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United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Survey of Roseau County, Minnesota In cooperation with Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station

Soil Survey of Roseau County, Minnesota - USDA · Roseau County Soil and Water Conservation District. Soil maps in this survey may be copied without permission. Enlargement of these

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  • United StatesDepartment ofAgriculture

    NaturalResourcesConservationService

    Soil Survey ofRoseau County,Minnesota

    In cooperation withMinnesota 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.

    3

    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 1998. Soil names anddescriptions were approved in 1999. Unless otherwise indicated, statements in thispublication refer to conditions in the survey area in 1998. This survey was madecooperatively by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the MinnesotaAgricultural Experiment Station. It is part of the technical assistance furnished to theRoseau County Soil and Water Conservation District.

    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: This historic silo is all that remains of the town of Winner. This area was homesteadedduring the early 1900s but is now part of the Beltrami Island State Forest. The Winner silo is in anarea of Faunce loamy fine sand, 0 to 3 percent slopes.

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    Contents

    How To Use This Soil Survey ................................. 3Numerical Index to Map Units ............................. 10Foreword ............................................................... 13How This Survey Was Made ................................... 15General Nature of the Survey Area ......................... 16

    History and Development ................................... 16Transportation Facilities and Markets ................. 17Geology, Physiography, and Drainage ................ 18Climate ............................................................... 19

    Table 1.Temperature and Precipitation ........ 21Table 2.Freeze Dates in Spring and Fall ..... 22Table 3.Growing Season............................. 22

    Formation and Classification of the Soils .......... 23Factors of Soil Formation ................................... 23

    Parent Material ............................................... 23Climate ........................................................... 23Plants and Animals ........................................ 24Relief .............................................................. 24Time ............................................................... 25

    Processes of Soil Formation............................... 25Classification of the Soils .................................... 25

    Table 4.Classification of the Soils ............... 27Table 5.Acreage and Proportionate

    Extent of the Soils ................................. 29Soil Series and Detailed Soil Map Units .............. 31

    Auganaush Series .............................................. 32767Auganaush loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes .... 33Augsburg Series ................................................. 3452Augsburg loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ......... 351326Augsburg and Wabanica soils,

    depressional, 0 to 1 percent slopes ............. 36Baudette Series .................................................. 37167BBaudette fine sandy loam, 1 to 6

    percent slopes ............................................. 38Bearden Series .................................................. 3967Bearden silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ..... 40Berner Series ..................................................... 40733Berner muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes .......... 411404Berner muck, wooded, 0 to 1 percent

    slopes .......................................................... 42Boash Series ...................................................... 43644Boash clay loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ..... 44

    Borup Series ...................................................... 451134Borup-Glyndon complex, 0 to 2

    percent slopes ............................................. 451298Borup silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ..... 46Bullwinkle Series ................................................ 48561Bullwinkle muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes ..... 48Cathro Series ..................................................... 49544Cathro muck, MAP 18-22, 0 to 1

    percent slopes ............................................. 501807Cathro muck, ponded, MAP 22-30,

    0 to 1 percent slopes.................................... 51Chilgren Series ................................................... 52404Chilgren fine sandy loam, 0 to 2

    percent slopes ............................................. 53Clearriver Series ................................................ 54794Clearriver loamy fine sand, 0 to 3

    percent slopes ............................................. 55Colvin Series ...................................................... 5647Colvin silty clay loam, 0 to 2 percent

    slopes .......................................................... 57Corliss Series ..................................................... 58721BCorliss loamy sand, 1 to 6 percent

    slopes .......................................................... 58Cormant Series .................................................. 59117Cormant loamy fine sand, 0 to 2

    percent slopes ............................................. 601206Cormant-Redby complex, 0 to 2

    percent slopes ............................................. 61Croke Series ...................................................... 621918Croke very fine sandy loam, 0 to 2

    percent slopes ............................................. 63Dalbo Series....................................................... 63133Dalbo loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes ............. 64Deerwood Series ................................................ 65547Deerwood muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes ..... 66Dora Series ........................................................ 67550Dora muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes ............. 671187Dora muck, ponded, 0 to 1 percent

    slopes .......................................................... 681333Dora muck, wooded, 0 to 1 percent

    slopes .......................................................... 69Eckvoll Series ..................................................... 70

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    565Eckvoll loamy fine sand, 0 to 3 percentslopes .......................................................... 71

    Enstrom Series ................................................... 72145Enstrom loamy fine sand, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes .......................................................... 73Epoufette Series ................................................. 74191Epoufette loamy fine sand, MAP 22-30,

    0 to 2 percent slopes.................................... 75Espelie Series .................................................... 76645Espelie fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent

    slopes .......................................................... 76Faunce Series .................................................... 77570Faunce loamy fine sand, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes .......................................................... 781002Fluvaquents, 0 to 2 percent slopes,

    frequently flooded ........................................ 791067Fluvaquents, frequently flooded-

    Hapludalfs complex, 0 to 60 percentslopes .......................................................... 80

    Foldahl Series .................................................... 811302Foldahl fine sandy loam, 0 to 3

    percent slopes ............................................. 81Foxhome Series ................................................. 8265Foxhome sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes .......................................................... 83Garnes Series .................................................... 8477Garnes fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes .......................................................... 851923BGarnes loam, 1 to 4 percent slopes,

    very stony .................................................... 85Glyndon Series ................................................... 861304Glyndon very fine sandy loam, 0 to 2

    percent slopes ............................................. 87Grano Series ...................................................... 881448Grano clay, MAP 18-22, 0 to 2 percent

    slopes .......................................................... 891449Grano loam, MAP 18-22, 0 to 2

    percent slopes ............................................. 90Grimstad Series ................................................. 9159Grimstad fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes .......................................................... 91Grygla Series ..................................................... 92482Grygla loamy fine sand, 0 to 2 percent

    slopes .......................................................... 93

    1401Grygla mucky loamy fine sand,depressional, 0 to 1 percent slopes ............. 94

    Hangaard Series ................................................ 95111Hangaard sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent

    slopes .......................................................... 96Haug Series ....................................................... 97187Haug muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes ............. 98Hilaire Series ...................................................... 991305Hilaire fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes .......................................................... 99Hiwood Series .................................................. 10048BHiwood fine sand, 1 to 6 percent

    slopes ........................................................ 101Huot Series ...................................................... 102643Huot fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes ........................................................ 103Karlsruhe Series .............................................. 1041428Karlsruhe sandy loam, MAP 18-22,

    0 to 3 percent slopes.................................. 104Karlstad Series ................................................. 105205Karlstad loamy sand, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes ........................................................ 1061327BKarlstad-Marquette complex, 0 to 8

    percent slopes ........................................... 107Kratka Series .................................................... 108481Kratka fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent

    slopes ........................................................ 109Lallie Series ...................................................... 1101405Lallie mucky silt loam, MAP 18-22,

    0 to 1 percent slopes.................................. 111Leafriver Series ................................................ 1121402Leafriver muck, wooded, 0 to 1

    percent slopes ........................................... 1121984Leafriver muck, 0 to 1 percent

    slopes ........................................................ 113Lupton Series ................................................... 114546Lupton muck, MAP 22-30, 0 to 1

    percent slopes ........................................... 121Mahkonce Series ............................................. 122737Mahkonce fine sandy loam, 0 to 3

    percent slopes ........................................... 123Markey Series .................................................. 124543Markey muck, MAP 18-22, 0 to 1

    percent slopes ........................................... 124

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    1808Markey muck, ponded, MAP 22-30,0 to 1 percent slopes.................................. 125

    Marquette Series .............................................. 126242BMarquette loamy sand, 1 to 8

    percent slopes ........................................... 127Mavie Series .................................................... 127412Mavie fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent

    slopes ........................................................ 128Meehan Series ................................................. 129202Meehan loamy sand, MAP 22-30,

    0 to 2 percent slopes.................................. 130Mooselake Series ............................................. 131534Mooselake mucky peat, 0 to 1 percent

    slopes ........................................................ 132Moranville Series .............................................. 1331179BMoranville loamy fine sand, 0 to 4

    percent slopes ........................................... 134Mustinka Series ................................................ 1341214Mustinka clay loam, 0 to 1 percent

    slopes ........................................................ 135Nereson Series ................................................ 136583Nereson fine sandy loam, 0 to 3

    percent slopes ........................................... 1371414Nereson fine sandy loam, 0 to 3

    percent slopes, very cobbly ....................... 138Northwood Series............................................. 139563Northwood muck, 0 to 1 percent

    slopes ........................................................ 1401328Northwood muck, wooded, 0 to 1

    percent slopes ........................................... 141Pelan Series ..................................................... 142280Pelan sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes ........................................................ 143Percy Series ..................................................... 144379Percy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes,

    very cobbly ................................................ 145383Percy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ........... 146384Percy mucky loam, depressional,

    0 to 1 percent slopes.................................. 147581Percy fine sandy loam, 0 to 1 percent

    slopes ........................................................ 1481030Pits, gravel-Udipsamments complex,

    1 to 50 percent slopes................................ 149

    Redby Series .................................................... 150116Redby loamy fine sand, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes ........................................................ 1511274BRedby-Hiwood-Leafriver complex,

    0 to 6 percent slopes.................................. 152Rifle Series ....................................................... 153541Rifle mucky peat, MAP 18-22, 0 to 1

    percent slopes ........................................... 154Roliss Series .................................................... 154387Roliss loam, depressional, 0 to 1

    percent slopes ........................................... 155582Roliss loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes .......... 156Rosewood Series ............................................. 157712Rosewood fine sandy loam, 0 to 2

    percent slopes ........................................... 1581181Rosewood-Ulen complex, 0 to 2

    percent slopes ........................................... 159Rushlake Series ............................................... 160708Rushlake loamy sand, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes ........................................................ 161Sago Series...................................................... 162532Sago muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes ........... 162Sahkahtay Series ............................................. 1631191Sahkahtay sandy loam, 0 to 2

    percent slopes ........................................... 164Sax Series ........................................................ 1651154Sax muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes ........... 166Seelyeville Series ............................................. 167540Seelyeville muck, 0 to 1 percent

    slopes ........................................................ 1681031Seelyeville muck, ponded, 0 to 1

    percent slopes ........................................... 169Skagen Series .................................................. 1701158Skagen loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes ...... 1701170Skagen loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes,

    very cobbly ................................................ 171Skime Series .................................................... 1721133BSkime loamy fine sand, 0 to 4

    percent slopes ........................................... 173Spooner Series ................................................ 173147Spooner very fine sandy loam, 0 to 2

    percent slopes ........................................... 174Strandquist Series ............................................ 175

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    432Strandquist loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes ........................................................ 176

    Strathcona Series ............................................. 177439Strathcona fine sandy loam, 0 to 2

    percent slopes ........................................... 1781144Strathcona and Kratka soils,

    depressional, 0 to 1 percent slopes ........... 179Syrene Series................................................... 180433Syrene mucky sandy loam,

    depressional, 0 to 1 percent slopes ........... 181435Syrene sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent

    slopes ........................................................ 182Tacoosh Series ................................................. 1831314Tacoosh mucky peat, MAP 22-30,

    0 to 1 percent slopes.................................. 184Tawas Series .................................................... 185627Tawas muck, MAP 22-30, 0 to 1

    percent slopes ........................................... 186Thiefriver Series ............................................... 187651Thiefriver fine sandy loam, 0 to 2

    percent slopes ........................................... 187Two Inlets Series .............................................. 1881399BTwo Inlets loamy sand,

    noncalcareous substratum, 0 to 6percent slopes ........................................... 189

    Ulen Series ...................................................... 19064Ulen fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes ........................................................ 191Wabanica Series .............................................. 192569Wabanica silt loam, 0 to 2 percent

    slopes ........................................................ 192Warroad Series ................................................ 1941182Warroad fine sandy loam, 0 to 2

    percent slopes ........................................... 194WWater ......................................................... 1951356Water, miscellaneous ............................ 195Wheatville Series ............................................. 1961316Wheatville loam, 0 to 2 percent

    slopes ........................................................ 196Wildwood Series .............................................. 197630Wildwood muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes .... 198Woodslake Series ............................................ 199755Woodslake clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes .... 200

    Wurtsmith Series .............................................. 2011444Wurtsmith loamy sand, MAP 22-30,

    0 to 3 percent slopes.................................. 201Zimmerman Series ........................................... 203158BZimmerman fine sand, 1 to 6 percent

    slopes ........................................................ 203Zippel Series .................................................... 204568Zippel very fine sandy loam, 0 to 2

    percent slopes ........................................... 205Use and Management of the Soils .................... 207

    Agronomy ......................................................... 207Cropland Management Considerations ........ 210Crop Yield Estimates .................................... 211Pasture and Hayland Interpretations ............ 212Land Capability Classification ...................... 212Prime Farmland ........................................... 213Erosion Factors ............................................ 213Windbreaks and Environmental Plantings .... 214

    Forest Land ...................................................... 215Forest Productivity ....................................... 216Forest Land Management Considerations.... 217

    Recreation ........................................................ 218Wildlife Habitat ................................................. 219Engineering ...................................................... 222

    Building Site Development ........................... 222Sanitary Facilities ......................................... 223Construction Materials ................................. 225Water Management ...................................... 226

    Table 6.Cropland ManagementConsiderations ........................................... 229

    Table 7.Land Capability and Yields perAcre of Crops ............................................. 278

    Table 8.Land Capability and Yields perAcre of Pasture .......................................... 289

    Table 9.Prime Farmland ................................ 300Table 10.Windbreaks and Environmental

    Plantings .................................................... 301Table 11.Windbreak Suitability Groups ......... 347Table 12.Forest Productivity .......................... 363Table 13.Forest Land Harvest Equipment

    Considerations ........................................... 385Table 14.Forest Haul Road

    Considerations ........................................... 398

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    Table 15.Forest Log LandingConsiderations ........................................... 410

    Table 16.Forest Land Site Preparationand Planting Considerations ...................... 422

    Table 17.Recreational Development .............. 433Table 18.Wildlife Habitat ................................ 459Table 19.Building Site Development .............. 485Table 20.Sanitary Facilities ........................... 527Table 21.Construction Materials .................... 562Table 22.Water Management ........................ 591

    Soil Properties .................................................... 635Engineering Index Properties ........................... 635Physical and Chemical Properties .................... 636

    Water Features ................................................. 638Soil Features .................................................... 639Table 23.Engineering Index Properties ......... 641Table 24.Physical Properties of the Soils ...... 731Table 25.Chemical Properties of the Soils ..... 774Table 26.Soil Moisture Status by Depth ........ 807Table 27.Flooding Frequency and

    Duration ..................................................... 866Table 28.Ponding Frequency, Duration,

    and Depth .................................................. 882Table 29.Soil Features .................................. 930

    References .......................................................... 947Glossary .............................................................. 949

    Issued 2002

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    47Colvin silty clay loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes ................................................................. 57

    48BHiwood fine sand, 1 to 6 percentslopes ............................................................... 101

    52Augsburg loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ............. 3559Grimstad fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes ................................................................. 9164Ulen fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes ............................................................... 19165Foxhome sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes ................................................................. 8367Bearden silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ......... 4077Garnes fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes ................................................................. 85111Hangaard sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent

    slopes ................................................................. 96116Redby loamy fine sand, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes ............................................................... 151117Cormant loamy fine sand, 0 to 2 percent

    slopes ................................................................. 60133Dalbo loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes ................. 64145Enstrom loamy fine sand, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes ................................................................. 73147Spooner very fine sandy loam, 0 to 2

    percent slopes .................................................. 174158BZimmerman fine sand, 1 to 6 percent

    slopes ............................................................... 203167BBaudette fine sandy loam, 1 to 6

    percent slopes .................................................... 38187Haug muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes ................. 98191Epoufette loamy fine sand, MAP 22-30,

    0 to 2 percent slopes .......................................... 75202Meehan loamy sand, MAP 22-30, 0 to 2

    percent slopes .................................................. 130205Karlstad loamy sand, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes ............................................................... 106242BMarquette loamy sand, 1 to 8 percent

    slopes ............................................................... 127280Pelan sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes ..... 143379Percy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, very

    cobbly ............................................................... 145383Percy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ............... 146384Percy mucky loam, depressional, 0 to 1

    percent slopes .................................................. 147

    387Roliss loam, depressional, 0 to 1 percentslopes ............................................................... 155

    404Chilgren fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes ................................................................. 53

    412Mavie fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes ............................................................... 128

    432Strandquist loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes ............................................................... 176

    433Syrene mucky sandy loam, depressional,0 to 1 percent slopes ........................................ 181

    435Syrene sandy loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes ............................................................... 182

    439Strathcona fine sandy loam, 0 to 2percent slopes .................................................. 178

    481Kratka fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes ............................................................... 109

    482Grygla loamy fine sand, 0 to 2 percentslopes ................................................................. 93

    532Sago muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes ............... 162534Mooselake mucky peat, 0 to 1 percent

    slopes ............................................................... 132540Seelyeville muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes ....... 168541Rifle mucky peat, MAP 18-22, 0 to 1

    percent slopes .................................................. 154543Markey muck, MAP 18-22, 0 to 1 percent

    slopes ............................................................... 124544Cathro muck, MAP 18-22, 0 to 1 percent

    slopes ................................................................. 50546Lupton muck, MAP 22-30, 0 to 1 percent

    slopes ............................................................... 121547Deerwood muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes ......... 66550Dora muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes .................. 67561Bullwinkle muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes .......... 48563Northwood muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes ...... 140565Eckvoll loamy fine sand, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes ................................................................. 71568Zippel very fine sandy loam, 0 to 2

    percent slopes .................................................. 205569Wabanica silt loam, 0 to 2 percent

    slopes ............................................................... 192570Faunce loamy fine sand, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes ................................................................. 78581Percy fine sandy loam, 0 to 1 percent

    slopes ............................................................... 148

    Numerical Index to Map Units

  • 11

    582Roliss loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes .............. 156583Nereson fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes ............................................................... 137627Tawas muck, MAP 22-30, 0 to 1 percent

    slopes ............................................................... 186630Wildwood muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes ........ 198643Huot fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes ............................................................... 103644Boash clay loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ......... 44645Espelie fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent

    slopes ................................................................. 76651Thiefriver fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent

    slopes ............................................................... 187708Rushlake loamy sand, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes ............................................................... 161712Rosewood fine sandy loam, 0 to 2

    percent slopes .................................................. 158721BCorliss loamy sand, 1 to 6 percent

    slopes ................................................................. 58733Berner muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes ............... 41737Mahkonce fine sandy loam, 0 to 3

    percent slopes .................................................. 123755Woodslake clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes ......... 200767Auganaush loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ........ 33794Clearriver loamy fine sand, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes ................................................................. 551002Fluvaquents, 0 to 2 percent slopes,

    frequently flooded ............................................... 791030Pits, gravel-Udipsamments complex,

    1 to 50 percent slopes ...................................... 1491031Seelyeville muck, ponded, 0 to 1

    percent slopes .................................................. 1691067Fluvaquents, frequently flooded-

    Hapludalfs complex, 0 to 60 percentslopes ................................................................. 80

    1133BSkime loamy fine sand, 0 to 4 percentslopes ............................................................... 173

    1134Borup-Glyndon complex, 0 to 2 percentslopes ................................................................. 45

    1144Strathcona and Kratka soils,depressional, 0 to 1 percent slopes .................. 179

    1154Sax muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes ............... 1661158Skagen loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes .......... 170

    1170Skagen loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes,very cobbly ....................................................... 171

    1179BMoranville loamy fine sand, 0 to 4percent slopes .................................................. 134

    1181Rosewood-Ulen complex, 0 to 2 percentslopes ............................................................... 159

    1182Warroad fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes ............................................................... 194

    1187Dora muck, ponded, 0 to 1 percentslopes ................................................................. 68

    1191Sahkahtay sandy loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes ............................................................... 164

    1206Cormant-Redby complex, 0 to 2 percentslopes ................................................................. 61

    1214Mustinka clay loam, 0 to 1 percentslopes ............................................................... 135

    1274BRedby-Hiwood-Leafriver complex,0 to 6 percent slopes ........................................ 152

    1298Borup silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ......... 461302Foldahl fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes ................................................................. 811304Glyndon very fine sandy loam, 0 to 2

    percent slopes .................................................... 871305Hilaire fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent

    slopes ................................................................. 991314Tacoosh mucky peat, MAP 22-30, 0 to 1

    percent slopes .................................................. 1841316Wheatville loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ...... 1961326Augsburg and Wabanica soils,

    depressional, 0 to 1 percent slopes .................... 361327BKarlstad-Marquette complex, 0 to

    8 percent slopes ............................................... 1071328Northwood muck, wooded, 0 to 1

    percent slopes .................................................. 1411333Dora muck, wooded, 0 to 1 percent

    slopes ................................................................. 691356Water, miscellaneous ................................ 1951399BTwo Inlets loamy sand, noncalcareous

    substratum, 0 to 6 percent slopes .................... 1891401Grygla mucky loamy fine sand,

    depressional, 0 to 1 percent slopes .................... 941402Leafriver muck, wooded, 0 to 1 percent

    slopes ............................................................... 112

  • 12

    1404Berner muck, wooded, 0 to 1 percentslopes ................................................................. 42

    1405Lallie mucky silt loam, MAP 18-22,0 to 1 percent slopes ........................................ 111

    1414Nereson fine sandy loam, 0 to 3percent slopes, very cobbly .............................. 138

    1428Karlsruhe sandy loam, MAP 18-22,0 to 3 percent slopes ........................................ 104

    1444Wurtsmith loamy sand, MAP 22-30,0 to 3 percent slopes ........................................ 201

    1448Grano clay, MAP 18-22, 0 to 2 percentslopes ................................................................. 89

    1449Grano loam, MAP 18-22, 0 to 2 percentslopes ................................................................. 90

    1807Cathro muck, ponded, MAP 22-30, 0 to1 percent slopes ................................................. 51

    1808Markey muck, ponded, MAP 22-30, 0 to1 percent slopes ............................................... 125

    1918Croke very fine sandy loam, 0 to 2percent slopes .................................................... 63

    1923BGarnes loam, 1 to 4 percent slopes,very stony ........................................................... 85

    1984Leafriver muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes ........ 113WWater ............................................................. 195

  • 13

    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 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 HuntState ConservationistNatural Resources Conservation Service

    Foreword

  • 15

    How This Survey Was MadeThis survey was made to provide information about

    the soils and miscellaneous areas in the survey area.The information includes a description of the soils andmiscellaneous areas and their location and adiscussion of their suitability, limitations, andmanagement for specified uses. Soil scientistsobserved the steepness, length, and shape of theslopes; the general pattern of drainage; the kinds ofcrops and native plants; and the kinds of bedrock.They dug many holes to study the soil profile, which isthe sequence of natural layers, or horizons, in a soil.The profile 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 kindor segment of the landscape. By observing the soilsand miscellaneous areas in the survey area andrelating their position to specific segments of thelandscape, soil scientists develop a concept, or model,of how the soils were formed. Thus, during mapping,this model enables the soil scientists to predict with aconsiderable degree of accuracy the kind of soil or

    miscellaneous area at a specific location on thelandscape.

    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 studied. They noted soil color,texture, size, and shape of soil aggregates, kind andamount of rock fragments, distribution of plant roots,soil reaction, and other features that enable them toidentify soils. After describing the soils in the surveyarea and determining their properties, the soilscientists assigned the soils to taxonomic classes(units). Taxonomic classes are concepts. Eachtaxonomic class has a set of soil characteristics withprecisely defined limits. The classes are used as abasis for comparison to classify soils systematically.Soil taxonomy, the system of taxonomic classificationused in the United States, is based mainly on the kindand character of soil properties and the arrangementof horizons within the profile. After the soil scientistsclassified and named the soils in the survey area, theycompared the individual soils with similar soils in the

    Soil Survey of

    Roseau County, MinnesotaBy David J. Potts, Natural Resources Conservation Service

    Fieldwork by Karen M. Brannen, Richard J. Bednarek, Wade D. Bott,Thomas A. Gustafson, Rodney B. Heschke, Janelle K. Jersey, David J. Potts,Perry F. Sullivan, and Clinton W. Tuve, Natural Resources Conservation Service

    Contract mapping by Donald D. Barron

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

  • 16 Soil Survey of

    same 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. 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.

    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 do 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.

    Soil scientists were denied access to a fewscattered tracts in the county. These areas weremapped using knowledge of adjacent mapping andremote sensing techniques. Mapping in these areasmay be less accurate than in the areas where soilscientists were allowed entry and could carefullyexamine the soils.

    General Nature of the Survey AreaRoseau County is in northwestern Minnesota

    (fig. 1). The county has a total area of 1,073,900 acres.Roseau is the county seat. Major industries includemanufacturing, farming, logging, and tourism.

    Soils in the survey area formed on a glacial lakeplain that slopes gently to the northwest. The originalvegetation was generally tall grass prairie in thewestern two-thirds of the county and coniferous andhardwood forest in the eastern one-third. Peatlandoccurs throughout the survey area.

    For the purposes of this survey, soil scientists haveidentified 84 different types of soil. The soils varygreatly in their attributes and limitations.

    This soil survey updates the first soil survey ofRoseau County published in 1942 (USDA, 1942). Itprovides additional information and has larger maps,which show the soils in greater detail.

    History and Development

    The staff of the Roseau County Museum assisted in thepreparation of this section.

    The earliest inhabitants of the county were theSioux, who at one time occupied all of northernMinnesota. In the 1700s, they were forced west ontothe prairie by the Chippewa, who invaded from theeast and settled the northern Minnesota woodlands.

    La Verendrye, a Frenchman who explored theregion between 1732 and 1749, named the main riverin the area la Riviere aux Roseaux, which means theRiver of Rushes. The name Roseau is derived fromthat first description of the river.

    For more than 100 years after La Verendryesexploration, activity in the area consisted primarily ofhunting and trapping. The Hudsons Bay Company hada temporary post on the Roseau River, and theAmerican Fur Company had one on the WarroadRiver.

    In the early 1880s, settlers began to arrive in thearea. Travel from the east was restricted because ofnearly impenetrable bogs and marshland; therefore,most settlers came from the Red River Valley by wayof the Sandridge Trail. This trail followed a high gravelbeach (a former shoreline of Glacial Lake Agassiz)and allowed easier access to the area than waspossible through the surrounding, more swampylowlands. Consequently, the settlers first chose landalong the Roseau River and then gradually movedeast, settling the region around Warroad in the 1890s.

  • Roseau County, Minnesota 17

    Although there were many obstacles in the form ofinsects, poor drainage, harsh winters, a short growingseason, and lack of money, the area had manyresources as well. Game, fish, and wild berries wereplentiful, and there was abundant timber for buildingpurposes. Little by little the land was broken, cropswere planted, fields were made bigger, and dairyherds were enlarged. Small communities began to dotthe landscape as the pioneers became moreestablished.

    The village of Roseau was platted in 1892 andincorporated on December 31, 1894. The village ofWarroad, whose name came from the French road ofwar and Indian dark and bloody end of the trail, wasincorporated November 9, 1901, and platted in the fallof 1902. Roseau County was established onDecember 31, 1894, by proclamation of the governor.At that time Kittson County was redistricted,contributing 30 townships to Roseau County. OnFebruary 11, 1896, 15 more townships were annexedfrom Beltrami Territory.

    By 1900, two issues were sources of concern to theagricultural community: land drainage andtransportation. Although the higher land producedprofitable crops, high land was not abundant, and

    many farmers began agitating for drainage of lowlandsto produce more farmland. At the turn of the 20thcentury, the State Legislature enacted laws allowingland drainage and Roseau County began a program ofditching to produce more farmable acres. Drainagehas continued to be a concern for the area ever sincethat time.

    The second concern, transportation, became anissue as soon as it became clear that the land wouldproduce more grain than was necessary forsubsistence. In order for the farmers to make a cashprofit, the grain had to be shipped to outside markets.Most people thought a railroad would be built as soonas the need became evident. However, it took 9 yearsof negotiations with the railroad baron James J. Hill,who felt some animosity toward the eastern end of thecounty, before the Great Northern was built. In themeantime, the Canadian Northern built its Winnipegroute through Warroad in 1901. The Great Northernwas finally built as far as Greenbush in 1904, but itwas not extended through Roseau and into Warroaduntil 1908.

    Agriculture provided the primary economic base tothe county through the first half of the 20th century. Inthe era following World War II, however, two industrieswere started that have had an increasingly largeimpact on the economy of the county. A lumber yard inWarroad, which manufactured ammunition boxesduring the war, was converted first into a sash anddoor factory and finally to a window manufacturingfirm as its owners looked for new markets after WorldWar II. Soon after, in the 1950s, a small company thatbegan producing snowmobiles and later expanded toproduce all-terrain vehicles and personal watercraftwas started in Roseau. These two businessesexpanded rapidly in the last few decades of the 20thcentury and helped to provide a broad economic basefor the county. Agriculture continues to contribute tothe economy, primarily producing small grain crops, oilseed, grass seed, beef cattle, and turkeys.

    In 1995, the county had a population ofapproximately 15,000. The population of Roseau was2,800, and that of Warroad was 1,800. The towns ofBadger and Greenbush each had a population of lessthan 1,500. Nine other towns in the county had apopulation of less than 250.

    Transportation Facilities and Markets

    Two railroads provide service to Roseau County.The Canadian National Railroad passes around Lakeof the Woods and serves Warroad and Roosevelt. The

    St. Paul

    Figure 1.Location of Roseau County in Minnesota.

  • 18 Soil Survey of

    Minnesota Northern Railroad provides rail service toGreenbush, Badger, Roseau, Salol, and Warroad.

    Roseau County has an extensive road system.State Highway 11 crosses the county from east towest. State Highways 32, 89, 310, and 313 providenorth-south access. These highways and a number ofpaved county roads connect additional gravel andforest roads and provide access to trading centers.

    Grain is shipped via truck and rail to Duluth and bytruck to local elevators. Beef and feeder cattle aretrucked to market in West Fargo and South St. Paul.Milk is shipped to Thief River Falls. Timber is hauled bytruck and rail to Bemidji, International Falls, and GrandRapids.

    Airports are located in both Roseau and Warroad,and the county has an area transit service.

    Geology, Physiography, and Drainage

    The landscape of Roseau County is a legacy of themost recent glaciation associated with the PleistoceneEpoch, also known as the Great Ice Age. During theIce Age, which dates from approximately 2 millionyears ago, Minnesota was covered by at least fourmajor glaciations. The most recent glacial interval,known as the Wisconsin Age, occurred fromapproximately 65,000 years before present (B.P.) to10,000 B.P.

    As each ice sheet advanced and retreated acrossMinnesota, it eroded or covered previously depositedmaterials, effectively removing most traces of earlierglaciation. Thus, the Wisconsin Age glaciers andglacial lakes are responsible for most of the currentlandscape in Minnesota. The last glacier to advanceacross the area was the Des Moines lobe of theLaurentide Ice Sheet, which was centered in theHudson Bay region (Wright, 1973). The Des Moineslobe deposited fragmented calcareous material,eroded from the marine sediments of the Manitobalowlands, across northwestern Minnesota. Theseglacial deposits, known as till or drift, consist mainlyof an unsorted and unstratified mixture of clay, silt,sand, and gravel. With the exception of a few graniticoutcrops south of Lake of the Woods, bedrock inRoseau County is completely covered by glacial drift.In the eastern part of the county, the drift averagesabout 100 feet in depth; toward the west the depthincreases to a little more than 200 feet. During the finalretreat of the Des Moines lobe, water ponded alongthe southern end of the glacier, forming a vastfreshwater lake known as Lake Agassiz. Initially, thislake did not have an outlet to the north because the

    ice blocked the waters natural flow path to the HudsonBay. Its first outlet was in the south, through the LakeTraverse-Big Stone Lake Gorge on the present-dayborder between South Dakota and Minnesota(Nikiforoff, 1947).

    As the ice retreated into Canada, the lake changeddimensions several times (Nikiforoff, 1947). At itsgreatest extent, Lake Agassiz covered approximately80,000 square miles (International Coalition for Landand Water Stewardship in the Red River Basin, 1989).It covered parts of Minnesota and the Dakotas early inits existence and then much of Manitoba and parts ofSaskatchewan and Ontario as the ice retreated towardthe Hudson Bay region. Through all its phases, LakeAgassiz existed for approximately 4,000 years, from11,500 B.P. to 7,500 B.P. It left in its wake some of theflattest landscapes on the earths surface (Schwartzand Thiel, 1954).

    Waves and currents of Lake Agassiz reworked theglacial drift that it covered, eroding the finer particlesfrom the higher areas and depositing them aslacustrine sediments in the lower areas. Lakesedimentation is typically determined by theturbulence of the water. Fine particles settle out in verycalm areas, and coarser particles settle out inchoppier water. The general scheme of zonation ofsediments in a glacial lake is as follows: The lowestpart of a lake basin is occupied by the lacustrine clay.Next to this is a belt of silty sediments that gradeswithout a sharp line of demarcation into sandydeposits. Outside of the sandy zone is a region of themodified till covered by a layer of the wave-washedgravel (lag lines), and beyond this is the area ofslightly modified till. Along shores with strong waveaction, beach ridges are built up. These ridges aresteeper and coarser on the lake side because ofsubsequent wave erosion of the finer materials. Alongshores with shallow water and substantial amounts ofaquatic vegetation, wave action is insufficient for thedevelopment of beaches.

    The origin of the lacustrine deposits in RoseauCounty is more complex than the formation describedabove. The level of Lake Agassiz dropped severaltimes, resulting in clay and silt deposits being overlainby sands and gravels as deep, calm pools becamemore shallow and had choppier waters.

    Remnants of four major beach ridges associatedwith Glacial Lake Agassiz can be observed in northernMinnesota, and three of them are in Roseau County.The beach ridges are composed of sand and finegravel, whereas the surrounding areas are composedof either till deposits or lacustrine deposits. Although

  • Roseau County, Minnesota 19

    some areas can be identified as being predominantlytill or predominantly lacustrine, other areas are acomplex mixture of the two.

    The first stable shoreline for Lake Agassiz isdefined by the Herman Beach Ridge, which runs tothe southwest of Roseau County. When Lake Agassizwas at the Herman Beach level, all of Roseau Countywas under water. As the glacier continued to melt andrecede, the lake grew larger. This growth put morepressure on the southern outlet, which consequentlyeroded to a lower level and dropped the lake level.While it was still being drained by the southern outlet,the lake was lowered three times, thus creating theNorcross, Tintah, and Campbell beach ridges.

    At the first lowering of Lake Agassiz, Beltrami Islandemerged in the southeast corner of Roseau County.The most prominent beach ridge in Roseau County ison the northern side of Beltrami Island. This site islocally called Bemis Hill and is more than 60 feet high.It is a phase of Norcross Beach (Wahlberg, 1975).

    Further lowering of the southern outlet brought thelake down to the level of Tintah Beach, portions ofwhich can still be seen to the west of Highway 89 inthe southern part of the county. During the time ofTintah Beach, much of the southern and southeasternparts of the county emerged as dry land and theRoseau River came into existence.

    The final level of the lake, while it still drained fromthe southern outlet, is defined by Campbell Beach. InRoseau County this beach ridge can be seen runningnortheastward through Greenbush, Badger, and Foxto a point about 4 miles west of Roseau. Through mostof its course across the county, this ridge is one-fourthto one-half mile wide and is 10 to 30 feet high. Like theother ridges, it is composed of sand and fine gravel.Pebbles of limestone are common in the gravel.

    Eventually the ice front melted north to a pointwhere outlets in that direction were again provided,and the southern outlet was permanently abandoned.Lake Agassiz was eventually fully drained, butremnants of it still exist. Upper and Lower Red Lakes(Beltrami County) and Lake of the Woods occupy apart of the old lake bottom.

    The last part of Roseau County to become dry landwas a broad strip south of the Manitoba boundaryextending from Lake of the Woods to northeasternKittson County. Much of this area is or was covered bythick beds of peat. During the withdrawal of water, anumber of large and small lagoons were left scatteredthroughout the uncovered area. Except for the RedLakes, very few of them were more than 10 feet deep(although several lagoons occupied areas of many

    square miles each). Practically all these lakes andlagoons were gradually filled with peat. The peatdeposits are typically not more than 8 feet thick andgenerally rest on till, although in many places a thinlayer of wave-washed gravel or sand separates thepeat from the underlying till.

    The highest point of Roseau County is in thesoutheast, where a portion of Beltrami Island has anelevation of 1,270 feet (Wahlberg, 1975). The generalslope and drainage of the county are toward thenorthwest. The Roseau River, the principal stream,begins near the southeast corner and leaves thecounty at its lowest point near the northwest corner, atan elevation of about 1,000 feet above sea level. Thesouthwestern part of the county is drained by TwoRivers, and the extreme eastern end is drained by theWarroad River, which flows into Lake of the Woods.

    Climate

    Table 1 gives data on temperature and precipitationfor the survey area as recorded at Roseau in theperiod 1961 to 1990. Table 2 shows probable dates ofthe first freeze in fall and the last freeze in spring.Table 3 provides data on the length of the growingseason.

    In winter, the average temperature is 4.6 degrees Fand the average daily minimum temperature is -6degrees. The lowest temperature on record, whichoccurred at Roseau on February 18, 1966, is -48degrees. In summer, the average temperature is 63.9degrees and the average daily maximum temperatureis 76.7 degrees. The highest temperature, whichoccurred at Roseau on June 8, 1970, is 98 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 (40 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 total annual precipitation is 20.52 inches. Ofthis total, 12.35 inches, or 60 percent, usually falls inJune through September. The growing season formost crops falls within this period. The heaviest 1-dayrainfall during the period of record was 5.07 inches atRoseau on September 2, 1957. Thunderstorms occuron about 32 days each year, and most occur in July.

    The average seasonal snowfall is 35.3 inches. Thegreatest snow depth at any one time during the periodof record was 38 inches recorded on March 5, 1966.

  • 20 Soil Survey of

    On an average, 140 days per year have at least 1 inchof snow on the ground. The heaviest 1-day snowfall onrecord was 12 inches recorded on January 7, 1989.

    The average relative humidity in midafternoon isabout 62 percent. Humidity is higher at night, and the

    average at dawn is about 81 percent. The sun shines64 percent of the time possible in summer and 49percent in winter. The prevailing wind is from the west.Average windspeed is highest, 10.1 miles per hour, inApril.

  • Roseau County, Minnesota 21

    Table 1.--Temperature and Precipitation

    (Recorded in the period 1961-90 at Roseau, Minnesota)

    _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | | | Temperature | Precipitation | | __________________________________________________________________________________________________ | | | | 2 years in | | |2 years in 10| | | | | | 10 will have-- | | | will have-- | | _______________________ _____________ Month |Average|Average|Average| | | Average |Average| | | Average |Average | daily | daily | | Maximum | Minimum |number of| | Less | More |number of|snowfall |maximum|minimum| |temperature|temperature| growing | |than--|than--|days with| | | | | higher | lower | degree | | | |0.10 inch| | | | | than-- | than-- | days* | | | | or more |_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | oF | oF | oF | oF | oF | Units | In | In | In | | In | | | | | | | | | | | January----| 10.7 | -10.7 | 0.0 | 38 | -42 | 0 | 0.74 | 0.16| 1.20| 2 | 9.1 | | | | | | | | | | | February---| 18.6 | -4.8 | 6.9 | 41 | -37 | 0 | .44 | .18| .71| 1 | 4.2 | | | | | | | | | | | March------| 32.3 | 9.6 | 20.9 | 58 | -29 | 5 | .63 | .25| 1.06| 2 | 5.3 | | | | | | | | | | | April------| 50.7 | 27.2 | 39.0 | 79 | -1 | 102 | 1.39 | .66| 2.11| 3 | 3.3 | | | | | | | | | | | May--------| 66.1 | 38.8 | 52.5 | 88 | 18 | 395 | 2.26 | 1.04| 3.30| 5 | .2 | | | | | | | | | | | June-------| 74.0 | 48.5 | 61.3 | 90 | 30 | 637 | 3.67 | 2.16| 5.02| 7 | .0 | | | | | | | | | | | July-------| 78.6 | 53.5 | 66.0 | 92 | 36 | 799 | 3.27 | 2.12| 4.31| 6 | .0 | | | | | | | | | | | August-----| 77.5 | 51.1 | 64.3 | 93 | 32 | 749 | 3.04 | 1.26| 4.54| 5 | .0 | | | | | | | | | | | September--| 66.3 | 42.0 | 54.2 | 89 | 20 | 425 | 2.37 | .99| 3.53| 5 | .0 | | | | | | | | | | | October----| 53.9 | 32.2 | 43.0 | 79 | 11 | 167 | 1.34 | .52| 2.03| 3 | .6 | | | | | | | | | | | November---| 33.1 | 16.1 | 24.6 | 61 | -19 | 12 | .65 | .31| 1.00| 2 | 4.4 | | | | | | | | | | | December---| 16.2 | -2.6 | 6.8 | 42 | -36 | 0 | .72 | .36| 1.04| 2 | 8.1 | | | | | | | | | | | Yearly: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Average---| 48.2 | 25.1 | 36.6 | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---| ---| --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | Extreme---| 98 | -48 | --- | 95 | -48 | --- | --- | ---| ---| --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | Total-----| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | 3,292 | 20.52 | 12.19| 24.54| 43 | 35.3 | | | | | | | | | | |_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    * A growing degree day is a unit of heat available for plant growth. It can be calculated by adding themaximum and minimum daily temperatures, dividing the sum by 2, and subtracting the temperature below whichgrowth is minimal for the principal crops in the area (40 degrees F).

  • 22

    Table 2.--Freeze Dates in Spring and Fall

    (Recorded in the period 1961-90 at Roseau, Minnesota)

    _____________________________________________________________ | | Temperature |__________________________________________ Probability | | | | 24 oF | 28 oF | 32 oF | or lower | or lower | or lower_____________________________________________________________ | | | | | |Last freezing | | | temperature | | | in spring: | | | | | | 1 year in 10 | | | later than-- | May 21 | May 31 | June 14 | | | 2 years in 10 | | | later than-- | May 15 | May 27 | June 9 | | | 5 years in 10 | | | later than-- | May 5 | May 18 | May 29 | | |First freezing | | | temperature | | | in fall: | | | | | | 1 year in 10 | | | earlier than-- | Sept. 17 | Sept. 8 | Aug. 18 | | | 2 years in 10 | | | earlier than-- | Sept. 22 | Sept. 11 | Aug. 25 | | | 5 years in 10 | | | earlier than-- | Oct. 3 | Sept. 21 | Sept. 7 | | |_____________________________________________________________

    Table 3.--Growing Season

    (Recorded in the period 1961-90 at Roseau, Minnesota)

    __________________________________________________ | | Daily minimum temperature | during growing season |___________________________________ Probability | | | | Higher | Higher | Higher | than | than | than | 24 oF | 28 oF | 32 oF__________________________________________________ | Days | Days | Days | | |9 years in 10 | 125 | 108 | 73 | | |8 years in 10 | 134 | 114 | 82 | | |5 years in 10 | 151 | 126 | 99 | | |2 years in 10 | 167 | 138 | 116 | | |1 year in 10 | 176 | 144 | 125 | | |__________________________________________________

  • 23

    This section relates the soils in the survey area tothe major factors and processes of soil formation anddescribes the system of soil classification.

    Factors of Soil FormationSoil is a three-dimensional natural body consisting

    of mineral and organic material that can support plantgrowth. The nature of any soil at a given site is theresult of the interaction of five major factorsparentmaterial, climate, plants and animals, relief, and time(Jenny, 1941). Climate and plants and animals havean effect on parent material that is modified by reliefover time. Theoretically, if all these factors wereidentical at different sites, the soils at these siteswould be identical. Differences among the soils arecaused by variations in one or more of these factors.

    Parent Material

    Parent material is the raw material acted on by thesoil-forming processes. It largely determines soiltexture, which in turn affects other properties, such asnatural soil drainage and permeability. The physicaland chemical composition of parent material has animportant influence on the kind of soil that forms.

    The soils in Roseau County are derived from thecalcareous, loamy glacial till deposited during the lastglaciation. This glacial till was later modified andreworked by Glacial Lake Agassiz, which covered thearea after the glacier receded. Loamy glacial tillunderlies all of the present glacial lake sediment and isat or near the surface throughout most of the county.The differences in the depth of these glacial depositsaccount for many of the differences in the soils.

    Soils in the eastern part of the county, around Lakeof the Woods, formed primarily in material depositedby the waters of Glacial Lake Agassiz. Lacustrine siltand clay were deposited in deep lake basins, andlacustrine sand was deposited on sandbars and deltasin interbeach areas. Wabanica and Warroad soils arecommon in this area.

    The western two-thirds of the county is dominatedby Percy soils, which formed in loamy till. Rockfragments are scattered over the surface and

    throughout the till. It is not uncommon for soils in thisarea to have thin glaciofluvial deposits overlying the till.Boash soils have a thin clayey mantle, and Strandquistsoils have a layer of gravelly sand overlying the loamyglacial till.

    Beach ridges and sandbars were left throughout thecounty after Glacial Lake Agassiz receded. The mostextensive area of beach ridges and sandbars is in thesoutheastern part of the county in the Beltrami IslandState Forest. Differences between the various sandysoils are based largely on the size of the sandparticles, the content of rock fragments, and thechemical properties of the sands.

    Organic soils occur throughout Roseau County andcover approximately one-third of the county(Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 1979).These soils formed in herbaceous and woody plantremains. The degree of decomposition and thethickness of the organic material largely account forthe differences among the organic soils.

    Alluvium is soil material deposited by floodwateralong streams. The texture of the soil material varies,depending on the speed of the floodwater, the durationof flooding, and the distance from the streambank.Soils that formed in recent alluvium can be highlystratified. The soil horizons are weakly expressedbecause the soil-forming processes are interruptedwith each new deposition. The source of the alluviumgenerally is material eroded from the other soilsfarther upstream in the watershed.

    Climate

    The climate in Roseau County has significantlyaffected the soil-forming processes. Climatic factors,such as precipitation and temperature, haveinfluenced the existing plant and animal communitiesand the physical and chemical weathering of theparent material. Physical and chemical processes arethe principal factors affecting the development of soilprofiles.

    Roseau County has a cool, subhumid climatecharacterized by a wide variation in temperaturebetween summer and winter. Except for the effects offrost action, soil-forming processes are essentially

    Formation and Classification of the Soils

  • 24 Soil Survey of

    dormant during the winter. Soil may be frozen to adepth of 3 to 5 feet for a period of 6 months.

    Climate has the most pronounced effect on soil-forming processes during the growing season. Theamount of rainfall influences the rate at which solubleand colloidal materials are removed from the upperpart of the soil profile and deposited in the lower part.Under perennially wet and cool conditions, thedecomposition of vegetation is inhibited and peataccumulates. There is slightly more precipitation in theeastern part of the county than in the western part.This difference in precipitation has affected the typesof native vegetation. Soils in the western two-thirds ofthe county formed under prairie vegetation, and mostof the soils in the eastern one-third formed underforest vegetation.

    Plants and Animals

    The vegetation under which a soil forms influencessoil properties, such as color, structure, reaction, andcontent and distribution of organic matter. Vegetationextracts water from the soil, recycles nutrients, andadds organic material to the soil. Gases derived fromroot respiration combine with water to form acids thatinfluence the weathering of minerals. Because of alower content of organic matter, soils that formedunder forest vegetation are generally lighter coloredthan those that formed under grasses.

    At the time Roseau County was settled, much ofthe native vegetation consisted mainly of tall grassprairie. In the prairie environment, there is a largeannual accumulation of organic material. Bacteriadecompose the plant remains and make nitrogenavailable for more vigorous plant growth. Soils thatformed under grassland generally are darker, have ahigher water-holding capacity, and are more fertilethan soils that formed under forest vegetation.

    Forest vegetation in the area ranges from pineforests, which grow on the sandy soils, to mixedhardwoods, which grow on the heavier textured soils.The mineral content of the vegetation influences soilcharacteristics through nutrient cycling. The litter ofdeciduous trees is higher in bases, such as calciumand magnesium, than that of coniferous trees;therefore, soil acidity is more likely under coniferousvegetation.

    Plant communities in the bogs range from reedsand sedges to dense forests. Water depth andmovement during the year are major factors indetermining the type of plants that develop and howwell they grow on a certain site. The type of vegetationinfluences the degree of decomposition, which affects

    fertility, aeration, and the retention and movement ofwater.

    Bacteria, fungi, and many micro-organismsdecompose organic material and release nutrients togrowing plants. They influence the formation of peds.Soil properties, such as drainage, temperature, andreaction, influence the type of micro-organisms thatlive in the soil. Microbes participate in many organicand chemical transactions in the soil that are vital tothe support of higher plants.

    Earthworms, insects, and small burrowing animalsmix the soil and create small channels that influencesoil aeration and the percolation of water. Earthwormshelp to incorporate crop residue or other organicmaterial into the soil.

    Human activities have significantly influenced soilformation. Tall grass prairie and native forest havebeen cleared and developed for farming and otheruses. Cultivation has accelerated erosion on slopingsoils; wet soils have been drained; organic soils havebeen burned; and manure, chemical fertilizer, andpesticides have been applied in cultivated areas.Cultivation has affected soil structure and compactionand reduced the content of organic matter.

    Relief

    Relief influences soil formation mainly through itseffect on runoff and erosion. To a lesser extent, it alsoinfluences soil temperature, the plant cover, the depthto a zone in which the soil moisture status is wet, andthe accumulation and removal of organic matter.

    Relief can differentiate soils that formed in the samekind of parent material because it causes differencesin external soil drainage. Water that runs off the moresloping soils can collect in depressions or swales.Garnes, Chilgren, and Haug soils all formed in loamytill. The gently sloping Garnes soils are in slightlyelevated, rounded areas and are moderately welldrained. They are in areas where external drainage isgenerally good. Chilgren soils are in nearly level areasand are poorly drained. Haug soils are in swales ordepressions. They are very poorly drained and have athick organic surface layer.

    Since the topography in Roseau County is level togently sloping, most of the soils are poorly drained,have a high content of organic matter, and are mottledto varying degrees. Relief becomes more pronouncedon the beach ridges, which formed through the waveaction of Glacial Lake Agassiz. The sandy and gravellysoils in these areas are commonly better drained thanthe soils on the nearly level glacial lake plain and havea lower content of organic matter, which partially

  • Roseau County, Minnesota 25

    results in a lower water-holding capacity and lowerfertility levels.

    Time

    The length of time that the parent material has beenexposed to soil-forming processes influences thenature of the soil that forms. These soil-formingprocesses have been active for only 9,000 to 12,000years. Geologically, all of the soils in Roseau Countyare young. Because of the relatively short time ofdevelopment, the soils in the area have a thinnerprofile than soils that have evolved over a longerperiod. The influence of parent material is moreapparent in glaciated regions than in other areaswhere sufficient time has elapsed for the morecomplete development of the soils.

    Processes of Soil FormationSoil forms through complex processes that can be

    grouped into four general categories. These categoriesare additions, removals, transfers, andtransformations.

    The accumulation of organic matter in the A horizonof the mineral soils in Roseau County is an example ofan addition. This accumulation is the main reason forthe dark color of the A horizon. The color of the rawparent material remains uniform with increasing depth.

    The leaching of lime from the upper 2 to 6 feet inmany of the sandy soils in Roseau County is anexample of a removal. The parent material of somesoils, such as Marquette and Two Inlets soils, waslimy, but the lime has been leached from the upperpart of the profile by percolating water.

    The translocation of clay from the A horizon to the Bhorizon in many soils is an example of a transfer. TheA horizon or an E horizon is a zone of eluviation, orloss. The B horizon is a zone of illuviation, or gain.Baudette and Garnes soils are examples of soils inwhich the B horizon has more clay than the parentmaterial and the A and E horizons have less clay. Inthe B horizon of some soils, thin clay films are in poresand on the faces of peds. This clay has beentransferred from the A and E horizons.

    An example of a transformation is the reduction andsolubilization of ferrous iron. This process takes placeunder wet, saturated conditions in which there is nomolecular oxygen. Gleying, or the reduction of iron, isevident in Cormant, Wabanica, and other soils, whichhave a dominantly gray subsoil. The gray colorindicates the presence of reduced ferrous iron, which,in turn, implies wetness. Reduced iron is soluble, but itcommonly has been moved short distances in the

    soils in Roseau County, stopping either in the horizonwhere it originated or in an underlying horizon. Part ofthis iron can be reoxidized and segregated in the formof stains, concretions, or bright yellow and redconcentrations.

    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 4 shows theclassification of the soils in the survey area. The extentof the soils is shown in table 5.

    The categories of soil classification are defined inthe 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.

  • 26 Soil Survey of

    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. A

    family name consists of the name of a subgrouppreceded by terms that indicate soil properties. Anexample is sandy, mixed, frigid 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, andarrangement in the profile. The texture of the surfacelayer or of the substratum can differ within a series.

  • Roseau County, Minnesota 27

    Table 4.--Classification of the Soils__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | Soil name | Family or higher taxonomic class |__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ | Auganaush----------------|Fine, smectitic, frigid Mollic Albaqualfs Augsburg-----------------|Coarse-silty over clayey, mixed over smectitic, superactive, frigid Typic Calciaquolls Baudette-----------------|Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, frigid Aquic Hapludalfs Bearden------------------|Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, frigid Aeric Calciaquolls Berner-------------------|Loamy, mixed, euic, frigid Terric Haplosaprists Boash--------------------|Clayey over loamy, smectitic over mixed, superactive, calcareous, frigid Vertic Endoaquolls Borup--------------------|Coarse-silty, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Calciaquolls Bullwinkle---------------|Loamy, mixed, euic, frigid Terric Haplosaprists Cathro-------------------|Loamy, mixed, euic, frigid Terric Haplosaprists Chilgren-----------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Endoaqualfs Clearriver---------------|Mixed, frigid Aquic Udipsamments Colvin-------------------|Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Calciaquolls Corliss------------------|Mixed, frigid Typic Udipsamments Cormant------------------|Mixed, frigid Mollic Psammaquents Croke--------------------|Coarse-silty over clayey, mixed over smectitic, superactive, frigid Aquic Hapludolls Dalbo--------------------|Fine, smectitic, frigid Aquertic Hapludalfs Deerwood-----------------|Sandy, mixed, frigid Histic Humaquepts Dora---------------------|Clayey, smectitic, euic, frigid Terric Haplosaprists Eckvoll------------------|Loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Aquic Arenic Hapludalfs Enstrom------------------|Sandy over loamy, mixed, superactive, nonacid, frigid Aquic Udorthents Epoufette----------------|Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Mollic Endoaqualfs Espelie------------------|Sandy over clayey, mixed over smectitic, frigid Typic Epiaquolls Faunce-------------------|Mixed, frigid Argic Udipsamments Fluvaquents--------------|Fluvaquents Foldahl------------------|Sandy over loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Oxyaquic Hapludolls Foxhome------------------|Sandy-skeletal over loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Oxyaquic Hapludolls Garnes-------------------|Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Aquic Hapludalfs Glyndon------------------|Coarse-silty, mixed, superactive, frigid Aeric Calciaquolls Grano--------------------|Fine, smectitic, frigid Typic Endoaquerts Grimstad-----------------|Sandy over loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Aeric Calciaquolls Grygla-------------------|Sandy over loamy, mixed, superactive, nonacid, frigid Mollic Endoaquents Hangaard-----------------|Sandy, mixed, frigid Typic Endoaquolls Hapludalfs---------------|Hapludalfs Haug---------------------|Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, calcareous, frigid Histic Humaquepts Hilaire------------------|Sandy over clayey, mixed over smectitic, frigid Aquic Hapludolls Hiwood-------------------|Mixed, frigid Aquic Udipsamments Huot---------------------|Sandy over clayey, mixed over smectitic, frigid Aquic Calciudolls Karlsruhe----------------|Sandy, mixed, frigid Aeric Calciaquolls Karlstad-----------------|Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Aquic Hapludalfs Kratka-------------------|Sandy over loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Endoaquolls Lallie-------------------|Fine,