Eastern Mountains and Piedmont Region (Version 2.0)
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Wetlands Regulatory Assistance Program ERDC/EL TR-12-9 Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Eastern Mountains and Piedmont Region (Version 2.0) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers April 2012 Environmental Laboratory Environmental Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Wetlands Regulatory Assistance Program ERDC/EL TR-12-9 April 2012 Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Eastern Mountains and Piedmont Region (Version 2.0) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center 3909 Halls Ferry Road Vicksburg, MS 39180-6199 Final report Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Prepared for Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Washington, DC 20314-1000 ERDC/EL TR-12-9 ii Abstract This document is one of a series of Regional Supplements to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual, which provides technical guidance and procedures for identifying and delineating wetlands that may be subject to regulatory jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act or Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act. The development of Regional Supplements is part of a nationwide effort to address regional wetland characteristics and improve the accuracy and efficiency of wetland-delineation procedures. This supplement is applicable to the Eastern Mountains and Piedmont Region, which consists of all or portions of the District of Columbia and 20 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. DISCLAIMER: The contents of this report are not to be used for advertising, publication, or promotional purposes. Citation of trade names does not constitute an official endorsement or approval of the use of such commercial products. All product names and trademarks cited are the property of their respective owners. The findings of this report are not to be construed as an official Department of the Army position unless so designated by other authorized documents. DESTROY THIS REPORT WHEN NO LONGER NEEDED. DO NOT RETURN IT TO THE ORIGINATOR. ERDC/EL TR-12-9 iii Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... ii Figures and Tables ................................................................................................................................ vii Preface ....................................................................................................................................................xi 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose and use of this regional supplement ........................................................................ 1 Applicable region and subregions ........................................................................................... 3 Physical and biological characteristics of the region ............................................................. 5 Central and Eastern Mountains (LRR N) .................................................................................... 6 Southern Piedmont (MLRA 136 of LRR P) .................................................................................. 7 Northern Mountains and Piedmont (MLRAs 147 and 148 of LRR S) ....................................... 8 Types and distribution of wetlands .......................................................................................... 8 2 Hydrophytic Vegetation Indicators ............................................................................................. 16 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 16 Guidance on vegetation sampling and analysis ................................................................... 18 Definitions of strata ................................................................................................................... 19 Plot and sample sizes ................................................................................................................ 20 Seasonal considerations and cautions ..................................................................................... 23 Hydrophytic vegetation indicators ......................................................................................... 24 Procedure ................................................................................................................................... 25 Indicator 1: Rapid test for hydrophytic vegetation ................................................................... 26 Indicator 2: Dominance test ...................................................................................................... 27 Indicator 3: Prevalence index .................................................................................................... 29 Indicator 4: Morphological adaptations .................................................................................... 31 3 Hydric Soil Indicators ................................................................................................................... 34 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 34 Concepts ................................................................................................................................. 35 Iron and manganese reduction, translocation, and accumulation ......................................... 35 Sulfate reduction ........................................................................................................................ 36 Organic matter accumulation .................................................................................................... 36 Cautions .................................................................................................................................. 38 Procedures for sampling soils ............................................................................................... 39 Observe and document the site ................................................................................................ 39 Observe and document the soil ................................................................................................ 41 Use of existing soil data ......................................................................................................... 42 Soil surveys ................................................................................................................................. 42 Hydric soils lists .......................................................................................................................... 43 Hydric soil indicators .............................................................................................................. 43 All Soils ....................................................................................................................................... 45 ERDC/EL TR-12-9 iv Indicator A1: Histosol ..................................................................................................... 45 Indicator A2: Histic Epipedon ........................................................................................ 47 Indicator A3: Black Histic ............................................................................................... 48 Indicator A4: Hydrogen Sulfide ...................................................................................... 49 Indicator A5: Stratified Layers ....................................................................................... 49 Indicator A10: 2 cm Muck ............................................................................................. 50 Indicator A11: Depleted Below Dark Surface ............................................................... 51 Indicator A12: Thick Dark Surface ................................................................................ 52 Sandy soils .................................................................................................................................. 53 Indicator S1: Sandy Mucky Mineral .............................................................................. 54 Indicator S4: Sandy Gleyed Matrix ................................................................................ 55 Indicator S5: Sandy Redox............................................................................................. 56 Indicator S6: Stripped Matrix ......................................................................................... 57 Indicator S7: Dark Surface ............................................................................................ 58 Indicator S8: Polyvalue Below Surface ......................................................................... 59 Indicator S9: Thin Dark Surface .................................................................................... 60 Loamy and Clayey Soils ............................................................................................................. 61 Indicator F2: Loamy Gleyed Matrix ...............................................................................