central
and southeast Alaska. Even in mountainous areas
such as the Brooks Range, wetlands have devel-
oped in drainages and on vegetated slopes. Some
of the nation's most extensive complexes of salt
marshes and mud flats occur along the coasts of
the Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, Bering Sea and
the Gulf of Alaska.

left: Blyinj Sound, South Central Coastal Zone

MARINE INTERTIDAL

J HALL

Wetlands are abundant in the valleys and basins
associated with large ri\'er systems including the
Yukon, Kuskokwim, Porcupine, Tanana, and
Koyukuk Rivers. Significant wetland areas also
occur on the major rixer deltas in Alaska. The
Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, one of the world's
largest coastal deltaic formations, supports a vari-
ety of wetland types including wet tundra, grassy
sloughs, shrub swamps, ponds and brackish
marsh. Other major deltas in Alaska that are pre-
dominantly wetland are the Cohille River Delta
on the Beaufort Sea coast, the Copper River
Delta in south central Alaska, and the Stikine
River Delta in the southeast region.

Many wetlands in northern portions of Alaska are
underlain and maintained by permafrost, or
perennially frozen ground Wetland conditions
often occur because the frozen laver traps water
at or near the soil surface. Other wetlands are
maintained by heav)' rainfall, glacial melt water,
river flooding, beaver activity, snow melt, springs,
and the ebb and flow of tides.

Wetlands in Alaska range in elevation from tidal
systems at sea level to moist tundra areas in high
alpine zones. Wetlands are as common on slopes
as they are in lowland sites and depressions.
While north-facing slopes are frequently wetland
due to the presence of permafrost, south-facing
slopes in the same area often support non-wet-
land plant communities on well-drained soils.
Hillside wetlands are common in southern por-
tions of Alaska due to abundant precipitation and
shallow depths to bedrock.

Alaska's wetlands provide many benefits includ-
ing: food and habitat for wildlife, fish and shell-
fish species, natural products for human use and
subsistence, shoreline erosion and sediment con-
trol, flood protection, and opportunities for
recreation and aesthetic appreciation. Not all
wetlands perform all these functions, but most
wetlands contribute to one or more in vatying
degrees.

Snow^ecse over Arctic Coastal Plain

PALUSTRINE EMERGENT - SATURATED

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Tundra wetlands in northern and western Alaska
are prime breeding grounds for many shorebirds
(sandpipers, plovers, and their relatives).
Waterfowl species dependent on Alaska wetlands
include more than 70 thousand swans, one mil-
lion geese, and 12 million ducks (King and
Lensink 1971). These include more than half the
continental populations of tundra and trumpeter
swans and all or most of the continental popula-
tions of eight species or subspecies of geese. In
recent years, Alaska wetlands ha\'e on average
supported 30 percent of the continental popula-
tions of northern pintails, 24 percent of American
wigeons, 19 percent of scaup, 18 percent of can-
\'asback, and 13 percent of green-winged teal
(Lensink and Derksen 1986). The importance of
Alaska wetlands to these and other species
increases significantly during years when drought
occurs in prairie states and provinces.

During migration, huge flocks of waterfowl and
shorebirds stop at specific wetland areas for rest-
ing and feeding. These critical wetlands provide
concentrated food resources necessan' to fuel the
journey to nesting areas in the spring or southern
destinations in the fall. Nearly all of the Pacific
Flyway black brant feed on rich eelgrass beds at
Izembek Lagoon on the Alaska Peninsula during
tall migration (Fish and Wildlife Senice 1985). "

Man\' mammals in Alaska use specific wetland
t)'pes and areas. Some species, such as bea\ er and
muskrat, spend most of their lives in wetlands.
Other mammals use wetlands primarily as feeding
areas or resting areas. Moose commonly feed on
submerged vegetation in deep marshes and shal-
low ponds. The two largest herds of caribou,
both in northern Alaska, gather into huge aggre-
gations and migrate from upland areas to coastal
wetland areas in the summer. Uninterrupted

moist tundra wetlands in the North Slope coastal
plain are used by these animals for cahing and
feeding. Nonvegetated wetlanci r\'pes such as
gravel bars and coastal beaches are used to escape
insect harassment.

The \'alue of wetlands for fish is well established
for Alaska's coastal wetlands along rixers and
streams. Many fish species feed in wetlands or on
food produced by wetlands. Coastal wetlands and
stream side marshes are used as nurserx' grounds.
Other wetland t}'pes adjacent to rivers maintain
and regulate stream flow in channels used b\' fish.
Species (e. g., salmon) that move between fresh
water and saltwater are dependent on both
coastal and riparian wetlands. Ajinuallv, the
salmon industr\' in Alaska emplovs approximatelv
22,000 people (Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game
1992). The annual value of this fisher\' to com-
mercial hanesters is $600 million (Alaska Dept.
of Education 1991).

Man)' wetlands serxe to temporarily store flood
waters, thereby protecting downstream properties
frcjm flood damage. The flood storage fimction
also helps to slow the velocir\' of water, which
reduces the water's erosive potential. This func-
tion of wetlands becomes increasingly important
in Alaska's towns and cities, where de\'elopment
has increased the rate and volume of surface-
water runoff and the potential for flood damage.
Where permafrost is common, the abilit)' of wet-
lancHs to store flood waters is reduced.

Subsistence use of wetland resources in Alaska is
extensive. In most areas, wetland habitats provide
resources upon which Nati\'e village economies
are based. A major portion of hunting, fishing,
trapping, and gathering acti\ities occurs in wet-
lands areas (Ellanna and Wheeler 1986). Fish and
wildlife resources hanested for subsistence use
and dependent on wetlands include five species of
salmon, shellfish, ducks, geese, beaver, and otter.
Plant materials frec]ucntly collected from wet-
lands include blueberries, cranberries, labrador
tea, and wtIIow.

The di\ersir\' of plant and animal life in wetlands
makes them a valuable resource for nonconsump-
tivc recreation such as wildlife viewing andpho-
tographv. Wetlands, particularlv in urban areas,
are valuable in providing other passive recreation
opportunities including education, open space,
and aesthetic enjoyment. In addition, waterfowl
hunting in the LInited States depends on contin-
ued productivit\' of Alaska's wetlands.

10

CHAPTER THREE

Classification System

J. he definitions, classifications and categories of
wetlands and deepwater habitats used are those
described by Cowardin et al. (1979). In general
terms, wetland is land where saturation with
water is the dominant factor determining the
nature of soil development and the types of plant
and animal communities living in the soil and on
its surface. Technically, wetlands are lands transi-
tional between terrestrial and aquatic systems
where the water table is usually at or near the sur-
face or the land is covered by shallow water.
Wetlands must also have one or more of the fol-
lowing three attributes: 1) at least periodically,
the land supports predominantly hydrophytes;
2) the substrate is predominantly undrained
hydric soil; and 3) the substrate is nonsoil and is
saturated with water or covered by shallow water
at some time during the growing season of each
year.

Deepwater habitats consist of certain permanent-
ly flooded lands. In salt\\'ater areas, the separation
between wetland and deepwater habitat coincides
with the elevation of the extreme low water of
spring tide. In other areas, the separation is at a
depth of two meters (6.6 feet) below low water.
This is the maximum depth in which emergent
plants normally grow.

Within the hierarchical structure of classification,
wetlands and deepwater habitats are grouped
according to systems. A system consists of envi-
ronments of similar hydrological, geomorpholog-
ical, chemical, and biological influences. Each

system is further divided by the driving ecological
force, such as ebb and flow of tide, and by sub-
strate material and flooding regimes, or on vege-
tation life form. Groupings of categories were
made to accommodate special interests of the
study, and to facilitate comparison of results with
those of similar studies conducted in other
regions of the United States.

Color-infrared aerial photograph showing
Kantishna River, Tanana-Kuskokwim Lowland

11

The marine system extends from the outer edge
of the continental shelf shoreward to the extreme
high water of spring tides or to the boundary' of
other systems as defined later. Marine snbtidal
includes that portion that is continuously sub-
merged. This habitat is beyond the scope of the
study and was therefore not included. Marine
intertidal includes areas in which the substrate is
exposed and flooded by tides, including the asso-
ciated splash zone.

The cstuarine system consists of deepwater tidal
habitats and adjacent tidal wetlands which are
usually semi-enclosed by land, but have open,
partially obstructed, or sporadic access to the
open ocean and in which ocean water is at least
occasionally diluted by fresh water runoff from
the land. Estiinrine snbtidal \s that portion that is
continuously submerged (considered deepwater
habitat), while estuarine intertidal is the portion
exposed and flooded by tides, including the
splash zone. For the purposes of this study, estu-
arine intertidal wetlands were separated into the
following groups: Nonvepietated^ which includes
unconsolidated shore (e.g. mud flats) and aquatic
beds (e.g. seagrasses or algal beds); and vcjjctated^

which is primarily emergent. Emergent vegetation
consists of erect, rooted herbaceous plants typi-
cally found in wet en\'ironments.

The lacustrine system includes wetlands (littoral)
and deepwater habitats (limnetic) situated in
topographic depressions or dammed river chan-
nels. Each area must exceed 20 acres or be deep-
er than two meters (6.6 feet) or ha\'e an active
wave-formed or bedrock shoreline feature.
Lacustrine areas are treated as tieepwater
habitats in this study.

The palustrine system includes all nontidal wet-
lands not included within any of the other four
systems and does not include any deepwater
habitats. For this study, palustrine wetlands are
cHivideci into the following groups: unconsolidated
shore, open ii'afcr (primarily ponds), aquatic beds
(e.g. pondlilies and pondweeds), emergent,
scrub/shrub, und forested. Emerjjent \s defined the
same as for estuarine wetlancis. Forested is charac-
terized by the presence of trees, and scrub/shrub
includes areas dominated by shrubs and small or
stunted trees.

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PALUSTRINE EMERGENT - ELOODED .\ND OPEN WATER

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Palustrine vegetated wetlands were further sepa-
rated into categories o^ saturated And flooded.
Saturated wetlands seldom have surface water,
but the substrate is saturated for extended peri-
ods during the growing season. Wetlands with
organic soils, such as bogs, typically are saturated.
Other examples of saturated wetlands include
moist tundra and black spruce muskegs with
permafrost occurring at a shallow depth.
Flooded wetlands range from temporarily flooded
to permanently flooded. In temporarily flooded
wetlands, surface water is present for brief periods
during the growing season. Flooded wetlands in
Alaska include marshes, wet tundra, riparian wet-
lands, and shrub swamps.

In summar}', the 14 wetland and deepwater
habitat categories used in this study are:

Category

Marine intertidal
Esluarine subtidal
Estuarine intertidal nonvegetated
Estuarine intertidal vegetated
Palustrine unconsolidated stiore
Palustrine open water
Palustrine aquatic beds
Palustrine emergent - saturated
Palustrine emergent -flooded
Palustrine scrub/shrub - saturated
Palustrine scrub/shrub - flooded
Palustrine forested - saturated
Palustrine forested - flooded
Lacustrine

Common Examples

Ocean stioreline

Open water of bays/inlets

Mud and sand flats/beacties

Salt marsh

Pond flats/beacties

Open water ponds

Floating and submerged aquatic vegetation

Moist tussocl< tundra and sedge bogs

Wet sedge/grass tundra and marsfies

Moist sfirub tundra and sfirub bogs/muskegs

Shrub swamps

Forested bogs/muskegs

Forested swamps

Lakes

Near Naknek, Bristol Bay Coastal Plain

PALUSTRINE EMERGENT - FLOODED

All remaining surface area (area not classed as
wetland or deepwater habitat) corresponds to
classes of agriculture^ urban, and other used by
Anderson et al. (1976) at their Classification
Level I. Of/;n' includes Anderson's Level I classes
of forest land, rangeland, and barren land, as well
as lands that had been cleared of vegetation but
had not been put to identifiable lise.

The type of ownership of wetlands was also
determined in the study. For federal ownership,
five categories were selected based on the man-
agement agency involved. These include the
Bureau of Land Manajjement, Fish and Wildlife
Service, National Park Service, Forest Service, and
other federal Sigencies. Additional ownership cate-

gories are Native, State and other. The results for
individual categories are accurate for only one
point in time. After transfers of federal land to
Native anci State ownership are completed, the
samples involved in this study could be reclassi-
fied by ownership for timely results.

This briefly describes the classification used in
this study. It is difficult to differentiate the cate-
gories further without introducing highly techni-
cal terms. More detailed discussions, exact defini-
tions, and fi.iller descriptions are provided by
Cowardin et al. (1979).

Yukoft -Kttskokwim Delta

PALUSTRINE UNCONSOLIDATED SHORE

14

CHAPTER FOUR

Survey Procedure

J. he objective of the study was to develop statis-
tical estimates of the areal extent of wetland and
deepwater habitat categories and ownership class-
es for Alaska.

A stratified random sampling design was used
with 2 1 inland strata formed by modification of
the land resource areas described by Rieger et al.
(1979). The study also used four coastal strata
encompassing areas in the marine and estuarine
systems. The 25 strata and Alaska's four major
regions are shown in the map on page 16.

Sample units were allocated to strata in propor-
tion to expected amounts of wetlands and deep-
water habitats as estimated by Fish and Wildlife
Service personnel. A pilot study with 500 sample
units was conducted to estimate the total number
of sample units required for the statewide study.

Kisaralik Lake, Kiiskokwim Highlands

LACUSTRINE

The total number of sample units used statewide
was 2,566.

Each sample unit is a four-square mile area, two
miles on each side. The units were plotted on
U.S. Geological Suney topographic maps and
on aerial photographs. The 1:60,000 scale color-
infrared aerial photography was obtained for the
most recent date available. The average date of
this photograph)' was 1980, with 90 percent of
the photos within three years of the average.

The photography was interpreted and annotated
in accordance with the classification system
described earlier and with procedures developed
by the Fish and Wildlife Sendee's National
Wetlands Inventor)' Project. A minimum map-
ping size of one -half acre was used. Land owner-
ship/management determinations were made
from land information records maintained by the
Bureau of Land Management.

15

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CHAPTER FIVE

Results

J. he intent of this study was to quantifv' areal
coverage of wetlands and deepwater habitats for
Alaska. Results for all categories discussed in the
classification system section are given in the
Appentiix. Several of the individual categories
were grouped based on physical, chemical, anci
biological similarities and are shown as subtotals.
These groupings include the following:

Wetlands and deepwater habitats includes all
marine, estuarine, palustrine, and lacustrine clas-
sifications.

Wetlands mcXudcs marine, estuarine, and palus-
trine wetlands.

Estuarine wetlands mdudc's, all estuarine cate-
gories except estuarine subtidal (a deepwater
habitat).

Palustrine wetlands mdudcs all palustrine cate-
gories.

Palustrine nonvejjetatcd wetlands includes the
unconsolidated shore, open water, and ac]uatic
bed categories.

Palustrine vegetated wetlands includes all emer-
gent, scrub/shrub, and forested categories.

Palustrine emergent wetlands, palustrine
scrub/shrub wetlands, and palustrine forested wet-
lands indude the saturated and flooded cate-
gories.

Deepwater habitats includes estuarine subtidal
and lacustrine habitats.

Results presented in the remainder of this section
are based on information found in the Appendix
and other supplementan' data.

Alaska Range

PALUSTRINE SCRUB/SHRUB - SATURATED

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17

WETLANDS AND
DEEPWATER HABITATS

The estimate of wetlands and deepwater habitats
is 204,554,300 acres (See figure 1). This repre-
sents 50.7 percent of Alaska's surface area. In the
lower 48 states, wetlands and deepwater habitats
only occupy 9.3 percent of the surface area.

WETLANDS

The estimate of wetlands is 174,683,900 acres.
The lower 48 states contain an estimated
103,343,600 acres of wetlands (See figures 2, 3)
Figure 4 shows the distribution of Alaska wet-
lands by region.

Suckling! Hills, South Central Alaska Mountains

PALUSTRINE EMERGENT - SATURATED AND OPEN WATER

18

Figure 1

Alaska Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats

OTHER WETLANDS

198,693,400 acres 174.683.900 acres
49.3% 43.3%

DEEPWATER
HABITATS

29,870,400 acres

7.4%

Figures 2. 3

Surface Area of Alaska and Lower 48 States

ALL SURFACE AREA

WETLANDS

NON-WETLANDS

2,108,718,600 acres
88.4%

^^^^^

WETLANDS

278,027,500 acres
11.6%

ALASKA WETLANDS LOWER 48

174,683,900 acres WETLANDS

62.8% 103,343,600 acrji

37.2%

Figure 4

Distribution of Alaska Wetlands by Region

INTERIOR

70,665,700 acres
40.4%

^^^^

SOUTHERN

9.051,200 acres
5.2%

COASTAL ZONE

2,190,600 acres
1.3%

4D WESTERN

92,776,400 acres
53.1%

19

Arctic Foothills

PALUSTRINE EMERGENT - SATUIUTED

The 25 physical subdivisions and four regions
appearing in the map on page 16 are shown

below with their respecti\ e total acreages and
wetland areas.

ALASKA PHYSICAL SUBDIVISIONS

PHYSICAL SUBDIVISION

Southeast Alaska Mountains
Southeast Alaska Lowlands
South Central Alaska Mountains
Cook Inlet -Susitna Lowland
Alaska Peninsula & Southwest Islands

TOTAL WETLAND WETLAND
ACRES ACRES PERCENT

(IN THOUSANDS OF ACRES)

7,023,9
11,128,4
26,375,7

9,442,0
15,748.6

84,4

3,835,5

739,4

2,644,5

1,747.4

Total - Interior Alaska

1.2
34.5

2.8
28.0
11.1

Total - Southern Alaska

69,718.6

9,051.2

13.0

Copper River Plateau

8,367.4

3,056.9

365

Alaska Range

18,197.4

1.339.5

7.4

Koyukuk-lnnoko Lowland

10,161.0

7,223.0

71.1

Kanuti Flats

1,339.0

1,023.7

76.5

Tanana-Kuskokwim Lowland

13,550.9

8,256.1

60.9

Yukon Flats

9,679.2

3,681.6

38.0

Kuskokwim Highlands

44,182.5

24,462.4

55.4

Interior Alaska Highlands

55,223.7

21,622.5

39.2

160,701.1 70,665.7 44.0

PHYSICAL SUBDIVISION

Norton Sound Highlands
Selawik-Kobuk Delta
Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta
Bristol Bay Coastal Plain
Bering Sea Islands
Brooks Range
Arctic Foothills
Arctic Coastal Plain

Total - Arctic & Western Alaska

Southeast Coastal Zone
South Central Coastal Zone
Western Coastal Zone
Northern Coastal Zone

TOTAL

WETLAND

WETLAND

ACRES

ACRES

PERCENT

(IN THOUSANDS OF ACRES)

34,652.3

18,320.1

52.9

3,149.6

2,384.0

75,7

15,860.3

12,477.0

78,7

6,067.5

3,331.8

54,9

2,8981

2,194.5

75,7

32,406.5

7,182.3

222

36,390.6

30,271.1

832

20,031.5

16,615.6

82.9

151,456.4

92,776.4

61.3

7,456.8

236.0

32

6,567.7

694.1

10.6

3,754.8

1,106.3

29.5

3,592.3

154.2

4.3

Total - Coastal Zone^

21,371.6 2,190.6 10.3

Total - Alaska

403,247.7 174,683.9 43.3

Coaslal Zone acreage is primarily estuarine sutitidal, a deepwater tiabital

20

Marine Intertidal Wetlands

The estimate of marine intertidal wetlands is
48,600 acres.

Estuarine Wetlands

The estimate of estuarine wetlands is 2,131,900
acres. This is smaller than the estimated
5,472,700 acres of estuarine wetlands in the
lower 48 states (See figure 5). As shown in
figures 6 and 7, the majorit)' of estuarine wetlands
in Alaska are nonvegetated; the vast majorit)' of
estuarine wetlands in the lower 48 states are
vegetated. Figure 8 shows the distribution of
Alaska estuarine wetlands by coastal subdivisions.

Figure 5

Estuarine Wetlands in Alaska
and the Lower 48 States

ALASKA

LOWER 48

ESTUARINE

ESTUARINE

WETLANDS

WETLANDS

2,1 31 ,900 acres

5,472,700 acres

28.0%

72.0%

Figure 6

Estuarine Wetlands in Alaska

Figure 7

Estuarine Wetlands in the Lower 48 States

NONVEGETATED

1,771,700 acres
83.1%

VEGETATED

360,200 acres
16.9%

NONVEGETATED

689,800 acres
12.6%

VEGETATED

4,782,900 acres
87.4%

Figure 8

Distribution of Alaska Estuarine Wetlands
by Coastal Subdivisions

21

Palustrine Wetlands

The estimate of palustrine wetlands is
172,503,400 acres. This represents 98.8 percent
of the wetlands in Alaska.

Palustrine Nonve^etated Wetlands

The estimate of palustrine nonvegetated wetlands
in Alaska is 2,670,200 acres. The lower 48 states
have 6,141,300 acres of palustrine nonvegetated
wetlands. In both cases, most of the area is open
water ponds. However, in the mid-lPSO's, there
was only an estimated 2,704,400 acres of palus-
trine nonvegetated wetlands in the lower 48
states. Most of the increase is due to pond
construction.

Palustrine Vegetated Wetlands

The estimate of palustrine vegetated wetlands is
169,833,200 acres. This is much larger than the
91,625,300 acres in the lower 48 states (See
figure 9). The distribution is quite different for
the two areas. In Alaska, the vast majorir\' of
palustrine vegetated \\'etlands are scrub/shrub
wetlands, and the smallest amount is forested
wetlands (See figure 10); in the lower 48 states,
the majority of palustrine vegetated wetlands are
forested wetlands, and the smallest amount is
scrub/shrub wetlands (See figure 11). The distri-
bution of palustrine vegetated wetlands in
Alaska's Southern, Interior, and Arctic and
Western regions is shown in figures 12, 13, and
14, respectively.

Cariboti herd, Arctic Coastal Plain

PALUSTRINE EMERGENT - FLOODED

22

BP EXPLORATION (ALASKA) INC

Figure 9

Palustrine Vegetated Wetlands in Alaska
and the Lower 48 States

ALASKA LOWER 48

169,833,200 acres 91 ,625,300 acres
65.0% 35.0%

Figure 10

Palustrine Vegetated Wetlands in Alaska

FORESTED

3,322,300 acres
7.9%

SCRUB/SHRUB

114,510,100 acres
67.4%

EMERGENT

. 42,000,800 acres
24.7%

Figure 11

Palustrine Vegetated Wetlands in the Lower 48 States

SCRUB/SHRUB

15,344,500 acres

16.7%

FORESTED

51,747,800 acres

56.5%

EMERGENT

24,533.000 acres i

26.8% i

Figures 12. 13, 14

Palustrine Vegetated Wetlands by Region

SOUTHERN

INTERIOR

ARCTIC & WESTERN

SCRUB/SHRUB

3,709,600 acres
42.0%

EMERGENT

1,842,700 acres

20 8% A FORESTED
13,290,600 acres
7.2%

SCRUB/SHRUB

58,752,900 acres
64.6%

31,184,700 acres
34.3%

FORESTED

1,042,400 acres
1.1%

23

Palustrine Emergent Wetlands
(Figures 15, 16)

The estimate of palustrine emergent wetlands is
42,000,800 acres. The amounts of saturated and
flooded wetlands are approximately equal.
Palustrine emergent wetlands are most common
in Arctic and Western Alaska, where three -
fourths of this type of wetland is found. Over 14
million acres of palustrine emergent \\'etlands are
found in the Arctic Coastal Plain, the only physi-
cal subdi\ision in Alaska with the majority of its
surface area in this single t)'pe. Oyer ti\'e million
acres of palustrine emergent wetlands are found
in the Yukon TCuskokwim Delta and also in the
Arctic Foothills.

Palustrine Scrttb/Shrub Wetlands
(Figures 17, 18)

The estimate of palustrine scrub/shrub wetlands
is 114,510,100 acres. Only 5.8 percent of these
wetlands are classified as flooded. Flooded palus-
trine scrub/shrub wetlands are most common in
the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, where about one-

fourth of the palustrine scrub/shrub wetlands are
flooded. Almost 97 percent of the palustrine
scrub/shrub wetlands are found in Interior
Alaska and Arctic and Western Alaska.
Subdi\'isions ha\'ing the most palustrine
scrub/shrub wetlands are the Arctic Foothills in
Ai-ctic and Western Alaska, with 24,548,300
acres; and, the Kuskokwim Highlands and the
Interior Alaska Highlands in Interior Alaska
with 18,858,900 aires and 16,348,900 acres,
respectiyely.

Palustrine Forested Wetlands
(Figures 19, 20)

The estimate of palustrine forested wetlands is
13,322,300 acres. Only 204,300 acres are classi-
fied as flooded. As shown earlier, palustrine
forested wetlands coxer relatively little area in
Alaska compared to the lower 48 states, where it
is the most abundant type of wetland.

Tnnnun-Kitskolnriiii Loivlnud

PAI.USTRINH SCRUB/SHRUB - HI.OODHn

24

Figures 15, 16
Palustrine Emergent Wetlands

SATURATED VS. FLOODED

DISTRIBUTION BY REGION

INTERIOR

8,973,400 acres
21.4%

SATURATED FLOODED

21,170,500 acres 20,830,300 acres
50.4% 49.6%

ARCTIC AND WESTERN

31,184,700 acres
74.2%

Figures 17, 18

Palustrine Scrub/Shrub Wetlands

SOUTHERN

1,842,700 acres
4.4%

SATURATED VS. FLOODED

DISTRIBUTION BY REGION

FLOODED

6,592,200 acres
5.8%

INTERIOR

52,047,600 acres
45.5%

ARCTIC AND WESTERN

58,752,900 acres
51.3%

SOUTHERN

3,709.600 acres
3.2%

Figures 19. 20

Palustrine Forested Wetlands

SATURATED VS. FLOODED

DISTRIBUTION BY REGION

FLOODED

204,300 acres
1.5%

ARCTIC AND WESTERN

1,042,400 acres
7.8%

25

DEEPWATER HABITATS

The estimate of deepwater habitats is 29,870,400
acres. Estuarine subtidal habitats cover approxi-
mately the same surface area in Alaska as in the
lower 48 states (See figure 21 ). 7\laska has much
less acreage in lacustrine deepwater habitats than
the lower 48 states; howe\'er, about rwo-thirds of
the lacustrine area in the lower 48 states is in the
Great Lakes.

OWNERSHIP

The detailed ownership information collected
during the study is presented in the summary
table in the Appendix. The information should
be used with caution, because the State of Alaska
and Nati\'es are continuing to receive lands
selected from the block of lands managed by the
Bureau of Land Management. This results in
major shifts in wetland acreages managed by the

affected groups. Other shifts have occurred
between groups due to land trades and acquisi-
tions, and con\'ersion of State lands to pri\'ate
ownership through homesteading and agricul-
tural programs.

Figure 22 shows the distribution of wetlands
among ownership/management categories. The
remaining figures show acreages for wetland cate-
gories managed by the Fish and Wildlife Semce,
the National Park Semce, and the Forest Semce.
Acreages in these groups ha\'e been relati\'ely sta-
ble over the past several years. As might be
expected, 1 ) the Fish and Wildlife Ser\'ice is man-
aging a greater proportion of emergent wetlands
than the other two agencies, and 2) the most
pre\'alent wetland categoiy under Forest Ser\'ice
management is palustrine forested.

Northwestern Lnjjoon, South Central Coastal Zone
ESTUARINE SUBTIDAL

26

Figure 21

Estuarine and Lacustrine Deepwater Habitats
in Alaska and the Lower 48 States

LOWER 48
ESTUARINE SUBTIDAL

18,882,400 acres
17.7%

ALASKA
ESTUARINE SUBTIDAL

19,152,400 acres
18.0%

ALASKA
LACUSTRINE

10,718,000 acres
10.0%

Figure 23

Wetlands under Management by Fish and Wildlife Service

Figure 22

Distribution of Wetlands by Ownership/Management

OTHERS

564,700 acres
0.3%

I

STATE

1 40,270,200 acres
23.0%

NATIVE —

19,575,000 acres
11.2%

FOREST SERVICE —

3,827,100 acres
2.2%

BUREAU OF
LAND MANAGEMENT

58,824,900 acres
33.7%

^ FISH AND
WILDLIFE SERVICE

38.362,300 acres
22.0%

NATIONAL
PARK SERVICE

13,259,700 acres
7.6%

f PALUSTRINE

SCRUB/SHRUB

24,151,900 acres
62.9%

PALUSTRINE
EMERGENT

11,531,800 acres
30.1%

, PALUSTRINE
/ FORESTED

/ 1,492,900 acres
3.9%

^ OTHER
WETLANDS

1,185.700 acres

3.1%

Figure 24

Wetlands under Management by National Park Service

Figure 25

Wetlands under Management by Forest Service

PALUSTRINE
SCRUB/SHRUB

/ 11,332,900 acres
85.5%

, PALUSTRINE
/ EMERGENT
1,034,400 acres
7.8%

y PALUSTRINE
FORESTED

780,500 acres
5.9%
\
OTHER

WETLANDS

11.900 acres
0.8%

PALUSTRINE ,
EMERGENT ^

370.000 acres

9.7%

PALUSTRINE
SCRUB/SHRUB

745,600 acres
19.5%

OTHER
WETLANDS

61 ,800 acres
1 .6%

PALUSTRINE
FORESTED

2,649,700 acres
69.2%

27

'•-. /\^ Vf

vsasr-

•^"^:.. ^,

%-r'i

iif^^

•,;»^

■"'=♦

^^

r-^ \^j

^

^

'

•'.-r^-

:'■. •*"

•^*^

1 "•'

?

/

-i^-^^

p

^.

v^

%"

\wj%. •

^

'"^^*'

:«^'

v"^" "

k

#

-t' !»,

.VAR^-

'-1i,

• "■-^.

CHAPTER SIX

In Conclusion

J.his survey provides an estimate of 174,683,900
acres of wetlands in Alaska, dominated by palus-
trine vegetated wetlands. Alaska contains 63 per-
cent of the total wetland acreage in the United
States (excluding Hawaii). While widespread wet-
land losses have been relatively low in Alaska,
specific localities have sustained significant losses
(Alaska Dept. of Natural Resources 1993).

Results of this study provide the basis for future
studies of wetland trends. One of the first trends
that could be studied is the change in the owner-
ship/management of wetlands resulting from
continuing land transfers involving federal agen-
cies, Natives, and the State of Alaska. The sample
units used in this study could be reclassified by
ownership at some future date to provide more
current information.

Continual monitoring of surface area use and
changes in use is needed to provide the basis for
wise decisions. This report is the result of one
such method of monitoring initiated by the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Sendee. The results in
this report provide wetland information similar
to 1 ) the forest and range information required
by the Forest and Rangeland Renewable
Resources Planning Act, and 2) information on
soil, water, and related resources requireci by the
Soil and Water Resource Consenation Act. The
results can be updated in the future on the sched-
ule required b\' those Acts.

left: Black spruce, Tanana-Kuskokwim Lowland

PALUSTRINE FORESTED - SATURATED

J HALL

rdghf. Moose, Cook Inlet - Snsitna Lowland

PALUSTRINE EMERGENT FLOODED

29

■^

■^ Jh.

Literature Cited

Alaska Department of Commerce and Economic
Development. 1992. Seafood Industiy Sector
Report. State of Alaska, Dept. of Commerce and
Econ. Dev., Div. of Business Dev. 181 pp.

Alaska Department of Education. 1991. Alaska
Blue Book 1991-1992, Ninth Ed. State of
Alaska, Dept. of Educ, Div. of State Libraries,
Archives, and Museums. 369 pp.

Alaska Department of Natural Resources. 1993.
Alaska's outdoor legacy: statewide comprehensi\e
outdoor recreation plan, 1992-1996. State of
Alaska, Dept. of Natural Resources. 80 pp.

Anderson, James R., Earnest E. Hardy, John T.
Roach, and Richard E. Witmer. 1976. A land use
and cover classification system for use with
remote sensor data. U. S. Geol. Sun'. Prof Paper
964. 22 pp.

Cowardin, L. M., V. Carter, F. C. Golet, and E.
T. LaRoe. 1979. Classification of wetlands and
deepwater habitats of the E^nited States. U. S.
FishWildl. Sen'. 103 pp.

Dahl, T. E. 1990. Wetland losses in the United
States, 1780's to 1980's. U. S. Fish Wildl. Sen'.
21 pp.

Dahl, T. E., and C. E. Johnson. 1991. Status and
trends of wetlands in the conterminous United
States, mid-1970's to mid-1980's. U. S. Fish
Wildl. Sen'. 28 pp.

Ellanna, L. J., and P. C. Wheeler. 1986.
Subsistence use of wetlands in Alaska.
In: Alaska Regional Wetland Fimctions -
Proceedings of a Workshop. The En\'ironmental
Institute, Univ. of Mass. pp 85-103.

Frayer, W. E., T. J. Monahan, D. C. Bowden,
and F. A. Graybill. 1983. Status and trends of
wetlands and deepwater habitats in the contermi-
nous United States, 1950's to 1970's. Colo.
State Univ. 32 pp.

Frayer, W. E., and Dennis Peters. 1989.
Wetlands of the California Central Vallev: Status
and trends, 1939 to mid-1980's. U. S. Fish
Wildl. Sen'. 28 pp.

Frayer, W. E. 1991. Status and trends of
wetlands and deepwater habitats in the
conterminous United States, 1970\s to 1980's.
Mich. Technological Univ. 32 pp.

Frayer, W. E., and John Hefner. 1991. Florida
wetlands: Status and trends, 1970's to 1980's.
U. S FishWildl. Sen'. 32 pp.

Iving, J. G., and C. J. Lensink. 1971. An
evaluation of Alaska habitat for migratoiy birds.
Unpublished report. Bureau of Sport Fisheries
and Wildlife, Wash., D. C. 72 pp.

Lensink, C. J., and D. V. Derksen. 1986.
Evaluation of Alaska wetlands for waterfowl.
In: Alaska Regional Wetland Functions -
Proceedings of a Workshop. The F^n\'ironmental
Institute, Univ. of Mass. pp. 45-84.

Rieger, Samuel, Dale B. Schoephorster and
Clarence E. Furbush. 1979. Exploraton' soil
sunev of Alaska. U. S. Dept. Agr. Soil Cons.
Sen'. 213 pp.

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Senice. 1985.
Izembek National Wildlife Refuge - comprehen-
sive consenation plan. U. S. Fish Wildl. Sen.,
Ajichorage, Alaska. 270 pp.

left: Stikinc River Delta, Southeast Alaska Lowlands

PALUSTRINE EMERGENT - ELOODED

31

Appendix

Jllystimates produced include acreages with asso-
ciated standard errors. Many estimates are not
considered reliable enough to recommend their
use for making decisions. An indication is given
of the reliabilit\' of each estimated acreage in the
summaiy tables included in this appendix. The
standard error of each entry expressed as a per-
centage of the entr\' (SE%) is given in parenthe-
ses. Reliabilit)' can be stated generally as "we are
68 percent confident that the true value is within
the inten'al constructed by adding to and sub-
tracting from the entry the SE%/100 times the
entr)'." For example, if an entr\' is one million
acres and the SE% is 20, then we are 68 percent
confident that the true value is between 800,000
and 1,200,000 acres. An equivalent statement for
95 percent confidence can be made by adding
and subtracting twice the amount to and from
the entr)'.

Therefore, a large SE% indicates low rcliabilit}', if
any, in the estimate. In fact, if the SE% is 100 or
greater, we cannot e\en sa\' that we are 68 per-
cent confident that the true value is not zero.

This discussion on reliability' is meant to aid in
interpretation of the study results. It was expect-
ed that only certain estimates would be precise
enough to be meaningful. However, all entries
arc included in the summar)' table for additi\'it}'
and ease of comparison.

Seaside plantain,
Anchorage., South Central Coastal Zone

KSTLIARINK INTKRTIDAI. VKGKTA TKD

Estimates were produced for categories described
in Chapter Three. These estimates are summa-
rized on the next page. Totals for columns are
estimates of total acreage by ownership/manage-
ment classification category'. Row totals (the
extreme right column) are estimates of total
acreage by surface area category'. Entries are
interpreted as in the following examples (all from
the seconci and tenth columns of the table):

•• 11,531,800 acres classified as palustrine
emergent are managed by the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Serx'ice.

•• 42,000,800 acres are classified as palustrine
emergent.

• • 24,1 5 1 ,900 acres classified as palustrine

scrub/shrub are managed by U. S. Fish
and WildHfe Senice.

• • The estimate of palustrine forested area is

13,322,300 acres.

•• The estimated area of wetlands and

dccpwater habitats is 204,554,300 acres.

32

TABLE 1. Area, in thousands of acres, by surface area classification.
Sampling error, in percent, is given in parentheses below estimate.

OWNERSHIP CLASSIFICATION

FEDERAL

ALL
FEDERAL

NATIVE

STATE

OTHER

ALL
OWNER-
SHIPS

BUREAU
OF LAND
MGMT.

FISH AND
WILDLIFE
SERVICE

NATIONAL

PARK
SERVICE

FOREST
SERVICE

OTHER
FEDERAL

1

i A
L
L

W
E
T

[L
A
N

S

MARINE INTERTIDAL WETLANDS

0

2.9

(42 9)

0

0

0

2.9

(42 9)

0

45.7

(31.1)

0

48.6

(29.7)

ESTUARINE
INTERTIDAL

NON-VEGETATED

0.6

(75.2)

58.0

(44.0)

5.2

(72.2)

0.1

(55.0)

1.3

(93.2)

65.2

(39.6)

7.5

(532)

1698.0

(7,9)

1.0

(949)

1771.7

(7.6)

VEGETATED

5.6

(45.6)

52.6

(36.3)

0.9

(54.6)

23.6

(46.6)

4.5

(87.0)

87.2

(25.8)

17.0

(37.4)

255.9

(18.2)

0.1

(95.0)

360.2

(14,3)

ESTUARINE WETLANDS

6.2

(419)

110.6

(30.3)

6.1

(69.4)

23.7

(464)

5.8

(71.8)

152.4

(23.5)

24.5

(33.2)

1953.9

(7.4)

1.1

(94.9)

2131,9

(7.1)

P
A

UNCONSOLIDATED
SHORE

5.4

(546)

15.3

(83.1)

0.1

(81.0)

<0.1

(100.0)

0

20.8

(62.8)

1.0

(58,1)

11.2

(46.3)

0

33.0

(42.5)

OPEN WATER

489.8

(9.4)

992.6

(7.4)

103.3

(20.3)

37.6

(31.0)

0.4

(99.5)

1623.7

(5.4)

549.4

(13.7)

336.4

(10.2)

1.5

(60.7)

2511.0

(4.1)

AQUATIC BEDS

13.1

(30.5)

64.3

(22.8)

2.4

(59.8)

0.5

(55.2)

0

80.3

(18.9)

24.4

(24.2)

20.7

(24.8)

0.8

(99.3)

126.2

(13.4)

L

NON-VEGETATED

508.3

(9.2)

1072.2

(7.3)

105.8

(20.0)

38.1

(30.1)

0.4

(99.5)

1724.8
(5.4)

574.8

(13.3)

368.3

(10.0)

2.3

(70.3)

2670.2

(4.0)

U

EMERGENT -
SATURATED

8252.2

(104)

5956.6

(115)

357.1

(57 7)

205.9

(19.6)

0.1

(75,7)

14771.9

(7,4)

1909.2

(16.4)

4483.0

(15.5)

6.4

(66.4)

21170.5

(5.9)

EMERGENT -
FLOODED

6582.4

(8.1)

5575.2

(9.2)

677.3

(24.5)

164.1

(78.1)

2.5

(88.7)

13001.5

(5.6)

3229.4

(12.2)

4586.0

(9.8)

13.4

(78.1)

20830.3

(3.9)

s

EMERGENT

14834.6

(7.4)

11531.8

(8.0)

1034.4

(26.1)

370.0

(36.8)

2.6

(84.1)

27773.4

(5.0)

5138.6

(10.8)

9069.0

(10.3)

19.8

(57,9)

42000.8

(3.5)

T
R

SCRUB/SHRUB -
SATURATED

38243.3

(5.4)

22132.0

(66)

10774.9

(14.3)

683.7

(178)

222.2

(52.7)

72056.1

(3.7)

12064.3

(10.4)

23708.9

(7.0)

88.6

(49.2)

107917.9

(2.4)

SCRUB/SHRUB -
FLOODED

1372.3

(10.9)

2019.9

(12.5)

558.0

(18,4)

61.9

(55.9)

36.1

(83.6)

4048.2

(7.6)

955.7

(20.8)

1566.3

(109)

22.0

(558)

6592.2

(5.9)

SCRUB/SHRUB

39615.6

(5.3)

24151.9

(63)

11332.9

(140)

745.6

(195)

258.3

(48 2)

76104.3

(36)

13020.0

(100)

25275.2

(6.8)

110.6

(491)

114510.1

(2.3)

1
N

FORESTED -
SATURATED

3827.9

(16.2)

1462.8

(16.8)

767.1

(43.5)

2631.2

(11.0)

103.7

(65.8)

8792.7

(8.9)

792.3

(22,1)

3483.9

(12,7)

49.1

(44.4)

13118.0

(6.7)

FORESTED -
FLOODED

32.3

(38.2)

30.1

(62.6)

13.4

(62.6)

18.5

(42.4)

2.3

(99.4)

96.6

(26.1)

24.8

(58.5)

74.2

(58.3)

8.7

(76.6)

204.3

(25.7)

E

FORESTED

3860.2

(16.1)

1492.9

(16.8)

780.5

(42,8)

2649.7

(10.9)

106.0

(64.5)

8889.3

(8.9)

817.1

(22.1)

3558.1

(12.5)

57.8

(42.1)

13322.3

(6.6)

VEGETATED

58310.4

(4.3)

37176.6

(5.2)

13147.8

(13.1)

3765.3

(11.3)

366.9

(44.9)

112767.0

(2,8)

18975.7

(8 5)

37902.3

(5.7)

188.2

(43.3)

169833.2

(1.6)

PALUSTRINE WETLANDS

58818.7

(43)

38248.8

(5,1)

13253.6

(130)

3803.4

(112)

367.3

(44 9)

114491.8

(2,7)

19550.5

(85)

38270.6

(56)

190.5

(435)

172503.4

(1.6)

ALL WETLANDS

58824.9

(4.3)

38362.3

(5.1)

13259.7

(13.0)

3827.1

(11.2)

373.1

(44.2)

114647.1

(2.7)

19575.0

(8.5)

40270.2

(5.4)

191.6
(43.2)

174683.9
(1.6)

ESTUARINE SUBTIDAL

0.7

(64.3)

40.7

(65.1)

<0.1

(95.0)

<0.1

(95.7)

865.2

(14.4)

906.6

(14.0)

3.9

(44.1)

18224.6
(1.0)

17.3
(95.0)

19152.4

(0.8)

LACUSTRINE

2496.5

(12.8)

2733.4

(12.5)

179.6

(281)

350.4

(38,5)

0

5759.9

(85)

1435.3

(157)

3519.7

(179)

3.1

(992)

10718.0

(7.5)

DEEPWATER HABITATS

2497.2

(12,8)

2774.1

(12.3)

179.6

(28.1)

350.4

(38.5)

865.2

(14.4)

6666.5

(7.6)

1439.2

(15.6)

21744.3

(3.0)

20.4

(82.0)

29870.4

(2.7)

WETLANDS AND
DEEPWATER HABITATS

61322.1

(4.2)

41136.4

(5.0)

13439.3

(12,8)

4177.5

(10.2)

1238.3

(16,7)

121313.6

(2.7)

21014.2

(7 9)

62014.5

(3,5)

212.0

(39.9)

204554.3

(1.3)

/