Florida Soils Presentation

SOIL SCIENTISTS PERFORMING WETLAND DELINEATIONS

Mark S. McClainOctober 19, 2009

Objective The objective of this lecture is to examine the

importance of having an adequate knowledge of soil science to be able to perform wetland delineations.

A brief history of the regulations relative to jurisdictional waters, wetlands, and delineation procedures will be covered.

A Florida case study will be presented showing the importance of soil knowledge in wetland delineations.

Why was the topic of wetland delineations selected?

Wetland delineations are an important application of environmental soil science.

Wetland delineations are a meaningful opportunity that soil scientists should take advantage of as a part of their careers.

The Clean Water Act

The Federal Water Pollution Control Amendments of 1972 is commonly known as the Clean Water Act (CWA).

The basis of the CWA was enacted in 1948 and was called the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, but the Act was significantly reorganized and expanded in 1972. The "Clean Water Act" became the Act's common name with amendments in 1977.

The Clean Water Act

The Clean Water Act (CWA) establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters.

33 U.S.C. §1251 et seq. (1972)

The Clean Water Act 404(b)(1) Guidelines

Under section 404(b)(1) of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344), these Guidelines are applicable to the specification of disposal sites for discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States.

What are Waters of the U.S.?

All waters which are currently used, or were used in the past, or may be susceptible to use in interstate or foreign commerce, including all waters which are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide.

All interstate waters including interstate wetlands.

What are Waters of the U.S.?

All other waters such as intrastate lakes, rivers, streams (including intermittent and ephemeral streams), mudflats, sandflats, wetlands, sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, playa lakes, or natural ponds, the use, degradation or destruction of which could affect interstate or foreign commerce including any such waters.

Wetland Delineation Manual

The US Army Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual became effective in 1987 with revisions made in 1991, 1992, and 1997.

The US Army Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual is used as the legal and technical means of evaluating and delineating wetlands in the field.

Baseline Information Aerial Photographs USGS Topographic Map USFWS Wetland Inventory Map USDA-NRCS Soil Survey Map Soil Data Mart Hydric Soils List Develop a Geographic Information System (GIS)

from this information and later add GPS locations of the wetland delineation and sampling points.

Jurisdictional Wetlands Jurisdictional wetlands must have all three

criteria:› Hydrophytic Vegetation› Hydric Soils› Wetland Hydrology

Hydrophytic Vegetation

Hydrophytic vegetation is defined herein as the sum total of macrophytic plant life that occurs in areas where the frequency and duration of inundation or soil saturation produce permanently or periodically saturated soils of sufficient duration to exert a controlling influence on the plant species present.

Wetland Indicator Categories

Indicator Code

Wetland Type

OBL Obligate Wetland

FACW Facultative Wetland

FAC FacultativeFACU Facultative

UplandUPL Obligate

Upland

Hydric Soils

Definition: Hydric soils are those soils that are saturated, flooded, or ponded long enough during the growing season for the development of anaerobic conditions in the upper part. The anaerobic conditions in a hydric soil favor the growth and regeneration of hydrophytic vegetation.

c 2009 Mark S. McClain

Hydric Soils Must have conditions suitable for the

formation of redoximorphic features. The soil conditions necessary for reduction are:› Soil› Water› Anaerobic conditions› Microorganisms› Energy Source (i.e., organic matter)

Guide for Hydric Soil Determinations

Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States (Hurt and Vasilas, 2006)

Wetland Hydrology Periodically inundated or have soils saturated

to the surface at some time during the growing season for sufficient duration to develop hydric soils and support vegetation typically adapted for life in periodically anaerobic soil conditions.

The presence of water has an overriding influence on characteristics of vegetation and soils due to anaerobic and reducing conditions.

Jurisdictional Wetlands A jurisdictional wetland must have all three

criteria:› Hydrophytic Vegetation› Hydric Soils› Wetland Hydrology

Three Criteria for Wetland Delineations

Delineation Boundaries by Soil Scientists and Biologists

Biologists emphasize the extent and taxonomy of plants and the presence of indicator plants.

Soil Scientists emphasize the geomorphic landform, soil morphology, soil classification, soil hydrology, and plant identification.

Florida Case Study Cecil Field (Old Navy Base) in Duval County,

Florida Soil transect and wetland delineation of

sandy poorly drained soils (somewhat poorly drained inclusions mapped as Albany fine sand) to very poorly drained muck soils

Duval County, Florida

Longitudinal Cross-Section of Landform

Site #1 VegetationVEGETATIONCommon Name Scientific Name Wetland

Indicator Status

Slash pine Pinus elliotti FACWGallberry Ilex coriacea FACWWax myrtle Myrica cerifera FAC+Saw palmetto Serenoa repens FACULowbush blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium NO

There is >60% hydrophytic vegetation, therefore the criterion is met.

Site #1 SoilsSOILSLEON (Sandy, siliceous, thermic Aeric Alaquods): Poorly DrainedSoil Horizon

Depth (inches)

Matrix Color Soil Texture

Redoximorphic Features

A 0-3 10YR 2/1 finesand

10YR 2/1 (60%) 10 YR 6/1 (40%)

Eg1 3-10 10YR 6/1 finesand

10YR 3/1 organic coatings(20 % in upper part to 0 % in lower part)

Eg2 10-15 10YR 6/1 finesand

10YR 7/1 organic matter depletions (20%)

Bh 15-20+ 7.5YR 3/3 (50%)7.5YR 2.5/1 (50%)

sand > 95 % of sand grains have organic coatings

Site #1 Hydric Soil Indicators

This soil appears to be hydric because of the low chroma colors in the upper portion of the profile.

Does not meet the criteria for:› S6. Stripped Matrix › S7. Dark Surface› No other hydric soil indicators

Therefore this soil is not hydric.

Site #1 Hydrology

Does this site have wetland hydrology? Field Observations:

› Depth of Surface Water: Not applicable› Depth of Free Water in Pit: >20 inches› Depth to Saturated Soil: >20 inches

Site #1 Hydrology Graphic

Surface InundationSoil Surface

Saturation

Depth of inundation: absent

Depth to saturation: >20”

Depth to water: >20”

Soil Pit

Site #1 Wetland Hydrology Indicators

Primary Indicators:› None

Secondary Indicators (2 or more required):› FAC-Neutral Test

Therefore this site does not have wetland hydrology.

Is Site #1 a Jurisdictional Wetland?

A jurisdictional wetland must have all three criteria:› Hydrophytic Vegetation? Yes› Hydric Soils? No› Wetland Hydrology? No

Site #1 is not a jurisdictional wetland.

Indicator Status

Slash pine Pinus elliottii FACWGallberry Ilex coriacea FACWSaw palmetto Serenoa repens FACUFetterbush Lyonia lucida FACWWoolly huckleberry Gaylussacia mosieri FACW

There is >80% hydrophytic vegetation, therefore the criterion is met.

Site #2 SoilsSOILSLYNN HAVEN (Sandy, siliceous, thermic Typic Alaquods): Very Poorly DrainedSoil Horizon

Depth (inches)

Matrix Color

Soil Texture

Redoximorphic Features

A 0-12 10YR 2/1 fine sand 10YR 2/1 (80%)10YR 7/1 (20%)

Eg 12-16 N 6/0 fine sand >80% uncoated sand grains

Bh 16-20+ 5YR 3/2 fine sand sand grains have organic coatings

Meets the criteria for:› S6. Stripped Matrix› S7. Dark Surface

Therefore this soil is hydric.

Site #2 Hydrology

› Depth of Surface Water: Not applicable› Depth of Free Water in Pit: 12 inches› Depth to Saturated Soil: 6 inches

Saturation

Depth of inundation: absent

Depth to saturation: 6”

Depth to water: 12”

Water Level

Soil Pit

Primary Indicators:› Saturated in Upper 12 inches

Secondary Indicators (2 or more required):› FAC-Neutral Test

Therefore this site does have wetland hydrology.

A jurisdictional wetland must have all three criteria:› Hydrophytic Vegetation? Yes› Hydric Soils? Yes› Wetland Hydrology? Yes› Jurisdictional Wetland? Yes

Indicator Status

Slash pine Pinus elliottii FACWSweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua FAC+Red maple Acer rubrum FACDrummond's maple Acer rubrum var. drummondii OBLSweetbay Magnolia virginiana FACW+Wax myrtle Morella cerifera FAC+Swamp titi Cyrilla racemiflora FACW

There is 100% hydrophytic vegetation, therefore the criterion is met.

Site #3 SoilsSOILSSURRENCY (Loamy, siliceous, semiactive, thermic Arenic Umbric Paleaquults): Very Poorly Drained

Soil Horizon

Depth (inches)

Matrix Color

Soil Texture Redoximorphic Features

Oi 1-0 moss and leaf litter

A 0-12 N 2/ mucky fine sand

10YR 2/1 (95%)10YR 7/1 (5%)

Eg 12-32 2.5Y 5/210YR 4/2

sand 2.5Y 5/2 (95%)10YR 4/2 (5%)

Btg 32-36+ 10YR 7/2 sandy loam with pockets of loamy sand

10YR 6/6 masses of oxidized iron andfew clay coated sand grains

Meets the criteria for: S7. Dark Surface A7. 5 cm Mucky Mineral Therefore this soil is hydric.

› Depth of Surface Water: Evidence of inundation

› Depth of Free Water in Pit: 2 inches› Depth to Saturated Soil: 0 inches

Saturation

Depth of inundation: evidence present

Depth to saturation: 0”

Depth to water: 2”

Water Level

Soil Pit

Primary Indicators:› Inundated› Saturated in Upper 12 inches› Water Marks› Drift Lines› Sediment Deposits› Drainage Patterns in Wetlands

Secondary Indicators (2 or more required):› Oxidized Root Channels› Water-Stained Leaves› Local Soil Survey Data› FAC-Neutral Test

Therefore this site does have wetland hydrology.

A jurisdictional wetland must have all three criteria:› Hydrophytic Vegetation? Yes› Hydric Soils? Yes› Wetland Hydrology? Yes› Jurisdictional Wetland? Yes

Wetland Delineation Summary

Site Number(Soil Series)

Hydrophytic Vegetation

Hydric Soil

Wetland Hydrology

Jurisdictional Wetland

1 Leon Yes No No No2 Lynn Haven Yes Yes Yes Yes3 Surrency Yes Yes Yes Yes

Wetland Delineation Perspectives

Site #1: LEON Site #2: LYNN HAVEN Site #3: SURRENCY

Wetland Delineation (Biologist)

Non-Hydric Soil Hydric Soil Hydric Soil

Wetland Delineation (Soil Scientist)

Conclusion

The wetland delineation regulations can be difficult to navigate.

A thorough knowledge of soil science is essential to perform accurate wetland delineations.

Soil Scientists are trained to properly understand and interpret soil morphology and soil hydrology.

Conclusion

It is imperative that the soil scientist doing the delineation have an adequate knowledge of botany or consult with a botanist.

When the delineation of hydrophytic vegetation is over-emphasized as compared to the extent of hydric soils, the wetland delineation is typically exaggerated.

Opportunities for Soil Scientists

Results of NSCSS Professional Practice Survey: Who is the Professional Soil Consultant and What Do They Want? Source: Joseph Schuster in Soil Profiles © 2009 VOLUME XVII, NUMBER 3: September 2009 Page 2

Florida Soils Presentation

Documents

Transcript of Florida Soils Presentation

Soils and Society presentation

Beach Outfall Presentation - Naples, Florida

ASCE expansive soils presentation

STATE OF FLORIDA · STATE OF FLORIDA Research Report ... Pavement Supporting Soils Test Facility ... to the California Bearing Ratio (CBR), ...

Hydrology, Vegetation, and Soils of Riverine and Tidal ... Vegetation, and Soils of Riverine and Tidal Floodplain Forests of the Lower Suwannee River, Florida, and Potential Impacts

Soils Introduction MG Presentation 2014 - Cabrillo Collegepshaw/Soils Introduction MG Presentation 2014.pdf · Soils Managing Soils Factoids on SC soils Over 100 different soil types

Power Point Presentation Florida

Soils Section - University of South Florida

Exit Realty Florida presentation 2016

Florida ICSC 2013 Presentation

St. Augustinegrass for Florida LawnsSt. Augustinegrass for Florida Lawns 3 the heavier clay soils with medium to low soil pH of north and northwest Florida. Dwarf Cultivars ‘CAPTIVA’

Fertilizing Effectively in Sandy Florida Soils...Fertilizing Effectively in Sandy Florida Soils Tina McIntyre, Florida-Friendly Landscaping Agent Terrence Fullerton, Fertilizer Educator

Soils Section - Sarasota.WaterAtlas.org...Florida Envirothon Study Packet — Soils Section 4 brought about by climate, living organisms, and relief are slow. The length of time needed

Presentation by Florida 8

Florida Doci's Evaluation Presentation

Urban Soils in Gainesville, Florida, and Their ... · Urban Soils in Gainesville, Florida, and Their Implications for Environmental Quality and Management 4 contaminants, which decreases

Northwest Florida State College Presentation

Florida presentation

Selected Soils of Leon County, Florida Matt Wilson: Pedology Spring 2010.

Identifying High Pile Rebound Soils Using CPT Pore Water Pressure Measurements - Case Studies in Florida