Interpreting morphological features in wetland soils with a hydrologic model

Wetlands in the United States are protected by law and are identified by their hydric soils, wetland hydrology, and vegetation. Hydric soils are easily identified by color characteristics termed hydric soil field indicators, that form under saturated and anaerobic conditions, but wetland hydrology is difficult to assess. This study determines how often seven hydric soil field indicators met wetland hydrology requirements which require a water table be within 30 cm of the surface for 14 days or more during the growing season in over half the years. Studies were conducted at five sites in North Carolina in both wetland and upland plots. Soils ranged from Aquic Paleudults to Typic Haplosaprists across all sites. The water-table simulation model DRAINMOD was calibrated to soil conditions in individual plots. Long-term rainfall data were used with the calibrated models to compute 40 years of daily water table data to represent both wet and dry years. It was found that the hydric soils with field indicators composed of organic materials in layers over 20 cm thick (Histosol and Histic epipedon field indicators) met wetland hydrology requirements each year, and in addition were ponded with water for periods between 67 to 139 days on average each year during the growing season. Plots in mineral soils having the Dark Surface (S7) indicator as well as the Sandy Mucky Mineral (S1) indicator also met the saturation requirements for wetland hydrology every year, and were ponded for only 3 days per year on average. Other mineral soils with an Umbric Surface (F13) or a Depleted Matrix (F3) field indicator met wetland hydrology requirements in approximately 95% of the years, and had water tables within 30 cm of the surface for 40 days per year on average. The Redox Depressions (F8) field indicator occurred in a small depression that was saturated for 87% of the year for periods averaging approximately 30 days. These results showed that hydric soil field indicators can be calibrated to long-term water table data that will allow precise assessments of wetland hydrology on-site.