stored - 0.005454 for diameter data in inches or 

 0.78535 in feet. Basal area in square feet of an 

 individual tree can be obtained by squaring the tree 

 diameter and multiplying by the stored conversion 

 factor.) 



(4) Sum the basal areas for individual trees 

 by species, then rank tree species by their total 

 basal area values. 



(5) Determine the dominance threshold num- 

 ber by summing the basal areas of all tree species 

 (total basal area for the "plot") and multiplying by 

 50 percent 



(6) Sum the basal area values for the ranked 

 tree species, beginning with the largest value, until 

 the dominance threshold number is immediately 

 exceeded; all species contributing to surpassing the 

 threshold number are considered dominants, plus 

 any species representing 20 percent or more of the 

 total basal area for the "plot" {Note: If it is felt that 

 a representative sample of the trees has not been 

 obtained from one tally, additional tallies can be 

 obtained by moving perpendicular from the center 

 of the plot to another area.) Denote dominant spe- 

 cies with an asterisk on the appropriate data form. 



(7) Designate the indicator status of each 

 dominant (i.e., OBL, FACW, FAC, FACU, or 

 UPL). 



After determining the dominants for each stratum, 

 proceed to Step 10. 



Step 10. Determine whether the hydrophytic 

 vegetation criterion is met. When more than 50 per- 

 cent of the dominant species in the sample plot 

 have an indicator status of OBL, FACW, and/or 

 FAC, hydrophytic vegetation is present. Complete 

 the vegetation section of the summary data sheet. If 

 the vegetation fails to be dominated by these types 

 of species, the plot is usually not a wetland, how- 

 ever, it may constitute hydrophytic vegetation 

 under certain circumstances (see the problem area 

 wetland discussion, p. 55). If hydrophytic vegeta- 

 tion is present, proceed to Step 1 1. 



Step 1 1. Determine whether the hydric soil 

 criterion is met. Locate the sample plot on a county 

 soil survey map, if possible, and determine the soil 

 map unit delinearion for the plot. Using a soil aug- 

 er, probe, or spade, make a soil hole at least 18 

 inches deep (2-3 feet to best characterize most 



soils) in the sample plot. Examine the soil charac- 

 teristics and compare if possible to soil descriptions 

 in the 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 drained and very poorly drained mineral 

 soils with low permeability rates (<6.0 inches/ 

 hour), within 12 inches for coarse -textured poorly 

 drained and very poorly drained mineral soils with 

 high permeability rates (>6.0 inches/hour) and 

 within 6 inches for somewhat pooriy drained soils. 

 (Note: If the A-horizon extends below the designat- 

 ed depth, look immediately below the A-horizon 

 for signs of hydric soil.) If hydric soil indicators 

 are present (see pp. 13-15), list indicators present 

 on data form and proceed to Step 12. If the soil has 

 been plowed or otherwise altered, which may have 

 eliminated these indicators, proceed to the section 

 on disturbed areas (p. 50). If field indicators are 

 not present, but available information verifies that 

 the hydric soil criterion is met, then the soil is 

 hydric. 



Complete the soils section on an appropriate data 

 sheet. (CAUTION: Become familiar with proble- 

 matic hydric soils that do not possess good hydric 

 field indicators, such as red parent material soils, 

 some sandy soils, and some floodplain soils, so 

 that these hydric soils are not misidentified as non- 

 hydric soils; see the section on problem area wet- 

 lands, p. 55.) 



Step 12. Determine whether the wetland 

 hydrology criterion is met. Examine the sample 

 plot for indicators of wetland hydrology (see pp. 

 17-19) and review available recorded hydrologic 

 information. If one or more indicators of wetland 

 hydrology are materially present in the plot, then 

 the wetland hydrology criterion is met. Available 

 hydrologic data may also verify this criterion. 

 Record observations on the appropriate data form 

 and proceed to Step 13. If no such indicators or 

 evidence exist, then wetland hydrology does not 

 occur at the plot; complete the hydrology section on 

 the data sheet 



Step 13. Make the wetland determination for 

 the sample plot. Examine the data forms for the 

 plot. When the plot meets the hydrophytic vegeta- 

 tion, hydric soil, and wetland hydrology criteria, it 

 is considered wetland. Complete the summary data 

 sheet; proceed to Step 14 when continuing to sam- 



45 



