Hydrologic Soil Groups (HSG) of NSW

This map provides an estimation of Hydrologic Groups of soils in NSW according to the four class system (A-D)\r\n\r\n* A — soils having __high infiltration__ rates, even when thoroughly wetted and consisting chiefly of deep, well to excessively-drained sands or gravels. These soils have a high rate of water transmission and have low water run-off potential.\r\n\r\n* B — soils having __moderate infiltration__ rates when thoroughly wetted and consisting chiefly of moderately deep to deep, moderately fine to moderately coarse textures. These soils have a moderate rate of water transmission.\r\n\r\n* C — soils having __slow infiltration__ rates when thoroughly wetted and consisting chiefly of soils with a layer that impedes downward movement of water, or soils with moderately fine to fine texture. These soils have a slow rate of water transmission.\r\n\r\n* D — soils having __very slow infiltration__ rates when thoroughly wetted and consisting chiefly of clay soils with a high swelling potential, soils with a permanent high water table, soils with a claypan or clay layer at or near the surface, and shallow soils over nearly impervious material. These soils have a very slow rate of water transmission.\r\n\r\nThe map uses the best available soils mapping coverage and was derived from a lookup table system linking a Hydrologic Group class to a particular soil type using the Great Soil Group (GSG) classification. Each dominant GSG has been assigned a Hydrologic Soil Group.\r\n\r\nThe classification is based on the United State's [Hydrologic Soil Group](https://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/OpenNonWebContent.aspx?content=17757.wba) system published within the National Engineering Handbook (2007).\r\n\r\n__Online Maps:__ This dataset can be viewed using [eSPADE](http://espade.environment.nsw.gov.au/) (NSW’s soil spatial viewer), which contains a suite of soil and landscape information including soil profile data. Many of these datasets have hot-linked soil reports. An alternative viewer is the [SEED Map](https://geo.seed.nsw.gov.au/Public_Viewer/index.html?viewer=Public_Viewer&locale=en-AU); an ideal way to see what other natural resources datasets (e.g. vegetation) are available for this map area.\r\n\r\n__Reference:__ Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, 2021, _Hydrologic Soil Groups of NSW_, Version 4.5, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, Parramatta.