Type 5 Wetlands: Inland Open Freshwater
Most often enjoyed by people for canoeing, hunting, and fishing, open freshwater wetlands are an accessible source of recreation and viewing plant and animal species.
Understanding Inland Open Freshwater Wetlands
Open freshwater wetlands include shallow ponds and reservoirs less than 10 feet in depth with a border of emergent vegetation. Type 5 wetlands provide floodwater detention, wildlife and fish habitat, and recreation, including hunting, fishing, and canoeing.
Characteristics Specific to Inland Open Freshwater Wetlands
Soil Profile: Open freshwater wetlands contain mineral soils that can have a blue, green, or grayish color. If any organic soil exists, it can have a hydrogen sulfate smell.
Vegetation: Open freshwater wetlands contain herbaceous emergent, floating, and submerged vegetation including pondweed, naiad, coontail, water milfoil, duckweed, waterlily and spatterdock. Broad-lead cattail, giant bur-reed, bulrushes, wild rice, arrowhead, common bladderwort, and species of pondweed can be found as well.
Fauna: Open freshwater wetlands support species of migratory birds and fish.
Functions & Benefits
As with all wetlands found in Minnesota, inland open water provides a number of different ecological services and economic opportunities. Highlighted below is a list of benefits that a Type 5 wetland offers:
Flood Mitigation & Erosion Control: Wetlands serve as a filter and collector of water. Open freshwater wetlands hold large amounts of water throughout the year and mitigate flooding.
Water Quality & Infiltration: Existent vegetation in these wetlands helps filter and absorb polluted surface water runoff.
Habitat & Species Diversity: As noted previously, wetlands provide a habitat for a diverse range of species, helping continue migration and mating.
Economic & Recreational Value: These wetlands provide many economic and recreational values to people for hunting, fishing, and canoeing.
Mitigation Partners, Inc. Founders Dax Dickson & Tory Christensen
Sources:
https://chisagoswcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Wetland-Types.pdf
https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/classification-and-types-wetlands#undefined
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/wetlands/index.html
https://www.cloquetmn.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/24/636687333132570000
https://www.millelacsswcd.org/wetlands/
