"A", "B", "C", and "D" Tests

Question 1

“A” Test

Answer 1

(62-340.300(2)(a)) the dominance of obligate vegetation over upland vegetation in the appropriate stratum and ecological support for wetland conditions on site in the form of either hydric soils or convincing hydrologic indicators

Question 2

“A” Test Conditions in Brief

Answer 2

Obligate Vegetation > Upland Vegetation
AND
Hydric Soil Characteristics OR River wash OR Hydrologic Indicators

Question 3

“B” Test

Answer 3

(62-340.300(2)(b)) the dominance by any combination of obligate and facultative wet vegetation at a coverage of 80% or greater (coverage by upland vegetation must be 20% or less) and ecological support for wetland conditions on site in the form of either hydric soils or convincing hydrologic indicators

Question 4

“B” Test Conditions in Brief

Answer 4

Obligate + Facultative Wet > 80% (Upland < 20%)
AND
Hydric Soil Characteristics OR River wash OR Hydrologic Indicators

Question 5

The Plant Tests “A” Test and “B” Test

Answer 5

Neither the “A” nor the “B” test include the use of facultative vegetation, vines, nor aquatic plants in estimating the percent aerial coverage for dominance; when using vegetative dominance to establish the wetland boundary, be sure to consider the remaining technical procedures prior to formalizing the determination

Question 6

Reticulate Communities

Answer 6

areas where two or more vegetative communities intergrade in a complex labyrinth, the dominant community should be used for the vegetative test

Question 7

“C” Test

Answer 7

(62-340.300(2)(c)) the use of specific soil situations to delineate wetlands; certain soil situations are identified as providing sufficient evidence to serve as the sole factor in wetland determination; test cannot be used in pine flatwoods, improved pastures, and drained soils

Question 8

Pine Flatwoods

Answer 8

a plant community type occurring on flat terrain with soils which may experience a seasonal high water table near the surface; canopy species: monotypic or mixed forest of long leaf pine or slash pine; subcanopy: typically sparse or absent; ground cover: dominated by saw palmetto with areas of wire grass, gallberry, and other shrubs, grasses, and forbs

Question 9

Improved Pasture

Answer 9

areas where the dominant native plant community has been replaced with planted or natural recruitment of herbaceous species which are not OBL or FACW species and which have been actively maintained for livestock through mechanical means or grazing

Question 10

Area(s) with Drained Soils

Answer 10

areas are considered to drained soils ONLY when the hydrology has been changed to such an extent as to prevent the formation and maintenance of hydric soils as defined in the rule

Question 11

Soil Taxonomy

Answer 11

from the soil classification system (Soil Survey Staff, 1994) six great groups and one soil order are identified as having soils that form only under very poorly drained conditions; the six great groups: Argiaquolls, Hydraquents, Humaquepts, Sulfaquents, Umbraqualfs, and Umbraquults; Histosols are the order that is included in this section

Question 12

Saline Sands

Answer 12

tidal areas that have limited or no plant growth due to high salt concentrations; areas are generally tidal, very poorly drained, and are found in high marsh areas

Question 13

Frequently Flooded and Depressional Map Units

Answer 13

are also included as stand-alone criteria in this section of the rule

Question 14

“D” Test

Answer 14

(62-340.300(2)(d)) the presence of hydric soil and a hydrologic indicator; vegetative dominance by species listed within the Vegetative Index is not required in order to use this procedure

Question 15

“D” Test Hydrologic Indicators Test in Brief

Answer 15

Hydric Soil Indicators + Hydrologic Indicators