SALINITY MODIFIERS
Used in Wetland and Deepwater Habitat Classification System
Coastal
Modifiers1		Salinity	Approximate
	Inland	(parts per	Specific Conductance
	Modifiers2	thousand)	(µMhos @25°C)
Hyperhaline	Hypersaline	>40	>60,000
Euhaline	Eusaline	30.0–40.0	45,000–60,000
Mixohaline (Brackish)	Mixosaline3	0.5–30.0	800–45,000
Polyhaline	Polysaline	18.0–30.0	30,000–45,000
Mesohaline	Mesosaline	5.0–18.0	8,000–30,000
Oligohaline	Oligosaline	0.5–5.0	800–8,000
Fresh	Fresh	<0.5	<800
1 Coastal Modifiers are used in the Marine and Estuarine Systems.
2 Inland Modifiers are used in the Riverine, Lacustrine, and Palustrine Systems.
3 The term Brackish should not be used for inland wetlands or deepwater habitats.
Source:  Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States, December 1979 (Reprinted 1992), U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Biological Services, Washington, D.C., 20240.