M Meadow Treeless area deaminated by herbaceous plants in response to improved moisture conditions (in 
relation to the general climate) from snow melt, seepage and/or high water tables for at least part 
of the year. 
Mg 1. Grassy M. A meadow dominated by narrow-leaved (grass-like) herbs, with less than 25% of cover of 
broadleaved plants. 
Mf 2. Forb M. A meadow dominated by broadleaved herbs (forbs) with more than 25% of cover formed by 
broadleaved herbs. 
(Meadow may be further classified by species composition.) 
S Savannah 
ST Steppe 
SH Shrubs 
Areas virtually devoid of trees and dominated by drought-tolerant shrubs, with herbs and grasses 
forming the under story. 
Areas virtually devoid of trees and shrubs and dominated by drought tolerant grasses and herbs. 
Areas dominated by shrubs (not drought-tolerant). 
SHh 1. 
High 
> 1.5 m tall 
SHhd 
a. 
Dense 
> 59% cover by vertical projection of all shrubs 
SHho 
b. 
Open 
25% - 59% cover 
SHI 2. 
Low 
< 1.5 m tall 
SHld 
a. 
Dense 
> 59% cover 
SHlo 
b. 
Open 
25% - 59% cover 
(Shrubs may be 
further classified by species composition.) 
W Wetland 
Swamps, marshes, fens, bogs or inundated ares with emergent wetland vegetation. 
Wb 
Wf 
Wm 
Ws 
W t 
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
Wetland Bog 
Wetland Fen 
Wet. Marsh 
Wet. Swamp 
a.Treed 
(Wetland may be 
Organic substrate covered by ombrotrophic (mineral-poor, rain fed) mosses. 
Organic substrate covered by minerotrophic (mineral-rich, groundwater-fed) sedges. 
Mineral substrate inundated for significant portions of the year, supporting herbaceous vegetation. 
Mineral substrate inundated for significant portions of the year, supporting woody vegetation which 
is dominate over the herbaceous vegetation. 
As above but including up to 24% tree cover, 
further classified by species composition.) 
OW Open Water 
Water deeper than 2 m without aquatic vegetation. 
SW 
SWv 
Shallow Water 
1. Aquatic Veg. 
(Water may be 
Water less than 2 m without aquatic vegetation. 
Shallow water with submerged and/or floating aquatic plants present, 
further classified as clear or sediment laden) 
L 
Logged 
Areas devoid of trees because of recent logging with less than 10% cover of merchantable trees 
Lp 
1. 
Selective 
remaining. 
Partial or selective logging with more than 10% cover of merchantable trees remaining. 
Lw 
2. 
Slash 
Areas recently logged and dominated by more than 24% cover of exposed (visible above any 
Ls 
3. 
Bare Soil 
vegetation) dead wood or logging slash. 
Areas recently logged with more than 24% exposed rock or disturbed soil. 
Lr 
4. 
Regen. 
Areas of recent logging where there is a regenerating crop tree species present. 
Lrd 
a. Dense 
> 24% cover of crop tree species present 
Lro 
b. Open 
<25% cover of crop tree species present 
(Logged areas may be further classified by the vegetation present as noted above for Meadow and Shrub classes and 
by the regenerating crop tree species.) 
B 
Burned 
Areas devoid of trees because of recent fire with less than 10 cover of merchantable trees 
remaining. 
(subdivisions as for Logged above) 
C Cultivated Lands used for agricultural crop production (more fully separated by utilizing present land use 
classification). 
(Cultivated may be further subdivided by state of cultivation and crop.) 
OR Orchard/Vineyard Typically an agricultural area used for growing hard and soft fruit crops, with some form of 
symmetrical arrangement of the trees, shrubs or vines. 
(Orchard/Vineyard may be further subdivided by crop.) 
R Rock 
Rt 1. Talus 
Rd 2. Disturbed 
G Glacier 
U Urban 
Ur 1. Residential 
Bedrock areas devoid of vegetation (except certain pioneer lichen and mosses). 
Talus areas, rubbly or blocky colluvial areas, at the base of rock outcrops or escarpments. 
Nonvegetated areas such as gravel pits and other recently disturbed surfaces. 
Glaciers or snowfields, areas where snowfall exceeds melting. These areas may or may not show 
evidence of past or present glacier movement. 
Urban areas (more fully separated by utilizing present land use classification). 
Residential areas.