What's in a name

What's the difference between a marsh, an estuary, and a creek? Click on red text to view definitions or descriptions.

Certain bodies of water can be difficult to define. Each person, depending on their location, use of the water, and personal background, may call it something different. Below we've provided definitions and corresponding photos to better assist in understanding our area waters.

Creeks are natural streams of water normally smaller than, and often a tributary to, a river.

Marshes can be categorized as deep water marshes or shallow water marshes (shown right). A deep water marsh is anywhere from 6 in. to 3 ft. deep and dominated by submergent, floating leaf, and emergent plants.

Alternatively, shallow water marshes are up to 6 in. deep and have standing water throughout the growing season. It is usually dominated by cattails, bulrush, arrowhead, and lake sedges.

In the past, estuary science focused on areas where freshwater from a river mixes with saltwater from the ocean. Another estuary type, the freshwater estuary, is recognized as the intersection of a freshwater river and large freshwater lake. A freshwater estuary carries many definitions, however there are three common characteristics are frequently used to define these systems. They include:

1. Drowned river mouth
2. Zone where lake and river waters mix;
3. Influence from seiche or wind tides.
4. A fourth characteristic that some, but not all, freshwater estuaries have is a bar or spit that partially encloses the river mouth.

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