Shoreline Habitat Classification
Estuarine, intertidal, organic, open, eulittoral
This category includes marsh habitat that can form just at the high water mark on beaches with some wave energy; it is an uncommon type because generally 'open' beaches with substantial wave energy have sandy rather than organic substrate, and dune grass rather than marsh vegetation.
Class ID
85
Class name
Estuarine, intertidal, organic, open, eulittoral
Length
6.00
Primary substrate
Organic
Secondary substrate
Mud
Substrate stability
Stabilized by vegetation
Substrate key details
No stable surface features
Wave exposure
Protected, Very protected
Blue book classes
Estuarine intertidal organic: Partly enclosed - Marshes [variety of river and creek deltas]
Map/survey site examples
Inner Fidalgo Bay; mouth of Skokomish River
Fish sampling sites
Beach seine: Fidalgo Bay
Diagnostic species
Deschampsia beringensis
Distichlis spicata
Salicornia depressa
Argentina egedii
Juncus arcticus
Calamagrostis nutkaensis
Leptocottus armatus
Hypomesus pretiosus
Platichthys stellatus
Oligocottus maculosus
Gasterosteus aculeatus