# Presentation: 671358

## Using SOILTAXONOMY to Identify Hydric Soils

**Notes:**
Prepared by:
Michael Whited
NRCS - Wetland Science Inst.
September, 2000

Soil Classification tables in published Soil Surveys should be used to assist in identifying hydric soils.
They can also be used to assist in identifying potential problem hydric soils.  

References: USDA, NRCS, Soil Survey Staff. 1999. Soil Taxonomy: A Basic System of Soil Classification for Making and Interpreting Soil Surveys. Second Edition. Ag. Handbook 436.

## Soil Taxonomy is

- A basic system of soil classification for making and interpreting soil surveys.
**Objective:**
- To develop a hierarchical classification that reflects the relationships between different soils, and between soils and the factors responsible for their character.

**Notes:**
One of the best features of Soil Taxonomy is that by classifying soils data and information obtained about one soil, the information can be extrapolated to other soils with similar classification.

## Soil Taxonomy

**Procedure:**
- Soils are classified on the basis of:
- Soil properties observed in the field (e.g., soil horizons, texture, color, pH) and
- Soil properties inferred from the combined data of soil science and other disciplines (e.g., soil temperature and moisture regimes inferred from soil science and meteorology).

## Soil Taxonomy

- Entisol

- Fluvent

- Ustic

- Fine-loamy, mixed, frigid

- Korchea

- Mollic

**Notes:**
The hierarchy of Soil Taxonomy.  Each level (downward in this chart) requires a more “specific” set of soil properties.

## Fine-loamy, mixed (calcareous), frigid, 

- Fine-loamy, mixed (calcareous), frigid,
- Mollic Ustifluvent
- Korchea Series
- Not Hydric

**Notes:**
Fine-loamy, mixed (calcareous), frigid, Mollic Ustifluvent - Korchea series, western ND.
Loamy texture, mixed mineralogy, cool climate, dark colored surface, Sub-humid, Floodplain, Recent soil (stratified). 
(Well drained non-hydric soil).

## Soil Taxonomy

- 						        **Nature of**
**	****	****	****Number****	****	****     Differentiating**
**Category****	****	****of Taxa****	****	****     Characteristics**
- Order			     12			Soil-forming processes
- 						as indicated by 							presence or
- 						absence of major
- 						diagnostic horizons

## Soil Orders

- Alfisols
- Andisols
- Aridisols
- Entisols
- Gelisols
- Histosols

- Inceptisols
- Mollisols
- Oxisols
- Spodosols
- Ultisols
- Vertisols

**Notes:**
Needed to come up with a new order (Gelisols) in order to have 12 soil orders for 1999 Soil Calendar (that's a poor excuse of a joke!)

## Slide 8

**Notes:**
For regional courses, point out the Taxons (Orders) that occur in the area.

## Taxonomic Names

**Soil Order**
- Alfisols
- Andisols
- Aridisols
- Entisols
- Gelisols
- Histosols
- Inceptisols
- Mollisols
- Oxisols
- Spodosols
- Ultisols
- Vertisols

**	****Names Ends in:**
- 		-Alf
- 		-And
- 		-Id
- 		-Ent
- 		-El
- 		-Ist
- 		-Ept
- 		-Oll
- 		-Ox
- 		-Od
- 		-Ult
- 		-Ert

**Notes:**
Alf – Pedalfer, Soils in humid climates with a leached upper soil and a clay accumulation in B horizon. Generally formed under deciduous forests.
And – Ando, Soils with volcanic parent materials.
Id – Latin aridus, dry....Arid.
Ent – Recent (or sandy) soils.
El – L. gelare, to freeze.
Ist – Greek histos, tissue.
Ept – L. inceptum, beginning.
Oll- L. mollis, soft, friable “mellow” Mollisols.
Ox – French, oxide, oxide. Highly weathered iron rich tropical soils.
Od – Gr. Spodos, wood ash. (misnomer for the gray E horizon).
Ult – L. ultumus, last. Ultimate weathering, “southern” soils.
Ert – L. verto, turn. Invert.

## Entisol Suborders

- Aquents
- (L. Aqua, Water)
- Wet Entisols
- Fluvents
- (L. Fluvius, River)
- Floodplain Soils

- Orthents
- (Gr. Orthos, True)
- The Common Ones
- Psamments
- (Gr. Psammons, Sand)
- Sandy Soils

**Notes:**
Formative elements in Soil Taxonomy are used to give “meaning” to Soil Taxonomic names.
This example is at the Suborder level of Entisols.

## Entisol Great Groups

**Suborder**
- Aquents
- (Wet Entisols)

**Great Group**
- Cryaquents - cold
- Fluvaquents - flood plain
- Hydraquents - water
- Psammaquents - sand
- Epiaquents - perched

**Notes:**
More examples, this time at the Great Group level of the Order Entisols, Suborder Aquents.
Cry – very cold, northern Maine, NH, VT, and mountainous areas throughout the northern U.S. and very high elevations in the western Mountains.
Fluv, from Latin Fluvius, floodplain.
Hydra, wet all the time Entisols, loamy and clayey soils in tidal marshes that are permanently saturated with water.
Psammaquents – sandy wet Entisols.
Epi – perched water table.

## Entisol Great Groups

**Suborder**
- Fluvents
- (Floodplain soils)

**Great Group**
- Cryofluvents
- Torrifluvents - Torrid
- 	(hot and dry)
- Tropofluvents
- Udifluvents - Humid
- 	(not dry in most years)
- Ustifluvents - Semi-arid
- 	(between Udic-Aridic)
- Xerofluvents - Semi-arid
- 	(moist cold winter - dry warm summer; Mediterranean climate)

## Soil Taxonomy

**Suborder**
- Psamments
- (Sandy Soils)

**Great Group**
- Cryopsamments
- Quartzipsamments - Quartz
- Torripsamments
- Udipsamments
- Ustipsamments
- Xeropsamments

## Soil Taxonomy - How to interpret the formative elements

- Sub group - Great group, Suborder, Order
-    4		        3                    2             1
- for example -
- Vertic Udifluvent
- 4 - Vertic sub group - invert, shrink-swell, high clay
- 3 - Udi(c) great group - humid
- 2 - Fluv(ic) suborder - floodplain
- 1 - Ent(isol) order - little soil development

**Notes:**
Most likely not a hydric soil.

## Aquic Soil Moisture Regimes

- Typic Subgroup  Aquic Suborder
- ____  ___aq___
- wettest
- Aeric Subgroup
- 	Aquic Suborder
- Aeric ___aq___
- better aerated
- Aquic Subgroup
- Aquic  ______
- driest

- From Mausbach 1992

**Notes:**
Not the greatest chart but does show the high water table ranges as per Taxonomic sub-groups.

In Soil Taxonomy soils that have saturated and Iron reduced conditions generally within 30 inches( 75 cm) (for most Soil Orders) have an Aquic Soil Moisture Regime.  The placement of the Aq formative element in the taxonomic name is dependent upon how wet the soil is.  The highest level in Soil Taxonomy that soil moisture is expressed is at the Suborder level.  Reading from right to left, the Suborder position is # 2.  If a soil has an aq suborder without an Aeric subgroup modifier, that is (generally) the wettest soil in that Soil Order.  For example, a Typic Endoaqualf is an Alfisol that has saturation and reduction within 20 inches (50cm) of the surface for some period of time in most years.  Soils with an Aeric Subgroup and Aquic Suborder are drier (generally water table for a significant portion of the year within 30 inches (75 cm). Soils with an Aquic Subgroup have a water table within 75 cm (30 inches) either for a shorter period of time, or during colder times of the year when reduction may not take place.

(Typic Aquic Suborder) Most likely to be hydric.  e.g. Typic Endoaqualfs
(Aeric Subgroup, Aquic Suborder) Maybe hydric. e.g Aeric Endoaqualfs
(Aquic Subgroup) Probably not hydric. e.g. Aquic Hapludalfs

## Subgroups

-  4      3   2    1
- Typic Fluvaquents
-              4           1                 2
- Typical Entisols with aquic moisture
-                                 3
- regimes that occur on floodplains.
-                    1.  Order  	3.  Great Group
-                       2.  Suborder	4.  Subgroup

**Notes:**
Wet, very likely to be hydric.

## Subgroups

- 		     4       3   2    1
- Mollic Fluvaquents
-      1                 2
- Entisols with aquic moisture regimes that
-                      3
- occur on floodplains, and that have thick,
-     4
-  dark surface layers.
- 		1.  Order  	3.  Great Group
- 		2.  Suborder	4.  Subgroup

**Notes:**
Wetter? , maybe because it has a dark-colored surface, but might just be climatic influence.
Very likely to be hydric.

## Subgroups

-                                       4         3    2    1
- Aeric Fluvaquents
-          1                                3			       2
- Entisols, occurring on floodplains, with an aquic
- moisture regime that are not so wet.  Better
-              4
- aerated in the “upper” part of the soil.
- 		     1.  Order  	3.  Great Group
- 	               2.  Suborder	4.  Subgroup

**Notes:**
Drier, except because of the way Soil tax. Is structured, it doesn’t deal well with “top down” hydrology.  Like, who cares about the color of the subsoil if the wetland hydrology is from flooding.

In Soil Tax., the “upper” part here means the depth from 40 to 50cm, not the same as what is called upper in Hydric Soil definition.
Many Aeric Fluvaquents are hydric.

## Soil Taxonomy

- 				                  **Nature of**
**	****	****Number****	****              Differentiating**
**Category****	****of Taxa****	****             Characteristics**
-   Series	 15,000+		A series may have virtually the 					full range that is permitted in a 					family	in several properties, but 					in one or more properties the 					range is restricted, such as:
- 					  - Kind and arrangement of 						    horizons
- 					  - Color
- 					  - Texture
- 					  - Structure

**Notes:**
Series name is what is seen most often in Soil Survey reports, the name of a soil series has no Taxonomic meaning.

## Soil Taxonomy- Predicting “Problem” Hydric Soils

| Formative Element | Soil Order | Why a Problem |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Alf | Alfisols | Gray / White (high value / low chroma) horizon below A, not always indicative of wetness. |
| And | Andisols | Fe immobilized, redox. features are often deeper than depth to water table.  Some Andisols have thick, dark colored surface layers. |
| Ent | Entisols | Recent depositional events exceed rate of typical hydric morphology formation.  Also many sandy soils are Entisols. |

**Notes:**
The formative elements in Soil Taxonomic names can be used to “flag” potential problem soil areas.

## “Problem” Orders, cont.

| Oll | Mollisols | Dark colored surface layers "mask" redox features. Check colors below mollic, allow surface layers to dry then look for redox (NTCHS Indicator F6). |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Od | Spodosols
 | Sandy surface layers, no redox features evident in upper part. (Use organic layers, dark surface, and stripped matrix indicators). |
| Ult
 | Ultisols | Some have gray / white (high value / low chroma) horizon below A, not necessarily indicative of wetness. |
| Ert
 | Vertisols
 | High shrink-swell clays, surface hydrology.  Many Vertisols also have dark-colored surface layers. |

## “Problem” Great Groups

| Alb | Albic horizon | Gray / White (high value / low chroma) horizon below A, not necessarily indicative of wetness |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Calci, calc | Presence of a calcic horizon | Gray / White (high value / low chroma) horizon below A, not necessarily indicative of wetness |
| Dur | Presence of a Duripan (dense layer) | Subsoil may be brownish color.
Perched water table situation. |
| Epi | Perched water table | Subsoil may be brownish color.
 |
| Fluv | Floodplain | Surface hydrology, recent deposition	
 |

## Great Groups, cont.

| Fragi | Presence of a Fragipan (dense layer) | Subsoil may be brownish color, perched water table. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gloss | Presence of a Glossic horizon | Multi-colored horizon below A horizon. |
| Melan | High organic content | Dark colors may mask redox features. |
| Psamm | Sandy texture | No, or low Fe content, also low OM. |
| Sal | Presence of a Salic horizon | High pH, low OM; no, or few redox features. |

**Notes:**
Note: some of these formative elements may be used in Subgroup names where they may also indicate potential problem hydric soils.

For example, Vertic (ert), Mollic (moll), Glossic (gloss), Albic (alb), Grossarenic or Arenic (not mentioned previously - sandy layers over "loamy" or "clayey" B horizons), Fragic (fragi), Andic (and), Calcic (calc), Cumulic or Pachic (thick, dark colored surface), etc.

## Typic Haplosaprists

**Notes:**
Quiz / Review time.
What does the taxonomic classification mean? 
Aquic suborder, great group ??
Likely, not likely, or maybe hydric by Taxonomy??
Potential “Problem” Soil??

## Torry Series

**Torry Series**
**Hydric**

**Notes:**
Hydric, all Histosols except Folists.
Note: Taxonomic placement of Torrey has changed since the photo was taken.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Torry soils are in freshwater marshes within peninsular Florida. Slopes are less than 1 percent. Precipitation averages 59 inches and air temperature averages 75 degrees F.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the competing Terra Ceia, Lauderhill, and Pahokee soils on similar landforms.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Very poorly drained. Moderate permeability. In natural areas the water table is at or above the surface for much of the year; in other areas the water table is controlled by man.

USE AND VEGETATION: Torry soils are used for growing sugar cane, corn, truck crops, sod, and improved pasture. Natural vegetation is willow, elderberry, sawgrass, ferns, flags, pickerelweed, and maiden cane.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Interior of southern Peninsular Florida. The series is of moderate extent.

## Terric Haplosaprists

**Notes:**
What does the taxonomic classification mean? 
Aquic suborder, great group ??
Likely, not likely, or maybe hydric by Taxonomy??

## Tawas Series

**Tawas Series**
**Hydric**

**Notes:**
Tawas series, Sandy or Sandy-skeletal (this one is sandy) mixed, euic, frigid Terric Haplosaprists.
(Mineral soil material below organic). Definitely hydric.
A well decomposed (sapric = muck) Histosol, with mineral material below (Terric)

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Very poorly drained. This soil has a seasonal high water table that ranges from 1 foot above the surface to 1 foot below the surface from November to May. Areas that are not ponded are recognized and have a seasonal high water table that ranges from near the surface to 1 foot below the surface from November to May. Surface runoff and internal drainage is very slow or ponded. Permeability is moderately slow to moderately rapid in the organic part and rapid in the mineral part. 

USE AND VEGETATION: Much of this soil is woodland. Vegetation is balsam fir, black ash, northern white cedar, quaking aspen, and red maple. The remainder is cleared and used for pasture. 

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The series is of large extent. 

## Lithic Cryofolists

**Notes:**
What does the taxonomic classification mean? 
Aquic suborder, great group ??
Likely, not likely, or maybe hydric by Taxonomy??

## Ricker Series

**Ricker Series**
**Not Hydric**

**Notes:**
Ricker series - Folist on mountains in the northeastern U.S.
Not hydric - “All Histosols except Folists.”

Lithic = Rock, Cryic = cold, Folist = “dry” Histosol.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained to excessively drained. Permeability is moderately rapid in the organic layers and moderate or moderately rapid in the mineral horizon. These soils are saturated during periods of heavy rainfall or snow melt. 

USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are wooded. Most nonforested areas have a ground cover of alpine grass and shrubs. Areas of Ricker soils are used for watershed protection, recreation, wildlife habitat, and forestry. Common trees are Balsam fir, red spruce, and mountain birch, paper birch, and mountain ash.
Sphagnum moss is common ground cover. 

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, and New York; MLRA 143 and 144B. The series is of moderate extent. 

## Aquic Paleudalfs

**Notes:**
What does the taxonomic classification mean? 
Aquic suborder, great group ??
Likely, not likely, or maybe hydric by Taxonomy??

## Katy Series

**Katy Series**
**Not Hydric**

**Notes:**
Non hydric soil with perched water table in the E horizon for brief periods during high rainfall.

Katy series from TX.

Moderately well drained. Permeability is moderately slow. Runoff is very low on 1 to 3 percent slopes and low on 3 to 5 percent slopes. A perched water table is in the E horizon for short periods during the cool months or in periods of excess rainfall.

USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly for growing rice and for pasture and range. Some areas are used for growing cotton, corn, and grain sorghum as well as some vegetables. Native grasses consist of little bluestem, indiangrass, big bluestem, switchgrass, crinkleawn, and Florida paspalum. A few areas near the eastern limit of the extent have pine forest encroachment.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Eastern part of the Coastal Prairie of Texas. The series is extensive.

## Aquic Glossudalfs

**Notes:**
What does the taxonomic classification mean? 
Aquic suborder, great group ??
Likely, not likely, or maybe hydric by Taxonomy??

## Withee Series

**Withee Series**
**Not Hydric**

**Notes:**
Non-hydric Withee series, Soil Description has 3 chroma in the E horizon.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained. Surface runoff is slow. Permeability is moderate in the silty mantle; and moderately slow in the till. These soils have a perched seasonal high water table at a depth of 1 to 2.5 feet for 1 month or more per year at some time during the period October to June in 6 or more out of 10 years.

USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas of this soil are used for cropland. Common crops are corn, small grain, and hay. Some areas are used for pastureland. Some areas remain in woodland. Native vegetation is deciduous forest. Common trees are red maple, sugar maple, northern red oak, American basswood, yellow birch, and white ash.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: North-central Wisconsin. This soil is of large extent.

## Typic Aquisalids

**Notes:**
What does the taxonomic classification mean? 
Aquic suborder, great group ??
Likely, not likely, or maybe hydric by Taxonomy??

## Unknown Series

**Hydric**

**Notes:**
Hydric soil in western Playas, this one is east central Oregon.
Problem soils for hydric identification. No dominant gray colors because of the very high pH (> 8.5).

## Aquic Quartzipsamments

**Notes:**
What does the taxonomic classification mean? 
Aquic suborder, great group ??
Likely, not likely, or maybe hydric by Taxonomy??

## Unknown Series

**Not Hydric**

**Notes:**
Entisol, sandy, quartz sand, aquic conditions deep in the profile.
Aquic Quartzipsamment - Not likely to be hydric, in fact because of its’ sandy textures, extremely unlikely to be hydric by taxonomy.
This soil profile is definitely not hydric,  seasonal high water table indicated at about 32”.

Possibly the Chipley series.

## Oxyaquic Dystrudepts

**Notes:**
What does the taxonomic classification mean? 
Aquic suborder, great group ??
Likely, not likely, or maybe hydric by Taxonomy??

## Paxton Series

**Paxton Series**
**Not Hydric**

**Notes:**
Paxton Series.
Oxyaquic is the soil taxonomic placement for soils that are wet but not reduced.  They usually occur on sloping landscapes where water is moving laterally through the soil.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Surface runoff is medium to rapid. Permeability is moderate in the solum and slow or very slow in the substratum. 

USE AND VEGETATION: Many areas are cleared and used for cultivated crops, hay, or pasture. Scattered areas are used for community development. Some areas are wooded. Common trees are red, white, and black oak, hickory, sugar maple, red maple, gray and black birch, white pine, and hemlock. 

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Glaciated uplands in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, eastern New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont; MLRAs 144A, 145, and 149B. The Paxton series was previously used in some surveys in Maine. Maine has determined from soil temperature studies that the mesic soil temperature regime will no longer be used. The series is of large extent. 

## Typic Humaquepts

**Notes:**
What does the taxonomic classification mean? 
Aquic suborder, great group ??
Likely, not likely, or maybe hydric by Taxonomy??

## Birdsall Series

**Birdsall Series**
**Hydric**

**Notes:**
Inceptisol, Aquic conditions, lots of organic matter (< 8” thick O horizon).

Most definitely hydric, because of Humic Great Group, indicating high organic mineral surface layer (i.e. dark colored Umbric epipedon in this case).
Birdsall series, very poorly drained, New England fresh water marshes.  This pedon looks close to being a Histic Humaquept.

## Vertic Argiaquolls

**Notes:**
What does the taxonomic classification mean? 
Aquic suborder, great group ??
Likely, not likely, or maybe hydric by Taxonomy??

## Parnell Series

**Parnell Series**
**Hydric**

**Notes:**
Mollisol, aquic conditions, clayey subsoil.
A problem hydric soil because of the dark colored surface horizons (Mollisol)
Parnell series - hydric soil found in seasonal (Cowardin - PEMC) prairie pothole wetlands in the Dakotas.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Very poorly drained and poorly drained. Surface runoff is very low on the poorly drained phase and ponded on the very
poorly drained phase. Permeability is slow. In most years a seasonal high water table is at a depth of 0.5 to 1.5 feet during the period November to June for the
poorly drained phase and +1 to .5 during the period January to December for the very poorly drained phase. 

USE AND VEGETATION: Most undrained areas are in native vegetation with some used for pasture or hayland. Drained areas are typically used to grow corn,
soybeans, and small grain. Native vegetation is mostly marsh grasses, reeds, and sedges. 

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Western Minnesota, northeastern South Dakota, and eastern North Dakota. Moderately extensive. 

## Argiaquic Argialbolls

**Notes:**
What does the taxonomic classification mean? 
Aquic suborder, great group ??
Likely, not likely, or maybe hydric by Taxonomy??

## Tonka Series

**Tonka Series**
**Hydric**

**Notes:**
Argiaquic Argialboll - PD Tetonka series.  A – E – Bt horizons.
Argiaquic Argialbolls do not have an abrupt textural change between the E and the Bt, this slide may be more of a Typic than an Argiaquic, but it doesn’t matter.
Common soil in temporary (Cowardin PEMA) prairie potholes.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained. Slowly permeable. Runoff is ponded. A seasonal high water table is at a depth of 0.5 foot above the surface to 1 foot below the surface at some time during the period April through June. 

USE AND VEGETATION: Used for small grains, hay and pasture. Native vegetation is tall grasses, sedges and rushes. 

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Widely distributed on the glaciated plains of North Dakota, northeastern South Dakota, and western Minnesota. The series is extensive. 

## Aeric Calciaquolls

**Notes:**
What does the taxonomic classification mean? 
Aquic suborder, great group ??
Likely, not likely, or maybe hydric by Taxonomy??

## Hamerly Series

**Hamerly Series**
**Not Hydric**

**Notes:**
Hamerly series - A swp drained soil found on rises in gently sloping glacial drift prairie of ND.  (A - Bk1 - Bk2 - BC)

Not Hydric.  Apparent SHWT 1.5 to 3.5 feet.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained. Runoff is negligible to medium depending on slope and surface texture. Moderate permeability in the upper horizons and moderate or moderately slow in the lower horizons. Apparent seasonal high water table is at a depth of 1.5 to 3.5 feet at some time during the period April through June. 

USE AND VEGETATION: Cultivated areas are used for growing small grains, flax, hay and pasture. Native vegetation is green needlegrass, little bluestem, big bluestem and western wheatgrass. 

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central and eastern North Dakota, northeastern South Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. The soils are extensive. 

## Aquic Haplorthods

**Notes:**
What does the taxonomic classification mean? 
Aquic suborder, great group ??
Likely, not likely, or maybe hydric by Taxonomy??

## Sunapee Series

**Sunapee Series**
**Not Hydric**

**Notes:**
Sunapee Series.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Sunapee soils are nearly level to very steep soils of the glaciated uplands, typically in drainageways and on footslopes. Slope ranges from 0 to 60 percent, but is dominantly 3 to 15 percent. The soils formed in acid stony glacial till of Wisconsin age derived mainly from gneiss and schist. The climate is humid
and cool. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 35 to 50 inches and the frost-free season from 90 to 140 days. Mean annual air temperature ranges from 42 to 46 degrees F. 

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: Sunapee soils are the moderately well drained member of a drainage sequence that includes the well drained Berkshire and Monadnock soils and the poorly drained Lyme soils. Common associates are the well drained Becket soils and the moderately well drained Skerry soils that formed in dense, coarser textured till. Colton, Adams, and Croghan soils are on nearby landscapes and developed in water sorted sands and gravel. 

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained. Permeability is moderate in the solum and moderate or moderately rapid in the substratum. The potential for runoff is low or moderate. 

USE AND VEGETATION: Most of this soil is forested. Common species include northern red oak, sugar maple, Eastern white pine, red spruce, white spruce, and balsam fir. Areas cleared of surface stones are used primarily for hay or pasture. 

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York; MLRAs 143, 144A and 144B. The series is of a moderate extent. 

## Aeric Alaquods

**Notes:**
What does the taxonomic classification mean? 
Aquic suborder, great group ??
Likely, not likely, or maybe hydric by Taxonomy??

## Leon Series

**Leon Series**
**Non-hydric phase**

**Notes:**
Non-hydric flatwoods in Florida.
Spodosols can be problematic.  Generally to differentiate the hydric from non-hydric Spodosols on the Gulf Coast flatwoods use NTCHS indicator S7, Sandy Dark Surface.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Leon soils are poorly drained and very poorly drained. Runoff is slow or ponded. Permeability is moderate to moderately rapid in the Bh horizons, moderately slow to moderate in the B'h horizons, and rapid in the other layers. The water table in a typical flatwoods landscape is at depths of 6 to 18 inches for 1 to 4 months during most years. In low flatwoods or sloughs it is at a depth of 0 to 6 for periods of more than 3 weeks during most years. It is between depths of 18 and 36 inches for 2 to 10 months during most years. It is below 60 inches during the dry periods of most years. Depressional areas are covered with standing water for periods of 6 months or more in most years.

USE AND VEGETATION: Leon soils are used for forestry, range and tame pastures. Areas with adequate water control are used for growing potatoes, vegetables, and corn. Natural vegetation is longleaf and slash pines, water oaks, myrtle, and a thick undergrowth of sawpametto, running oak, fetterbush, inkberry (gallberry), chalky and creeping bluestems and pineland threeawn (wiregrass). In depressions, brackenfern, smooth sumac and swamp cyrilla are common. Vegetation in tidal areas includes bushy seaoxeye, marshhay cordgrass, seashore saltgrass, batis, and smooth cordgrass.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain from Florida, Maryland, South Carolina and Virginia. The series is of large extent.

## Typic Endoaqults

## Othello Series

**Othello Series**
**Hydric**

**Notes:**
Fine-silty, mixed acxtive, mesic Typic Endoaqults.

Poorly drained hydric soil found in depressions and flats of Maryland coastal plain.  Many areas are cleared and drained for ag. production.

DRAINAGE CLASS: Poorly drained
PERMEABILITY: Moderately slow
SURFACE RUNOFF: Slow to ponded
PARENT MATERIAL: Silty eolian sediments underlain by coarser marine, eolian, or alluvial sediments
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landscape: Coastal Plain
Landform: Upland interfluves, lowlands, marine terraces, and depressions
Elevation: 2 to 70 feet
Parent Material: Silty eolian sediments underlain by coarser marine, eolian, or alluvial sediments
Mean Annual Air Temperature: 52 to 58 degrees F.
Mean Annual Precipitation: 42 to 48 inches
Frost Free Period: 190 to 210 days
USE: Cleared areas are used for corn and soybeans with minor acreages of pasture or truck crops.

VEGETATION: Wooded areas are wetland hardwoods, mostly sweetgum, red maple, and wetland oaks. Loblolly pine and pond pine occur in some wooded
areas.

DISTRIBUTION: Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania

EXTENT: Large

## Typic Umbraqults

## Series Unknown

**Hydric**

**Notes:**
Unknown series - Umbraqult
Found in low lying areas of southeastern coastal plain.
Landscape picture is more of an upland Ultisol, Umbraqults are inclusions.

## Chromic Epiaquerts

## Sharkey Series

**Sharkey Series**
**Hydric**

**Notes:**
Sharkey series - A hydric soil found in the lower Mississippi valley.  Many areas have been converted to agriculture by clearing, ditching, and further protected by levees. Possibly a problem hydric soil because it is a Vertisol.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Most pedons of Sharkey are considered artificially drained and no longer develop aquic conditions. The construction of levees along the Mississippi River and its tributaries along with the installation of an intricate network of regional, local and field drains to remove surface water has altered the hydrology of Sharkey and other soils in the valley. The morphology of Sharkey indicates that aquic conditions were present prior to man's modification of the hydrology.

In undrained areas, which includes areas inside the main Mississippi River levee and ponded backswamps and abandoned channels, the natural drainage classes of Sharkey are poor and very poor. In these areas, the upper part of the solum is wet long enough in winter and early spring for aquic conditions to develop.

In ponded areas, the natural drainage is very poor. These areas typically are old abandoned channels and depressional backswamps. These areas are covered with water .5 to 5 feet deep during winter and spring. These areas typically dry up long enough in summer and fall for cracks to form in the surface layer, most years 

Surface runoff is negligible to very high depending on slope. Permeability is very slow. Unprotected areas typically flood for long to very long durations, most years.

USE AND VEGETATION: Used mostly for cropland; soybeans and rice are the principal crops. Corn, wheat, grain sorghum and other small grains are also grown. Minor areas are in Pecan orchards, woodland and pasture. Frequently flooded and ponded areas are mainly in bottomland hardwoods. 

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Mississippi River flood plain and low terraces in Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. The series is of large extent.

## Summary

- Interpretation of Soil Taxonomic names in Soil Survey manuscripts provides another tool for identifying hydric soils.
- Most useful off-site as part of preliminary analysis
- Also useful to identify potential “problem” hydric soils