Nonwetlands 



28. The following definition, diagnostic environmental characteristics, 

 and technical approach comprise a guideline for the identification and deline- 

 ation of nonwetlands: 



a. Definition. Nonwetlands include uplands and lowland areas that 

 are neither deepwater aquatic habitats, wetlands, nor other 

 special aquatic sites. They are seldom or never inundated, or 

 if frequently inundated, they have saturated soils for only 

 brief periods during the growing season, and, if vegetated, 

 they normally support a prevalence of vegetation typically 

 adapted for life only in aerobic soil conditions. 



b. Diagnostic environmental characteristics. Nonwetlands have the 

 following general diagnostic environmental characteristics: 



(1) Vegetation. The prevalent vegetation consists of plant 

 species that are typically adapted for life only in 

 aerobic soils. These mesophytic and/or xerophytic 

 macrophytes cannot persist in predominantly anaerobic soil 

 conditions.* 



(2) Soil. Soils, when present, are not classified as hydric, 

 and possess characteristics associated with aerobic 

 conditions. 



(3) Hydrology. Although the soil may be inundated or 

 saturated by surface water or ground water periodically 

 during the growing season of the prevalent vegetation, the 

 average annual duration of inundation or soil saturation 

 does not preclude the occurrence of plant species 

 typically adapted for life in aerobic soil conditions. 



c. Technical approach for the identification and delineation of 

 nonwetlands. When any one of the diagnostic characteristics 

 identified in b above is present, the area is a nonwetland. 



* Some species, due to their broad ecological tolerances, occur in both 

 wetlands and nonwetlands (e.g. Acer rubrum) . 



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