RIVERINE (SYSTEMS)

Open-water habitats. Typically include all open water areas that occur within a defined channel of a stream as well as along perennial and intermittent stretches of streams and along some major dry washes. In some cases, riverine systems are bounded by Palustrine Wetlands that develop in the floodplain on either side of the defined channel. The riverine system and the adjacent palustrine wetlands are often referred to as Riparian Habitat. Also see Wetlands and Wetlands, Paulustrine. (See Appendix W-3 for an explanation of the Wetland and Deepwater Habitat Classification System and more detailed information on these Systems.)