to alteration can be determined, record them on DATA FORM 3 and also 

 record the basis used for the determination. PROCEED TO STEP 4, If it 

 is impossible to determine the plant community types that occurred on 

 the area prior to alteration, a determination cannot be made using all 

 three parameters. In such cases, the determination must be based on 

 the other two parameters. PROCEED TO Subsection 2 or 3 if one of the 

 other parameters has been altered, or return to the appropriate 

 Subsection of Section D or to Section E, as appropriate. 



• STEP 4 - Determine Whether Plant Community Types Constitute Hydro- 

 phytic Vegetation. Develop a list of species that previously occurred 

 on the site (DATA FORM 3). Subject the species list to applicable 

 indicators of hydrophytic vegetation (PART III, paragraph 35). If 

 none of the indicators are met, the plant communities that previously 

 occurred did not constitute hydrophytic vegetation. If hydrophytic 

 vegetation was present and no other parameter was in question, record 

 appropriate data on the vegetation portion of DATA FORM 3, and return 

 to either the appropriate subsection of Section D or to Section E. If 

 either of the other parameters was also in question, PROCEED TO 

 Subsection 2 or 3. 



Subsection 2 - Soils 



74. Employ the following steps to determine whether hydric soils previ- 

 ously occurred: 



• STEP 1 - Describe the Type of Alteration . Examine the area and 

 describe the type of alteration that occurred. Look for evidence of: 



a. Deposition of dredged or fill material or natural sedimenta- 

 tion. In many cases the presence of fill material will be 

 obvious. If so, it will be necessary to dig a hole to reach 

 the original soil (sometimes several feet deep). Fill material 

 will usually be a different color or texture than the original 

 soil (except when fill material has been obtained from like 

 areas onsite) . Look for decomposing vegetation between soil 

 layers and the presence of buried organic or hydric soil 

 layers. In accreting or recently formed sandbars in riverine 

 situations, the soils may support hydrophytic vegetation but 

 lack hydric soil characteristics. 



b. Presence of nonwoody debris at the surface. This can only be 

 applied in areas where the original soils do not contain rocks. 



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