soil survey of hennepin county, minnesota - usda - …€”lester loam, morainic, 6 to 12 ... soil...

United StatesDepartment ofAgriculture

NaturalResourcesConservationService

Soil Survey ofHennepin County,Minnesota

In cooperation withMinnesota AgriculturalExperiment Station andBoard of Water and SoilResources

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is committed to making itsinformation accessible to all of its customers and employees. If you are experiencingaccessibility issues and need assistance, please contact our Helpdesk by phone at1-800-457-3642 or by e-mail at [email protected]. For assistancewith publications that include maps, graphs, or similar forms of information, you mayalso wish to contact our State or local office. You can locate the correct office andphone number at http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app.

NRCS Accessibility Statement

http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/appmailto:[email protected]

This publication consists of a manuscript and a set of soil maps. The information provided can be useful in planningthe use and management of small areas.

To find information about your area of interest, locate that area on the Index to Map Sheets. Note the number ofthe map sheet, and turn to that sheet.

Locate your area of interest on the map sheet. Note the map unit symbols that are in that area. Turn to theContents, which lists the map units by symbol and name and shows the page where each map unit is described.The map unit symbols and names also appear as bookmarks, which link directly to the appropriate page in thepublication.

The Contents shows which table has data on a specific land use for each soil map unit. Also see the Contents forother sections of this publication that may address your specific needs.

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How To Use This Soil Survey

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Additional information about the Nations natural resources is available on theNatural Resources Conservation Service homepage on the World Wide Web. Theaddress is http://www.nrcs.usda.gov.

This soil survey is a publication of the National Cooperative Soil Survey, a joint effortof the United States Department of Agriculture and other Federal agencies, Stateagencies including the Agricultural Experiment Stations, and local agencies. TheNatural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) hasleadership for the Federal part of the National Cooperative Soil Survey.

Major fieldwork for this soil survey was completed in 2000. Soil names anddescriptions were approved in 2001. Unless otherwise indicated, statements in thispublication refer to conditions in the survey area in 2001. This survey was madecooperatively by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the MinnesotaAgricultural Experiment Station, and the Board of Water and Soil Resources. It is part ofthe technical assistance furnished to the Hennepin Conservation District, which alsoprovided funding for part of the survey.

Soil maps in this survey may be copied without permission. Enlargement of thesemaps, however, could cause misunderstanding of the detail of mapping. If enlarged,maps do not show the small areas of contrasting soils that could have been shown at alarger scale.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all ofits programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability,political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited basesapply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means forcommunication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) shouldcontact the USDAs TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice or TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights,Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC20250-9410, or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunityprovider and employer.

Cover: A wetland and prairie restoration project in Hennepin County.

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Contents

How To Use This Soil Survey ................................. 3Foreword ............................................................... 11How This Survey Was Made ................................... 13Formation and Classification of the Soils .......... 15

Formation of the Soils ........................................ 15Climate ........................................................... 15Living Organisms ........................................... 15Topography .................................................... 16Parent Material ............................................... 16Time ............................................................... 18

Classification of the Soils .................................... 18Table 1.Classification of the Soils .................... 19

Soil Map Unit Descriptions .................................. 21D1BAnoka and Zimmerman soils, terrace,

2 to 6 percent slopes.................................... 22D1CAnoka and Zimmerman soils, terrace,

6 to 12 percent slopes.................................. 23D2AElkriver fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes, rarely flooded ................................... 23D3AElkriver fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes, occasionally flooded ........................ 24D4ADorset sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 25D4BDorset sandy loam, 2 to 6 percent

slopes .......................................................... 26D4CDorset sandy loam, 6 to 12 percent

slopes .......................................................... 27D5BDorset-Two Inlets complex, 2 to 6

percent slopes ............................................. 27D5CDorset-Two Inlets complex, 6 to 12

percent slopes ............................................. 28D5DDorset-Two Inlets complex, 12 to 18

percent slopes ............................................. 29D6AVerndale sandy loam, acid substratum,

0 to 2 percent slopes.................................... 30D6BVerndale sandy loam, acid substratum,

2 to 6 percent slopes.................................... 31D6CVerndale sandy loam, acid substratum,

6 to 12 percent slopes.................................. 32D7AHubbard loamy sand, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 33D7BHubbard loamy sand, 2 to 6 percent

slopes .......................................................... 33D7CHubbard loamy sand, 6 to 12 percent

slopes .......................................................... 34

D8BSandberg loamy coarse sand, 2 to 6percent slopes ............................................. 34

D8CSandberg loamy coarse sand, 6 to 12percent slopes ............................................. 35

D8DSandberg loamy coarse sand, 12 to 18percent slopes ............................................. 36

D8ESandberg loamy coarse sand, 18 to 35percent slopes ............................................. 36

D10AForada sandy loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes .......................................................... 37

D11ALindaas silt loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes .......................................................... 38

D12BBygland silt loam, MAP >25, 2 to 6percent slopes ............................................. 38

D12C2Bygland silt loam, MAP >25, 6 to12 percent slopes, eroded ........................... 39

D13ALangola loamy fine sand, terrace,0 to 2 percent slopes.................................... 41

D13BLangola loamy fine sand, terrace,2 to 6 percent slopes.................................... 41

D15ASeelyeville-Markey complex,depressional, 0 to 1 percent slopes ............. 42

D16ASeelyeville and Markey soils,ponded, 0 to 1 percent slopes ...................... 43

D17ADuelm loamy sand, 0 to 2 percentslopes .......................................................... 44

D18BBraham loamy fine sand, terrace,2 to 5 percent slopes.................................... 44

D19AFordum-Winterfield complex, 0 to2 percent slopes, frequently flooded ............ 45

D20AIsan sandy loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes .......................................................... 46

D21AIsan sandy loam, depressional, 0 to 1percent slopes ............................................. 47

D23ASouthhaven loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes .......................................................... 47

D24ASedgeville loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes, occasionally flooded ........................ 48

D25ASoderville loamy fine sand, terrace,0 to 3 percent slopes.................................... 48

D26AFoldahl loamy sand, MAP >25, 0 to3 percent slopes .......................................... 49

D27ADorset sandy loam, loamysubstratum, 0 to 2 percent slopes ................ 50

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D28BUrban land-Bygland, MAP >25,complex, 1 to 6 percent slopes .................... 51

D29BUrban land-Hubbard, bedrocksubstratum, complex, 0 to 8 percentslopes .......................................................... 51

D30ASeelyeville and Markey soils,depressional, 0 to 1 percent slopes ............. 52

D31AUrban land-Duelm complex, 0 to 2percent slopes ............................................. 53

D33BUrban land-Dorset complex, 0 to 8percent slopes ............................................. 54

D33CUrban land-Dorset complex, 8 to 18percent slopes ............................................. 55

D34BUrban land-Hubbard complex, 0 to 8percent slopes ............................................. 56

D35AElkriver-Fordum complex, 0 to 2percent slopes, occasionally flooded............ 56

D37FDorset, bedrock substratum-Rockoutcrop complex, 25 to 65 percentslopes .......................................................... 57

D40AKratka loamy fine sand, thick solum,0 to 2 percent slopes.................................... 58

D41CUrban land-Waukon complex, 6 to18 percent slopes ........................................ 59

D43AGonvick loam, terrace, 1 to 3percent slopes ............................................. 59

GPPits, gravel-Udipsamments complex .......... 60L2BMalardi-Hawick complex, 1 to 6

percent slopes ............................................. 60L2CMalardi-Hawick complex, 6 to 12

percent slopes ............................................. 61L2DMalardi-Hawick complex, 12 to 18

percent slopes ............................................. 62L2EMalardi-Hawick complex, 18 to 35

percent slopes ............................................. 63L3ARasset sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 64L3BRasset sandy loam, 2 to 6 percent

slopes .......................................................... 65L3CRasset sandy loam, 6 to 12 percent

slopes .......................................................... 65L4BCrowfork loamy sand, 1 to 6 percent

slopes .......................................................... 66L4CCrowfork loamy sand, 6 to 12 percent

slopes .......................................................... 67

L4DCrowfork loamy sand, 12 to 18 percentslopes .......................................................... 67

L6ABiscay loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ........... 68L7ABiscay loam, depressional, 0 to 1

percent slopes ............................................. 69L8ADarfur sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 70L9AMinnetonka silty clay loam, 0 to 2

percent slopes ............................................. 70L10BKasota silty clay loam, 1 to 6 percent

slopes .......................................................... 71L11BGrays very fine sandy loam, 2 to 8

percent slopes ............................................. 72L12AMuskego, Blue Earth, and Houghton

soils, ponded, 0 to 1 percent slopes,frequently flooded ........................................ 72

L13AKlossner muck, depressional, 0 to 1percent slopes ............................................. 73

L14AHoughton muck, depressional, 0 to 1percent slopes ............................................. 74

L15AKlossner, Okoboji, and Glencoe soils,ponded, 0 to 1 percent slopes ...................... 75

L16AMuskego, Blue Earth, and Houghtonsoils, ponded, 0 to 1 percent slopes ............. 76

L17BAngus-Malardi complex, 2 to 6percent slopes ............................................. 77

L18AShields silty clay loam, 0 to 3 percentslopes .......................................................... 78

L19BMoon loamy fine sand, 2 to 5 percentslopes .......................................................... 79

L20BFedji loamy fine sand, siltysubstratum, 2 to 8 percent slopes ................ 79

L21ACanisteo loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ...... 80L22C2Lester loam, morainic, 6 to 12

percent slopes, eroded ................................ 81L22D2Lester loam, morainic, 12 to 18

percent slopes, eroded ................................ 82L22ELester loam, morainic, 18 to 25

percent slopes ............................................. 83L22FLester loam, morainic, 25 to 35

percent slopes ............................................. 84L23ACordova loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ...... 85L24AGlencoe loam, depressional, 0 to 1

percent slopes ............................................. 85L25ALe Sueur loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes ..... 86

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L26AShorewood silty clay loam, 0 to 3percent slopes ............................................. 87

L26BShorewood silty clay loam, 3 to 6percent slopes ............................................. 88

L26C2Shorewood silty clay loam, 6 to 12percent slopes, eroded ................................ 88

L27ASuckercreek loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes, frequently flooded ............................ 89

L28ASuckercreek fine sandy loam, 0 to 2percent slopes, occasionally flooded............ 90

L29AHanlon fine sandy loam, 0 to 2percent slopes, occasionally flooded............ 91

L30AMedo soils, depressional, 0 to 1percent slopes ............................................. 91

L31AMedo, Dassel, and Biscay soils,ponded, 0 to 1 percent slopes ...................... 92

L32DHawick loamy sand, 12 to 18 percentslopes .......................................................... 94

L32FHawick loamy sand, 18 to 40 percentslopes .......................................................... 94

L35ALerdal loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes .......... 95L36AHamel, overwash-Hamel complex,

1 to 4 percent slopes.................................... 96L37BAngus loam, morainic, 2 to 5 percent

slopes .......................................................... 97L38ARushriver very fine sandy loam, 0 to 2

percent slopes, occasionally flooded............ 98L39AMinneiska fine sandy loam, 0 to 2

percent slopes, occasionally flooded............ 99L40BAngus-Kilkenny complex, 2 to 6

percent slopes ........................................... 100L41C2Lester-Kilkenny complex, 6 to 12

percent slopes, eroded .............................. 101L41D2Lester-Kilkenny complex, 12 to 18

percent slopes, eroded .............................. 102L41ELester-Kilkenny complex, 18 to 25

percent slopes ........................................... 104L41FLester-Kilkenny complex, 25 to 35

percent slopes ........................................... 105L42BKingsley-Gotham complex, 2 to 6

percent slopes ........................................... 106L42CKingsley-Gotham complex, 6 to 12

percent slopes ........................................... 107L42DKingsley-Gotham complex, 12 to 18

percent slopes ........................................... 108

L42EKingsley-Gotham complex, 18 to 25percent slopes ........................................... 108

L42FKingsley-Gotham complex, 25 to 35percent slopes ........................................... 109

L43ABrouillett loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes,occasionally flooded................................... 110

L44ANessel loam, 1 to 3 percentslopes ........................................................ 111

L45ADundas-Cordova complex, 0 to 3percent slopes ........................................... 112

L46ATomall loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ....... 113L47AEden Prairie sandy loam, 0 to 2

percent slopes ........................................... 113L47BEden Prairie sandy loam, 2 to 6

percent slopes ........................................... 114L47CEden Prairie sandy loam, 6 to 12

percent slopes ........................................... 115L49AKlossner soils, depressional, 0 to 1

percent slopes ........................................... 116L50AHoughton and Muskego soils,

depressional, 0 to 1 percent slopes ........... 117L52CUrban land-Lester complex, 2 to 18

percent slopes ........................................... 118L52EUrban land-Lester complex, 18 to 35

percent slopes ........................................... 119L53BUrban land-Moon complex, 2 to 8

percent slopes ........................................... 119L54AUrban land-Dundas complex, 0 to 3

percent slopes ........................................... 120L55BUrban land-Malardi complex, 0 to 8

percent slopes ........................................... 121L55CUrban land-Malardi complex, 8 to 18

percent slopes ........................................... 121L56AMuskego and Klossner soils, 0 to 1

percent slopes, frequently flooded ............. 122L58BKoronis-Kingsley complex, 2 to 6

percent slopes ........................................... 123L58C2Koronis-Kingsley complex, 6 to 12

percent slopes, eroded .............................. 124L58D2Koronis-Kingsley complex, 12 to 18

percent slopes, eroded .............................. 125L58EKoronis-Kingsley complex, 18 to 25

percent slopes ........................................... 126L59AForestcity-Lundlake, depressional,

complex, 0 to 3 percent slopes .................. 127

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L60BAngus-Moon complex, 2 to 5 percentslopes ........................................................ 128

L61C2Lester-Metea complex, 6 to 12percent slopes, eroded .............................. 129

L61D2Lester-Metea complex, 12 to 18percent slopes, eroded .............................. 130

L61ELester-Metea complex, 18 to 25percent slopes ........................................... 131

L62BKoronis-Kingsley-Malardi complex,2 to 6 percent slopes.................................. 132

L62C2Koronis-Kingsley-Malardi complex,6 to 12 percent slopes, eroded ................... 133

L62D2Koronis-Kingsley-Malardi complex,12 to 18 percent slopes, eroded ................. 134

L62EKoronis-Kingsley-Malardi complex,18 to 35 percent slopes .............................. 135

L64ATadkee-Tadkee, depressional,complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes .................. 136

L70C2Lester-Malardi complex, 6 to 12percent slopes, eroded .............................. 137

L70D2Lester-Malardi complex, 12 to 18percent slopes, eroded .............................. 138

L70ELester-Malardi complex, 18 to 35percent slopes ........................................... 140

L71CMetea loamy fine sand, 6 to 12percent slopes ........................................... 141

L72ALundlake loam, depressional, 0 to 1percent slopes ........................................... 142

L110ELester-Ridgeton complex, 18 to 25percent slopes ........................................... 142

L110FLester-Ridgeton complex, 25 to 45percent slopes ........................................... 144

L131ALitchfield loamy fine sand, 0 to 3percent slopes ........................................... 145

L132AHamel-Glencoe, depressional,complex, 0 to 3 percent slopes .................. 146

M-WWater, miscellaneous ............................ 147U1AUrban land-Udorthents, wet

substratum, complex, 0 to 2 percentslopes ........................................................ 147

U2AUdorthents, wet substratum, 0 to 2percent slopes ........................................... 147

U3BUdorthents (cut and fill land), 0 to 6percent slopes ........................................... 147

U4AUrban land-Udipsamments (cut andfill land) complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes ..... 148

U5AUrban land-Udorthents, wetsubstratum, complex, 0 to 2 percentslopes, rarely flooded ................................. 148

U6BUrban land-Udorthents (cut and fillland) complex, 0 to 6 percent slopes .......... 148

WWater ......................................................... 149Table 2.Acreage and Proportionate Extent

of the Soils ................................................. 149Use and Management of the Soils .................... 153

Interpretive Ratings .......................................... 153Rating Class Terms ...................................... 153Numerical Ratings ........................................ 153

Crops and Pasture ........................................... 153Climate ......................................................... 154Cropland Management Considerations ........ 154Crop Yield Estimates .................................... 155

Pasture and Hayland Interpretations ........ 156Land Capability Classification ...................... 156Prime Farmland ........................................... 157

Windbreaks and Environmental Plantings ........ 157Windbreak Suitability Groups ....................... 158

Recreation ........................................................ 158Wildlife Habitat ................................................. 160Engineering ...................................................... 161

Building Site Development ........................... 162Construction Materials ................................. 163Water Management ...................................... 164

Table 3.Temperature and Precipitation .......... 165Table 4.Freeze Dates in Spring and Fall ........ 166Table 5.Growing Season ............................... 166Table 6.Cropland Management

Considerations ........................................... 167Table 7a.Land Capability and Yields per

Acre of Crops ............................................. 213Table 7b.Land Capability and Yields per

Acre of Crops ............................................. 228Table 8.Forage Suitability Groups ................. 243Table 9.Prime Farmland ................................ 263Table 10.Windbreaks and Environmental

Plantings .................................................... 264Table 11.Windbreak Suitability Groups ......... 363Table 12a.Recreational Development ............ 383

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Table 12b.Recreational Development ............ 421Table 13.Wildlife Habitat ................................ 454Table 14a.Building Site Development ............ 479Table 14b.Building Site Development ............ 518Table 15a.Construction Materials .................. 564Table 15b.Construction Materials .................. 601Table 16.Water Management ........................ 652

Soil Properties .................................................... 693Engineering Index Properties ........................... 693Physical and Chemical Properties .................... 694Water Features ................................................. 695Soil Features .................................................... 697

Table 17.Engineering Index Properties ......... 698Table 18.Physical Properties of the Soils ...... 807Table 19.Chemical Properties of the

Soils ........................................................... 863Table 20.Soil Moisture Status by Depth ........ 903Table 21.Flooding Frequency and

Duration ..................................................... 958Table 22.Ponding Frequency, Duration,

and Depth .................................................. 990Table 23.Soil Features ................................ 1024

References ........................................................ 1045Glossary ............................................................ 1047

Issued 2004

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Where To Get Updated Information

The soil properties and interpretations included in this survey were current as ofAugust 2003. The most current information is available through the NRCS Soil DataMart Website at http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/

Additional information is available from the Natural Resources Conservation Service(NRCS) Field Office Technical Guide at Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, or online atwww.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/efotg/. The data in the Field Office Technical Guide areupdated periodically.

Additional information about soils and about NRCS is available through theMinnesota NRCS Web page at www.mn.nrcs.usda.gov.

For further information, please contact:

USDA, Natural Resources Conservation ServiceMLRA Soil Survey OfficeRoom 650, Earle Brown Tower6120 Earle Brown DriveBrooklyn Center, MN 55430-2195Phone: 763-566-2941

http://www.mn.nrcs.usda.gov/http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/efotg/

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This soil survey contains information that affects land use planning in this surveyarea. It contains predictions of soil behavior for selected land uses. The survey alsohighlights soil limitations, improvements needed to overcome the limitations, and theimpact of selected land uses on the environment.

This soil survey is designed for many different users. Farmers, foresters, andagronomists can use it to evaluate the potential of the soil and the management neededfor maximum food and fiber production. Planners, community officials, engineers,developers, builders, and home buyers can use the survey to plan land use, select sitesfor construction, and identify special practices needed to ensure proper performance.Conservationists, teachers, students, and specialists in recreation, wildlifemanagement, waste disposal, and pollution control can use the survey to help themunderstand, protect, and enhance the environment.

Various land use regulations of Federal, State, and local governments may imposespecial restrictions on land use or land treatment. The information in this report isintended to identify soil properties that are used in making various land use or landtreatment decisions. Statements made in this report are intended to help the land usersidentify and reduce the effects of soil limitations on various land uses. The landowner oruser is responsible for identifying and complying with existing laws and regulations.

Great differences in soil properties can occur within short distances. Some soils areseasonally wet or subject to flooding. Some are shallow to bedrock. Some are toounstable to be used as a foundation for buildings or roads. Clayey or wet soils arepoorly suited to use as septic tank absorption fields. A high water table makes a soilpoorly suited to basements or underground installations.

These and many other soil properties that affect land use are described in this soilsurvey. The location of each soil is shown on the soil maps. Each soil in the survey areais described, and information on specific uses is given. Help in using this publicationand additional information are available at the local office of the Natural ResourcesConservation Service or the Cooperative Extension Service.

William HuntState ConservationistNatural Resources Conservation Service

Foreword

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Location of Hennepin County and MLRAs 91 and 103 in Region 10.

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How This Survey Was MadeThis survey was made to provide updated

information about the soils and miscellaneous areas inthe survey area, which is in Region 10 and in MajorLand Resource Areas 91 and 103. Region 10 is anadministrative division of the Natural ResourcesConservation Service. Major land resource areas(MLRAs) are geographically associated land resourceunits that share a common land use, elevation andtopography, climate, water, soils, and vegetation(USDA, 1981). Hennepin County is a subset of MLRAs91 and 103. Map unit design and the detailed soildescriptions are based on the occurrence of each soilthroughout the MLRA. In some places in thispublication, a soil may be referred to that was notmapped in the Hennepin County subset but that isrepresentative of the MLRA.

The information includes a description of the soilsand miscellaneous areas and their location and adiscussion of their properties and the subsequenteffects on suitability, limitations, and management forspecified uses. Soil scientists observed the steepness,length, and shape of the slopes; the general pattern ofdrainage; the kinds of crops and native plants; and thekinds of bedrock. They dug many holes to study thesoil profile, which is the sequence of natural layers, orhorizons, in a soil. The profile extends from the surfacedown into the unconsolidated material in which the soilformed. The unconsolidated material is devoid of rootsand other living organisms and has not been changedby other biological activity.

The soils and miscellaneous areas in the surveyarea are in an orderly pattern that is related to thegeology, landforms, relief, climate, and naturalvegetation of the area. Each kind of soil andmiscellaneous area is associated with a particular kindof landscape or segment of the landscape. Byobserving the soils and miscellaneous areas in thesurvey area and relating their position to specificsegments of the landscape, soil scientists develop aconcept, or model, of how the soils were formed. Thus,during mapping, this model enables the soil scientiststo predict with a considerable degree of accuracy thekind of soil or miscellaneous area at a specific locationon the landscape.

Individual soils on the landscape commonly mergeinto one another as their characteristics graduallychange. To construct an accurate map, however, soilscientists must determine the boundaries between thesoils. They can observe only a limited number of soilprofiles. Nevertheless, these observations,supplemented by an understanding of the soil-vegetation-landscape relationship, are sufficient toverify predictions of the kinds of soil in an area and todetermine the boundaries.

Soil scientists recorded the characteristics of thesoil profiles that they observed. The maximum depth ofobservation was about 80 inches (6.7 feet). Soilscientists noted soil color, texture, size and shape ofsoil aggregates, kind and amount of rock fragments,distribution of plant roots, soil reaction, and otherfeatures that enable them to identify soils. Afterdescribing the soils in the survey area and

Soil Survey of

Hennepin County, MinnesotaBy Kim Steffen, Natural Resources Conservation Service

Fieldwork (2000) by Kim Steffen, Peter Hartman, and Thomas Jackson, NaturalResources Conservation Service

United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service,in cooperation with the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station and Board of Waterand Soil Resources

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determining their properties, the soil scientistsassigned the soils to taxonomic classes (units).Taxonomic classes are concepts. Each taxonomicclass has a set of soil characteristics with preciselydefined limits. The classes are used as a basis forcomparison to classify soils systematically. Soiltaxonomy, the system of taxonomic classification usedin the United States, is based mainly on the kind andcharacter of soil properties and the arrangement ofhorizons within the profile. After the soil scientistsclassified and named the soils in the survey area, theycompared the individual soils with similar soils in thesame taxonomic class in other areas so that theycould confirm data and assemble additional databased on experience and research.

While a soil survey is in progress, samples of someof the soils in the area generally are collected forlaboratory analyses and for engineering tests. Soilscientists interpret the data from these analyses andtests as well as the field-observed characteristics andthe soil properties to determine the expected behaviorof the soils under different uses. Interpretations for allof the soils are field tested through observation of thesoils in different uses and under different levels ofmanagement. Interpretations are modified asnecessary to fit local conditions, and some newinterpretations are developed to meet local needs.Data are assembled from other sources, such asresearch information, production records, and field

experience of specialists. For example, data on cropyields under defined levels of management areassembled from farm records and from field or plotexperiments on the same kinds of soil.

Predictions about soil behavior are based not onlyon soil properties but also on such variables asclimate and biological activity. Soil conditions arepredictable over long periods of time, but they are notpredictable from year to year. For example, soilscientists can predict with a fairly high degree ofaccuracy that a given soil will have a zone in which thesoil moisture status is wet within certain depths inmost years, but they cannot predict that this zone willalways be at a specific level in the soil on a specificdate.

After soil scientists located and identified thesignificant natural bodies of soil in the survey area,they drew the boundaries of these bodies on aerialphotographs and identified each as a specific mapunit. Aerial photographs show trees, buildings, fields,roads, and rivers, all of which help in locatingboundaries accurately.

The descriptions, names, and delineations of thesoils in this survey area may not fully agree with thoseof the soils in adjacent survey areas. Differences arethe result of a better knowledge of soils, modificationsin series concepts, or variations in the intensity ofmapping or in the extent of the soils in the surveyareas.

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This section relates the soils in the survey area tothe major factors of soil formation and describes thesystem of soil classification.

Formation of the SoilsSoil is produced by the action of soil-forming

processes on materials deposited or accumulated bygeologic forces. The characteristics of the soil in agiven area are determined by (1) the physical andmineralogical composition of the parent material;(2) the climate under which the soil material hasaccumulated and existed since accumulation; (3) theliving organisms on and in the soil, mainly vegetation;(4) the relief, or lay of the land; and (5) the length oftime the forces of soil formation have acted on the soilmaterial. The relative effect of each of these factors isreflected in the soil profile.

During the transformation of the parent material intosoil, minerals are weathered and organic matteraccumulates. Material in suspension or in solutionmoves downward through the soil, and new chemicalcompounds and new minerals form.

In Hennepin County, differences in parent materialand vegetation account for most of the differencesamong the soils. Climate and relief are fairly uniformthroughout the county, and all of the soils have beendeveloping for about the same length of time.

All five factors of soil formation are interrelated.When one factor changes, changes in the other fourfactors result. The individual factors of soil formationare described separately in the paragraphs that follow.

Climate

Given adequate time, climate will eventuallydominate the soil-forming process. Temperature andprecipitation are the most commonly measuredclimatic factors that influence soil formation. Climateinfluences the chemical and physical reactions thatare required for the development of the soil profile.Climate also influences the natural vegetation thatgrows in a particular region. Hennepin County has asubhumid, continental climate that favored the growthof both grassland and forest vegetation.

The temperature varies widely from summer towinter in Hennepin County. Generally, the soils arefrozen 4 or 5 months each year. Temperatureinfluences the physical, chemical, and biologicalactivities that affect mineral weathering and microbialactivities in soils. The rate of chemical and biologicalprocesses responsible for soil formation decreasesduring the winter because mineral weathering ormicrobial activity does not occur when the soils arefrozen. Alternate freezing and thawing cycles in the falland spring create expansion and contractionpressures that rupture mineral material and increasethe surface area available for mineral weathering.These cycles also play a role in the development ofsoil structure. Temperature influences theaccumulation and decomposition of organic matter insoils. As the temperature rises, the rate of organicdecomposition and nutrient cycling increases.Temperature controls effective rainfall through itsinfluence on potential evapotranspiration, whichincreases with increasing mean annual temperature.

Precipitation is essential to soil formation. Water isnecessary for plant and animal growth and for thechemical reactions that involve mineral weathering.Water transports colloidal material and dissolvedsolids from one part of the profile to another. Ittransports the material downward or completely out ofthe profile through leaching, or it transports solublesalts upward through capillary action.

Living Organisms

The soils in the survey area formed under prairiegrasses, forbs, and forest vegetation. The largest areaof grassland that existed in the survey area is theoutwash plain along the Mississippi River, but evenhere, oaks have invaded to some extent. Hubbard andDorset soils formed in this area. These soils areclassified as Mollisols. Melanization, the darkening ofsoil by the addition of organic matter, is the dominantsoil-forming process in Mollisols. Most of the growth ingrassland plant communities occurs in the roots ratherthan in the upper parts of the plant. Therefore, most ofthe organic matter added to grassland soils isincorporated directly into the soil upon the dieback of

Formation and Classification of the Soils

16 Soil Survey of

the roots, thus giving Mollisols a thick, dark surfacesoil horizon.

Soils that form under forest vegetation typicallyhave a surface soil horizon that is thinner and lighter incolor than that of the soils that formed under grassesbecause the organic matter biomass accumulationunder forests is less than under grasses. Forestedsoils are also characterized by a loss of oxides andclay in some horizons and an accumulation in otherhorizons. The soil horizon in which clays and oxidesaccumulate is referred to as an argillic horizon. Manyof the soils in Hennepin County, such as Lester andAngus soils, exhibit characteristics typical of soils thatformed under both grassland and forest vegetation.The survey area is in a transition zone.

Micro-organisms are important in sizing andreworking organic and mineral material in the soilprofile. This mixing increases the surface areaavailable for weathering and decomposition ofminerals and organic material. Insects, earthworms,and rodents mix the soil and form channels thatinfluence the movement of air and water through thesoil.

Humans can affect soil formation by altering thesoil-forming processes. They change the kind ofvegetation in an area and alter the rates of runoff andwater infiltration.

Topography

Relief is an important factor in soil formationbecause it affects drainage, aeration, and erosion.Differences in relief can account for the developmentof different soils in similar parent material. Becauserelief influences runoff and drainage, it can affect thetypes of vegetation present and the chemical changeson and in the soil. Soil profile development occursmost rapidly on well drained, gentle slopes. Soildevelopment is very slow on steep slopes whererunoff is rapid, infiltration is slow, and geologic erosionremoves the surface soil about as quickly as it forms.Excessive runoff reduces the amount of water that isavailable to leach the soil and for use by plants, and itcan increase the hazard of erosion.

Topographic position on the landscape affects thedrainage class of the soil.

Differences in topography also influence thedevelopment of different soils that formed in the samekind of parent material. For example, Lester, Le Sueur,Cordova, and Glencoe soils all formed in calcareous,gray till. The drainage class of each soil is predictablebased on the particular landscape position of each.Lester soils formed mainly on sloping side slopes andare well drained; Le Sueur soils formed in nearly level

and slightly sloping areas and are somewhat poorlydrained; the poorly drained Cordova soils formed inlevel areas where runoff was very slow; and the verypoorly drained Glencoe soils are in depressions thatare ponded with water.

Parent Material

Hennepin County was covered by drift of theGrantsburg sublobe. The drift is composed of relativelyrecent material derived through the reworking of olderdeposits. The thickness of the drift ranges from a fewfeet in the southeast corner of the county near FortSnelling to about 450 feet in preglacial valleys. In mostplaces the drift is 100 to 200 feet deep. The mostextensive sources of parent material are glacial till andglacial outwash. Smaller areas consist of alluvium,glaciolacustrine deposits, and organic material.

The differences among these parent materialsaccount for many of the differences in the soils. Parentmaterial is a mixture of clay, unweathered minerals,and rock fragments that vary widely in theircomposition and density.

Glacial tillGlacial till refers to drift that is notstratified. A number of continental glaciers are believedto have covered all of Hennepin County. The materialdeposited by these glaciers lies deeply buried underthe more recent Wisconsin glacial deposits. Theuppermost deposits were laid down during the latestages of what geologists refer to as the WisconsinGlaciation. This glacial age deposited different types ofglacial material and provided the parent material inwhich the soils in Hennepin County formed.

The oldest drift was deposited by the ice of theSuperior lobe, which flowed into the area from thenorth and covered the entire county. This glacierdeposited till that is reddish brown, generally sandy intexture, and noncalcareous. This material is commonlyknown as red till. Pebbles of basalt, felsite, and redsandstone are common. Kingsley soils formed in redtill.

Somewhat later, the Grantsburg sublobe, aprotrusion of the Des Moines lobe, advanced into thearea. This lobe moved in a northeasterly directionacross the county and followed the lowland across theeast-central part of the state. The till deposited by theDes Moines lobe is commonly referred to as gray till.The gray till covers nearly all of the red till, except insmall areas in the eastern part of the county. In someplaces the Grantsburg sublobe picked up till previouslydeposited by the Superior lobe; consequently, complexmixtures of reddish brown and light olive brown driftwere deposited in some areas.

The till of this last glaciation is grayish brown or light

Hennepin County, Minnesota 17

olive brown in areas where drainage is good and thematerial had access to air. In poorly drained areas, thetill is olive gray. The gray till is derived mostly fromlimestone and shale particles, but it contains enoughgranite and sandstone to provide an abundance ofminerals. This material is calcareous and containsmany limestone pebbles. The content of carbonates ishigh (15 to 25 percent), and the material effervescesstrongly with hydrochloric acid. In most places this tillis friable loam that contains 18 to 24 percent clay, 30to 40 percent silt, and 35 to 50 percent sand. Lesterand Nessel soils formed in gray till.

In the western part of Medina, the eastern two-thirds of Independence, the eastern half of Minnetrista,and the western part of Orono and in small scatteredtracts elsewhere, the loam till is mantled with a veneerof clayey till, 3 to 20 feet thick. The texture is typicallyclay loam. This material appears to be denser than theloam till, generally contains more shale, and has agreater concentration of lime carbonates alongfracture planes. Kilkenny soils formed in this clayey till.

Glaciolacustrine depositsDuring the retreat of theGrantsburg sublobe, it appears that ice stagnated inmany parts of the county. Lakes probably formed indepressions in the ice in the late stages of melting,and the bottoms of the lakes or ponds rested on graytill and the walls formed by the melting ice. Lacustrinesediments, 2 to more than 10 feet in thickness, weredeposited in these glacial lakes. These sedimentsoccupy irregular tracts ranging from 2 acres to about160 acres in size, mostly in the central andsouthwestern parts of the county. The sediments havea rather abrupt margin, and the depth of sedimentvaries greatly within short distances. Most of thesediments are silty clay in the upper 2 to 5 feet and siltloam below that depth. Bygland and Minnetonka areexamples of soils that formed in lacustrine sediments.

Glacial outwash or collapsed alluviumAs thestagnant ice melted, alluvium consisting of sand andgravel was deposited in places on the lower lyingstagnant ice. When the ice below finally melted, anundulating to hilly landscape resulted.

The largest area of glacial outwash or collapsedalluvium occurs in the southern part of the county nearthe Minnesota River. The landscape in this area isundulating to hilly. The parent material includesstratified sand and gravel with a 1/2-foot to 5-footveneer of loamy material. A number of smaller areasof glacial outwash or collapsed alluvium also occur inthe county. A gently undulating to rolling area occurs ina belt 1/4 mile to 2 miles wide between Delano andDayton. The parent material in this area consists

mainly of sand and of sand with a thin mantle of loamyalluvium. Two small areas of outwash or collapsedalluvium that consists mainly of stratified sand andgravel with a thin mantle of loamy alluvium are in theeast-central part of the county. One area is just northof Gleason Lake and extends in a belt 1/4 mile to 11/2miles wide to the western shore of Medicine Lake. Theother area occurs just off the eastern side of LakeMinnetonka.

In places in the eastern part of the county, thecoarse alluvium probably filled crevasses in thestagnant ice. When the ice field melted, the coarsealluvium remained as an elevated ridge. Crevasseridges range from 50 to 125 feet in height, from 200 to500 feet in width, and from 500 feet to 11/2 miles inlength (Lueth, 1974).

Finally, the Grantsburg sublobe retreated westward,and as a result the Mississippi Valley was uncovered.Meltwater from the wasting Des Moines lobe filled thevalley in Hennepin County with coarse alluvium. Thiscoarse alluvium, referred to by some as streamoutwash, occupies an extensive area in thenortheastern part of the county. This material is mainlysand, but small areas of stratified calcareous sand andgravel are near Osseo. Hubbard soils formed in sandyalluvium. Dorset soils formed in a thin, loamy veneerover stratified sand and gravel. The gravel and sanddeposits are mainly more than 20 feet in thickness, butin a few places they are only a few feet thick over grayor red till.

In the extreme southeast corner of the county, thecoarse alluvium is underlain by limestone andsandstone bedrock within a depth of 5 feet.

As the glacier retreated, large blocks of ice were leftin the till and outwash. The melting of the ice blocksproduced depressions in all of the glacial deposits,and most of these depressions are now lakes ormarsh. Organic soils developed in the depressionswhere water stood for part of the year and alongdrainageways that were frequently flooded. Theorganic material ranges from 1 foot to more than 10feet in thickness.

Recent alluviumRecent alluvium refers toalluvium that has been deposited by streams duringpast glacial times. Recent alluvium was deposited onthe flood plains of all the streams in the county. Thelargest areas of alluvium are on the broad flood plainsalong the Minnesota River. The material varies widelyin color, texture, and reaction. Chaska soils areexamples of soils that formed in alluvium. In mostplaces the material is too recent for a profile to haveformed.

18 Soil Survey of

Time

The length of time the parent material has been inplace and exposed to the soil-forming processes is animportant factor in soil formation. Time is required forthe parent material to be changed into a natural bodythat has genetically related horizons.

A mature soil is one that has well defined horizons.An immature soil is one that shows little or nohorizonation. Because of differences in parentmaterial, climate, relief, and organisms, soils that havebeen developing for about the same length of timehave not necessarily reached the same degree ofprofile development. If the parent material weathersslowly, profile development is slow. If the slope issteep, soil is removed almost as soon as it forms and,consequently, no well defined horizons develop. Interms of geologic time, the soils in Hennepin Countyare quite young.

Classification of the SoilsThe system of soil classification used by the

National Cooperative Soil Survey has six categories(Soil Survey Staff, 1998 and 1999). Beginning with thebroadest, these categories are the order, suborder,great group, subgroup, family, and series.Classification is based on soil properties observed inthe field or inferred from those observations or fromlaboratory measurements. Table 1 shows theclassification of the soils in the survey area. Thecategories are defined in the following paragraphs.

ORDER. Twelve soil orders are recognized. Thedifferences among orders reflect the dominant soil-forming processes and the degree of soil formation.Each order is identified by a word ending in sol. Anexample is Mollisol.

SUBORDER. Each order is divided into subordersprimarily on the basis of properties that influence soilgenesis and are important to plant growth orproperties that reflect the most important variableswithin the orders. The last syllable in the name of asuborder indicates the order. An example is Aquoll(Aqu, meaning water, plus oll, from Mollisol).

GREAT GROUP. Each suborder is divided intogreat groups on the basis of close similarities in kind,

arrangement, and degree of development ofpedogenic horizons; soil moisture and temperatureregimes; and base status. Each great group isidentified by the name of a suborder and by a prefixthat indicates a property of the soil. An example isEndoaquolls (Endo, meaning within, plus aquoll, thesuborder of the Mollisols that has an aquic moistureregime).

SUBGROUP. Each great group has a typicsubgroup. Other subgroups are intergrades orextragrades. The typic is the central concept of thegreat group; it is not necessarily the most extensive.Intergrades are transitions to other orders, suborders,or great groups. Extragrades have some propertiesthat are not representative of the great group but donot indicate transitions to any other known kind of soil.Each subgroup is identified by one or more adjectivespreceding the name of the great group. The adjectiveTypic identifies the subgroup that typifies the greatgroup. An example is Typic Endoaquolls.

FAMILY. Families are established within asubgroup on the basis of physical and chemicalproperties and other characteristics that affectmanagement. Generally, the properties are those ofhorizons below plow depth where there is muchbiological activity. Among the properties andcharacteristics considered are particle-size class,mineralogy class, cation-exchange activity class, soiltemperature regime, soil depth, and reaction class. Afamily name consists of the name of a subgrouppreceded by terms that indicate soil properties. Anexample is fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, calcareous,mesic Typic Endoaquolls.

SERIES. The series consists of soils that havesimilar horizons in their profile. The horizons aresimilar in color, texture, structure, reaction,consistence, mineral and chemical composition,and arrangement in the profile. The texture of thesurface layer or of the substratum can differ within aseries. The soils of the Canisteo series are fine-loamy,mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic TypicEndoaquolls.

The Official Soil Series Descriptions (OSDs)provide the most current information about the seriesmapped in Hennepin County. These descriptions areavailable on the Web at http://soils.usda.gov.

http://soils.usda.gov


Table 1.--Classification of the Soils__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | Soil name | Family or higher taxonomic class |__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | Algansee-----------------|Mixed, mesic Aquic Udipsamments Almora-------------------|Fine-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, frigid Alfic Argiudolls Angus--------------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Mollic Hapludalfs Anoka--------------------|Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Lamellic Hapludalfs Arvilla------------------|Sandy, mixed, frigid Calcic Hapludolls Belview------------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Calciudolls Biscay-------------------|Fine-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Endoaquolls Blue Earth---------------|Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic Mollic Fluvaquents Braham-------------------|Loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Oxyaquic Hapludalfs Brouillett---------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Aquic Cumulic Hapludolls Bygland------------------|Fine, smectitic, frigid Oxyaquic Vertic Argiudolls Canisteo-----------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic Typic Endoaquolls Cokato-------------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Argiudolls Cordova------------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Argiaquolls Corliss------------------|Mixed, frigid Typic Udipsamments Crowfork-----------------|Mixed, mesic Psammentic Argiudolls Darfur-------------------|Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Endoaquolls Dassel-------------------|Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Endoaquolls Derrynane----------------|Fine, smectitic, mesic Cumulic Vertic Endoaquolls Dorset-------------------|Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Calcic Argiudolls Duelm--------------------|Sandy, mixed, frigid Oxyaquic Hapludolls Dundas-------------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Mollic Endoaqualfs Eden Prairie-------------|Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Argiudolls Elkriver-----------------|Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Cumulic Hapludolls Fedji--------------------|Sandy over loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Hapludolls Finchford----------------|Sandy, mixed, mesic Entic Hapludolls Foldahl------------------|Sandy over loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Oxyaquic Hapludolls Forada-------------------|Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Endoaquolls Fordum-------------------|Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, nonacid, frigid Mollic Fluvaquents Forestcity---------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Argiaquolls Glencoe------------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Cumulic Endoaquolls Gonvick------------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Aquic Argiudolls Good Thunder-------------|Fine, smectitic, mesic Aquertic Argiudolls Gotham-------------------|Mixed, mesic Psammentic Hapludalfs Granby-------------------|Sandy, mixed, mesic Typic Endoaquolls Grays--------------------|Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Oxyaquic Hapludalfs Hamel--------------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Argiaquolls Hanlon-------------------|Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Cumulic Hapludolls Hawick-------------------|Sandy, mixed, mesic Entic Hapludolls Houghton-----------------|Euic, mesic Typic Haplosaprists Hubbard------------------|Sandy, mixed, frigid Entic Hapludolls Isan---------------------|Sandy, mixed, frigid Typic Endoaquolls Kasota-------------------|Clayey over sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Argiudolls Kilkenny-----------------|Fine, smectitic, mesic Oxyaquic Vertic Hapludalfs Kingsley-----------------|Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Mollic Hapludalfs Klossner-----------------|Loamy, mixed, euic, mesic Terric Haplosaprists Koronis------------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Mollic Hapludalfs Kost---------------------|Sandy, mixed, frigid Entic Hapludolls Kratka-------------------|Sandy over loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Endoaquolls Langola------------------|Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Oxyaquic Argiudolls Le Sueur-----------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Aquic Argiudolls Lerdal-------------------|Fine, smectitic, mesic Aeric Vertic Epiaqualfs Lester-------------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Mollic Hapludalfs Lindaas------------------|Fine, smectitic, frigid Typic Argiaquolls Litchfield---------------|Sandy, mixed, mesic Aquic Hapludolls Lundlake-----------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Cumulic Endoaquolls Malardi------------------|Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Argiudolls Marcellon----------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Aquic Argiudolls Markey-------------------|Sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed, euic, frigid Terric Haplosaprists Mayer--------------------|Fine-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic Typic | Endoaquolls |

20

Table 1.--Classification of the Soils--Continued__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | Soil name | Family or higher taxonomic class |__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | Mazaska------------------|Fine, smectitic, mesic Vertic Argiaquolls Medo---------------------|Loamy, mixed, euic, mesic Terric Haplosaprists Metea--------------------|Loamy, mixed, active, mesic Arenic Hapludalfs Minneiska----------------|Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic Mollic Udifluvents Minnetonka---------------|Fine, smectitic, mesic Vertic Argiaquolls Moon---------------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Oxyaquic Hapludalfs Mosford------------------|Sandy, mixed, frigid Typic Hapludolls Muskego------------------|Coprogenous, euic, mesic Limnic Haplosaprists Nessel-------------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Oxyaquic Hapludalfs Okoboji------------------|Fine, smectitic, mesic Cumulic Vertic Endoaquolls Oshawa-------------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic Fluvaquentic Endoaquolls Rasset-------------------|Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Argiudolls Ridgeton-----------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Pachic Hapludolls Rushriver----------------|Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic Mollic Fluvaquents Sandberg-----------------|Sandy, mixed, frigid Calcic Hapludolls Sedgeville---------------|Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Fluvaquentic Endoaquolls Seelyeville--------------|Euic, frigid Typic Haplosaprists Shields------------------|Fine, smectitic, mesic Vertic Epiaqualfs Shorewood----------------|Fine, smectitic, mesic Aquertic Argiudolls Soderville---------------|Sandy, mixed, frigid Oxyaquic Hapludalfs Southhaven---------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Cumulic Hapludolls Suckercreek--------------|Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic Fluvaquentic Endoaquolls Tadkee-------------------|Sandy over loamy, mixed, superactive, nonacid, mesic Mollic Endoaquents Terril-------------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Cumulic Hapludolls Tomall-------------------|Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Cumulic Hapludolls Two Inlets---------------|Mixed, frigid Psammentic Hapludalfs Udipsamments-------------|Mixed Udipsamments Verndale-----------------|Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Argiudolls Waukon-------------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Mollic Hapludalfs Winterfield--------------|Mixed, frigid Aquic Udipsamments Zimmerman----------------|Mixed, frigid Lamellic Udipsamments |__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

21

This section includes the soil map unit descriptionsfor the soil series mapped in Hennepin County.

Characteristics of the soil and the material in whichit formed are identified for each soil series. A briefdescription of the soil profile is provided in the mapunit descriptions. For more information about a soilseries, the official series description can be viewed ordownloaded from the Web. The detailed descriptionsfollow standards in the Soil Survey Manual (SoilSurvey Division Staff, 1993). Many of the technicalterms used in the descriptions are defined in Keys toSoil Taxonomy (Soil Survey Staff, 1998).

The map units on the soil maps in this surveyrepresent the soils or miscellaneous areas in thesurvey area. These soils or miscellaneous areas arelisted as individual components in the map unitdescriptions. The map unit descriptions in this section,along with the maps, can be used to determine thesuitability and potential of a unit for specific uses. Theyalso can be used to plan the management needed forthose uses. More information about each map unit isprovided in the tables (see Contents).

A map unit delineation on the soil maps representsan area on the landscape. It is identified by differencesin the properties and taxonomic classification ofcomponents and by the percentage of eachcomponent in the map unit.

Components that are dissimilar, or contrasting, areidentified in the map unit description. Dissimilarcomponents are those that have properties andbehavioral characteristics divergent enough fromthose of the major components to affect use or torequire different management. They generally are insmall areas and could not be mapped separatelybecause of the scale used. Some small areas ofstrongly contrasting soils or miscellaneous areas areidentified by a special symbol on the maps.

Components that are similar to the majorcomponents (noncontrasting) are not identified in themap unit description. Similar components are thosethat have properties and behavioral characteristicssimilar enough to those of the major components thatthey do not affect use or require different management.

The presence of multiple components in a map unitin no way diminishes the usefulness or accuracy of the

data. The objective of mapping is not to delineate puretaxonomic classes but rather to separate thelandscape into segments that have similar use andmanagement requirements. The delineation of suchlandscape segments on the map provides sufficientinformation for the development of resource plans, butif intensive use of small areas is planned, onsiteinvestigation is needed to define and locate the soilsand miscellaneous areas.

An identifying symbol is used for each map unit onthe soil maps. This symbol precedes the map unitname in the map unit descriptions. Each descriptionincludes general information about the unit. The mapunit descriptions include representative values in feetand the months in which wet soil moisture status ishighest and lowest in the soil profile and ponding isshallowest and deepest on the soil surface. They alsoinclude the classes of flooding and the months inwhich flooding is least and most likely to occur. Tables20, 21, and 22 provide a complete display of this datafor every month of the year. The available watercapacity given in each map unit description iscalculated for all horizons in the upper 60 inches of thesoil profile. The organic matter content displayed ineach map unit description is calculated for all horizonsin the upper 10 inches of the soil profile, except thosethat represent the surface duff layer on forested soils.Table 18 provides a complete display of availablewater capacity and organic matter content by horizon.

The principal hazards and limitations to beconsidered in planning for specific uses are describedin other sections of this survey.

Soils that have profiles that are almost alike makeup a soil series. Except for differences in texture of thesurface layer or of the underlying layers, all the soils ofa series have major horizons that are similar incomposition, thickness, and arrangement.

Soils of one series can differ in texture of thesurface layer or of the underlying layers. They also candiffer in slope, stoniness, salinity, wetness, degree oferosion, and other characteristics that affect their use.On the basis of such differences, a soil series isdivided into soil phases. The name of a soil phasecommonly indicates a feature that affects use ormanagement. For example, Hubbard loamy sand,

Soil Map Unit Descriptions

22 Soil Survey of

0 to 2 percent slopes, is a phase of the Hubbardseries.

A map unit is named for the component orcomponents that make up a dominant percentage ofthe map unit. Many map units consist of one dominantcomponent. These map units are consociations.Cordova loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, is an example.

Some map units are made up of two or moredominant components. These map units arecomplexes or undifferentiated groups.

A complex consists of two or more components insuch an intricate pattern or in such small areas thatthey cannot be shown separately on the maps.Attempting to delineate the individual components of acomplex would result in excessive clutter that couldmake the map illegible. The pattern and proportion ofthe components are somewhat similar in all areas.Lester-Kilkenny complex, 18 to 25 percent slopes, isan example.

An undifferentiated group is made up of two ormore components that could be mapped individuallybut are mapped as one unit because similarinterpretations can be made for use and management.The pattern and proportion of the components in amapped area are not uniform. An area can be madeup of only one of the dominant components, or it canbe made up of all of them. Medo, Dassel, and Biscaysoils, ponded, 0 to 1 percent slopes, is anundifferentiated group in this survey area.

This survey includes miscellaneous areas. Suchareas have little or no soil material and support little orno vegetation. Urban land is an example.

The abbreviation MAP in a map unit name standsfor mean annual precipitation. The numbers thatfollow the abbreviation refer to a range in inches.

Table 2 gives the acreage and proportionate extentof each map unit. Other tables (see Contents) giveproperties of the soils and the limitations, capabilities,and potentials for many uses. The Glossary definesmany of the terms used in describing the soils ormiscellaneous areas.

D1BAnoka and Zimmerman soils,terrace, 2 to 6 percent slopes

Component Description

Anoka, terrace, and similar soils

Extent: 30 to 60 percent of the unitGeomorphic setting: Hills on stream terracesPosition on the landform: Summits, shoulders, and

backslopesSlope range: 2 to 6 percent

Texture of the surface layer: Loamy fine sandDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Well drainedParent material: OutwashFlooding: NoneDepth to wet soil moisture status: More than 5 feet all

yearPonding: NoneAvailable water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 6

inchesContent of organic matter in the upper 10 inches: 2

percentTypical profile:

Ap0 to 10 inches; loamy fine sandE,E&Bt10 to 60 inches; fine sand

Zimmerman, terrace, and similar soils

Extent: 30 to 60 percent of the unitGeomorphic setting: Hills on stream terracesPosition on the landform: Backslopes, shoulders, and

summitsSlope range: 2 to 4 percentTexture of the surface layer: Fine sandDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Excessively drainedParent material: OutwashFlooding: NoneDepth to wet soil moisture status: More than 5 feet all

yearPonding: NoneAvailable water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 4.8

inchesContent of organic matter in the upper 10 inches: 0.9


Ap0 to 9 inches; fine sandE,E&Bt9 to 60 inches; fine sand

Kost

Extent: 0 to 10 percent of the unitGeomorphic setting: Hills on stream terracesPosition on the landform: BackslopesSlope range: 2 to 6 percentTexture of the surface layer: Loamy fine sandDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60


yearPonding: None


Available water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 4.5inches

Content of organic matter in the upper 10 inches: 3percent

Typical profile:Ap0 to 14 inches; loamy fine sandBw14 to 33 inches; fine sandC33 to 60 inches; sand

D1CAnoka and Zimmerman soils,terrace, 6 to 12 percent slopes


Anoka, terrace, and similar soils

Extent: 35 to 65 percent of the unitGeomorphic setting: Hills on stream terracesPosition on the landform: Backslopes, shoulders, and

summitsSlope range: 6 to 12 percentTexture of the surface layer: Loamy fine sandDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60


yearPonding: NoneAvailable water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 6



Ap0 to 10 inches; loamy fine sandE,E&Bt10 to 60 inches; fine sand

Zimmerman, terrace, and similar soils

Extent: 35 to 65 percent of the unitGeomorphic setting: Hills on stream terracesPosition on the landform: Summits, shoulders, and

backslopesSlope range: 6 to 12 percentTexture of the surface layer: Fine sandDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60



inches

Content of organic matter in the upper 10 inches: 0.9percent

Typical profile:Ap0 to 9 inches; fine sandE,E&Bt9 to 60 inches; fine sand

Kost

Extent: 5 to 15 percent of the unitGeomorphic setting: Hills on stream terracesPosition on the landform: BackslopesSlope range: 6 to 10 percentTexture of the surface layer: Loamy fine sandDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60





Ap0 to 14 inches; loamy fine sandBw14 to 33 inches; fine sandC33 to 60 inches; sand

D2AElkriver fine sandy loam, 0 to 2percent slopes, rarely flooded


Elkriver, rarely flooded, and similar soils

Extent: 80 to 100 percent of the unitGeomorphic setting: Flood plainsPosition on the landform: FlatsSlope range: 0 to 2 percentTexture of the surface layer: Fine sandy loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Moderately well drainedParent material: AlluviumFlooding does not occur (months): January, February,

July, August, September, October, November,December

Flooding is most likely (frequency, months): Rare(March, April, May, June)

Wet soil moisture status is highest (depth, months): 3feet (April)

Wet soil moisture status is lowest (depth, months):More than 6.7 feet (September)

Ponding: None

24 Soil Survey of

Available water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 8.2inches

Content of organic matter in the upper 10 inches: 4.5percent

Typical profile:Ap0 to 10 inches; fine sandy loamA1,A310 to 35 inches; fine sandy loamBw35 to 39 inches; fine sandy loam2C39 to 80 inches; sand

Mosford, rarely flooded

Extent: 0 to 15 percent of the unitGeomorphic setting: Flood plainsPosition on the landform: Slight risesSlope range: 1 to 3 percentTexture of the surface layer: Fine sandy loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Somewhat excessively drainedParent material: AlluviumFlooding does not occur (months): January, February,

July, August, September, October, November,December

Flooding is most likely (frequency, months): Rare(March, April, May, June)

Wet soil moisture status is highest (depth, months): 5feet (April)

Wet soil moisture status is lowest (depth, months):More than 6.7 feet (January, February, March,June, July, August, September, October,November, December)

Ponding: NoneAvailable water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 5



Ap0 to 11 inches; fine sandy loamBw111 to 16 inches; fine sandy loamBw2,C216 to 57 inches; fine sandC357 to 80 inches; gravelly sand

Elkriver, occasionally flooded


inches)Drainage class: Somewhat poorly drainedParent material: AlluviumFlooding does not occur (months): January, February,

September, October, November, December

Flooding is most likely (frequency, months):Occasional (March, April, May, June, July, August)

Wet soil moisture status is highest (depth, months):1.5 feet (April)

Wet soil moisture status is lowest (depth, months): 4.5feet (February)

Ponding: NoneAvailable water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 7.4



Ap0 to 10 inches; fine sandy loamA1,A310 to 26 inches; fine sandy loamBw26 to 32 inches; very fine sandy loam2C32 to 80 inches; sand

D3AElkriver fine sandy loam, 0 to 2percent slopes, occasionally flooded


Elkriver, occasionally flooded, and similar soils



September, October, November, DecemberFlooding is most likely (frequency, months):

Occasional (March, April, May, June, July, August)Wet soil moisture status is highest (depth, months):

1.5 feet (April)Wet soil moisture status is lowest (depth, months): 4.5

feet (February)Ponding: NoneAvailable water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 7.4



Ap0 to 10 inches; fine sandy loamA1,A310 to 26 inches; fine sandy loamBw26 to 32 inches; very fine sandy loam2C32 to 80 inches; sand

Fordum, frequently flooded

Extent: 5 to 20 percent of the unitGeomorphic setting: Flood plains


Position on the landform: DrainagewaysSlope range: 0 to 1 percentTexture of the surface layer: Fine sandy loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Very poorly drainedParent material: AlluviumFlooding does not occur (months): January,

February, September, October, November,December

Flooding is most likely (frequency, months): Frequent(March, April, May, June)

Wet soil moisture status is highest (depth, months): Atthe surface (April, May, June)

Wet soil moisture status is lowest (depth, months): 1.8feet (February)




A0 to 7 inches; fine sandy loamCg7 to 28 inches; sandy loam2Cg28 to 80 inches; sand

Winterfield, occasionally flooded

Extent: 0 to 10 percent of the unitGeomorphic setting: Flood plainsPosition on the landform: Slight risesSlope range: 0 to 2 percentTexture of the surface layer: Loamy fine sandDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60


August, September, October, November,December

Flooding is most likely (frequency, months):Occasional (March, April, May, June, July)

Wet soil moisture status is highest (depth, months):1.5 feet (April)

Wet soil moisture status is lowest (depth, months): 4.5feet (September)




A0 to 8 inches; loamy fine sandC1,C28 to 20 inches; sandC3,C520 to 80 inches; sand

D4ADorset sandy loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes


Dorset and similar soils

Extent: 80 to 100 percent of the unitGeomorphic setting: Stream terraces and outwash

plainsPosition on the landform: FlatsSlope range: 0 to 2 percentTexture of the surface layer: Sandy loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60





Ap,A0 to 12 inches; sandy loamBt12 to 20 inches; coarse sandy loam2BC20 to 27 inches; gravelly coarse sand2C27 to 60 inches; gravelly coarse sand

Verndale, acid substratum

Extent: 0 to 15 percent of the unitGeomorphic setting: Outwash plains and stream

terracesPosition on the landform: FlatsSlope range: 0 to 2 percentTexture of the surface layer: Sandy loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Somewhat excessively drainedParent material: OutwashFlooding: NoneDepth to wet soil moisture status: More than 6.7 feet

all yearPonding: NoneAvailable water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 4.8



Ap0 to 10 inches; sandy loamBt10 to 19 inches; sandy loam2Bw19 to 28 inches; sand2C28 to 80 inches; sand

26 Soil Survey of

Almora


plainsPosition on the landform: SwalesSlope range: 0 to 2 percentTexture of the surface layer: LoamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Well drainedParent material: OutwashFlooding: NoneDepth to wet soil moisture status: More than 6.7 feet




Ap0 to 10 inches; loamBE10 to 14 inches; fine sandy loamBt14 to 36 inches; loam2Bt36 to 41 inches; loamy sand2C41 to 80 inches; gravelly coarse sand

D4BDorset sandy loam, 2 to 6 percentslopes



Extent: 75 to 95 percent of the unitGeomorphic setting: Hills on stream terraces; hills on

outwash plainsPosition on the landform: Summits, backslopes, and

shouldersSlope range: 2 to 6 percentTexture of the surface layer: Sandy loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60





Ap,A0 to 12 inches; sandy loam

Bt12 to 20 inches; coarse sandy loam2BC20 to 27 inches; gravelly coarse sand2C27 to 60 inches; gravelly coarse sand



outwash plainsPosition on the landform: Footslopes and backslopesSlope range: 2 to 6 percentTexture of the surface layer: Sandy loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60






Almora









D4CDorset sandy loam, 6 to 12 percentslopes



Extent: 70 to 85 percent of the unitGeomorphic setting: Hills on outwash plains; hills on

stream terracesPosition on the landform: Backslopes, shoulders, and

summitsSlope range: 6 to 12 percentTexture of the surface layer: Sandy loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60





Ap,A0 to 11 inches; sandy loamBt11 to 19 inches; sandy loam2BC19 to 32 inches; gravelly loamy sand2C32 to 80 inches; gravelly coarse sand



stream terracesPosition on the landform: Backslopes and footslopesSlope range: 2 to 6 percentTexture of the surface layer: Sandy loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60





Ap0 to 10 inches; sandy loamBt10 to 19 inches; sandy loam

2Bw19 to 28 inches; sand2C28 to 80 inches; sand

Almora








D5BDorset-Two Inlets complex, 2 to 6percent slopes




outwash plainsPosition on the landform: Backslopes and shouldersSlope range: 2 to 6 percentTexture of the surface layer: Sandy loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60




percent

28 Soil Survey of

Typical profile:Ap,A0 to 11 inches; sandy loamBt11 to 19 inches; sandy loam2BC19 to 32 inches; gravelly loamy sand2C32 to 80 inches; gravelly coarse sand

Two Inlets and similar soils


stream terracesPosition on the landform: ShouldersSlope range: 2 to 6 percentTexture of the surface layer: Loamy sandDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Excessively drainedParent material: OutwashFlooding: NoneDepth to wet soil moisture status: More than 6.7 feet




Ap0 to 9 inches; loamy sandBt9 to 19 inches; gravelly loamy sandC19 to 80 inches; gravelly sand



stream terracesPosition on the landform: Footslopes and backslopesSlope range: 2 to 6 percentTexture of the surface layer: Sandy loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60






Southhaven

Extent: 0 to 10 percent of the unitGeomorphic setting: Outwash plains and stream

terracesPosition on the landform: SwalesSlope range: 0 to 2 percentTexture of the surface layer: LoamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Well drainedParent material: Colluvium over outwashFlooding: NoneWet soil moisture status is highest (depth, months):

3.5 feet (April, May)Wet soil moisture status is lowest (depth, months):

More than 6.7 feet (August, September, October)Ponding: NoneAvailable water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 11



Ap,A30 to 48 inches; loamBw48 to 62 inches; loam2Bw62 to 66 inches; loamy sand2C66 to 80 inches; sand

D5CDorset-Two Inlets complex, 6 to 12percent slopes




stream terracesPosition on the landform: Summits and backslopesSlope range: 6 to 12 percentTexture of the surface layer: Sandy loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Well drainedParent material: OutwashFlooding: NoneDepth to wet soil moisture status: More than 6.

soil survey of hennepin county, minnesota - usda - …€”lester loam, morainic, 6 to 12 ... soil...

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