to Step 10 after completing the vegetation section 

 of the data sheet. 



Step 10. Determine whether soils must be 

 characterized. Examine vegetative data collected for 

 the vegetation unit or plot (in Steps 8 and 9) and 

 identify any units or plots where: (1) all dominant 

 species have an indicator status of OBL, or (2) all 

 dominant species have an indicator status of OBL 

 and FACW, and the wetland boundary is abrupt. 

 For these units or plots, hydric soils are assumed 

 to be present and do not need to be examined; pro- 

 ceed to Step 12. Vegetation units or plots lacking 

 the above characteristics must have soils examined; 

 proceed to Step 11. 



Step 11. Determine whether the hydric soil 

 criterion is met. Locate the sample plot or vegeta- 

 tion unit on a county soil survey map if possible, 

 and determine the soil map unit delineation for the 

 area. Using a soil auger, probe, or spade, make a 

 hole at least 18 inches deep in the area. {Note: In 

 applying the vegetation unit approach, one or more 

 soil samples should be taken.) Examine soil char- 

 acteristics in the sample plot or vegetative unit and 

 if possible compare them to soil descriptions in the 

 county soil survey report. If soil colors match 

 those described for hydric soil in the repon, then 

 record data and proceed to Step 12. If not, then 

 check for hydric soil indicators below the A- 

 horizon (surface layer) and within 18 inches for 

 organic soils and poorly and very poorly drained 

 mineral soils with low permeability rates (<6.0 

 inches/hour), within 12 inches for poorly and very 

 poorly drained, coarse- textured (sandy) mineral 

 soils with high permeability rates (>6.0 inches/ 

 hour), and within 6 inches for somewhat poorly 

 drained soils. {Note: If the A-horizon extends 

 below the designated depth, look immediately 

 below the A-horizon for signs of hydric soil.) Are 

 hydric soil indicators present (see pp. 13-15)? If 

 so, list indicators present on data form and proceed 

 to Step 12. If soil has been plowed or otherwise 

 altered which may have eliminated these indicators, 

 proceed to the section on disturbed areas (p. 50), 

 then return to this method to continue the wedand 

 determination. If field indicators are not present, 

 but available information verifies that the hydric 

 soil criterion is met, then the soil is hydric. Com- 

 plete the soils section on an appropriate data sheet. 

 Proceed to Step 12. {CAUTION: Become familiar 

 with problematic hydric soils that do not possess 

 good hydric field indicators, such as red parent 

 materia] soils, some sandy soils, and some flood- 



plain soils, so that these hydric soils are not misi- 

 dentified as nonhydric soils; see the section on 

 problem area wetlands, p. 55.) 



Step 12. Determine whether the wetland 

 hydrology criterion is met. Examine the sample 

 plot or vegetation unit for indicators of wetland 

 hydrology (see pp. 17-19) and review available 

 recorded hydrologic information. The wetland 

 hydrology criteria is met when: 



1) one or more field indicators are materially 

 present; or 



2) available hydrologic records provide 

 necessary evidence; or 



3) the plant community is dominated by 

 OBL, FACW, and/or FAC species, and the area's 

 hydrology is not significantly disturbed. 



If the area's hydrology is significantly disturbed, 

 proceed to the section on disturbed areas (p. 50). 

 Record observations and other evidence on an 

 appropriate data form. Proceed to Step 13. 



Step 13. Make the wetland determination for 

 the plant community or vegetation unit. Examine 

 the data forms for the plant community (sample 

 plot) or vegetation unit. When the community or 

 unit meets the hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soil, 

 and wetland hydrology criteria, the area is consid- 

 ered wetland. Complete the summary data sheet; 

 proceed to Step 14 when continuing to sample the 

 transect or other vegetation units, or to Step 15 

 when determining a boundary between wedand and 

 nonwetland plant communities or units. {Note: 

 Before going on, double check all data sheets to 

 ensure that the forms are completed properly.) 



Step 14. Sample other plant communities 

 along the transect or other vegetation units. Repeat 

 Steps 6 through 13 for all remaining plant commu- 

 nities along the transect if following transect 

 approach, or repeat Steps 7 through 13 at the next 

 vegetation unit. When sampling is completed for 

 this transect, proceed to Step 15, or when sampling 

 is completed for all vegetation units, proceed to 

 Step 16. 



Step 15. Determine the wetland-nonwetland 

 boundary point along the transect. When the tran- 

 sect contains both wedand and nonwedand plant 

 communities, then a boundary must be established. 



38 



