512.11(c) 



Subpart B - Wetland Criteria 



PART 512 - WETLAND CONSERVATION 



SUBPART B - WETLAND CRITERIA 



{512.10 Wetland criteria. 



(a) Definition . Wetlands are lands that: 



(1) have a predominance of hydric soils; 



(2) are inundated or saturated by surface water or 

 groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support a 

 prevalence of hydrophytic vegetation typically adapted for life in 

 saturated soil conditions; and 



(3) under normal circumstances do support a prevalence 

 of such vegetation. 



All three criteria must be met for an area to be identified as 

 wetland, unless interrupted by temporary weather conditions or if 

 hydrophytic vegetation is removed by farming or ranching practices. 



(b) "Normal circumstances" refers to the soil and hydrologic 

 conditions that are normally present, without regard to whether the 

 vegetation has been removed. 



<512.11 Hydric soil criteria. 



(a) Definition . Hydric soil is a soil that meets the criteria 

 set forth in (g) below, 



(b) Acceptable soil surveys . Soil surveys prepared according 

 to standards of the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) are 

 used to delineate hydric soils. Published soil surveys, cooperator 

 soil maps, and other soil surveys acceptable to SCS may be used. 



If no reliaOale soil survey is available and if it cannot clearly be 

 determined whether an area meets the hydric soil criteria, a soil 

 scientist will inventory and map the area. 



(c) FOTG official list . Maintain an official list of hydric 

 soil map units in Section II of the Field Office Technical Guide. 

 The list must include (1) all soils from the National List of 

 Hydric Soils that are in that field office area; and (2) any soil 

 units or areas that the state conservationist determines to meet 

 hydric soil criteria. 



512-9 

 (180-V-NFSAM, Second Ed., Amend. 6, May 1991) 



