Hydric soil
Soil that formed under saturation, flooding, or ponding long enough to become oxygen-poor near the surface.
When soil stays waterlogged for long stretches of the growing season, the oxygen in it runs out and its chemistry changes, leaving gray colors and rusty mottling a soil scientist can read years later. The USDA soil survey flags map units whose soils are hydric, or that contain hydric components.
Why it matters
Hydric soil is one of the three markers of a wetland, so a parcel with hydric soils deserves a wetland check even where no wetland is mapped. It also tends to be the soil a septic system struggles in: a high or seasonal water table is a common reason a perc test or soil evaluation fails.
Sources
Related terms
- Wetland
Land saturated or covered by water long enough that it supports water-adapted plants and develops wet soils.
- Perc test (percolation test)
A site test of how quickly water drains into the soil, used to decide whether and where a septic system can go.
Articles on this topic
- How to research a property yourself, step by stepMay 20, 2026
- Why you should analyze land before you buy itMarch 12, 2026
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