Hydric Soils

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Hydric Soils
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Methods of Delineation

• Routine
• Comprehensive
• Atypical Situations
• Problem Areas

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Routine Method

• Small or simple sites
• On-site inspection unnecessary
• On-site inspection necessary
• Less than 5 acres
• Data points based on community type
• Greater than 5 acres
• Transects combined with data points
• Combination

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Comprehensive Method

• For large or complex sites
• Baseline and transects
• Quantitative in detail
• Vegetation
• 30-ft radius (trees)/10-ft radius (saplings) -
  DBH
• Meter square (herbs)
• Height and aerial cover

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Atypical Situations

• One of three parameters cannot be found
• Unauthorized activities
• Natural events
• Beaver dams, fire, winds
• Man-induced wetlands
• Key is finding reference data

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Problem Areas

• One or more of the 3 parameters missing due to
  normal seasonal or annual variations in
  environmental conditions
• Wetlands on drumlins - Hydrology
• Seasonal wetlands Hydrology
• Prairie Potholes Hydrology
• Vegetated Flats - Vegetation

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Summary

• Delineation is detailed yet subjective
• Requires technical expertise in soils, hydrology,
  and plant identification
• Manual provides guidelines but not a recipe
• Training and on-going application essential
• Access to numerous resources

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Questions?
Amy S. Babey Senior Project Manager Regulatory
Branch Louisville District P.O. Box
59 Louisville, KY 40201-0059 502-315-6691