Biogeographic Classification Scheme and Typology of National Estuarine Areas

The coastlines of the United States and its territories have been divided into the following areas based on their biologic and geographic characteristics:

Acadian
1. Northern Gulf of Maine (Eastport to Sheepscot River)
2. Southern Gulf of Maine (Sheepscot River to Cape Cod)

Virginian
3. Southern New England (Cape Cod to Sandy Hook)
4. Middle Atlantic (Sandy Hook to Cape Hatteras)
5. Chesapeake Bay

Carolinian
6. Northern Carolinas (Cape Hatteras to Santee River)
7. South Atlantic (Santee River to St. Johns River)
8. East Florida (St. Johns River to Cape Canaveral)

West Indian
9. Caribbean (Cape Canaveral to Ft. Jefferson and south)
10. West Florida (Ft. Jefferson to Cedar Key)

Louisianan
11. Panhandle Coast (Cedar Key to Mobile Bay)
12. Mississippi Delta (Mobile Bay to Galveston)
13. Western Gulf (Galveston to Mexican border)

Californian
14. Southern California (Mexican border to Pt. Conception)
15. Central California (Pt. Conception to Cape Mendocino)
16. San Francisco Bay

Columbian
17. Middle Pacific (Cape Mendocino to Columbia River)
18. Washington Coast (Columbia R. to Vancouver Island)
19. Puget Sound

Great Lakes
20. Lake Superior, including St. Marys River
21. Lakes Michigan and Huron, including Straits of Mackinac, St. Clair River, and Lake St. Clair
22. Lake Erie, including Detroit River and Niagara Falls
23. Lake Ontario, including St. Lawrence River

Fjord
24. Southern Alaska (Prince of Wales Island to Cook Inlet)
25. Aleutian Islands (Cook Inlet to Bristol Bay)

Sub-Arctic
26. Northern Alaska (Bristol Bay to Demarcation Point)

Insular
27. Hawaiian Islands
28. Western Pacific Islands
29. Eastern Pacific Islands

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