For use in all LRRs, except for W, X, and Y; for testing in LRRs W, X, and Y.

A layer that is 10 cm (4 inches) or more thick, starting at a depth of 20 cm (8 inches) or less from the mineral soil surface, and has:

1. matrix value of 3 or less and chroma of 1 or less and 2 percent or more distinct or prominent redox concentrations occurring as soft masses or pore linings, or

2. matrix value of 3 or less and chroma of 2 or less and 5 percent or more distinct or prominent redox concentrations occurring as soft masses or pore linings.

User Notes: This is a very common indicator used to delineate wetland soils that have a dark surface layer. Redox concentrations in mineral soils with a high content of organic matter and a dark surface layer are commonly small and difficult to see (figs. 31, 32, and 33). The organic matter masks some or all of the concentrations that may be present. Careful examination is required to see what commonly brownish redox concentrations in the darkened materials are. If the soil is saturated at the time of sampling, it may be necessary to let it dry at least to a moist condition for redox features to become visible.

Typically, unless the soil is ponded with saturation only occurring near the surface, the material below the indicator will have a depleted or gleyed matrix. Soils that are subject to ponding or have a shallow, perched layer of saturation may have any color below the dark surface. It is recommended that delineators evaluate the hydrologic source and examine and describe the layer below the dark-colored surface layer when applying this indicator. This indicator is easily human-induced if a plow pan or other humanmade confining layer is present. In these cases, the human-induced feature may have caused the development of a hydric soil. Removal of the feature that is causing the perching of water can eliminate the source of water causing anaerobic conditions to occur; therefore, the soil is no longer actively forming as a hydric soil.