2026-05787: Changes in Hydric Soils Database Selection Criteria of the United States
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The National Technical Committee for Hydric Soils (NTCHS) has updated the hydric criteria used to select map unit components for the hydric soils list. The former database selection criteria created to select soils that may meet the definition of hydric soils did not include subaqueous soils. As required by 7 CFR 12.31, NRCS is hereby providing notice of the changes to the selection criteria for hydric soils as set forth in the NTCHS publication "Hydric Soils of the United States," Miscellaneous Publication 1491, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, June 1991 (see also 60 FR 10349). These changes will add soil components that represent subaqueous landforms to the list of hydric soils and reflect refinements in knowledge of the soils of the United States as subaqueous soils are now mapped in previously unmapped areas. These soils have always met the hydric definition, whether identified by the criteria or not, and thus represent an insignificant change in acreage of hydric soils.
The agency’s own summary, as published.
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