Wetlands Classification System: Palustrine Wetlands

Palustrine Wetlands have the following characteristics:

  • Areas dominated by trees, shrubs, persistent emergent, and emergent mosses or lichens
    • Emergent plants are rooted plants with leaves and stems which extend out of the water
  • Salinity due to ocean-derived salts is less than 0.5 ppt
  • Accounts for more than 90 percent of all wetlands in the United States.
Image of wetlands with waterfowl.