Hydric Research Articles

Pedogenic influence on profile distribution of total and DTPA - extractable micronutrients in rice growing hydric soils of Majuli river island, Assam, India

The rice-growing river floodplain ecosystems of Majuli island, India, have been recognized as a biodiversity hotspot with a high degree of variability in geomorphological forms and geochemical conditions for trace metals in hydric soils. Ten hydric soil series in rice-growing soils of Majuli island were studied with the aim of understanding the pedogenic influence on distribution and content of total and diethylenetriamine penta acetic acid (DTPA) extractable micronutrient cations (Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn) and their enrichment levels. The correlation analysis showed that these cations were closely linked with soil texture, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity and pH levels. The multiple regressions and cluster analysis was employed to identify the effect of river fed deposits on distribution pattern and lithological enrichment of metals. The contamination status was assessed through quantitative indexes with reference material. The negative geo-accumulation index values were used to conclude that these soils had been practically unchanged by anthropogenic influences. They showed moderate Cu contamination but were otherwise unpolluted (Pollution load index < 1) with respect to total elements under study.

Site factors as predictors for Pinus halepensis Mill. productivity in Spanish plantations

This work presents a discriminant model to predict Pinus halepensis forest productivity using parameters related to water availability (Annual Hydric Index, soil porosity and slope) and information about the N immobilization by soil microorganisms (microbial biomass N). Pinus halepensis is a circum-Mediterranean species that has been widely used for afforestation of poor and degraded soils in water-limited regions. Determining forest and stand productivity is very useful for forest managers as it supports decision making. The aim of this study was to develop a model to predict Pinus halepensis productivity using environmental parameters. A set of 57 soil, climatic and physiographic parameters were determined in 32 Pinus halepensis plots, which were categorized into three site index classes. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to select the 14 environmental variables that accounted for the highest data variability. Discriminant models with three, four and five environmental variables as predictors were studied. The selected discriminant model included three parameters related to water availability (Annual Hydric Index, soil porosity and slope), which is the main driver of forest productivity in Mediterranean ecosystems, and one nutrient-related parameter known as microbial biomass N, by which microorganisms inform about N immobilization. The model correctly classified 62.5% of the plots. This model may be a very useful tool for supporting decision making in forestry practices aimed at sustainable stand management.

A Synthesized Manganese Oxide for Easily Making Durable Manganese‐Coated IRIS Tubes

Core Ideas We developed a new synthesis of well‐crystalline birnessite for making Mn‐coated IRIS tubes. The Mn coating can be easily and quickly applied using a foam brush and lathe. The Mn coating on PVC tubes has strong adhesion and good durability. Up to 30 (50‐cm) Mn‐coated IRIS tubes can be manufactured per hour. The speed and ease of manufacturing permits broader use of Mn‐coated IRIS tubes. During the last decade, Indicator of Reduction in Soils (IRIS) technology has been developed whereby polyvinyl chloride (PVC) devices coated with an Fe‐oxide paint are inserted into the soil to document strongly reducing conditions. The IRIS devices are easy to use and interpret, are less prone to difficulties associated with other methods of assessing reducing soil conditions, and have been endorsed by the National Technical Committee for Hydric Soils. There has been longstanding interest in Mn‐oxide‐coated tubes, but until lately there have been insurmountable problems associated with poor adhesion and durability of the Mn‐oxide coating. Recently, workers have suggested an easily synthesized, poorly crystalline birnessite to make Mn‐coated PVC IRIS devices, but their manufacturing procedure for tubes with a durable Mn coating is cumbersome and time consuming. We have developed an easily synthesized crystalline birnessite paint that can be used to quickly make IRIS tubes with a strongly adhering and durable Mn‐oxide coating. The procedure requires a large excess of sodium lactate to reduce KMnO4 quickly, followed by centrifuge washing and 3 d of dialysis. Once adjusted to the proper consistency, the birnessite can be painted onto PVC tubing using a foam brush and a lathe‐type device, such that approximately 30 tubes can be prepared in as little as 1 h. Preliminary testing conformed with other investigations suggesting that Mn‐oxide coatings become solubilized and stripped from tubes more rapidly, and under less strongly reducing conditions, than the Fe‐oxide‐coated tubes.

Pahicmetria, a Model of Metric in Environmental Hydric Planning

Pahicmetria, a Model of Metric in Environmental Hydric Planning

Changes in soluble metal concentrations induced by variable water table levels as response to liming and Phragmites australis growth in metal-polluted wetland soils: Management effectiveness

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of liming and Phragmites australis growth for the management of metal-polluted wetland soils under fluctuating water table levels. Soil columns (20cm in diameter and 60cm high) were constructed with two soil types (pH~6.4 and pH~3.1) and four treatments were assayed: with/without liming and with/without vegetation. The pH, Eh, EC, WSOC and soluble metals (Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, Zn) were monitored at three depths: 5 (never under water), 30 (alternating flooding-drying conditions), and 55 (always under water) cm. In the slightly acidic soil liming decreased Cd, Mn and Zn soluble concentrations regardless of the hydric regime and the presence of Phragmites. However, it contributed to Cu and Pb mobilization under permanent flooding conditions (55cm depth). In the non-liming treatments the presence of vegetation hindered the drop of Eh in the deepest 55cm and contributed to maintain higher Cd solubility. In the strongly acidic soil liming decreased Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn soluble concentrations but not Mn. In this soil the presence of Phragmites contributed to higher soluble metal concentrations at 5cm depth due to the capillary upward movement of water with solutes (salts and metals). Hence, it is not possible to establish an unique management strategy for metal-polluted hydric soils since the effectiveness of the remediation techniques will depend on the target metal, soil type, water level regime and presence/absence of vegetation.

Assessing Nebraska playa wetland inundation status during 1985-2015 using Landsat data and Google Earth Engine.

Playa wetlands in Nebraska provide globally important habitats for migratory waterfowl. Inundation condition is an important indicator of playa wetland functionality. However, there is a lack of long-term continuous monitoring records for playa wetlands. The objective of this study was to determine a suitable index for Landsat images to map the playa inundation status in March and April during 1985-2015. Four types of spectral indices-negative normalized vegetation index, Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), modified NDWI, and Tasseled Cap Wetness-Greenness Difference (TCWGD)-were evaluated to detect playa inundation conditions from Landsat images. The results indicate that the TCWGD is the most suitable index for distinguishing playa inundation status. By using Landsat images and Google Earth Engine, we mapped the spring inundation condition of Nebraska playas during 1985-2015. The results show that the total inundated areas were 176.79km2 in spring migratory season, representing 18.92% of the total area of playa wetlands. There were 9898 wetlands inundated at least once in either March or April during the past 30years, representing 29.41% of a total of 33,659 historical wetlands. After comparing the historical hydric soil footprints and the inundated areas, the results indicate that the hydrological conditions of the majority of playas in Nebraska have changed. The inundated wetlands are candidates for protection and/or partial restoration, and the un-inundated wetlands need more attention for wetland restoration. Wetlands in areas enrolled in conservation easements had a significantly high level of playa inundation status than non-conserved wetlands during spring migratory seasons in the past decades.These conservation easements only count for 4.29% of the total footprint areas, but they have contributed 20.82% of the inundation areas in Nebraska during the past 30 years.

Visual Assessment of Sulfate Reduction to Identify Hydric Soils

Core Ideas Iron monosulfides determine the presence of highly reduced conditions. Visual sulfate reduction on IRIS surfaces can be used to identify hydric soils. Greater S content in saturated soils results in greater monosulfide formation. Some hydric soils present a unique set of problems associated with their identification, including morphological features not reflective of current hydrology and/or masked redoximorphic features. A simple, reliable tool to identify reduced soil environments is IRIS (Indicator of Reduction in Soil) tubes and panels. In saturated, anaerobic soils with substantial sulfur (S) contents, a commonly observed phenomenon is the reduction of S to form black iron monosulfides (FeS). The objective of this experiment was to document S reduction on polyvinylchloride surfaces coated with synthesized iron (Fe) oxides to simplify the identification of hydric soils wetlands containing moderate to high S concentrations. The IRIS panels were installed in soil mesocosms containing varying concentrations of sulfate and saturated for 11 wk. Oxidation–reduction potential and pH were measured weekly throughout the study. At the termination of the experiment, the IRIS panels were removed and analyzed quantitatively for percentage of oxidized iron (Fe3+) remaining, reduced iron (Fe2+) removed, and reduced S (FeS) precipitated onto the panel. When IRIS panels displayed 2% FeS precipitate, 77% of the panels met the National Technical Committee for Hydric Soil criteria using reduced Fe removal from IRIS panels, and 100% of the panels met the criteria established using measured oxidation–reduction potential. The strong visual observation of FeS is a simple, quick determination of highly reduced conditions. Wetlands are a valuable natural resource that can be challenging to delineate, and the incorporation of a visual S reduction criteria on IRIS surfaces is beneficial for the timely and accurate identification of hydric soils.

Soil Color and US Northeast Aquods

Core Ideas Identifying hydric soils and depth to seasonal high water table is difficult in Spodosols. The specific criteria for classifying wet Spodosols need to change. Extractable Fe does not appear to contribute to the red color of wet Spodosols. An interaction between Al and humic substances may possibly contribute to the redder hues. Aquods commonly occur in wetland settings across a range of temperature regimes. Understanding their morphologies is critical to developing effective hydric soil indicators. In this study, we examined a range of wet Spodosols of the northeastern United States. We tested whether the red hues associated with wet spodic horizons are a function of humic (HA) and fulvic acids (FA) or Fe, and addressed questions related to hydric soil indicators, horizon designation, and soil classification. Only two of the 11 seasonally saturated Spodosols met current criteria for Aquods. Almost all of the 24 Bh, Bhs, or Bhsm horizons had 3 to 10 times more ammonium oxalate extractable Al than Fe (mean Fe was <0.15%), yet only three pedons met the current criteria for “Al” great groups. We found no consistently applied color or sesquioxide content criteria for separating Bh from Bhs horizons. These results suggest that criteria for horizon designation and classification of Aquods need to be reconsidered. There were no relationships between extractable Fe and hue (p = 0.50). Weak correlation coefficients (−0.40 and −0.39; p = 0.051 and 0.057) between hue and FA and HA suggest little support for red hues being primarily a function of HA or FA. The significant relationship between Al and hue (−0.46; p = 0.025) and the strong correlation between Al and both HA and FA (0.87 and 0.86; p < 0.001) suggest a possible interaction between Al and the humic substances resulting in redder hues. We found more than twice as much HA in the spodic horizons as FA and concluded that FA is the precursor of HA in US Northeast spodic horizons.

A constructability assessment method (CAM) for sustainable division of land parcels

Historically the land development process has lacked a decision support structure for evaluating undeveloped parcels of land for compatibility with land use policy and engineering constraints. This paper demonstrates an applied multi-criteria decision support structure for characterizing the spatial distribution and classification of a parcel’s potential to support residential lot construction. This support structure is based on parcel attributes quantified in a typical site feasibility report, to include: potential house yield, wetlands area, soil types, streams (surface drains), and steep slope areas. The analytical capabilities of geographic information system (GIS) are employed in the decision support structure named the constructability assessment method (CAM). CAM integrates a dynamic multi-criteria attribute assessment method, based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), for a given set of administrative requirements, and engineering constraints and judgment.The results of a case study using CAM characterized the approximate location of ideal lots for homes construction in an R-1 zoning district located on a 1290 acre land parcel in Loudoun County, VA, while avoiding existing hydric soils, floodplains, steep slopes, and forested areas. The number of ideal lots for a given set of engineering and administrative constraints represented a 65% reduction from the maximum lots permitted by regulatory constraints alone. The methodology used in this case study provides a consistent and repeatable land parcel analysis technique for undeveloped land parcels, and can be adapted and/or extended to a number of similar publicly available geographic datasets and constraint. In estimating optimal development density, CAM meets the needs of zoning administrators as well as the developers, thus offering a demand-driven market-based solution for sustainable land development.

Recovering hydromorphological functionality to improve natural purification capacity of a highly human-modified wetland

Modification of the hydrological regime by human actions can reduce the capacity of wetlands to improve water quality. For the first time, a study was conducted of the inherent pollution attenuation capacity of wetlands associated with the highly regulated Spanish Tagus River. We determined the natural purification capacity of a floodplain where irrigated agriculture predominates and hydraulic connection with the river is virtually nonexistent. To this end, continuous hydrophysical measurements and sediment and water samples were taken during the period extending from April 2013 to March 2014. A multi-parametric dataset including hydraulic, physico-chemical, bacterial and macroinvertebrate indicators was collected from ten piezometers located within a meander, together with two additional sampling points in the river. Sampling was performed monthly to measure hydraulic and physico-chemical parameters and quarterly for bacteria and macroinvertebrates. The data enabled us to implement different but complementary methodological approaches to characterize denitrification. Specifically, we performed: (i) end-member mixing analysis (EMMA); (ii) macroinvertebrate characterization; (iii) denitrification potential analysis; (iv) bacterial assemblage structure analysis; and (v) hydrological modeling of the current and different future management scenarios. All the approaches except EMMA indicated the same conclusion: denitrification is almost nonexistent due to the fact that the study site does not present the hydric soil and oxygen-limited conditions required to enable denitrification. The EMMA analysis showed that theoretical nitrate concentrations were lower than expected in some areas during the summer months (e.g. ΔNO3=−41 in August 2013), which may have been because irrigation intensity was spatio-temporal variable at the study site. Our results show that floodplain denitrification has been drastically reduced due to the suppression of flood pulses. In this context, restoration of the hydrological regime in riverine wetlands would lead to the decay of nitrates whose dynamic evolution increases with flooding, as scenarios tested by the MOHID hydro-biogeochemical model have demonstrated.

High Resolution Hydric Soil Mapping using LiDAR Digital Terrain Modeling

The recent availability of 1-m laser imaging, detection, and ranging (LiDAR) data in Pennsylvania provides a high resolution digital elevation model (DEM) which could improve on existing USDA-NRCS Order 2 soil survey mapping. The ability of LiDAR derived terrain indices to predict hydric soil presence was evaluated across the Northern Appalachians. We developed a logistic regression model to predict hydric soil presence using a dataset of 1153-field data points and several terrain indices derived from LiDAR DEMs. The best performing regression model included slope derived from a 1-m LiDAR DEM, depressions derived from a 5-m LiDAR DEM, and physiographic region. This model was able to successfully predict 67% of hydric soils and 73% of non-hydric soils from a validation dataset. The model performed better at predicting non-hydric soils compared with hydric soils and was not as effective in low slope areas. This suggests that the 1-m LiDAR hydrologic variables used in the study cannot completely account for soil hydric status.

Wetland hydrology indicators of Maluti Mountains wetlands in Lesotho

Hydric soil morphological features are generally accepted to be reliable indicators of wetland hydrology. The relationship between soil water saturation and soil morphological indices is evaluated in this study from bi-weekly water level data taken over a period of two years. The hydrological behaviour of the Bokong wetlands is described by recession in hydrographs during the low rainfall season. However, the fens and hillslope seeps (PW08, PW19, PW21, PW24 and PW32) indicate spikes under the low rainfall period, associated with subsurface flow from the surrounding catchments and streams. Wetlands PW06, PW07 and PW27 were bogs and had soil organic carbon higher than 12%. The falling water levels in the bogs suggest that the wetlands are mainly recharged by precipitation and runoff. The water level resides within the 0–500 mm depth for 80% of the monitoring time. Strong correlations are observed between soil morphological indices and cumulative water saturation. The coefficients of determination (r 2) for depth to gley matrix, depth to chroma 3 or 4, and profile darkening index were 0.74, 0.77 and 0.88, respectively. These hydric indicators therefore can be used to determine wetland hydrology. Histisols, histic epipedons, umbric surfaces, thick dark surfaces and loamy gleyed matrix occur.

Ecological assessment of a transitioned stormwater infiltration basin

Infiltration basins are stormwater control measures (SCMs) widely employed for urban stormwater management. A transitioned infiltration basin is a failed infiltration basin that has gradually transformed into a wetland- or wetpond-like practice. The transitioned basin was found to effectively control the storm runoff flows and volumes, and improve the discharge water quality, thereby reducing the downstream hydrologic and pollutant loads on most occasions. Qualitative assessment of the site showed presence of wetland and non-wetland vegetation, small animals, and some potential for cultural benefit. The ecological evaluation demonstrated that runoff management and habitat provision in a sub-urban setting enhance the overall functionality of this new type of SCM ecosystem. A functionality assessment guide was developed for assessing infiltration basins considered to have failed. The Level-1 assessment includes visual criteria such as hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils, hydrologic regime modification, and design check. The rapid assessment plans developed in this study can be applied to determine the ecological and stormwater management functions and benefits of failed/transitioning/transitioned basins, and may be adapted for other similar SCMs.

Functional traits are more variable at the intra- than inter-population level: a study of four calcareous dry-grassland plant species

The majority of studies investigating plant functional traits have used species average trait values, and assumed that average values were sufficiently representative of each species considered. Although this approach has proven valuable in community ecology studies, plant functional traits can significantly vary at different scales, i.e. between but also within populations. The study of species functional trait variability can facilitate increasingly accurate studies in community ecology. Nevertheless, the current extent of within-site plant trait variability has been poorly addressed in the literature. Calcareous grasslands are ecosystems well-suited to study plant trait variation at small spatial scales. Many species are present on heterogeneous calcareous sites, with significant differences in hydric status due to variations in soil depth, soil moisture, aspect, and slope. This study assesses the extent of intra-population functional trait variability and tests the hypothesis that this variability can be explained by within-site environmental heterogeneity. Three functional traits (SLA-specific leaf area, LDMC-leaf dry matter content, and plant vegetative height) were assessed in three populations of four calcareous grassland species totalling 950 individuals. The heterogeneity in soil depth and potential direct incident radiation was also quantified and related to plant functional trait variability. The intra-population functional trait variability was compared to the inter-population variability of collected data and global inter-population variability data obtained from the worldwide TRY functional traits database. The results showed that SLA, LDMC, and plant height are characterized by considerable intra-population variation (SLA: 72–95%, LDMC: 78–100% and vegetative height: 70–94% of trait variability). The results also indicate higher plant height and larger SLA for individuals located in plots with deeper soils or lower potential direct incident radiation, on gentle slopes or north-facing slopes. Our findings additionally support the concept that higher plant height, higher SLA, and lower LDMC are related to higher availability of soil water. Individuals on shallow soils or in more exposed areas are better equipped to cope with environmental stress. Our results indicate plasticity or local adaptation in individuals to environmental heterogeneity. This study suggests that detailed analyses involving plant functional traits require measurements in situ from a large number of individuals, as the degree of individual response strongly depends on an individual’s location and its micro-environmental conditions. Neglecting intra-population trait variability may be critical, as intraspecific variation can be very high at the population scale, and is likely to be driven by local environmental heterogeneity. Manuscript received 26 November 2015, accepted 29 April 2016 Co-ordinating Editor: Thomas Becker 322

Hydric attenuation of a green roof experimental assembly in Bogotá

<p>En este estudio se evaluó la atenuación hídrica de un techo verde utilizando tres<br />indicadores: lag-time, coeficiente de escorrentía y volumen de agua retenida. Se<br />registraron siete eventos de lluvia y se evaluó su respuesta para dos tipos de plantas<br />—Pennisetum clandestinum y Melissa officinalis— y tres profundidades de sustrato (5,<br />10 y 15 cm), para un total de seis tratamientos con tres repeticiones. Los experimentos<br />se realizaron en el techo del edificio “Rafael Arboleda” de la Pontificia Universidad<br />Javeriana, Bogotá Colombia (4°37’43 .33’’, 74 º 03’46 .04 ‘’) a 2633 metros sobre el<br />nivel del mar. Máximos lag-time y coeficientes de escorrentía de 70 minutos y 0,1,<br />respectivamente. De la misma manera, se observaron volúmenes de retención<br />máximos cercanos al 100 %. Sin embargo, se evidenciaron variabilidades importantes<br />de estos resultados, los cuales se analizaron utilizando el análisis de correspondencias<br />múltiples y Anova: el tipo de planta y las características hidrológicas del evento de<br />lluvia (duración, intensidad máxima, intensidad media, nivel de drenado) tienen<br />influencias significativas sobre estas variabilidades.</p>

An Overview of Research Supporting Wetland and Ordinary High Water Mark Delineation

Over the past 25 years, researchers at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) have addressed a wide range of technical issues pertaining to identification and delineation of aquatic resources under §404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) (US Congress 1977). Research focuses on topics related to wetland and stream delineation, such as identifying ecological relationships between hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soil, and wetland hydrologic conditions, developing and maintaining an accurate and robust National Wetland Plant List (NWPL), and developing ordinary high water mark (OHWM) delineation methods and technical guidance for rivers and streams. NWPL wetland indicator status ratings of plant species, along with soil and hydrologic conditions, are used to define federal jurisdictional limits in wetlands (33 U.S.C. 1344), while the OHWM defines the lateral extent of federal jurisdiction in non-tidal Water of the U.S., in the absence of adjacent wetlands.

Influencia das condições climáticas na produtividade e qualidade do cafeeiro produzido na região do Sul de Minas Gerais

Coffee is one of the main Brazilian export products and few studies dealing the climate influence on the yield and quality of coffee are found. This study aimed this word evaluate the climatic influence on yield and quality of coffee produced in crops with and without irrigation at different ages in southern Minas Gerais. The treatments consisted of the combination of ages of crops (2, 3 and 8 years) and water irrigation (with and without irrigation), totaling 6 treatments. The experiment was conducted in randomized blocks in the agricultural year 2014 in Muzambinho, Minas Gerais, Brazil. We evaluated the components of yield and quality of the coffee. The weather conditions during the year 2014 were atypical for the region. The coffee crop under rainfed conditions with 2 years has shown greater number of defects and fruit floats and lower density and grain yield. The hydric deficit and the air temperature were the meteorological elements with the greatest influence on yield of coffee. The weather conditions atypical not affect the quality of beverage and granulometric characteristics of coffee crops.

Impacts of hydraulic fracturing development on macroinvertebrate biodiversity and gill morphology of net-spinning caddisfly (Hydropsychidae, Diplectrona) in northwestern Pennsylvania, USA

Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) poses significant threats to freshwater resources and stream ecosystems. Little research exists to quantify the ecological impact and in Pennsylvania alone over 10,000 wells have been permitted. This study aimed to determine if hydraulic fracturing is having any impacts on stream ecosystem health by measuring stream pH and temperature, macroinvertebrate index of biological integrity (IBI), and the gill morphology of individuals in the Hydropsychidae Diplectrona taxa. Six streams in northwestern Pennsylvania were selected as study sites (three with fracking occurring in their watershed and three without fracking). IBI scores were significantly higher at non-fracked sites and were also correlated with stream pH. Macroinvertebrate gill width did not vary between fracked and non-fracked sites but was correlated with percent hydric soils, suggesting that hydric soils may be a good long-term indicator of stream dissolved oxygen. While our results did not indicate differences in Hydropsychidae Diplectrona gill widths between fracked and non-fracked sites, we did observe that fracked sites had more acidic stream water and lower IBI scores. These results indicate the need for further study to assess the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on stream ecosystems.

Suelos de humedal bajo manejo de arrozal e intrusión de agua de mar: caracterización y clasificación

Wetlands started to gain attention when the scientific community began investigating these resources in the eighties. Water, wildlife, and vegetation attracted most of the interest and funding, whereas soils were relegated from research efforts. Despite this situation, US researchers started developing a specific terminology and methodologies for hydric soils in order to unveil a new soil class that could offer great agricultural and environmental opportunities. In Spain, similar studies are practically nonexistent, and so we carried out a study of wetland soils examining 19 profiles and 133 pits in the Albufera of Valencia, a marsh area cultivated with rice. The aim of this paper was to define the morphology and physico-chemical properties of these hydric soils in order to classify them and to correlate those properties with three topographic variables: distance to the sea, distance to the lagoon and height above the sea level. The soils showed an alluvial character with moderate carbonate content and a high variation in organic matter content due to the management of paddy fields. The proximity to the sea and the different intrusion processes revealed salinity as the most important factor in these soils, which were classified as Entisols and Aridisols.

Examining Playa Wetland Inundation Conditions for National Wetland Inventory, Soil Survey Geographic Database, and LiDAR Data

Inundation is a critical parameter of wetland hydrologic performance. This study uses Annual Habitat Survey data from 2004 to 2012 in the Rainwater Basin in south-central Nebraska to examine differences between the actual inundation conditions and three datasets: the National Wetland Inventory (NWI), the Soil Survey Geographic database (SSURGO), and LiDAR-derived depressions. The results show that current wetland inundated areas were well overlaid with these datasets (99.9 % in SSURGO data, 67.9 % in NWI data, and 87.3 % in LiDAR-derived depressions). However, the hydrologic degradation of playa wetlands was not reflected in these datasets. In SSURGO data, only 13.3 % of hydric soil footprint areas were inundated and 26.6 % of footprint areas were covered with hydric vegetation during this period. For playa wetlands identified in NWI data, only 30.7 % were inundated during this period and 60.5 % were covered by hydric vegetation. A significant portion of the playa wetlands were not functioning with either ponding water or supporting hydric vegetation during the peak of the waterfowl spring migration season in the Rainwater Basin. The findings confirm that watershed-level hydrologic restoration and within wetland restoration is crucial to recover the inundation conditions of playa wetlands.