The Canadian Wetland Classification System has been developed by the National Wetlands Working Group to classify the wetlands of Canada. This system is based on ecological parameters that influence the growth and development of wetlands. The parameters are both biotic (fauna, flora, peat) and abiotic (hydrology, water quality, basin morphology, climate, bedrock, soil). The Scotty Creek analysis utilized as classification descriptors the following wetland classification terminology (www.h2ospac.wq.ncsu.edu/ info/wetlands/index.html)

Bogs are waterlogged peat lands in old lake basins or depressions in the landscape, forming where peat accumulation exceeds decomposition as a result of a high water table and climatic conditions. Bogs are precipitation dominated because the accumulated peat formations elevate the system surface elevation sufficiently relative to the surrounding landscape that there are few or no surface inflows. Since bogs do not receive nutrients or organic matter transported by surface water, due to a closed drainage system, they have low rates of primary productivity and decomposition. However, some bogs may act as headwaters supplying water to downstream reaches and recharge ground water.

Fens are peat-accumulating wetlands that form at low points in the landscape or near slopes where ground water intercepts the soil surface. Water levels are fairly constant all year because the water supply is provided by ground water inputs. Fens, like bogs, tend to be glacial in origin. Fens are dominated by herbaceous plants, such as grasses and sedges, typically lack the Sphagnum moss that predominates in bogs, and look like meadows. In addition to their ground water inputs and precipitation, fens may receive runoff and other surface water. They tend to contribute more to down gradient surface water supplies, than do bogs because of additional ground and surface water inputs to fens. See pictures of fens and definition: http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/wetlands/facts/fens.html

Marshes are one of the broadest categories of wetlands and in general nurse the greatest biological diversity. They are characterized by shallow standing or slowly moving water, little or no peat deposition and mineral soils. Marshes are dominated by floating-leafed plants (such as water lilies and duckweed) or emergent soft-stemmed aquatic plants (such as cattails, arrowheads, reeds, and sedges). Marshes form in depressions in the landscape, as fringes around lakes, and along slow-flowing streams and rivers. Marshes receive most of their water from surface water, including streams, runoff, and overbank flooding; however, they receive inputs from ground water as well.

Swamps are wetlands where standing or gently moving waters occur seasonally or persist for longer periods. The water may also be present as a subsurface flow of mineralized water.

According to Hall (1998) in general, the northern areas can be classified into:

Conifer (Wet)
Primarily black spruce and jack pine on three major different soil substrates:
(i) moderately well drained soils with feather moss over clay,
(ii) poorly drained soils with sphagnum on clay or
(iii) sparsely treed fens with a very deep moss layer.
Overstory biomass density varies considerably within this class.

Conifer (Dry)
Dry Conifer is an area that contains coniferous trees (primarily jack pine) with a lichen (cladina) background. These areas have sandy soils that are well drained. Areas of permafrost supporting conifers with a lichen background are also included in this class.

Mixed Deciduous and Coniferous
Mixed Deciduous and Coniferous contains coniferous and aspen/birch (populus tremuloides/betula papyrifera) trees. The composition of this class contains less than 80% of the dominant species. Deciduous

The Deciduous class contains primarily aspen/birch.
The composition of this class is generally greater than 80% deciduous trees.

Fen
The Fen/Bog class is characterized by areas with a water table very near or at the surface. Fens experience lateral water transport whereas bogs are enclosed landforms experiencing only vertical transport. Fens typically contain sedges, moss, and bog birch associated with sparse to medium dense tamarack (larix laricina) stands. Bogs are usually treeless.

Water
Water bodies such as ponds, lakes, and streams.

Disturbed
The Disturbed class consists of areas that are dominated by bare soil, recently logged areas, or rock outcrops. This class also includes roads, airports, and urban areas.

Fire Blackened Areas
Areas that have been burned in the last 5 or 6 years. Distinguishable for their charred sphagnum background they are usually areas of very intense burn where little or no vegetation survived.

New Regeneration Conifer
This class consists primarily of conifers that are regrowing after a burn. It may also include conifer stands where there are a few remaining trees after a low- to medium-intensity burn.

Medium-Age Regeneration Conifer
Areas that are predominantly young jack pine or young black spruce. This class typically occurs in stands that were cleared or burned and have been growing back for approximately 10 years.

New Regeneration Deciduous
This class consists of aspen that is starting to regrow after a recent clearing. This class is younger than the young aspen class. The aspen in this class may also include grasses or other herbaceous vegetation.

Medium-Age Regeneration Deciduous
This class consists of areas that were cleared or burned and have been growing back as aspen. These stands typically contain 10 year old aspen where the background is almost completely obscured and thinning has not yet taken place.

Grass
This class consists primarily of grasses, agricultural fields that have been planted, or shrub-like vegetation.