Alternative Text Description for Hydric Soils

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the distribution of hydric soils across the state of Florida, classified by drainage characteristics. Hydric soils are soils that are saturated, flooded, or ponded long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part. The map categorizes these soils into three drainage classes: Poor, Somewhat Poor, and Very Poor, showing where water-saturated soil conditions exist throughout the state.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the entire state of Florida and portions of southern Georgia and Alabama. Major cities labeled include Miami, Cape Coral, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Orlando, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Valdosta, Dothan, and Albany. The map extends from the Gulf of America coastline on the west and south to the Atlantic Ocean coastline on the east, including the Florida Panhandle in the northwest and the Florida Keys in the south. Neighboring states of Georgia and Alabama are partially visible in the northern portion of the map.

KEY INSIGHTS

Hydric soils are extensively distributed throughout Florida, with the most significant concentrations occurring in southern Florida from approximately Lake Okeechobee southward through the Miami metropolitan area. A substantial concentration exists in the northern Panhandle region. Smaller but notable clusters appear around the Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg area, along coastal zones, and in scattered interior locations. The pattern reveals that hydric soils follow both coastal margins and interior wetland areas, with large portions of central Florida showing sparse or no hydric soil presence, particularly in the central ridge area of the peninsula.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Hydric Soils

This layer represents soils that experience prolonged saturation or flooding, mapped according to their drainage capacity.

Very Poor Drainage (salmon/coral pink)

Appearance:

Displayed in a salmon or coral pink color, this category represents the most severely water-saturated soils.

Distribution:

Very Poor drainage soils dominate southern Florida, forming an extensive continuous area from Lake Okeechobee south through the Everglades to Miami and the southern tip of the peninsula. Additional major concentrations appear in the western Panhandle near the Gulf of America coast and along portions of the east coast near Jacksonville.

Notable locations:

The largest continuous area extends across the southern third of the Florida peninsula, encompassing the greater Miami metropolitan area and the Everglades region. Significant patches occur in the Panhandle between Tallahassee and Pensacola, and smaller concentrations appear along the Big Bend coast and near Jacksonville.

Spatial patterns:

Very Poor drainage soils form large contiguous blocks in southern Florida and the western Panhandle, often corresponding to major wetland systems and low-lying coastal areas. These soils generally align with known wetland complexes and areas of poor natural drainage.

Somewhat Poor Drainage (purple/violet)

Appearance:

Displayed in a purple or violet color, representing moderately impaired drainage conditions.

Distribution:

Somewhat Poor drainage soils appear as scattered patches throughout the state, with notable concentrations in the northern Panhandle, around the northern peninsula, and intermixed with other drainage classes in southern Florida.

Notable locations:

Concentrations appear in the Panhandle region, particularly between Tallahassee and the Gulf of America coast, and in areas around Jacksonville and the St. Johns River valley. Scattered occurrences exist throughout the central and southern portions of the state.

Spatial patterns:

These soils form smaller, more fragmented patterns compared to the Very Poor category, often appearing as transitional zones between Very Poor drainage areas and better-drained soils, or as isolated patches in the interior.

Poor Drainage (light pink/lavender)

Appearance:

Displayed in a light pink or lavender color, representing the least severe drainage impairment among the three categories.

Distribution:

Poor drainage soils are widely distributed across Florida in small, dispersed patches, appearing throughout the peninsula and Panhandle with no single dominant concentration area.

Notable locations:

These soils appear as scattered small polygons across most of the state, intermixed with the other drainage classes, with somewhat higher density in the northern and central portions of the peninsula.

Spatial patterns:

Poor drainage soils form a dispersed, fragmented pattern, appearing as individual small patches rather than large continuous areas. They are often interspersed with Somewhat Poor and Very Poor drainage soils, creating a mosaic pattern across the landscape.

Overlapping Patterns

The three drainage classes create a complex mosaic across Florida's landscape. In southern Florida, all three categories intermingle in a dense pattern, reflecting the complex hydrology of the Everglades and surrounding wetlands. Coastal areas generally show higher concentrations of hydric soils across all drainage classes, while the central ridge of the peninsula shows large gaps with no hydric soil coverage.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map shows only soils classified as hydric based on the National Cooperative Soil Survey criteria. Areas shown in gray (no color) represent either non-hydric soils with adequate drainage or water bodies. The map provides critical information for wetland delineation, agricultural planning, construction suitability assessment, and environmental conservation efforts. Hydric soils are one of the three criteria used to identify jurisdictional wetlands under federal regulations. The drainage class categories reflect the frequency and duration of water saturation in the soil profile, which affects vegetation types, land use suitability, and ecological function.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

This dataset is a digital soil survey representing the most detailed level of soil geographic data developed by the National Cooperative Soil Survey. The information was prepared by digitizing maps, compiling information onto a planimetric correct base and digitizing, or by revising digitized maps using remotely sensed and other information. This dataset replaces the SSOILS data in previous versions of FGDL. Data source layer: NRCS_SOILS_SEP25.

Definition Query:

This map displays only soils where the hydric rating equals 'YES', filtering the complete soils dataset to show exclusively those soils meeting hydric soil criteria. Non-hydric soils are excluded from the display.

Scale Information:

The map shows statewide coverage at a scale appropriate for viewing the entire state of Florida and identifying regional patterns of hydric soil distribution. This scale is suitable for general planning and analysis but may not show fine detail appropriate for site-specific assessments.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

The dataset is dated September 25, based on the layer name NRCS_SOILS_SEP25. The specific year is not provided in the available information.

Limitations:

This is a generalized statewide view and may not capture all local variations in soil drainage characteristics. Site-specific soil surveys and field verification should be conducted for detailed project planning. The digital dataset represents interpretations of soil survey data and may differ from the most current published soil surveys in some areas.

Map Coverage:

The map covers the entire state of Florida from the Georgia and Alabama borders in the north to the Florida Keys in the south, extending from the Gulf of America coast in the west to the Atlantic Ocean coast in the east. Portions of southern Georgia and Alabama are shown for geographic context.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.