Cowardin classification system

The Cowardin classification system is a system for classifying wetlands, devised by Lewis M. Cowardin et al. in 1979 for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The system includes five main types of wetlands: The primary purpose of this ecological classification system was to establish consistent terms and definitions used in inventory of wetlands and to provide standard measurements for mapping these lands.
 * 1) Marine wetlands- which are areas exposed to the open ocean
 * 2) Estuarine wetlands- partially enclosed by land and also exposed to a mixture of fresh and salt water bodies of water
 * 3) Riverine wetlands- associated with flowing water
 * 4) Lacustrine wetlands- associated with a lake or other body of fresh water
 * 5) Palustrine wetlands- freshwater wetlands not associated with a river or lake.