Estuarine, intertidal, mud, lagoon, eulittoral
This category is found in the quietest waters at the heads of inlets and in areas mostly cut off from inlets by spits. The sediment is very soft and organic-rich and often anaerobic. Eelgrass and its associated invertebrate, fish, and bird fauna are less common in these habitats.
Habitat attributes
Class ID:
83
Class name:
Estuarine, intertidal, mud, lagoon, eulittoral
Length:
126.0 km (in WA)
Primary substrate:
Mud
Secondary substrate:
Tertiary substrate:
Substrate stability:
Mobile
Substrate key details:
Few stable surface features
Wave exposure:
Protected, Very protected
Blue book classes:
Estuarine intertidal mud: Partly enclosed and enclosed
Map/survey site examples:
Garrison Bay, Eld Inlet, Penn Cove Lagoon
Fish sampling sites:
Diagnostic species:
- Macoma nasuta
- Macoma balthica
- Upogebia pugettensis
- Schoenoplectus maritimus
- Triglochin maritima
- Carex lyngbyei
- Leptocottus armatus
- Lumpenus sagitta
- Parophrys vetulus
- Cymatogaster aggregata
- Platichthys stellatus
VEC common associates:
Zostera marina
Mya arenaria
Cancer spp.
Crassostrea gigas
Species notes:
Habitat classification system:
Type:
Map link:
