Site navigation

Typology

The Queensland Wetland Classification Scheme applies wetland attributes from which various wetland types can be derived for a range of wetland management purposes. Grouping wetlands into meaningful, discrete types can be challenging. The grouping of wetlands into relevant types that are more like each other than others is necessary and very useful for a variety of reasons, e.g. for management, monitoring and regulation.

Quick facts

One size: does not fit all when dividing wetlands into types. Wetland types developed for one purpose will not necessarily be the same types as those developed for other purposes. A primary focus on biodiversity might provide types which recognise the importance for biodiversity. These would not be the types a farmer might need for assessing the grazing potential of wetlands.

Queensland Wetland Types

Purpose and scale

The Queensland wetland classification scheme includes a typology for swamps (palustrine wetlands), lakes (lacustrine wetlands), rivers (riverine wetlands), and vegetated intertidal wetlands above mean sea level. This typology is designed to support general management and planning purposes at a habitat level.

Development of the typology

To develop general management guidelines and conceptual models for broad wetland types in Queensland, several workshops were held with key stakeholders to determine how to select, combine and split attributes to result in ecologically meaningful wetland types. Not all attributes were needed for this typology and different attributes can be combined and split for different typology outcomes. 

Note: Determination of wetland habitat is a hierarchical process. Where a wetland may have characteristics of more than one wetland habitat type, use the 'Priority determination' to identify the appropriate wetland habitat type. Multiple wetland habitat types with the same priority determination represent types with mutually exclusive categories.

Lacustrine / Arid and semi-arid

Wetland system	Lacustrine
Climate region	Arid and semi-arid

Wetland habitat types
	LA17	LA14	LA15	LA16b	LA16a
Situated on a floodplain	Any	Any	Floodplain	Non-floodplain	Non-floodplain
Flora composition	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any
Flora growth form	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any
Groundwater flow system	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any
Salinity of water	Any	Saline	Non-saline	Non-saline	Non-saline
Source aquifer	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any
Substrate composition	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any
Substrate grain size	Any	Any	Any	Clay	Other
Permanence of water	Permanent	Non-permanent	Non-permanent	Non-permanent	Non-permanent
Priority determination	1	2	3	4	5

Wetland habitat codes
Code	Wetland habitat name	Description
LA17	Arid and semi-arid permanently inundated lakes	Arid and semi-arid permanently inundated lakes refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: lacustrine wetland system; arid and semi-arid climate; and permanent inundation.
LA14	Arid and semi-arid saline lakes	Arid and semi-arid saline lakes refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: lacustrine wetland system; arid and semi-arid climate; non-permanent inundation; and saline water.
LA15	Arid and semi-arid floodplain lakes	Arid and semi-arid floodplain lakes refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: lacustrine wetland system; arid and semi-arid climate; non-permanent inundation; non-saline water; and situated on a floodplain.
LA16b	Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain clay pan lakes	Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain clay pan lakes refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: lacustrine wetland system; arid and semi-arid climate; non-permanent inundation; non-saline water; not situated on a floodplain; and clay substrate.
LA16a	Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain lakes	Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain lakes refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: lacustrine wetland system; arid and semi-arid climate; non-permanent inundation; non-saline water; not situated on a floodplain; and non-clay substrate.

Lacustrine / Coastal and sub-coastal

Wetland system	Lacustrine
Climate region	Coastal and sub-coastal

Wetland habitat types
	LC06	LC07	LC08	LC08b	LC08a	LC09
Situated on a floodplain	Floodplain	Non-floodplain	Non-floodplain	Non-floodplain	Non-floodplain	Non-floodplain
Flora composition	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any
Flora growth form	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any
Groundwater flow system	Any	Any	Unknown	Perched flow system	Other flow system	Any
Salinity of water	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any
Source aquifer	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any
Substrate composition	Any	Non-soil - rock	Non-soil - sand or Organic	Non-soil - sand or Organic	Non-soil - sand or Organic	Soil
Substrate grain size	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any
Permanence of water	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any
Priority determination	1	2	3	3	4	2

Wetland habitat codes
Code	Wetland habitat name	Description
LC06	Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lakes	Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lakes refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: lacustrine wetland system; coastal and sub-coastal climate; and situated on a floodplain.
LC07	Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain rock lakes	Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain rock lakes refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: lacustrine wetland system; coastal and sub-coastal climate; not situated on a floodplain; and rock substrate composition.
LC08	Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand lakes	Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand lakess refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: lacustrine wetland system; coastal and sub-coastal climate; not situated on a floodplain; sand or organic substrate composition; and an unknown groundwater flow system.
LC08b	Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (perched) lakes	Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (perched) lakess refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: lacustrine wetland system; coastal and sub-coastal climate; not situated on a floodplain; sand or organic substrate composition; and a perched groundwater flow system.
LC08a	Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (window) lakes	Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (window) lakess refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: lacustrine wetland system; coastal and sub-coastal climate; not situated on a floodplain; sand or organic substrate composition; and a local, intermediate or regional groundwater flow system.
LC09	Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain soil lakes	Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain rock lakes refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: lacustrine wetland system; coastal and sub-coastal climate; not situated on a floodplain; and soil substrate composition.

Palustrine / Arid and semi-arid

Wetland system	Palustrine
Climate region	Arid and semi-arid

Wetland habitat types
	PA13	PA10	PA11a	PA11b	PA11c	PA11d	PA12a	PA12b	PA12c	PA12d
Situated on a floodplain	Any	Any	Floodplain	Floodplain	Floodplain	Floodplain	Non-floodplain	Non-floodplain	Non-floodplain	Non-floodplain
Flora composition	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any
Flora growth form	Any	Any	Trees	Shrubs	Grasses, Sedges, and Herbs	Other	Trees	Shrubs	Grasses, Sedges, and Herbs	Other
Groundwater flow system	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any
Salinity of water	Any	Saline	Non-saline	Non-saline	Non-saline	Non-saline	Non-saline	Non-saline	Non-saline	Non-saline
Source aquifer	Great Artesian Basin	Non-Great Artesian Basin	Non-Great Artesian Basin	Non-Great Artesian Basin	Non-Great Artesian Basin	Non-Great Artesian Basin	Non-Great Artesian Basin	Non-Great Artesian Basin	Non-Great Artesian Basin	Non-Great Artesian Basin
Substrate composition	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any
Substrate grain size	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any
Permanence of water	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any
Priority determination	1	2	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4

Wetland habitat codes
Code	Wetland habitat name	Description
PA13	Arid and semi-arid Great Artesian Basin fed spring swamps	Arid and semi-arid Great Artesian Basin fed spring swamps refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: palustrine wetland system; arid and semi-arid climate; and groundwater sourced from the Great Artesian Basin.
PA10	Arid and semi-arid saline swamps	Arid and semi-arid saline swamps refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: palustrine wetland system; arid and semi-arid climate; no groundwater sourced from the Great Artesian Basin; and saline water.
PA11a	Arid and semi-arid floodplain tree swamps	Arid and semi-arid floodplain tree swamps refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: palustrine wetland system; arid and semi-arid climate; no groundwater sourced from the Great Artesian Basin; non-saline water; situated on a floodplain; and where flora have a tree growth form.
PA11b	Arid and semi-arid floodplain shrub swamps	Arid and semi-arid floodplain shrub swamps refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: palustrine wetland system; arid and semi-arid climate; no groundwater sourced from the Great Artesian Basin; non-saline water; situated on a floodplain; and where flora have a shrub growth form.
PA11c	Arid and semi-arid floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamps	Arid and semi-arid floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamps refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: palustrine wetland system; arid and semi-arid climate; no groundwater sourced from the Great Artesian Basin; non-saline water; situated on a floodplain; and where flora have a grass, sedge, or herb growth form.
PA11d	Arid and semi-arid other floodplain swamps	Arid and semi-arid other floodplain swamps refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: palustrine wetland system; arid and semi-arid climate; no groundwater sourced from the Great Artesian Basin; non-saline water; situated on a floodplain; and where flora have other growth form.
PA12a	Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain tree swamps	Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain tree swamps refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: palustrine wetland system; arid and semi-arid climate; no groundwater sourced from the Great Artesian Basin; non-saline water; not situated on a floodplain; and where flora have a tree growth form.
PA12b	Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain shrub swamps	Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain shrub swamps refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: palustrine wetland system; arid and semi-arid climate; no groundwater sourced from the Great Artesian Basin; non-saline water; not situated on a floodplain; and where flora have a shrub growth form.
PA12c	Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamps	Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamps refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: palustrine wetland system; arid and semi-arid climate; no groundwater sourced from the Great Artesian Basin; non-saline water; not situated on a floodplain; and where flora have a grass, sedge, or herb growth form.
PA12d	Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain swamps	Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain swamps refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: palustrine wetland system; arid and semi-arid climate; no groundwater sourced from the Great Artesian Basin; non-saline water; not situated on a floodplain; and where flora have other growth form.

Palustrine / Coastal and sub-coastal

Wetland system	Palustrine
Climate region	Coastal and sub-coastal

Wetland habitat types
	PC03	PC01	PC05	PC04a	PC04d	PC04c	PC04e	PC02a	PC02b	PC02c	PC02d
Situated on a floodplain	Any	Any	Any	Floodplain	Floodplain	Floodplain	Floodplain	Non-floodplain	Non-floodplain	Non-floodplain	Non-floodplain
Flora composition	Any	Any	Palm	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any
Flora growth form	Any	Any	Any	Trees	Shrubs	Grasses, Sedges, and Herbs	Other	Trees	Shrubs	Grasses, Sedges, and Herbs	Other
Groundwater flow system	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any
Salinity of water	Any	Saline	Non-saline	Non-saline	Non-saline	Non-saline	Non-saline	Non-saline	Non-saline	Non-saline	Non-saline
Source aquifer	Great Artesian Basin	Non-Great Artesian Basin	Non-Great Artesian Basin	Non-Great Artesian Basin	Non-Great Artesian Basin	Non-Great Artesian Basin	Non-Great Artesian Basin	Non-Great Artesian Basin	Non-Great Artesian Basin	Non-Great Artesian Basin	Non-Great Artesian Basin
Substrate composition	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any
Substrate grain size	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any
Permanence of water	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any	Any
Priority determination	1	2	3	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4

Wetland habitat codes
Code	Wetland habitat name	Description
PC03	Coastal and sub-coastal Great Artesian Basin fed spring swamps	Coastal and sub-coastal Great Artesian Basin fed spring swamps refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: palustrine wetland system; coastal and sub-coastal climate; and groundwater sourced from the Great Artesian Basin.
PC01	Coastal and sub-coastal saline swamps	Coastal and sub-coastal saline swamps refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: palustrine wetland system; coastal and sub-coastal climate; no groundwater sourced from the Great Artesian Basin; and saline water.
PC05	Coastal and sub-coastal tree (palm) swamps	Coastal and sub-coastal tree (palm) swamps refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: palustrine wetland system; coastal and sub-coastal climate; no groundwater sourced from the Great Artesian Basin; non-saline water; and the dominant flora is a palm genera.
PC04a	Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamps	Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamps refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: palustrine wetland system; coastal and sub-coastal climate; no groundwater sourced from the Great Artesian Basin; non-saline water; the dominant flora is not a palm genera; situated on a floodplain; and where flora have a tree growth form.
PC04d	Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain wet heath swamps	Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain wet heath swamps refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: palustrine wetland system; coastal and sub-coastal climate; no groundwater sourced from the Great Artesian Basin; non-saline water; the dominant flora is not a palm genera; situated on a floodplain; and where flora have a shrub growth form.
PC04c	Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain, grass, sedge, and herb swamps	Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain, grass, sedge, and herb swamps refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: palustrine wetland system; coastal and sub-coastal climate; no groundwater sourced from the Great Artesian Basin; non-saline water; the dominant flora is not a palm genera; situated on a floodplain; and where flora have a grass, sedge, or herb growth form.
PC04e	Coastal and sub-coastal other floodplain swamps	Coastal and sub-coastal other floodplain swamps refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: palustrine wetland system; coastal and sub-coastal climate; no groundwater sourced from the Great Artesian Basin; non-saline water; the dominant flora is not a palm genera; situated on a floodplain; and where flora have other growth form.
PC02a	Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamps	Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamps refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: palustrine wetland system; coastal and sub-coastal climate; no groundwater sourced from the Great Artesian Basin; non-saline water; the dominant flora is not a palm genera; not situated on a floodplain; and where flora have a tree growth form.
PC02b	Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain wet heath swamps	Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain wet heath swamps refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: palustrine wetland system; coastal and sub-coastal climate; no groundwater sourced from the Great Artesian Basin; non-saline water; the dominant flora is not a palm genera; not situated on a floodplain; and where flora have a shrub growth form.
PC02c	Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamps	Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamps refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: palustrine wetland system; coastal and sub-coastal climate; no groundwater sourced from the Great Artesian Basin; non-saline water; the dominant flora is not a palm genera; not situated on a floodplain; and where flora have a grass, sedge, or herb growth form.
PC02d	Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamps	Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamps refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: palustrine wetland system; coastal and sub-coastal climate; no groundwater sourced from the Great Artesian Basin; non-saline water; the dominant flora is not a palm genera; not situated on a floodplain; and where flora have other growth form.

Intertidal

Wetland habitat codes
Code	Wetland habitat name	Description
INT01	Mangroves	Mangroves refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: intertidal wetland system; and the dominant structural macrobiota composition is mangroves or Casuarina.
INT01a	Mangroves - Casuarina	Mangroves - Casuarina refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: intertidal wetland system; and the dominant structural macrobiota composition is Casuarina.
INT01b	Mangroves - other	Mangroves - other refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: intertidal wetland system; and the dominant structural macrobiota composition is grass, herb and/or sedge.
INT02	Salt marsh and salt flats	Salt marsh and salt flats refers to wetland habitats with the following characteristics: intertidal wetland system; and the dominant structural macrobiota composition is grass, herb, and/or sedge.

Riverine

Riverine wetlands are not classified into different habitat types. The table below shows the riverine system code.

Wetland system code
Code	Wetland system name	Description
RIV	Riverine	Riverine refers to wetlands and deepwater habitats within a channel.

Last updated: 12 October 2023

This page should be cited as:

Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, Queensland (2023) Typology, WetlandInfo website, accessed 20 December 2024. Available at: https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/what-are-wetlands/definitions-classification/classification-systems-background/qld-wetland-classification/typology.html