(a) Definition

A hydric soil is a soil that formed under conditions of saturation, flooding, or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part. Hydric soils along with hydrophytic vegetation and wetland hydrology are used to define wetlands.

(b) Policy

The current criteria for generating a list of hydric soils in the Federal Register, February 24, 1995, volume 60, number 37, page 10349. The reference for field identification of hydric soils is Field Indicators of Hydric Soils of the United States, Fall 1996.

States maintain current lists of hydric soil map units in the field office technical guide.