soil survey of kane county, illinoiskane-du page counties soil and water conservation district. the...

United StatesDepartment ofAgriculture

NaturalResourcesConservationService

Soil Survey ofKane County,Illinois

In cooperation with theIllinois AgriculturalExperiment Station

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]

The detailed soil maps can be useful in planning the 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 Contents shows which table has data on a specific land use for each detailed soil map unit. Also see theContents for 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 Nation’s 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 1999. Soil names anddescriptions were approved in 2000. Unless otherwise indicated, statements in thispublication refer to conditions in the survey area in 1999. This survey was madecooperatively by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the IllinoisAgricultural Experiment Station. It is part of the technical assistance furnished to theKane-Du Page Counties Soil and Water Conservation District. The survey was partiallyfunded by the Kane County Board and the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

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 USDA’s 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 employmentprovider and employer.

Cover: Soybeans in an area of Danabrook, Octagon, and Elpaso soils. The village of Elburn is inthe background.

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Contents

How To Use This Soil Survey ................................. 3Foreword ............................................................... 11General Nature of the Survey Area ......................... 13

History ................................................................ 13Urbanization ....................................................... 14Physiography, Relief, and Drainage .................... 14Natural Resources ............................................. 14Agriculture .......................................................... 15Transportation Facilities ...................................... 15Industry .............................................................. 16Climate ............................................................... 16

How This Survey Was Made ................................... 16Detailed Soil Map Units ........................................ 19

23A—Blount silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ...... 2059A—Lisbon silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ...... 2059B—Lisbon silt loam, 2 to 4 percent slopes ...... 2160C2—La Rose loam, 5 to 10 percent

slopes, eroded ............................................. 2160D2—La Rose loam, 10 to 18 percent

slopes, eroded ............................................. 2262A—Herbert silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes .... 2267A—Harpster silty clay loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 2369A—Milford silty clay loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 23103A—Houghton muck, 0 to 2 percent slopes ... 24104A—Virgil silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ...... 24125A—Selma loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes.......... 25134C2—Camden silt loam, 5 to 10 percent

slopes, eroded ............................................. 25146A—Elliott silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ...... 26146B—Elliott silt loam, 2 to 4 percent slopes ...... 26148B—Proctor silt loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes ... 27149A—Brenton silt loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 27152A—Drummer silty clay loam, 0 to 2

percent slopes ............................................. 28154A—Flanagan silt loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 28171A—Catlin silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ..... 29171B—Catlin silt loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes ..... 29193A—Mayville silt loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 30193B—Mayville silt loam, 2 to 5 percent

slopes .......................................................... 30

193C2—Mayville silt loam, 5 to 10 percentslopes, eroded ............................................. 31

198A—Elburn silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes .... 32206A—Thorp silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ..... 32210A—Lena muck, 0 to 2 percent slopes ........... 33219A—Millbrook silt loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 33221B—Parr silt loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes ........ 34221B2—Parr silt loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes,

eroded ......................................................... 34221C2—Parr silt loam, 5 to 10 percent slopes,

eroded ......................................................... 35223B—Varna silt loam, 2 to 4 percent slopes ..... 35223C2—Varna silt loam, 4 to 6 percent

slopes, eroded ............................................. 36232A—Ashkum silty clay loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 36233A—Birkbeck silt loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 37233B—Birkbeck silt loam, 2 to 5 percent

slopes .......................................................... 37233C2—Birkbeck silt loam, 5 to 10 percent

slopes, eroded ............................................. 38236A—Sabina silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ... 38242A—Kendall silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ... 39290A—Warsaw loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ....... 39290B—Warsaw loam, 2 to 4 percent slopes ....... 40297B—Ringwood silt loam, 2 to 4 percent

slopes .......................................................... 40298A—Beecher silt loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 41298B—Beecher silt loam, 2 to 4 percent

slopes .......................................................... 41318A—Lorenzo loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ....... 42318B—Lorenzo loam, 2 to 4 percent slopes ....... 42318C2—Lorenzo loam, 4 to 6 percent slopes,

eroded ......................................................... 43318D2—Lorenzo loam, 6 to 12 percent

slopes, eroded ............................................. 43323C2—Casco loam, 4 to 6 percent slopes,

eroded ......................................................... 44323D2—Casco loam, 6 to 12 percent slopes,

eroded ......................................................... 44325A—Dresden silt loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 45

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325B—Dresden silt loam, 2 to 4 percentslopes .......................................................... 45

325C2—Dresden silt loam, 4 to 6 percentslopes, eroded ............................................. 46

327A—Fox silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ........ 46327B—Fox silt loam, 2 to 4 percent slopes ........ 47327C2—Fox silt loam, 4 to 6 percent slopes,

eroded ......................................................... 48327D2—Fox loam, 6 to 12 percent slopes,

eroded ......................................................... 48329A—Will loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes .............. 49330A—Peotone silty clay loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 49343A—Kane silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ...... 50344C2—Harvard silt loam, 5 to 10 percent

slopes, eroded ............................................. 50348B—Wingate silt loam, 2 to 5 percent

slopes .......................................................... 51348C2—Wingate silt loam, 5 to 10 percent

slopes, eroded ............................................. 51356A—Elpaso silty clay loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 52361B—Kidder loam, 2 to 4 percent slopes ......... 52361C2—Kidder loam, 4 to 6 percent slopes,

eroded ......................................................... 53361D2—Kidder loam, 6 to 12 percent slopes,

eroded ......................................................... 53361E2—Kidder loam, 12 to 20 percent slopes,

eroded ......................................................... 54369A—Waupecan silt loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 54369B—Waupecan silt loam, 2 to 4 percent

slopes .......................................................... 55442A—Mundelein silt loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 55488A—Hooppole loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes .... 56512A—Danabrook silt loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 56512B—Danabrook silt loam, 2 to 5 percent

slopes .......................................................... 57512C2—Danabrook silt loam, 5 to 10 percent

slopes, eroded ............................................. 57523A—Dunham silty clay loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 58

526A—Grundelein silt loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes .......................................................... 58

527B—Kidami silt loam, 2 to 4 percentslopes .......................................................... 59

527C2—Kidami loam, 4 to 6 percent slopes,eroded ......................................................... 59

527D2—Kidami loam, 6 to 12 percent slopes,eroded ......................................................... 60

527D3—Kidami clay loam, 6 to 12 percentslopes, severely eroded ............................... 61

529A—Selmass loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ...... 62530B—Ozaukee silt loam, 2 to 4 percent

slopes .......................................................... 62530C2—Ozaukee silt loam, 4 to 6 percent

slopes, eroded ............................................. 63530D2—Ozaukee silt loam, 6 to 12 percent

slopes, eroded ............................................. 63530E—Ozaukee silt loam, 12 to 20 percent

slopes .......................................................... 64531B—Markham silt loam, 2 to 4 percent

slopes .......................................................... 64531C2—Markham silt loam, 4 to 6 percent

slopes, eroded ............................................. 65541B—Graymont silt loam, 2 to 5 percent

slopes .......................................................... 66570B—Martinsville silt loam, 2 to 4 percent

slopes .......................................................... 66570C2—Martinsville silt loam, 4 to 6 percent

slopes, eroded ............................................. 67614A—Chenoa silty clay loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 67618E—Senachwine silt loam, 12 to 20

percent slopes ............................................. 68618F—Senachwine silt loam, 20 to 30

percent slopes ............................................. 68626A—Kish loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ............. 69656B—Octagon silt loam, 2 to 4 percent

slopes .......................................................... 69656C2—Octagon silt loam, 4 to 6 percent

slopes, eroded ............................................. 70656D2—Octagon silt loam, 6 to 12 percent

slopes, eroded ............................................. 70662A—Barony silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ... 71662B—Barony silt loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes ... 71

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663A—Clare silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ...... 72663B—Clare silt loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes ...... 72667A—Kaneville silt loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 73667B—Kaneville silt loam, 2 to 5 percent

slopes .......................................................... 73668A—Somonauk silt loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 74668B—Somonauk silt loam, 2 to 5 percent

slopes .......................................................... 74679A—Blackberry silt loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 75679B—Blackberry silt loam, 2 to 5 percent

slopes .......................................................... 75680A—Campton silt loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 76680B—Campton silt loam, 2 to 5 percent

slopes .......................................................... 76696B—Zurich silt loam, 2 to 4 percent slopes .... 77697A—Wauconda silt loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 77739B—Milton silt loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes ..... 78739D—Milton silt loam, 6 to 12 percent

slopes .......................................................... 78791A—Rush silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ...... 79791B—Rush silt loam, 2 to 4 percent slopes ...... 80791C2—Rush silt loam, 4 to 6 percent slopes,

eroded ......................................................... 80792A—Bowes silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes .... 81792B—Bowes silt loam, 2 to 4 percent slopes .... 81792C2—Bowes silt loam, 4 to 6 percent

slopes, eroded ............................................. 82802B—Orthents, loamy, undulating .................... 83802D—Orthents, loamy, rolling ........................... 83805B—Orthents, clayey, undulating .................... 84830—Landfills .................................................... 84864—Pits, quarry ............................................... 84865—Pits, gravel ................................................ 84903A—Muskego and Houghton mucks, 0 to

2 percent slopes .......................................... 84969E2—Casco-Rodman complex, 12 to 20

percent slopes, eroded ................................ 85969F—Casco-Rodman complex, 20 to 30

percent slopes ............................................. 85

1103A—Houghton muck, undrained, 0 to 2percent slopes ............................................. 86

1107A—Sawmill silty clay loam, undrained,0 to 2 percent slopes, frequently flooded ..... 86

1210A—Lena muck, undrained, 0 to 2percent slopes ............................................. 87

1903A—Muskego and Houghton mucks,undrained, 0 to 2 percent slopes .................. 87

3076A—Otter silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes,frequently flooded ........................................ 88

3082A—Millington silt loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes, frequently flooded ............................ 88

8076A—Otter silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes,occasionally flooded..................................... 89

8082A—Millington silt loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes, occasionally flooded ........................ 89

Use and Management of the Soils ...................... 91Crops and Pasture ............................................. 91

Cropland Management Considerations .......... 93Pastureland Management Considerations ...... 94Yields per Acre ............................................... 95Land Capability Classification ........................ 95Prime Farmland ............................................. 96

Forestland .......................................................... 96Windbreaks and Environmental Plantings .......... 97Recreation .......................................................... 97Wildlife Habitat ................................................... 99Hydric Soils ...................................................... 101Engineering ...................................................... 102

Building Site Development ........................... 102Sanitary Facilities ......................................... 103Construction Materials ................................. 104Water Management ...................................... 105

Soil Properties .................................................... 107Engineering Index Properties ........................... 107Physical Properties .......................................... 108Chemical Properties ......................................... 110Water Features ................................................. 110Soil Features .................................................... 111

Classification of the Soils .................................. 113Soil Series and Their Morphology ......................... 113

Ashkum Series ................................................. 113Barony Series ................................................... 114Beecher Series ................................................. 116

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Birkbeck Series ................................................ 117Blackberry Series ............................................. 118Blount Series .................................................... 120Bowes Series ................................................... 121Brenton Series ................................................. 122Camden Series ................................................ 123Campton Series ............................................... 124Casco Series .................................................... 125Catlin Series ..................................................... 126Chenoa Series ................................................. 127Clare Series ..................................................... 128Danabrook Series ............................................ 129Dresden Series ................................................ 130Drummer Series ............................................... 131Dunham Series ................................................ 132Elburn Series .................................................... 133Elliott Series ..................................................... 135Elpaso Series ................................................... 135Flanagan Series ............................................... 137Fox Series ........................................................ 138Graymont Series .............................................. 138Grundelein Series ............................................ 139Harpster Series ................................................ 141Harvard Series ................................................. 142Herbert Series .................................................. 143Hooppole Series ............................................... 144Houghton Series .............................................. 145Kane Series...................................................... 145Kaneville Series ................................................ 146Kendall Series .................................................. 147Kidami Series ................................................... 149Kidder Series .................................................... 150Kish Series ....................................................... 151La Rose Series ................................................. 152Lena Series ...................................................... 152Lisbon Series ................................................... 153Lorenzo Series ................................................. 154Markham Series ............................................... 154Martinsville Series ............................................ 155Mayville Series ................................................. 156Milford Series ................................................... 157Millbrook Series ................................................ 158Millington Series ............................................... 159Milton Series .................................................... 160Mundelein Series ............................................. 161

Muskego Series ............................................... 162Octagon Series ................................................ 163Otter Series ...................................................... 164Ozaukee Series ................................................ 164Parr Series ....................................................... 166Peotone Series ................................................. 167Proctor Series .................................................. 168Ringwood Series .............................................. 168Rodman Series ................................................ 169Rush Series ..................................................... 170Sabina Series ................................................... 171Sawmill Series .................................................. 172Selma Series .................................................... 173Selmass Series ................................................ 174Senachwine Series .......................................... 175Somonauk Series ............................................. 176Thorp Series .................................................... 177Varna Series .................................................... 178Virgil Series ...................................................... 179Warsaw Series ................................................. 181Wauconda Series ............................................. 181Waupecan Series ............................................. 182Will Series ........................................................ 183Wingate Series ................................................. 184Zurich Series .................................................... 185

Formation of the Soils ........................................ 187References .......................................................... 191Glossary .............................................................. 193Tables .................................................................. 205

Table 1.—Temperature and Precipitation .......... 206Table 2.—Freeze Dates in Spring and Fall ........ 207Table 3.—Growing Season ............................... 207Table 4.—Acreage and Proportionate Extent

of the Soils ................................................. 208Table 5.—Main Limitations and Hazards

Affecting Cropland and Pastureland ........... 211Table 6.—Land Capability and Yields per

Acre of Crops and Pasture ......................... 222Table 7.—Prime Farmland ................................ 229Table 8.—Forestland Productivity ..................... 231Table 9.—Windbreaks and Environmental

Plantings .................................................... 244Table 10.—Recreational Development .............. 282Table 11.—Wildlife Habitat ................................ 292Table 12.—Building Site Development .............. 300

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Table 13.—Sanitary Facilities ........................... 312Table 14.—Construction Materials .................... 324Table 15.—Water Management ........................ 335Table 16.—Engineering Index Properties ......... 350Table 17.—Physical Properties of the Soils ...... 387

Table 18.—Chemical Properties of theSoils ........................................................... 405

Table 19.—Water Features ............................... 419Table 20.—Soil Features .................................. 429Table 21.—Classification of the Soils ................ 436

Issued 2003

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This soil survey contains information that affects land use planning in Kane County. Itcontains predictions of soil behavior for selected land uses. The survey also highlightssoil limitations, improvements needed to overcome the limitations, and the impact ofselected 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 detailed soil maps. Each soil in thesurvey area is described, and information on specific uses is given. Help in using thispublication and additional information are available at the local office of the NaturalResources Conservation Service or the Cooperative Extension Service.

William J. GradleState ConservationistNatural Resources Conservation Service

Foreword

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KANE COUNTY is in northeastern Illinois (fig. 1). It hasan area of 335,650 acres, or 524 square miles. In2000, the population of the county was 404,119 (U.S.Department of Commerce, 2000). Geneva is thecounty seat, and Aurora is the largest city. The countyis bordered by McHenry County on the north, by DuPage and Cook Counties on the east, by KendallCounty on the south, and by De Kalb County on thewest.

The survey area is a subset of major land resourcearea (MLRA) 95B, the Southern Wisconsin andNorthern Illinois Drift Plain; MLRA 108, the Illinois andIowa Deep Loess and Drift; and MLRA 110, theNorthern Illinois and Indiana Heavy Till Plain (USDA,1981).

This soil survey updates the survey of Kane Countypublished in 1979 (Goddard, 1979). The updatedsurvey provides additional information and has largermaps, which show the soils in greater detail.

General Nature of the Survey AreaThis section provides general information about

Kane County. It describes history; urbanization;physiography, relief, and drainage; natural resources;agriculture; transportation facilities; industry; and climate.

History

Jane K. Tompkins, community planner, Kane CountyDevelopment Department, helped prepare this section.

For thousands of years prior to the arrival ofEuropean settlers, Native Americans inhabited thewilderness that was to become Kane County. Areatribes include the Fox, Kickapoo, Mascouten, Illinois,and Potawatomi tribes. These tribes inhabited smallvillages along the Fox River and established seasonalcampsites along the hills and prairies to the west.

Soil Survey of

Kane County, IllinoisBy Jeffrey A. Deniger, Natural Resources Conservation Service

Original fieldwork by Christopher C. Cochran, Tyrone M. Goddard,Robert T. Henderickson, Kenneth C. Hinkley, and James R. Martin, NaturalResources Conservation Service

Updated fieldwork by Jennifer Berman, Dale E. Calsyn, Jeffrey A. Deniger,Karla D. Hanson, and Catherine A. Swain, Natural Resources ConservationService

Map compilation by Jennifer Berman, Jeffrey A. Deniger, Karla D. Hanson,L. Grant Holliman, and Catherine A. Swain, Natural Resources ConservationService

Manuscript by Dale E. Calsyn, Jeffrey A. Deniger, and Catherine A. Swain, NaturalResources Conservation Service

United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service,in cooperation withthe Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station

14 Soil Survey of

The first recorded settler in Kane County,Christopher Payne, established his home just east ofthe present city of Batavia in 1833. In the Fox Rivervalley, homesteaders found abundant hardwoodforests for building material and fuel, a river for waterpower, fertile farmland, and stone outcroppings forfoundations and structures. Kane County wasestablished in 1836. It was named after Elias KentKane (1794–1835), the first Illinois Secretary of Stateand a United States Senator. The original boundariesof Kane County included what is now De Kalb Countyand part of northern Kendall County.

Urbanization

In 1840, the population of Kane County was 6,501.By 1850, the population had increased to 16,703,which represents a growth rate of 157 percent. In fact,

the greatest growth rate in Kane County’s historyoccurred during these first few decades. In 2000, thepopulation of Kane County was 404,119, and apopulation of approximately 540,000 people is forecastfor the year 2020.

The historical land use pattern in the county hasbeen higher density and compact development to theeast, along the Fox River, and rural/agriculture landuses to the west. The urban corridor along the rivercontains approximately 80 percent of the county’sresidents. Land uses include mature residentialneighborhoods, traditional downtowns, industrialareas, strip malls, and new subdivisions. The denserdevelopment of the urban corridor is made possible bysewer and water infrastructure in the rivercommunities.

Physiography, Relief, and Drainage

Kane County is made up of moraines, till plains,outwash plains, stream terraces, flood plains, kames,eskers, and bogs. The county is in the Great Lakesection of the Central Lowland Province (Leighton andothers, 1948). Two subdivisions of this section makeup the majority of the county. The northeastern one-third of the county is in the Wheaton Morainal Country,and the rest is in the Bloomington Ridged Plain.

Kane County has relatively low relief. Elevationranges from 630 feet above sea level in the city ofMontgomery to 1,065 feet above sea level in PlatoTownship, on Tower Road. Johnson’s Mound, in thecentral part of the county, has an elevation of 898feet.

Several moraines run through the county. The majormoraines, from west to east, include the ElburnComplex and the Marengo, Barlina, St. Charles, andMinooka moraines.

The majority of the bottom land in the county isalong Big Rock, Blackberry, Ferson, Mill, Tyler, andWelsh Creeks and the Fox River.

About 60 percent of the county is in the Fox Riverwatershed. The major streams flow south and east intothe Fox River, which eventually empties into the IllinoisRiver. The northwestern part of the county drainsnorth and west into the Kishwaukee River.

Natural Resources

Sand and gravel deposits and limestone quarriesthroughout the county provide building materialsneeded for construction (fig. 2). Peat and muck inNelson Lake and Rutland Township also are excavatedfor commercial use. Oak and hickory groves, onceabundant in the Fox River Valley, are now

Figure 1.—Location of Kane County in Illinois.

Kane County, Illinois 15

predominantly county forest preserves, which serve asrecreational areas.

The two chief sources of potable water in KaneCounty are the Fox River and ground water. Groundwater is tapped by private and public wells from twosources—shallow aquifers, 30 to 400 feet below thesurface, and deep aquifers, 600 to 2,000 feet belowthe surface. Shallow aquifers include sand and gravelaquifers deposited by Wisconsinan glaciers and theSilurian dolomite aquifers. These aquifers arerecharged from local precipitation and surface streamin-flow. Deep aquifers, running northwest to southeaston a slope of 0.2 percent, are in Cambrian-Ordoviciansandstone and Mt. Simon sandstone. Recharge areasfor these aquifers are in De Kalb, McHenry, and BooneCounties and in northwestern Kane County.

Agriculture

Kane County has some of the most fertile farmlandin the world. Agriculture has been the dominant landuse for decades; in 1997, 63 percent of the land in thecounty was used for agriculture (U.S. Department ofCommerce, 1997). In recent years, the market value ofKane County agricultural products has consistentlyexceeded $100 million per year, and over 36 percent

of the county’s farms generated annual sales of$100,000 or more.

Corn, soybeans, small grain, nursery, andgreenhouse crops accounted for 85 percent of themarket value of agricultural products sold in 1997, andlivestock, poultry, and related products accounted forthe remaining 15 percent. Kane County was thelargest dollar producer of nursery and greenhousecrops of all Illinois counties in 1992, producing 11percent of the state’s total.

Kane County farming consists predominantly offamily owned businesses. In 1990, 87 percent of thefarms in the county were owned by individuals or byfamily corporations. Since 1945, the number of farmsin Kane County has been decreasing. This decline hasbeen counteracted, however, by a large increase inaverage farm size. In 1945, 2,029 farms averaging 147acres were in the county; in 1997, the average size ofthe 650 farms remaining was 323 acres.

Transportation Facilities

Kane County has a well developed, multi-modaltransportation system. The county is served by IllinoisState Highways 47, 31, 25, 38, 64, 72, 68, and 62;U.S. Highways 20 and 30; and Illinois Tollways 88 and

Figure 2.—The opening of a new gravel pit on the north end of the Kaneville esker in an area of Waupecan silt loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes, near Kaneville.

16 Soil Survey of

90, which are part of the interstate highway system.Kane County also has a well integrated system ofcounty highways that provide connections betweenincorporated and unincorporated areas.

Public transit services are available in the county.Commuter rail services connect downtown Chicagowith 68 other Chicago locations, and there are lines toAurora, Geneva, and Elgin. Fixed-route bus and otherservices are available in the county, includingsubscription bus, vanpool, and special services forpeople with disabilities.

Two major general aviation airports also serve thecounty. These are the Aurora Municipal Airport inSugar Grove and the Du Page Airport in WestChicago. These airports serve local recreational andbusiness flying needs; however, they do not supportcommercial flights or large jets.

Industry

Kane County has a strong traditional manufacturingbase, which employed 26 percent of the work force in1990. While the number of manufacturing jobs in thecounty has been slowly declining over the past 20years, the decline has been more than offset byincreases in the service, research, and developmentbusiness sectors. Between 1980 and 1990, servicejobs increased by 13 percent. The Northeastern IllinoisPlanning Commission forecasts that by the year 2010,service sector jobs will grow by 51 percent regionally,and manufacturing jobs will decline by 16 percent.

Kane County is home to a wide range ofemployment opportunities. Numerous large office andresearch facilities have developed along the tollwaycorridors. Industrial land uses are in mostmunicipalities in the county and account for themajority of traditional manufacturing jobs. Majorindustrial development areas are in Aurora, Elgin,Montgomery, Geneva, and St. Charles.

Climate

Table 1 gives data on temperature and precipitationfor the survey area as recorded at Aurora College inthe period 1971 to 2000. Table 2 shows probable datesof the first freeze in fall and the last freeze in spring.Table 3 provides data on length of the growing season.

In winter, the average temperature is 24.3 degreesF and the average daily minimum temperature is 15.4degrees. The lowest temperature on record, whichoccurred on January 20, 1985, is -26 degrees. Insummer, the average temperature is 71.4 degrees and

the average daily maximum temperature is 82.8degrees. The highest recorded temperature, whichoccurred on July 14, 1936, is 111 degrees.

Growing degree days are shown in table 1. Theyare equivalent to “heat units.” During the month,growing degree days accumulate by the amount thatthe average temperature each day exceeds a basetemperature (50 degrees F). The normal monthlyaccumulation is used to schedule single or successiveplantings of a crop between the last freeze in springand the first freeze in fall.

The average annual total precipitation is 38.31inches. Of this total, 20.36 inches, or about 53 percent,usually falls in May through September. The growingseason for most crops falls within this period. Theheaviest 1-day rainfall during the period of record was6.91 inches on July 18, 1996.

The average seasonal snowfall is 30.8 inches. Thegreatest snow depth at any one time was 31 inchesrecorded on December 25, 1951. On the average, 49days of the year have at least 1 inch of snow on theground. The number of such days varies greatly fromyear to year. The heaviest 1-day snowfall on recordwas 15.0 inches recorded on February 18, 1908.

The average relative humidity in midafternoon isabout 59 percent. Humidity is higher at night, and theaverage at dawn is about 82 percent. The sun shines67 percent of the time possible in summer and 47percent in winter. The prevailing wind is from the westin most months, but it is from the south from June toOctober. Average windspeed is highest, 12 miles perhour, from January to April.

How This Survey Was MadeSoil surveys are updated as part of maintenance

projects that are conducted for a major land resourcearea or other region. Maintaining and coordinating soilsurvey information within a broad area result inuniformly delineated and joined soil maps and incoordinated interpretations and map unit descriptionsfor areas that have similar physiography, climate, andland use.

Updated soil survey information is coordinatedwithin the major land resource area or other regionand meets the standards established and defined inthe memorandum of understanding that wasdeveloped among all the cooperating agencies. Soilsurveys that are consistent and uniform within a broadarea enable the coordination of soil managementrecommendations and a uniform program applicationof soil information.


This survey was made to provide information aboutthe soils and miscellaneous areas in the survey area,which is a subset of MLRAs 95B, 108, and 110. Theinformation includes a description of the soils andmiscellaneous areas and their location and adiscussion of their suitability, limitations, andmanagement for specified uses.

Soil scientists from the prior soil survey and theupdate survey observed the steepness, length, andshape of the slopes; the degree of erosion; the generalpattern of drainage; the kinds of crops and nativeplants; and the kinds of bedrock. They made boringsand dug holes to study the soil profile, which is thesequence of natural layers, or horizons, in a soil. Theprofile extends from the surface down into theunconsolidated material in which the soil formed. Theunconsolidated material is devoid of roots and otherliving organisms and has not been changed by otherbiological 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 landform or with a segment of the landform. Byobserving the soils and miscellaneous areas in thesurvey area and relating their position to specificsegments of the landform, a soil scientist develops aconcept, or model, of how they were formed. Thus,during mapping, this model enables the soil scientistto predict with a considerable degree of accuracy thekind of soil or miscellaneous area at a specific locationon the landscape.

Commonly, individual soils on the landscape mergeinto one another as their characteristics graduallychange. To construct an accurate soil map, however,soil scientists must determine the boundaries betweenthe soils. They can observe only a limited number ofsoil profiles. 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. After soil scientists locatedand identified the significant natural bodies of soil inthe survey area, they then drew the boundaries ofthese bodies on aerial photographs and identifiedeach as a specific map unit.

Fieldwork in the Kane County soil survey updateconsisted primarily of soil transects conducted by soilscientists. Soil transects are a systematic procedurefor sampling a specific soil type. Soil borings are takenat regular intervals. Soil scientists then record the

characteristics of the soil profiles that they study. Theynote soil color, texture, size and shape of soilaggregates, kind and amount of rock fragments,distribution of plant roots, reaction, and other featuresthat enable them to identify soils. This information canthen be used to run statistical analyses for specific soilproperties. The results of these analyses, along withother observations, enable the soil scientists to assignthe soils to taxonomic classes (units). Taxonomicclasses are concepts. Each taxonomic class has a setof soil characteristics with precisely defined limits. Theclasses are used as a basis for comparison to classifysoils systematically. Soil taxonomy, the system oftaxonomic classification used in the United States, isbased mainly on the kind and character of soilproperties and the arrangement of horizons within theprofile. After the soil scientists classified and namedthe soils in the survey area, they compared theindividual soils with similar soils in the sametaxonomic class in other areas so that they couldconfirm data and assemble additional data based onexperience 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. Some interpretations are modified to fitlocal conditions, and some new interpretations aredeveloped to meet local needs. Data are assembledfrom other sources, such as research information,production records, and field experience of specialists.For example, data on crop yields under defined levelsof management are assembled from farm records andfrom field or plot experiments on the same kinds ofsoil.

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 high water tablewithin certain depths in most years, but they cannotpredict that a high water table will always be at aspecific level in the soil on a specific date.

Aerial photographs used in this update survey weretaken in 1994. Soil scientists also studied U.S.

18

Geological Survey topographic maps andorthophotographs to relate land and image features.Adjustments of soil boundary lines on the 1979published soil maps were made to coincide with theU.S. Geological Survey topographic map contour lines

and tonal patterns on aerial photographs. Aerialphotographs also show trees, buildings, fields, roads,and rivers, all of which help in locating boundariesaccurately.

19

The map units delineated on the detailed soil mapsin this survey represent the soils or miscellaneousareas in the survey area. The map unit descriptions inthis section, along with the maps, can be used todetermine the suitability and potential of a unit forspecific uses. They also can be used to plan themanagement needed for those uses.

A map unit delineation on a soil map represents anarea dominated by one or more major kinds of soil ormiscellaneous areas. A map unit is identified andnamed according to the taxonomic classification of thedominant soils. Within a taxonomic class there areprecisely defined limits for the properties of the soils.On the landscape, however, the soils are naturalphenomena, and they have the characteristicvariability of all natural phenomena. Thus, the range ofsome observed properties may extend beyond thelimits defined for a taxonomic class. Areas of soils of asingle taxonomic class rarely, if ever, can be mappedwithout including areas of other taxonomic classes.Consequently, every map unit is made up of the soilsor miscellaneous areas for which it is named andsome minor components that belong to taxonomicclasses other than those of the major soils.

Most minor soils have properties similar to those ofthe dominant soil or soils in the map unit, and thusthey do not affect use and management. These arecalled noncontrasting, or similar, components. Theymay or may not be mentioned in a particular map unitdescription. Other minor components, however, haveproperties and behavioral characteristics divergentenough to affect use or to require differentmanagement. These are called contrasting, ordissimilar, components. They generally are in smallareas and could not be mapped separately because ofthe scale used. Some small areas of stronglycontrasting soils or miscellaneous areas are identifiedby a special symbol on the maps. The contrastingcomponents are mentioned in the map unitdescriptions. A few areas of minor components maynot have been observed, and consequently they arenot mentioned in the descriptions, especially wherethe pattern was so complex that it was impractical tomake enough observations to identify all the soils andmiscellaneous areas on the landscape.

The presence of minor components in a map unit inno way diminishes the usefulness or accuracy of thedata. The objective of mapping is not to delineate puretaxonomic classes but rather to separate thelandscape into landforms or landform segments thathave similar use and management requirements. Thedelineation of such segments on the map providessufficient information for the development of resourceplans. If intensive use of small areas is planned,however, onsite investigation is needed to define andlocate the soils and miscellaneous areas.

An identifying symbol precedes the map unit namein the map unit descriptions. Each description includesgeneral facts about the unit and gives the principalhazards and limitations to be considered in planningfor specific uses.

Soils that have profiles that are almost alike makeup a soil series. Except for differences in texture of thesurface layer, all the soils of a series have majorhorizons that are similar in composition, thickness,and arrangement.

Soils of one series can differ in texture of thesurface layer, slope, stoniness, salinity, degree oferosion, and other characteristics that affect their use.On the basis of such differences, a soil series isdivided into soil phases. Most of the areas shown onthe detailed soil maps are phases of soil series. Thename of a soil phase commonly indicates a featurethat affects use or management. For example, Kidamiloam, 4 to 6 percent slopes, eroded, is a phase of theKidami series.

Some map units are made up of two or more majorsoils or miscellaneous areas. These map units arecomplexes or undifferentiated groups.

A complex consists of two or more soils ormiscellaneous areas in such an intricate pattern or insuch small areas that they cannot be shownseparately on the maps. The pattern and proportion ofthe soils or miscellaneous areas are somewhat similarin all areas. Casco-Rodman complex, 20 to 30 percentslopes, is an example.

An undifferentiated group is made up of two ormore soils or miscellaneous areas that could bemapped individually but are mapped as one unitbecause similar interpretations can be made for use

Detailed Soil Map Units

20 Soil Survey of

and management. The pattern and proportion of thesoils or miscellaneous areas in a mapped area are notuniform. An area can be made up of only one of themajor soils or miscellaneous areas, or it can be madeup of all of them. Muskego and Houghton mucks, 0 to2 percent slopes, is an undifferentiated group in thissurvey area.

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

Table 4 gives the acreage and proportionate extentof each map unit. Other tables give properties of thesoils and the limitations, capabilities, and potentialsfor many uses. The Glossary defines many of theterms used in describing the soils or miscellaneousareas.

23A—Blount silt loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes

Setting

Landform: Ground moraines and end morainesPosition on the landform: Summits and footslopes

Soil Properties and Qualities

Parent material: Thin mantle of loess or other siltymaterial and the underlying till

Drainage class: Somewhat poorly drainedSeasonal high water table: At a depth of 0.5 foot to 2.0

feet (perched)Ponding: NoneDepth to restrictive feature: Moderately deep or deep

(30 to 48 inches)Permeability: Slow

Map Unit Composition

Blount and similar soils: 90 percentDissimilar soils: 10 percent

Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that have a darker surface layer than that ofthe Blount soil• Soils that contain more sand in the upper one-halfof the profile than the Blount soil• Soils that have a seasonal high water tablebeginning at a depth of more than 2 feet• Soils that have slopes of more than 2 percent

Dissimilar soils:• The poorly drained Ashkum soils on toeslopes• The moderately well drained, clayey Orthents onsummits and backslopes

Management

For general and detailed information aboutmanaging this map unit, see the following sections ofthis publication:

• “Crops and Pasture”• “Forestland”• “Wildlife Habitat”• “Engineering”• “Soil Properties”

Interpretive Groups

Land capability classification: 2wPrime farmland status: Prime farmland where drainedHydric soil status: Nonhydric soil

59A—Lisbon silt loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes

Setting



Parent material: Loess or other silty material and theunderlying till

Drainage class: Somewhat poorly drainedSeasonal high water table: At a depth of 1 to 2 feet

(perched)Ponding: NoneDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Permeability: Moderate in the upper part; moderately

slow in the lower part


Lisbon and similar soils: 92 percentDissimilar soils: 8 percent

Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that do not have a subsurface layer• Soils that contain till beginning at a depth of morethan 40 inches• Soils that contain carbonates beginning at a depthof less than 20 inches or more than 40 inches• Soils that contain a zone of glaciofluvial depositsabove the till• Soils that have a seasonal high water tablebeginning at a depth of more than 2 feet

Dissimilar soils:• The poorly drained Elpaso soils on toeslopes


Management


• “Crops and Pasture”• “Wildlife Habitat”• “Engineering”• “Soil Properties”

Interpretive Groups

Land capability classification: 1Prime farmland status: Prime farmlandHydric soil status: Nonhydric soil

59B—Lisbon silt loam, 2 to 4 percentslopes

Setting

Landform: Ground moraines and end morainesPosition on the landform: Backslopes and footslopes








Lisbon and similar soils: 92 percentDissimilar soils: 8 percent

Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that do not have a subsurface layer• Soils that contain till beginning at a depth of morethan 40 inches• Soils that contain carbonates beginning at a depthof less than 20 inches or more than 40 inches• Soils that contain a zone of glaciofluvial depositsabove the till• Soils that have a seasonal high water tablebeginning at a depth of more than 2 feet


Management



Interpretive Groups

Land capability classification: 2ePrime farmland status: Prime farmlandHydric soil status: Nonhydric soil

60C2—La Rose loam, 5 to 10 percentslopes, eroded

Setting

Landform: Ground moraines and end morainesPosition on the landform: Shoulders and backslopes


Parent material: TillDrainage class: Well drainedSeasonal high water table: At a depth of more than 6

feetPonding: NoneDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60




La Rose and similar soils: 92 percentDissimilar soils: 8 percent

Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that contain till beginning at a depth of morethan 10 inches• Soils that contain carbonates beginning at a depthof less than 10 inches or more than 24 inches• Soils that have slopes of less than 5 percent• Soils that have a seasonal high water table at adepth of less than 6 feet• Soils that contain less sand and more silt in the tillthan the La Rose soil

Dissimilar soils:• The somewhat poorly drained Lisbon soils onfootslopes and summits• The poorly drained Elpaso soils on toeslopes

22 Soil Survey of

Management



Interpretive Groups


60D2—La Rose loam, 10 to 18 percentslopes, eroded

Setting

Landform: Ground moraines and end morainesPosition on the landform: Shoulders and backslopes


Parent material: TillDrainage class: Well drainedSeasonal high water table: At a depth of more than 6





La Rose and similar soils: 92 percentDissimilar soils: 8 percent

Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that contain till beginning at a depth of morethan 10 inches• Soils that contain carbonates beginning at a depthof less than 10 inches or more than 24 inches• Soils that have slopes of less than 10 percent• Soils that have a seasonal high water table at adepth of less than 6 feet• Soils that contain less sand and more silt in the tillthan the La Rose soil

Dissimilar soils:• The somewhat poorly drained Lisbon soils onfootslopes and summits• The poorly drained Elpaso soils on toeslopes

Management



Interpretive Groups

Land capability classification: 4ePrime farmland status: Not prime farmlandHydric soil status: Nonhydric soil

62A—Herbert silt loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes

Setting



Parent material: Loess or silty material and theunderlying till

Drainage class: Somewhat poorly drainedSeasonal high water table: At a depth of 0.5 foot to 2.0

feet (perched)Ponding: NoneDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60




Herbert and similar soils: 92 percentDissimilar soils: 8 percent

Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that contain till beginning at a depth of morethan 40 inches• Soils that contain carbonates beginning at a depthof more than 40 inches• Soils that contain a zone of glaciofluvial depositsabove the till• Soils that have a seasonal high water tablebeginning at a depth of more than 2 feet• Soils that have a darker subsurface layer than thatof the Herbert soil



Management



Interpretive Groups

Land capability classification: 2wPrime farmland status: Prime farmland where drainedHydric soil status: Nonhydric soil

67A—Harpster silty clay loam, 0 to 2percent slopes

Setting

Landform: Outwash plains and ground morainesPosition on the landform: Toeslopes


Parent material: Calcareous loess or other siltymaterial over drift

Drainage class: Poorly drainedSeasonal high water table: 0.5 foot above to 1.0 foot

below the surface (apparent)Ponding frequency: FrequentDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Permeability: Moderate


Harpster and similar soils: 90 percentDissimilar soils: 10 percent

Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that contain loamy drift at a depth of less than36 inches• Soils in which the upper part of the subsoil is darkerthan that of the Harpster soil• Soils that do not contain carbonates at or near thesurface

Dissimilar soils:• The noncalcareous, poorly drained Drummer soilson toeslopes• The somewhat poorly drained Flanagan soils onfootslopes and summits• The very poorly drained, organic Houghton soils onthe slightly lower toeslopes

Management



Interpretive Groups

Land capability classification: 2wPrime farmland status: Prime farmland where drainedHydric soil status: Hydric soil

69A—Milford silty clay loam, 0 to 2percent slopes

Setting

Landform: Lake plainsPosition on the landform: Toeslopes


Parent material: Lacustrine depositsDrainage class: Poorly drainedSeasonal high water table: 0.5 foot above to 1.0 foot


inches)Permeability: Moderately slow


Milford and similar soils: 90 percentDissimilar soils: 10 percent

Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that contain less clay and more silt in thesubsoil than the Milford soil• Soils that do not have a subsurface layer and arelighter colored in the upper part of the subsoil than theMilford soil• Soils that contain more gravel than the Milford soil

Dissimilar soils:• Somewhat poorly drained soils on footslopes andsummits• The very poorly drained Houghton soils on theslightly lower toeslopes

Management

For general and detailed information about

24 Soil Survey of

managing this map unit, see the following sections ofthis publication:


Interpretive Groups


103A—Houghton muck, 0 to 2 percentslopes

Setting

Landform: Ground moraines and outwash plainsPosition on the landform: Toeslopes


Parent material: Herbaceous organic materialDrainage class: Very poorly drainedSeasonal high water table: 1 foot above to 1 foot below

the surface (apparent)Ponding frequency: FrequentDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60



Houghton and similar soils: 90 percentDissimilar soils: 10 percent

Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that contain less organic matter in the surfacelayer than the Houghton soil• Soils that have organic deposits less than 51 inchesthick

Dissimilar soils:• The poorly drained Drummer soils on the slightlyhigher toeslopes• The very poorly drained, calcareous Lena soils ontoeslopes

Management


• “Crops and Pasture”• “Forestland”• “Wildlife Habitat”

• “Engineering”• “Soil Properties”

Interpretive Groups

Land capability classification: 3wPrime farmland status: Not prime farmlandHydric soil status: Hydric soil

104A—Virgil silt loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes

Setting

Landform: Outwash plains and ground morainesPosition on the landform: Summits and footslopes


Parent material: Loess and the underlying outwashDrainage class: Somewhat poorly drainedSeasonal high water table: At a depth of 0.5 foot to 2.0

feet (apparent)Ponding: NoneDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60



Virgil and similar soils: 90 percentDissimilar soils: 10 percent

Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that contain till in the lower part of the profile• Soils that have a darker subsurface layer than thatof the Virgil soil• Soils that contain outwash beginning at a depth ofless than 40 inches or more than 60 inches• Soils that contain carbonates at a depth of less than45 inches• Soils that have a seasonal high water tablebeginning at a depth of more than 2 feet

Dissimilar soils:• The poorly drained Drummer soils on toeslopes• The well drained Harvard soils on summits andbackslopes

Management





Interpretive Groups

Land capability classification: 1Prime farmland status: Prime farmland where drainedHydric soil status: Nonhydric soil

125A—Selma loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes

Setting

Landform: Outwash plains and stream terracesPosition on the landform: Toeslopes


Parent material: OutwashDrainage class: Poorly drainedSeasonal high water table: 0.5 foot above to 1.0 foot




Selma and similar soils: 95 percentDissimilar soils: 5 percent

Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that contain less sand and more silt in theupper two-thirds of the profile than the Selma soil• Soils that do not have a subsurface layer• Soils that contain less clay in the subsoil than theSelma soil• Soils that contain more gravel in the lower part ofthe profile than the Selma soil

Dissimilar soils:• Somewhat poorly drained soils on footslopes• The poorly drained, calcareous Kish soils ontoeslopes• The very poorly drained Houghton soils on theslightly lower toeslopes

Management



Interpretive Groups


134C2—Camden silt loam, 5 to 10 percentslopes, eroded

Setting

Landform: Outwash plains and stream terracesPosition on the landform: Shoulders and backslopes


Parent material: Loess or other silty material and theunderlying outwash

Drainage class: Well drainedSeasonal high water table: At a depth of more than 6




Camden and similar soils: 92 percentDissimilar soils: 8 percent

Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that contain outwash beginning at a depth ofmore than 40 inches• Soils that contain carbonates at a depth of less than40 inches• Soils that contain till in the lower part of the profile• Soils that contain sandy and gravelly outwash in thelower part of the profile• Soils that have slopes of less than 5 percent

Dissimilar soils:• The somewhat poorly drained Millbrook soils onsummits and footslopes• The poorly drained Drummer soils on toeslopes

Management



26 Soil Survey of

Interpretive Groups


146A—Elliott silt loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes

Setting



Parent material: Thin mantle of loess or other siltymaterial and the underlying till


(perched)Ponding: NoneDepth to restrictive feature: Moderately deep or deep

(20 to 45 inches)Permeability: Moderately slow in the upper part; slow

in the lower part


Elliott and similar soils: 90 percentDissimilar soils: 10 percent

Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that have a seasonal high water tablebeginning at a depth of more than 2 feet• Soils that have a thinner subsurface layer than thatof the Elliott soil• Soils that contain more sand in the upper one-halfof the profile than the Elliott soil• Soils that contain less clay and more silt in theupper one-half of the profile than the Elliott soil• Soils that have slopes of more than 2 percent

Dissimilar soils:• The poorly drained Ashkum soils on toeslopes• The clayey Orthents on summits and backslopes

Management



Interpretive Groups

Land capability classification: 2wPrime farmland status: Prime farmlandHydric soil status: Nonhydric soil

146B—Elliott silt loam, 2 to 4 percentslopes

Setting

Landform: Ground moraines and end morainesPosition on the landform: Backslopes and footslopes


Drainage class: Somewhat poorly drainedParent material: Thin mantle of loess or other silty

material and the underlying tillSeasonal high water table: At a depth of 1 to 2 feet

(perched)Ponding: NoneDepth to restrictive feature: Moderately deep or deep

(20 to 45 inches)Permeability: Moderately slow in the upper part; slow

in the lower part


Elliott and similar soils: 90 percentDissimilar soils: 10 percent

Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that have a seasonal high water tablebeginning at a depth of more than 2 feet• Soils that contain more sand in the upper one-halfof the profile than the Elliott soil• Soils that have a thinner subsurface layer than thatof the Elliott soil• Soils that are moderately eroded• Soils that have slopes of less than 2 percent ormore than 4 percent• Soils that contain less clay and more silt in theupper one-half of the profile than the Elliott soil

Dissimilar soils:• The poorly drained Ashkum soils on toeslopes• The clayey Orthents on summits and backslopes

Management


• “Crops and Pasture”• “Wildlife Habitat”



Interpretive Groups


148B—Proctor silt loam, 2 to 5 percentslopes

Setting

Landform: Outwash plains and stream terracesPosition on the landform: Summits and backslopes


Drainage class: Well drainedParent material: Loess or other silty material and the

underlying outwashSeasonal high water table: At a depth of more than 6




Proctor and similar soils: 90 percentDissimilar soils: 10 percent

Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that have a thinner surface layer than that ofthe Proctor soil• Soils that contain outwash beginning at a depth ofmore than 40 inches• Soils that have a seasonal high water table at adepth of less than 6 feet• Soils that contain carbonates at a depth of less than40 inches• Soils that contain till in the lower part of the profile

Dissimilar soils:• The somewhat poorly drained Brenton soils onsummits and footslopes• The poorly drained Drummer soils on toeslopes

Management




Interpretive Groups


149A—Brenton silt loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes

Setting

Landform: Outwash plains and stream terracesPosition on the landform: Summits and footslopes


Parent material: Loess or other silty material and theunderlying outwash


(apparent)Ponding: NoneDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60



Brenton and similar soils: 90 percentDissimilar soils: 10 percent

Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that have a seasonal high water tablebeginning at a depth of more than 2 feet• Soils that do not have a subsurface layer• Soils that contain carbonates at a depth of less than40 inches• Soils that contain sandy and gravelly deposits in thelower part of the profile• Soils that contain loamy outwash beginning at adepth of less than 24 inches or more than 40 inches• Soils that contain till in the lower part of the profile

Dissimilar soils:• The poorly drained Drummer soils on toeslopes• The well drained Proctor soils on summits

Management



28 Soil Survey of


Interpretive Groups


152A—Drummer silty clay loam, 0 to 2percent slopes

Setting

Landform: Outwash plains and ground morainesPosition on the landform: Toeslopes


Parent material: Loess or silty material and theunderlying outwash

Drainage class: Poorly drainedSeasonal high water table: 0.5 foot above to 1.0 foot




Drummer and similar soils: 90 percentDissimilar soils: 10 percent

Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that have a thicker surface layer andsubsurface layer than those of the Drummer soil• Soils that contain outwash beginning at a depth ofless than 40 inches or more than 60 inches• Soils that contain carbonates at a depth of less than40 inches• Soils that contain till in the lower part of the profile• Soils that are overlain by recent, light-coloreddeposition

Dissimilar soils:• The very poorly drained Houghton soils on theslightly lower toeslopes• The somewhat poorly drained Elburn soils onsummits and footslopes• The poorly drained, calcareous Harpster soils ontoeslopes

Management



Interpretive Groups


154A—Flanagan silt loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes

Setting



Parent material: Loess and the underlying tillDrainage class: Somewhat poorly drainedSeasonal high water table: At a depth of 1 to 2 feet





Flanagan and similar soils: 94 percentDissimilar soils: 6 percent

Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that contain less clay and more silt in thesubsoil than the Flanagan soil• Soils that do not have a subsurface layer• Soils that contain carbonates at a depth of less than45 inches• Soils that contain till beginning at a depth of lessthan 40 inches or more than 60 inches• Soils that contain a zone of glaciofluvial depositsabove the till• Soils that have a seasonal high water tablebeginning at a depth of more than 2 feet


Management


• “Crops and Pasture”


• “Wildlife Habitat”• “Engineering”• “Soil Properties”

Interpretive Groups


171A—Catlin silt loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes

Setting

Landform: Ground moraines and end morainesPosition on the landform: Summits


Parent material: Loess and the underlying tillDrainage class: Moderately well drainedSeasonal high water table: At a depth of 2.0 to 3.5 feet





Catlin and similar soils: 90 percentDissimilar soils: 10 percent

Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that have a thinner surface layer than that ofthe Catlin soil• Soils that contain till beginning at a depth of lessthan 40 inches or more than 60 inches• Soils that contain carbonates at a depth of less than40 inches• Soils that contain a zone of glaciofluvial depositsabove the till• Soils that have a seasonal high water tablebeginning at a depth of less than 2.0 feet or more than3.5 feet


Management




Interpretive Groups


171B—Catlin silt loam, 2 to 5 percentslopes

Setting

Landform: Ground moraines and end morainesPosition on the landform: Summits and backslopes


Parent material: Loess and the underlying tillDrainage class: Moderately well drainedSeasonal high water table: At a depth of 2.0 to 3.5 feet





Catlin and similar soils: 94 percentDissimilar soils: 6 percent

Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that have a thinner surface layer than that ofthe Catlin soil• Soils that contain till beginning at a depth of lessthan 40 inches or more than 60 inches• Soils that contain carbonates at a depth of less than40 inches• Soils that contain a zone of glaciofluvial depositsabove the till• Soils that have a seasonal high water tablebeginning at a depth of less than 2.0 feet or more than3.5 feet


Management



30 Soil Survey of


Interpretive Groups


193A—Mayville silt loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes

Setting

Landform: Ground moraines and end morainesPosition on the landform: Summits



Drainage class: Moderately well drainedSeasonal high water table: At a depth of 2.0 to 3.5 feet





Mayville and similar soils: 90 percentDissimilar soils: 10 percent

Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that contain till beginning at a depth of lessthan 20 inches or more than 40 inches• Soils that have a thicker and darker surface layerthan that of the Mayville soil• Soils that contain a zone of glaciofluvial depositsabove the till• Soils that have a seasonal high water tablebeginning at a depth of less than 2.0 feet or more than3.5 feet


Management




Interpretive Groups


193B—Mayville silt loam, 2 to 5 percentslopes

Setting

Landform: Ground moraines and end morainesPosition on the landform: Summits and backslopes









Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that contain till beginning at a depth of lessthan 20 inches or more than 40 inches• Soils that have a thicker and darker surface layerthan that of the Mayville soil• Soils that contain a zone of glaciofluvial depositsabove the till• Soils that have a seasonal high water tablebeginning at a depth of less than 2.0 feet or more than3.5 feet


Management


• “Crops and Pasture” (fig. 3)• “Forestland”• “Wildlife Habitat”



Interpretive Groups


193C2—Mayville silt loam, 5 to 10 percentslopes, eroded

Setting

Landform: End moraines and ground morainesPosition on the landform: Shoulders and backslopes




(perched)Ponding: None

Depth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60inches)

Permeability: Moderate in the upper part; moderatelyslow in the lower part



Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that contain till beginning at a depth of lessthan 20 inches or more than 40 inches• Soils that have a thicker and darker surface layerthan that of the Mayville soil• Soils that contain a zone of glaciofluvial depositsabove the till• Soils that have a seasonal high water tablebeginning at a depth of more than 3.5 feet• Soils that have slopes of less than 5 percent


Figure 3.—A nursery in an area of Mayville silt loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes.

32 Soil Survey of

• The somewhat poorly drained Herbert soils onfootslopes and summits

Management



Interpretive Groups


198A—Elburn silt loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes

Setting

Landform: Outwash plains and stream terracesPosition on the landform: Summits and footslopes


Parent material: Loess and the underlying outwashDrainage class: Somewhat poorly drainedSeasonal high water table: At a depth of 1 to 2 feet

(apparent)Ponding: NoneDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60



Elburn and similar soils: 93 percentDissimilar soils: 7 percent

Minor Components

Similar soils:• Soils that do not have a subsurface layer• Soils that contain outwash beginning at a depth ofless than 40 inches or more than 60 inches• Soils that have a seasonal high water tablebeginning at a depth of more than 2 feet• Soils that contain carbonates at a depth of less than40 inches• Soils that contain till in the lower part of the profile

Dissimilar soils:• The poorly drained Drummer and Thorp soils ontoeslopes• Well drained soils on summits

Management

For general and detailed information aboutmanaging this map unit, see the following sections oft

soil survey of kane county, illinoiskane-du page counties soil and water conservation district. the...

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