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Biological – The biological characteristics within the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System are measured through three subcomponents; productivity (growing days, soil type, wetland type); biodiversity (number of wetlands, vegetation communities, surrounding habitat); and size.
Hydrological – The hydrological component of this evaluation system assesses the role a wetland plays in the maintenance, control, and/or modification of the quantity and quality of water passing through a drainage basin. This component is designed to determine the net hydrological benefit provided by the wetland to the portion of the basin downstream of the wetland.
Physiographic – a geographic area characterized by physical processes and features like glaciers, ancient shorelines, and mountains. For example the Oak Ridges Moraine, is a physiographic area that is made up of the left over sediment of a glacier as it receded.
Social - The Social component attempts to evaluate the shorter term use and amenities that wetlands provide to people. This section includes reviewing the economically valuable products (wood, wild rice, commercial fish, furbearers), recreational activities present, education and public awareness, the proximity to human settlement and ownership.
Special features – The special features component within OWES combines some biological and ecological attributes of wetlands. This section evaluates the geographical rarity of wetlands, the occurrence of rare species, and habitat quality for wildlife.
Watersheds - A watershed is a catchment area that drains into a major river and outlets into a larger water source, such as Lake Ontario. Imagine a large maple tree, the many branches in the crown of the tree act as small tributaries that drain into a large river, the trunk of the tree.
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