Open water

Open water

Open water

For purposes of US Army Corps of Engineers and its Nationwide Permits, an open water is any area that in a year with normal patterns of precipitation has water flowing or standing above ground to the extent that an ordinary high water mark can be determined. Aquatic vegetation within the area of standing or flowing water is either non-emergent, sparse, or absent. Vegetated shallows are considered to be open waters. Examples of "open waters" include rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds. (US Army Corps of Engineers, 2012 Nationwide Permits, Conditions, and Definitions)