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Standards and ProceduresFor Site Specific Soil MappingIn Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island Cooperative ExtensionCollege of the Environment and Life SciencesDepartment of Natural Resources Science, Kingston, RI
Standards and Procedures for Site Specific Soil Mapping in Rhode IslandFinal Draft October 2007
University of Rhode IslandCollege of the Environment and Life SciencesDepartment of Natural Resources Science Cooperative Extension, Kingston, RI
AuthorMark H. Stolt, Associate Professor of Soil - Environmental ScienceDepartment of Natural Resources Science
EditingLorraine Joubert and Lisa DeProspo Philo. Design and layout by Lisa D. Philo.RI Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials
AcknowledgmentsWe would like to thank technical reviewers who assisted in development of this guide, including: Peter Fletcher and Thomas Peragallo, consulting soil scientists; Jim Turenne, RI NRCS Assistant State Soil Scientist; George Loomis, Director of the New England Onsite Wastewater Training Center (NEOWTC), and David Kalen, NEOWTC manager, who created example soil maps. Steven Hund-ley, NH NRCS State Soil Scientist also provided invaluable input for the initial drafts. Students Holly Meehan and Courtney Lipski helped lay the groundwork for this guide through initial data collection and analysis of mapping procedures.
This publication was produced by the URI Cooperative Extension, Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials program (NEMO) with funding by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Block Island and Green Hill Pond Watershed National Decentralized Wastewater Demonstration Project. The Rhode Island Department of Health provided staff support to the RI NEMO program through the Office of Drinking Water, Source Water Protection program.
Cooperative Extension in Rhode Island provides equal opportunities in programs and employment without regard to race, color, national origin, sex or preference, creed or disability; University of Rhode Island, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating. This Techni-cal Bulletin is contribution #5131 of the College of the Environment and Life Sciences, University of Rhode Island.
This publication is available in pdf format at http://www.uri.edu/ce/wq
Standards and Procedures for Site Specific Soil Mapping in Rhode Island
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Site Specific Soil Surveys ................................................................................................................. 1
2. Soil Survey Report Overview............................................................................................................ 2
3. Mapping Scales ................................................................................................................................ 2
4. Topography and Other Features ....................................................................................................... 2
5. Soil Mapping Protocol....................................................................................................................... 2
6. Map Unit Variability ........................................................................................................................... 3
7. Mapping Legend ............................................................................................................................... 4
References....................................................................................................................................... 9
Definition of Terms ......................................................................................................................... 10
Resources ...................................................................................................................................... 13
Appendices ....................................................................................................................................... 15
Appendix 1. Orthophotograph of soil survey area ............................................................................ 16
Appendix 2. Contour map of soil survey area................................................................................... 17
Appendix 3. Examples of landscape unit delineations (in process) based on contour line patterns and spacing ............................................................................................. 18
Appendix 4. Complete delineations of landscape units based on contour line patterns and spacing.................................................................................................................. 19
Appendix 5. Soil descriptions note card ........................................................................................... 20
Appendix 6. Map showing location of soil observations ................................................................... 21
Appendix 7. Map showing location of additional soil observations to document variability ...................................................................................................................... 22
Appendix 8. Components of the map unit symbol ............................................................................ 23
Appendix 9. Soil wetness classes and criteria.................................................................................. 24
Appendix 10. Key to the soil orders .................................................................................................... 26
Appendix 11. Complete site specific soil survey for demonstration area ............................................ 27
Appendix 12. Soil observations table for the demonstration site specific soil survey ......................... 28
Appendix 13. Map unit descriptions and variability assessment for the site specific soil survey demonstration map .................................................................................... 31
Standards and Procedures for Site Specific Soil Mapping in Rhode Island
1. SITE SPECIFIC SOIL SURVEYS
About Site Specific Soil SurveysSite specific soil surveys are made at scales that allow detailed information about soil properties and characteristics to be accurately mapped. Such features include depth to water tables, presence of hydric soils, depth to bedrock or other restrictive layers, and other attributes that directly influence potential use of a property. These surveys, also known as high intensity soil surveys, provide reliable information that municipal officials, developers, and land owners need to accurately evaluate suitability of land for devel-opment. They provide a comprehensive assessment of a site for planning purposes and initial design. Results can be used, for example, to delineate drainage patterns and hydric soils, locate suitable sites for onsite wastewater treatment, layout building sites and roads, and identify high infiltration areas for storm-water system planning and design.
Site specific soil surveys are not meant to replace on-site testing for septic system design and wetland edge delineation. Rather, these maps bridge the gap between such specialized field investigations and the generalized Rhode Island soil survey mapping, which is intended for community planning and water-shed assessment. Although commonly overlayed with development plans, state soil survey maps are not accurate at scales showing more detail than 1:15,840, and this use can lead to inaccurate assumptions and poor siting decisions. Ideally, site specific surveys would be conducted at the earliest stage of site as-sessment and planning so that results can be used to guide selection of the most suitable field test sites, including soil evaluation test pits for wastewater treatment, water table monitoring wells, and permeability testing for stormwater infiltration systems. Because site specific soil surveys are conducted using hand tools such as soil shovels and augurs, without the need for earth-moving equipment and related clearing and disturbance, these surveys are non-invasive and relatively low-cost. When used as a basis for more costly field testing, they also can result in more cost-effective site assessment. Perhaps most importantly, site specific soil mapping provides visual evidence of site constraints to document site design decisions. This can improve communication among all parties involved in the development process for more efficient project review and permitting.
Purpose of this GuideThe objective of this document is to establish a set of standard methods and procedures to follow when making site specific soil surveys in Rhode Island. This technical guide describes criteria for proper base maps, mapping scales, mapping protocols, and analysis of variability. The survey results are displayed in both table and map form using a “connotative” mapping legend which describes a number of soil proper-ties and attributes including: depth to the seasonal high water table (SHWT); depth to restrictive layers such as dense till or bedrock; soil parent materials; slope; and surface texture. This descriptive mapping legend uses a numeric/alphabetic key to identify soil features in greater detail than possible with the Rhode Island Soil Survey, which classifies soil series map units based on fairly broad attributes. The ap-pendices to this guide include example maps and supporting documentation, including intermediate map products used to illustrate the mapping process and final map examples to be included in the final soil survey report.
This document is designed for use by professional soil scientists with training and experience in field map-ping soils. As a technical guide, knowledge of soil characteristics, classification, and mapping methods is assumed. For the sake of simplicity and brevity, supporting information on these soil elements is not included. A companion Guide to Interpreting and Using RI Site Specific Soil Maps (in preparation) will provide background information on soil features mapped and their influence on development suitability for those who review development plans and make land use decisions. This document demonstrates various methods for interpreting and presenting results to support management decisions.
1
Standards and Procedures for Site Specific Soil Mapping in Rhode Island
2. SOIL SURVEY REPORT OVERVIEW
Survey results are presented in a report which should consist of the completed site specific soil survey map, supporting maps and documentation, and a brief narrative. Example maps and documentation to be included in the final report are provided in the appendices to this guide (and noted below). Soil Survey Report ContentsAll of the following elements should be included with each site specific soil survey report:
• The names of the soil scientists that conducted the field work and created the soils map, with documentation of professional standing as required by regulatory agencies.• A (locus) map clearly indicating the location of the specific soil survey area.• A recent orthophotograph of the survey area (highly recommended), which can be obtained at http://www.edc.uri.edu/rigis/orthosf/200304RIDOT/tif.html . (Appendix 1)• A detailed topographic map (minimum 2’ contour intervals) of the entire soil survey area. (Appendix 2)• A map unit legend for the soil survey area indicating the soil property and attribute indicated in the connotative legend. (Appendix 13)• A map showing the location of each soil observation. (Appendix 6)• Field notes for every observation. (Appendix 12)• Documentation of the degree of variability within soil mapping units. (Appendices 7 and 13)• The complete site specific soil map. (Appendix 11)• A narrative discussing site characteristics. This should include an overview of the site conditions, surficial geology, map unit variability, and the presence of limiting layers and hydric soils.
3. MAPPING SCALESThe mapping scale is dependent upon the size of the area being mapped, the use of the soil survey information, and the variability within mapping units. Soil survey maps created as a tool to plan for lot locations, roadways, sediment control structures, and potential placement of onsite wastewater treatment systems for large development are mapped at 1:2400. Individual lots less than a half an acre should be mapped at a scale of 1:600 or greater (i.e. 1:240). Lands with considerable soil variability should be mapped at finer scales than mentioned above to meet map unit variability standards.
4. TOPOGRAPHY AND OTHER FEATURESA topographic site plan is used as a base map for the site specific soil survey (Appendix 1). An instrument survey, or a combination of instrument and aerial survey, of the existing land features is used to construct this plan. The plan includes topography with minimum 2’ contour intervals, although 1’ contours may be preferable for areas with little topographic relief. Permanent geographic features such as ponds, streams, rock walls, paths, and roads should be included on the map. These base maps are prepared by a li-censed land surveyor or engineer and should be included as well as a survey of the property boundary.
5. SOIL MAPPING PROTOCOLThe topographic site plan is used to make an initial set of soil-landscape delineations. Landscape units are delineated in the field on the base map. Soil-landscape boundary lines are drawn by relating observed landscape features to defined control points on the base map (Appendices 3 and 4). These delinea-tions are based on landscape attributes such as slope class and surface water flow-paths. For example, each drainageway and areas falling within the same slope class within the survey area are identified and delineated. The landscape is traversed and aerial photographs are consulted to identify areas within each landscape unit that may have different soils. These differences are often recognized by tonal variations in the photographs that identify differences in wetness or vegetation and help refine initial soil boundaries.
2
Standards and Procedures for Site Specific Soil Mapping in Rhode Island
Soils within representative areas of each delineation are described to a depth of 48” or more. Notes are kept on the Site Specific Soil Survey Note Cards (Appendix 5). Each observation should be located on a separate map (Appendix 6) and included in the final report. For mapping scales of 1:2400, observations should be no more than 200’ apart. For mapping at larger scales, the distance between observations should be less (See Table 1).
Table 1. Recommended maximum distance between soil observations.
Mapping Scale 1:6000 1:2400 1:1200 1:600 1:480 1:240
Plan Scale 1”= 500’ 1” = 200’ 1” = 100’ 1” = 50’ 1” = 40’
1” = 20’
Maximum 500’ 200’ 100’ 50’ 40’ 20’
6. MAP UNIT VARIABILITY
Soil variability is documented for each map unit on the soil survey legend. The number of observations necessary to determine map unit variability is calculated based upon the size of the largest delineation of each map unit (Table 2), with three soil observations as the minimum. The locations of the observations are randomly chosen within the largest delineation (Appendix 7). To select points for variability observa-tions in large delineations, either the random transect approach can be used, or points can be randomly selected within a grid. At a minimum, 65% of the soils within a map unit should be the same as the named classification. Less than 10% of the map unit should have soils that have a more limiting SHWT or depth to restrictive layer class than the soil the delineation is named. In cases where these criteria are not met because the mapping scale does allow for further refinement of the soil survey delineations (scale is too small), the amount of variability should be noted in the map unit legend.
Table 2. Criteria for determining the number of observations necessary to document soil variability of each map unit.
Acres of 1 or less 1-3 3-8 >8
Number 3 4 5 7
Equivalent
Maximumdistance between observations
Acres of largest delineation
Number of observations
3
Standards and Procedures for Site Specific Soil Mapping in Rhode Island
7. MAPPING LEGEND
The connotative mapping legend symbolizes up to eight soil features and modifiers. A single number or capital letter is used to indicate each soil feature except that lower case letters are used to abbreviate coarse fragment modifiers. No commas or other separators are used between each symbol except for a forward slash dividing the eight elements into two equal parts. The first four features indicated are: the parent materials; wetness class, also referred to as the range in depth to seasonal high water table (SHWT); range in depth to restrictive layer from the soil surface; and type of restriction either bedrock or densic materials. Parent material, wetness, and depth to restrictive layer classes are assigned a number (Tables 4, 5, and 6) in proper order. In cases where there are two parent materials, the second parent material should be shown in parentheses. Bedrock or densic materi-als are indicated with an “R” (bedrock) or “D” (densic), respectively, after the depth class.
The second component of the map unit symbol indicates four additional features: coarse fragment modi-fiers where applicable, classes of predominant soil parent material texture (Table 7), slope class (Table 9) and surface texture (Table 8) in this order.
The complete list of map unit symbols used in the soil mapping legend follows in Table 3 and in Appendix 8. A blank matrix for recording field observations, referred to as the Soil Descriptions Note Card, is pro-vided in Appendix 5. A completed example is provided in Appendix 12. In addition to the features repre-sented in the soil mapping legend, the matrix is used to record observations of other important features including landscape position, stoniness class, depth to iron concentrations and depth to depletions.
4
Sta
ndar
ds a
nd P
roce
dure
s fo
r Site
Spe
cific
Soi
l Map
ping
in R
hode
Isla
nd
5
Tabl
e 3.
Soi
l Map
ping
Leg
end
– C
ompo
nent
s of
the
map
uni
t sym
bol.
# =
num
ber,
L =
upp
er c
ase
lette
r, l
= lo
wer
cas
e le
tter
An e
xam
ple
of a
map
uni
t wou
ld b
e: 3
22D
/gr5
C4.
T
he m
ap u
nit s
ymbo
ls a
nd c
orre
spon
ding
soi
l fea
ture
s fo
r thi
s ex
ampl
e ar
e sh
own
belo
w.
Map
uni
t sy
mbo
l 3
2 2
D
/gr
5
C
4
Des
crip
tion
Den
seTi
ll >
24”
– 36
” >2
4” –
48”
D
ensi
c
grav
elly
C
oars
e sa
ndy
loam
>8
– 1
5%
Fine
san
dy
loam
Soi
l Fe
atur
e
Par
ent
mat
eria
lD
epth
to
seas
onal
hi
gh w
ater
ta
ble
Dep
th to
re
stric
tive
laye
r
Bed
rock
or
den
sic
Coa
rse
fragm
ent
mod
ifier
Par
ent
mat
eria
l te
xtur
e
Slo
pe
clas
s
Sur
face
te
xtur
e
Pare
nt M
ater
ial
Dep
th to
Se
ason
al H
igh
Wat
er T
able
(W
etne
ss C
lass
)
Dep
th to
R
estr
ictiv
e La
yer
Bed
rock
or
Den
sic
M
ater
ial
/C
oars
e fr
agm
ent
mod
ifier
Pa
rent
mat
eria
l te
xtur
e Sl
ope
clas
s Su
rfac
e te
xtur
e
# #
# L
l #
L #
1 -
Out
was
h 2
- Ic
e C
onta
ct
Stra
tifie
d
Dep
osits
3
- D
ense
Till
4 -
Loos
e Ti
ll5
- A
lluvi
um
6 -
Loes
s 7
- E
olia
n S
ands
8
- H
uman
Tr
ansp
orte
d M
ater
ials
(H
TM)
9 - O
rgan
ic S
oil
Mat
eria
ls
10 -
Res
iduu
m
0 -
0
” – 1
2”
1 -
>12”
– 2
4”
2 -
>24”
– 3
6”
3 -
>36”
– 4
8”
4 -
>48”
1 -
< 24
” 2-
24”
– 4
8”
3 - >
48”
R -
Bed
rock
D -
Den
sic
gr
- gr
avel
ly
vgr -
ver
y gr
avel
ly
xgr -
ext
rem
ely
grav
elly
cb
- c
obbl
y vc
b - v
ery
cobb
ly
xcb
- ext
rem
ely
cobb
lysn
- s
tony
vs
n - v
ery
ston
y xs
n -
extre
mel
y st
ony
bd -
bou
lder
y vb
d - v
ery
boul
dery
xb
d - e
xtre
mel
y bo
ulde
ry
1 -
Silt
loam
2
- L
oam
3
- S
andy
loam
4
- F
ine
sand
y lo
am
5 -
Coa
rse
sand
y lo
am
6 -
Loa
my
sand
7
- L
oam
y fin
e sa
nd
8 -
Loa
my
coar
se
sand
9 -
San
d 10
- Fi
ne s
and
11 -
Coa
rse
sand
12
- C
lay
loam
13
- S
ilty
clay
loam
A -
0
– 3
%
B -
>3
– 8
%
C -
>8
– 1
5%D
- >
15 –
25%
E -
> 2
5%
1 -
Silt
loam
2
- L
oam
3
- S
andy
loam
4
- F
ine
sand
y lo
am 5
- C
oars
e sa
ndy
loam
6
- L
oam
y sa
nd
7 -
Loa
my
fine
sand
8 -
Loa
my
coar
se
sand
9 -
San
d 10
- Fi
ne s
and
11 -
Coa
rse
sand
12
- C
lay
loam
13
- S
ilty
clay
loam
5
Standards and Procedures for Site Specific Soil Mapping in Rhode IslandStandards and Procedures for Site Specific Soil Mapping in Rhode Island
In the example provided above for map unit 322D/gr5C4, the soils have formed in dense till parent materials that are primarily gravelly coarse sandy loam. These soils have a water table between 24” and 36” from the soil surface. There is dense till between 24” and 48”. The slope is between 8 and 15% and the surface layer is fine sandy loam. Appendix 8 provides a detailed description of the map unit symbol.
Table 4. Parent material classes and associated symbols. If there are dual parent materials, the overlying parent material is indicated in parentheses after the primary parent material. For example, if there is loess over outwash, the parent material symbol would be 1 (6). All mineral parent materials must be at least 16” thick to be assigned a class symbol. Organic Soil Materials must be at least 8” thick.
Table 5. Soil wetness classes. Criteria for each class are provided in Appendix 9.
Table 6. Restrictive layer classes. Bedrock restrictive layers are indicated by an “R” and densic materials by a “D” after the restrictive layer class symbol.
Restrictive Layer Class 1 2 3
Depth to densic materials or rock 0” – 24” >24” – 48” > 48”
Outwash 1 Ice Contact Stratified Deposits 2 Dense Till 3 Loose Till 4 Alluvium 5 Loess 6 Eolian Sands 7 Human Transported Materials-HTM 8 Organic Soil Materials 9 Residuum 10
Wetness Class 0 1 2 3 4
Depth of SHWT 0 – 12” 12 – -24” 24 – 36” 36 – 48” > 48”
66
Standards and Procedures for Site Specific Soil Mapping in Rhode Island
Standards and Procedures for Site Specific Soil Mapping in Rhode Island
Table 7. Classification matrix for soil parent material, wetness, and restrictive layer classes. All restrictive layers are considered to be bedrock or densic materials. Bedrock is indicated by an “R” and densic materials by a “D” after the restrictive layer class symbol (not shown in the matrix).
Depth to the SHWT Depth to Restrictive Layer
0” – 12” (0)
>12 –- 24” (1)
>24 –36” (2)
>36 – 48” (3)
>48” (4)
Outwash (1) <24” (1) 101 111 121 131 141
24– 48” (2) 102 112 122 132 142 >48” (3) 103 113 123 133 143
Ice Contact Stratified Deposits (2) <24” (1) 201 211 221 231 241
24– 48” (2) 202 212 222 232 242 >48” (3) 203 213 223 233 243
Dense Till (3) <24” (1) 301 311 321 331 341
24 – 48” (2) 302 312 322 332 342 >48” (3) 303 313 323 333 343
Loose Till (4) <24” (1) 401 411 421 431 441
24 –- 48” (2) 402 412 422 432 442 >48” (3) 403 413 423 433 443
Alluvium (5) <24” (1) 501 511 521 531 541
24 – 48” (2) 502 512 522 532 542 >48” (3) 503 513 523 533 543
Loess (6) <24” (1) 601 611 621 631 641
24 – 48” (2) 602 612 622 632 642 >48” (3) 603 613 623 633 643
Eolian Sands (7) <24” (1) 701 711 721 731 741
24 – -48” (2) 702 712 722 732 742 >48” (3) 703 713 723 733 743
Human Transported Materials-HTM (8) <24” (1) 801 811 821 831 841
24 – -48” (2) 802 812 822 832 842 >48” (3) 803 883 823 833 843
Organic Soil Materials (9) <24” (1) 901 - - - -
24 – -48” (2) 902 - - - - >48” (3) 903 - - - -
Residuum (10) <24” (1) 1001 1011 1021 1031 1041
24 – -48” (2) 1002 1012 1022 1032 1042 >48” (3) 1003 10103 1023 1033 1043
7
7
Standards and Procedures for Site Specific Soil Mapping in Rhode Island
Standards and Procedures for Site Specific Soil Mapping in Rhode Island
Table 8. Predominant texture of the soil parent materials or surface layer. The map unit symbol class is shown in this table. In cases where there is more than one textural class in the parent material, the texture class that makes up the majority of the layer is indicated. The surface layer is defined as the upper 10”.
Silt Loam 1 Loam 2 Sandy Loam 3 Fine Sandy Loam 4 Coarse Sandy Loam 5 Loamy Sand 6 Loamy Fine Sand 7 Loamy Coarse Sand 8 Sand 9 Fine Sand 10 Coarse Sand 11 Clay Loam 12 Silty Clay Loam 13
Coarse fragment modifiers are added to classes when appropriate: gravelly (gr), very gravelly (vgr), extremely gravelly (xgr); cobbly (cb), very cobbly (vcb), extremely cobbly (xcb); stony (sn), very stony (vsn), extremely stony (xsn); bouldery (bd), very bouldery (vbd), or extremely bouldery (xbd).
Table 9. Slope classes and associated symbols.
0 – 3% A>3– 8% B>8 – 15% C>15 – 25% D>25% E
In addition to map unit symbols, standard special symbols will be used to identify site and soil properties that are below what is allowed within the scale limits. Examples would be the locations of bedrock outcrops.
8
8
Standards and Procedures for Site Specific Soil Mapping in Rhode Island
REFERENCES
New England Hydric Soil Technical Committee. 2004. Field indictors for identifying hydric soils in New England. 3rd edition. New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission, Lowell, MA.
Schoeneberger, P.J., D.A. Wysocki, E.C. Benham, and W.D. Broderson. 2002. Field book for describing and sampling soils. NRCS, USDA, National Soil Survey Center, Lincoln, NE.
Society of Soil Scientists of Northern New England. 1999. Site-Specific Soil Mapping Standards for New Hampshire and Vermont. SSSNNE Special Publication No. 3, Society of Soil Scientists of Northern New England, Durham, NH.
Soil Survey Staff. 1993. Soil Survey Manual. Agric. Handbook No. 18, USDA-NRCS, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
Soil Survey Staff. 2006. Keys to Soil Taxonomy. USDA-NRCS, 10th edition, Washington, D.C.
United States Army Corp of Engineers. 1991. Soil Drainage Classes: Representative morphologies used for section 404 wetland delineations (draft guidelines).
Vepraskas, M.J. 1992. Redoximorphic Features for Identifying Aquic Conditions. Technical Bulletin 301. North Carolina Agricultural Research Service. North Carolina State University. Raleigh, N.C.
9
Standards and Procedures for Site Specific Soil Mapping in Rhode Island
DEFINITIONS OF TERMS
Alluvium: stratified silts, sands, and gravels deposited by running water on floodplains or adjacent ter-races above existing streams.
Average seasonal high water table: As defined here, the highest depth that water table frequents and remains at that depth for at least 14 consecutive days and/or 20 cumulative days in most years based on interpretations of hydromorphic features or actual water table measurements.
Common: (redoximorphic features): An abundance class where redoximorphic features represent from 2 to 20 percent of the observed surface area.
Dark: (surface, A, or Ap horizon) Soil conditions where moist colors are chromas 2 or less and values 3 or less.
Dense till: generally unstratified, heterogeneous mixture of clay, silt, sand, gravel, and boulders depos-ited directly by the ice with little or no transportation by water; at the base of the glacier. Materials have a moist consistence of firm to extremely firm in place. Dense till is often referred to as compact till, lodgment till, or basal till. Densic materials: Unconsolidated materials that are compacted to such a degree (dense till) that water movement is restricted and water accumulates above. Depleted Matrix: Color conditions of a soil horizon from which Fe has been removed by reduction and translocation to create colors of low chroma and high value. In some places the depleted matrix may change color upon exposure to air (reduced matrix); this phenomenon is included in the concept of De-pleted Matrix.The following combinations of value and chroma identify a depleted matrix:1. Matrix value 4 or more and chroma 1 or less with or without other redoximorphic features; or2. Matrix value 6 or more and chroma 2 or less with or without other redoximorphic features; or3. Matrix value 4 or 5 and chroma 2 with 2 percent or more redoximorphic features.For matrix color matching those on the color pages labeled “Gley,” refer to Gleyed Matrix definition.
Depletions: Bodies of low chroma (2 or less) having value 4 or more where Fe and/or Mn coatings have been removed as a result of reduced conditions and transport. See Vepraskas (1992) for more complete discussion.
Distinct: (redoximorphic features): A contrast color class where the redoximorphic features are easily observed relative to the matrix. Specific criteria for distinct features are described in Schoeneberger et al. (2002).
Eolian Sands: Coastal deposits of wind blown sand on dune like forms or adjacent landscapes.
Fe concentrations: Bodies of apparent accumulation of Fe oxides, hydroxides, and oxyhydroxides in-cluding masses, pore linings, nodules, and concretions. See Vepraskas (1992) for complete discussion.
Frequently flooded: A frequency class in which flooding is likely to occur, often under usual weather con-ditions (more than 50 percent chance in any year, or more than 50 times in 100 ears).
Frequently ponded: A frequency class in which ponding is likely to occur, often under usual weather con-ditions (more than 50 percent chance in any year, or more than 50 times in 100 years).
Gleyed Matrix: Color conditions of a soil horizon as a result prolonged periods of wetness where Fe has been reduced and removed, or where saturation with stagnant water has preserved a reduced state.
10
Standards and Procedures for Site Specific Soil Mapping in Rhode Island
Gley colors include:10Y, 5GY, 10GY, 10G, 5BG, 10BG, 5B, 10B, or 5PB with value 4 or more and chroma is 1; or2. 5G with value 4 or more and chroma is 1 or 2; or3. N with value 4 or more.In some places the gleyed matrix may change color upon exposure to air (reduced matrix). This phenom-enon is included in the concept of gleyed matrix.
Growing season: A time when the soil temperature is at or above 5oC (41oF), at a depth of 50 cm below the soil surface.
Hemic soil materials: Organic matter with a fiber content after rubbing ranging from greater than one sixth (by volume) to less than two fifths, excluding live roots. The soil horizon notation for hemic soil mate-rial is Oe.
Histic epipedon: A thick (generally between 8 and 16 inches thick) organic surface horizon of a mineral soil. Refer to Soil Survey Staff (2006) for a complete definition.
Human transported materials: any solid material moved into a pedon from a source area outside of the immediate vicinity by intentional human activity, usually with the aid of machinery, and without substantial reworking or displacement by natural forces
Hydric soil: A soil that formed under conditions of saturation, flooding, or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part.
Ice contact stratified deposits: Stratified sands and gravels deposited in contact with the ice. Deposits are typically found on kames, kame terraces, eskers, and in moraine settings.
Loess: Wind blown deposits originally of glacial origin that are typically silt loam or silt in texture, contain-ing significant amounts of fine and very fine sand.
Long duration: For purposes of this document, a duration class in which inundation for a single event ranges from 2 weeks to 1 month.
Loose till: generally unstratified, heterogeneous mixture of clay, silt, sand, gravel, and boulders deposited directly by the ice with little or no transportation by water. Materials have a moist consistence of friable to loose in place. Loose till is often referred to as friable till, ablation till, or melt-out till.
Many: (redoximorphic features): An abundance class where redoximorphic features represent >20 per-cent of the observed surface area.
Matrix color: Predominant soil color (as determined by 50 percent or more with two colors, or the highest percentage with more than two colors).
Mineral soil: Collection of soil horizons or layers comprised mostly of mineral material with a relatively low content of organic matter (less than 12 to 18 percent of organic carbon by dry weight, depending upon the clay content).
Mineral surface: Beginning of the mineral horizon portion of the soil.
Mucky: Mineral soil materials texture modifier indicating >5% organic carbon.
Outwash: Stratified sand and gravels swept out, sorted, and deposited beyond the glacial ice front by streams of melt water forming an outwash plain.
11
Standards and Procedures for Site Specific Soil Mapping in Rhode Island
Parent material: As defined here, the unconsolidated and more or less chemically weathered mineral material which forms the landform the soils have developed on.
Prominent: (redoximorphic features): A contrast color class where the redoximorphic features are strong-ly contrasting relative to the matrix. Specific criteria for prominent features are described in Schoeneberg-er et al. (2002).
Redoximorphic features: Features formed by the processes of reduction, translocation, and/or oxidation of Fe and Mn. Formerly called mottles and low chroma colors. Redoximorphic features include masses, pore linings, nodules and concretions, depletions, depleted matrices, gleyed matrices, and reduced matri-ces. See Vepraskas (1992) for more complete discussion.
Reduced Matrix: Soil matrices that have low chroma and high value, but whose color changes in hue or chroma when exposed to air. See Vepraskas (1992) for complete discussion.
Residuum: Unconsolidated, weathered, or partly weathered mineral material that accumulates by disinte-gration of bedrock in place. See also saprolite, regolith, colluvium.
Restrictive layer: As defined here, a layer of bedrock, partially weathered bedrock, or densic materials that restricts water movement.
Sapric soil material: Organic matter that has a fiber content after rubbing of less than one sixth (by vol-ume), excluding live roots. The soil horizon notation for sapric soil material is Oa.
Seasonal high water table: See Average seasonal high water table.
Soil surface: For purposes of this document, the reference point (0) for depth measurements is the top of the uppermost soil horizon including O horizons.
Sulfidic materials: As defined here, the presence of hydrogen sulfide gas as identified by a rotten egg smell.
Till: Unsorted glacial materials of various sizes deposited directly by the glacier.
Very dark: (surface, A, or Ap horizon): Soil conditions where moist colors are chromas 2 or less and val-ues less than 3.
Very long duration: This is a duration class in which inundation for a single event is greater than 1 month.
12
Standards and Procedures for Site Specific Soil Mapping in Rhode Island
RESOURCES
1. Web Links for Soil Mapping and Research
University of Rhode Island, College of the Environment and Life Sciences
Laboratory of Soil Pedology and Environmental Science, URI Natural Resources Science Department http://www.nrs.uri.edu/labs/stolt/index.htm
RI Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) http://www.uri.edu/ce/wq/NEMO/index.htm
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
NRCS Rhode Island Office, Rhode Island Soil Survey Program http://www.ri.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/soils.html
NRCS Soil Data Mart http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/
NRCS Web Soil Survey http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/
Soil Information for the New England Region
New England Soils http://nesoil.com/
Soil Science Society of Southern New England http://nesoil.com/ssssne/
Soil Science Society of Northern New England http://www.sssnne.org/
New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning. Site specific soil mapping in New Hampshire and Vermont. http://www.nh.gov/oep/resourcelibrary/referencelibrary/s/soilmapping/
2. Standards and Qualifications for Professional Soil Scientists
The Soil Science Society of America establishes minimum requirements for certified professional soil Scientists through the American Registry of Certified Professionals in Agronomy, Crops and Soils (ARC-PACS). The Soil Science Society of Southern New England (SSSSNE), with members drawn primarily from Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut, also maintains a registry of recognized professional soil scientists. Minimum standards and qualifications for professional soil scientists established by these organizations is summarized below.
Soil Science Society of America(American Registry of Certified Professionals in Agronomy, Crops and Soils /ARCPACS)https://www.soils.org/certifications/cpss-cpsc/
13
Standards and Procedures for Site Specific Soil Mapping in Rhode Island
Certified Professional Soil Scientist /Classifier Pass both the Fundamentals of Soil Science and Professional Practice Examinations. Have at least 5 years experience with at least a Bachelor of Science Degree majoring in soil science, 3 years with an MS or Ph.D. Document education and experience with transcripts and supporting references. Sign and agree to uphold the ARCPACS Code of Ethics. Once certified, earn 40 hours of continuing education (CEUs) every two-years and pay an annual maintenance fee.
Soil Science Society of Southern New Englandhttp://nesoil.com/ssssne/registry2006.htm
Professional Soil Scientist Member StatusI. Requires Bachelor of Science degree with thirty semester-hours, or equivalent, in biological, physical, chemical, and earth sciences, including at least fifteen semester-hours of soil science courses meeting the following distribution, and approval of the Board of Directors A. A minimum of three credits in Soil Genesis, Classification, Morphology, and Mapping; and B. The remaining soil science courses in at least three of the following six categories: 1. Introductory Soil Science 2. Soil Chemistry/Fertility 3. Soil Physics 4. Soil Microbiology/Biochemistry 5. Soil Survey Interpretations/Soils and Land Use/Soils and the Environment 6. Independent Study/Seminar/Geology (three-credit maximum). Course(s) must be related to soil sci-ence; and
II. Requires three years of professional experience, or equivalent, in soil science that meets the approval of the Board of Directors.
14
Sta
ndar
ds a
nd P
roce
dure
s fo
r S
ite S
peci
fic S
oil M
appi
ng in
Rho
de Is
land
15
AP
PE
ND
ICE
S
Ap
pen
dix
1:
Ort
hoph
otog
raph
of s
oil s
urve
y ar
ea.
Ap
pen
dix
2:
Con
tour
map
of s
oil s
urve
y ar
ea.
Ap
pen
dix
3:
E
xam
ples
of l
ands
cape
uni
t del
inea
tions
(in
pro
cess
) ba
sed
on c
onto
ur li
ne p
atte
rns
and
spac
ing.
Ap
pen
dix
4:
C
ompl
ete
delin
eatio
ns o
f lan
dsca
pe u
nits
bas
ed o
n co
ntou
r lin
e pa
ttern
s an
d sp
acin
g.
Ap
pen
dix
5:
S
oil d
escr
iptio
ns n
ote
card
.
Ap
pen
dix
6:
M
ap s
how
ing
loca
tion
of s
oil o
bser
vatio
ns.
Ap
pen
dix
7:
M
ap s
how
ing
loca
tion
of a
dditi
onal
soi
l obs
erva
tions
to d
ocum
ent v
aria
bilit
y.
Ap
pen
dix
8:
C
ompo
nent
s of
the
map
uni
t sym
bol.
Ap
pen
dix
9:
S
oil w
etne
ss c
lass
es a
nd c
riter
ia.
Ap
pen
dix
10:
K
ey to
the
soil
orde
rs.
Ap
pen
dix
11:
C
ompl
ete
site
spe
cific
soi
l sur
vey
for
dem
onst
ratio
n ar
ea.
Ap
pen
dix
12:
S
oil o
bser
vatio
ns ta
ble
for
the
dem
onst
ratio
n si
te s
peci
fic s
oil s
urve
y.
Ap
pen
dix
13:
M
ap u
nit d
escr
iptio
ns a
nd v
aria
bilit
y as
sess
men
t for
the
site
spe
cific
soi
l sur
vey
dem
onst
ratio
n m
ap.
Ap
pen
dix
1.
Ort
hoph
otog
raph
of s
oil s
urve
y ar
ea.
Sta
ndar
ds a
nd P
roce
dure
s fo
r S
ite S
peci
fic S
oil M
appi
ng in
Rho
de Is
land
16
Ap
pen
dix
2.
Con
tour
map
of s
oil s
urve
y ar
ea.
Sta
ndar
ds a
nd P
roce
dure
s fo
r S
ite S
peci
fic S
oil M
appi
ng in
Rho
de Is
land
17
Ap
pen
dix
3.
Exa
mpl
es o
f lan
dsca
pe u
nit d
elin
eatio
ns (
in p
roce
ss)
base
d on
con
tour
line
pat
tern
s an
d sp
acin
g.
Sta
ndar
ds a
nd P
roce
dure
s fo
r S
ite S
peci
fic S
oil M
appi
ng in
Rho
de Is
land
18
Ap
pen
dix
4.
Com
plet
e de
linat
ions
of l
ands
cape
uni
ts b
ased
on
cont
our
line
patte
rns
and
spac
ing.
Sta
ndar
ds a
nd P
roce
dure
s fo
r S
ite S
peci
fic S
oil M
appi
ng in
Rho
de Is
land
19
Ap
pen
dix
5.
Soi
l des
crip
tions
not
e ca
rd.
App
endi
x 5.
Soil
desc
riptio
ns n
ote
card
.So
il Sc
ient
ists
____
____
____
____
____
__
Soil
Surv
ey A
rea:
___
____
___
Obs
erva
tion
I.D
an
d D
ate
Land
scap
e po
sitio
nSl
ope
%
Pare
nt
Mat
eria
l Su
rfac
e Te
xtur
e Pa
rent
M
ater
ial
Text
ure
Ston
ines
s C
lass
Dep
th to
B
edro
ck
or
Den
sic
Mat
eria
lsin
ches
Dep
th to
Fe
C
once
ntra
tions
in
ches
Dep
th to
D
eple
tions
in
ches
Wet
ness
C
lass
M
appi
ngU
nit
20S
tand
ards
and
Pro
cedu
res
for S
ite S
peci
fic S
oil M
appi
ng in
Rho
de Is
land
Sta
ndar
ds a
nd P
roce
dure
s fo
r S
ite S
peci
fic S
oil M
appi
ng in
Rho
de Is
land
20
Ap
pen
dix
6.
Map
s sh
owin
g lo
catio
n of
soi
l obs
erva
tions
.
Sta
ndar
ds a
nd P
roce
dure
s fo
r S
ite S
peci
fic S
oil M
appi
ng in
Rho
de Is
land
21
Ap
pen
dix
7.
Map
sho
win
g lo
catio
n of
add
ition
al s
oil o
bser
vaat
ions
to d
ocum
ent v
aria
bilit
y.
Sta
ndar
ds a
nd P
roce
dure
s fo
r S
ite S
peci
fic S
oil M
appi
ng in
Rho
de Is
land
22
Sta
ndar
ds a
nd P
roce
dure
s fo
r S
ite S
peci
fic S
oil M
appi
ng in
Rho
de Is
land
23
Ap
pen
dix
8.
Com
pone
nts
of th
e m
ap u
nit s
ymbo
l.A
ppen
dix
8.C
ompo
nent
s of
the
map
uni
t sym
bol.
An e
xam
ple
of a
map
uni
t wou
ld b
e: 3
22D
/gr5
C4
or #
##L/
l#L#
, whe
re #
= n
umbe
r, L
= u
pper
cas
e le
tter,
l =
low
er c
ase
lette
r
Pare
nt M
ater
ial
Dep
th to
Se
ason
al H
igh
Wat
er T
able
(W
etne
ss C
lass
)
Dep
th to
R
estr
ictiv
e La
yer
Bed
rock
or
Den
sic
M
ater
ial
/C
oars
e fr
agm
ent
mod
ifier
Pa
rent
mat
eria
l te
xtur
e Sl
ope
clas
s Su
rfac
e te
xtur
e
# #
# L
l #
L #
1 -
Out
was
h 2
- Ic
e C
onta
ct
Stra
tifie
d
Dep
osits
3
- D
ense
Till
4 -
Loos
e Ti
ll5
- A
lluvi
um
6 -
Loes
s 7
- E
olia
n S
ands
8
- H
uman
Tr
ansp
orte
d M
ater
ials
(H
TM)
9 - O
rgan
ic S
oil
Mat
eria
ls
10 -
Res
iduu
m
0 -
0
” – 1
2”
1 -
>12”
– 2
4”
2 -
>24”
– 3
6”
3 -
>36”
– 4
8”
4 -
>48”
1 -
< 24
” 2-
24”
– 4
8”
3 - >
48”
R -
Bed
rock
D -
Den
sic
gr
- gr
avel
ly
vgr -
ver
y gr
avel
ly
xgr -
ext
rem
ely
grav
elly
cb
- c
obbl
y vc
b - v
ery
cobb
ly
xcb
- ext
rem
ely
cobb
lysn
- s
tony
vs
n - v
ery
ston
y xs
n -
extre
mel
y st
ony
bd -
bou
lder
y vb
d - v
ery
boul
dery
xb
d - e
xtre
mel
y bo
ulde
ry
1 -
Silt
loam
2
- L
oam
3
- S
andy
loam
4
- F
ine
sand
y lo
am
5 -
Coa
rse
sand
y lo
am
6 -
Loa
my
sand
7
- L
oam
y fin
e sa
nd
8 -
Loa
my
coar
se
sand
9 -
San
d 10
- Fi
ne s
and
11 -
Coa
rse
sand
12
- C
lay
loam
13
- S
ilty
clay
loam
A -
0
– 3
%
B -
>3
– 8
%
C -
>8
– 1
5%D
- >
15 –
25%
E -
> 2
5%
1 -
Silt
loam
2
- L
oam
3
- S
andy
loam
4
- F
ine
sand
y lo
am 5
- C
oars
e sa
ndy
loam
6
- L
oam
y sa
nd
7 -
Loa
my
fine
sand
8 -
Loa
my
coar
se
sand
9 -
San
d 10
- Fi
ne s
and
11 -
Coa
rse
sand
12
- C
lay
loam
13
- S
ilty
clay
loam
23S
tand
ards
and
Pro
cedu
res
for S
ite S
peci
fic S
oil M
appi
ng in
Rho
de Is
land
Sta
ndar
ds a
nd P
roce
dure
s fo
r S
ite S
peci
fic S
oil M
appi
ng in
Rho
de Is
land
24
Ap
pen
dix
9.
Soi
l Wet
ness
Cla
sses
and
Crit
eria
(ad
apte
d fr
om N
EH
ST
C, 2
004;
US
Cor
p of
Eng
inee
rs, 1
991)
.
Wet
nes
s C
lass
0:
Soi
ls m
eetin
g on
e of
thes
e cr
iteria
are
con
side
red
to h
ave
a w
etne
ss c
lass
of 0
and
a S
HW
T o
f <12
” fr
om th
e so
il su
rfac
e.
I. A
ll H
istis
ols;
II.
Any
min
eral
soi
l: a)
freq
uent
ly p
onde
d or
floo
ded
for
a lo
ng o
r ve
ry lo
ng d
urat
ion
durin
g th
e gr
owin
g se
ason
; b)
flood
ed d
aily
by
tides
; or
c)
hav
ing
sulfi
dic
mat
eria
ls w
ithin
12
inch
es o
f the
soi
l sur
face
.
III.
Any
min
eral
soi
l with
a h
istic
epi
pedo
n.
IV.
Any
min
eral
soi
l with
at l
east
4”
of s
apric
or
hem
ic s
oil m
ater
ials
and
with
in 1
2” h
ave
a la
yer
with
mat
rix c
hrom
a of
2 o
r le
ss.
V.
All
Ent
isol
s an
d In
cept
isol
s ha
ving
a d
ark
or v
ery
dark
sur
face
hav
ing
with
in 1
2” o
f the
min
eral
sur
face
a la
yer
havi
ng a
mat
rix v
alue
of 5
or
m
ore
and
a ch
rom
a of
2 o
r le
ss.
VI.
All
Ent
isol
s an
d In
cept
isol
s w
ith a
mat
rix c
hrom
a 2
or le
ss th
at e
xten
ds to
a d
epth
of 2
0” b
elow
the
top
of th
e m
iner
al s
urfa
ce th
at h
ave
a
dar
k A
or A
p ho
rizon
(w
ith o
r w
ithou
t an
O h
oriz
on)
that
is d
irect
ly u
nder
lain
by
a ho
rizon
with
a m
atrix
val
ue o
f les
s th
an 4
, and
with
in
12
inch
es o
f the
top
of th
e m
iner
al s
oil m
ater
ial o
r di
rect
ly u
nder
lyin
g an
A o
r Ap
horiz
on, w
hich
ever
is s
hallo
wer
, 2 p
erce
nt o
r m
ore
redo
x
im
orph
ic fe
atur
es th
at e
xten
d to
eith
er: a
) a
dept
h of
20
inch
es b
elow
the
top
of th
e m
iner
al s
oil m
ater
ial;
or b
) a
depl
eted
or
gley
ed m
atrix
.
VII.
Spo
doso
ls w
ith e
ither
: 1)
an E
and
Bh
(or
Bhs
) ho
rizon
that
are
at l
east
2 “
thic
k, o
r 2)
if p
low
ed o
r di
stur
bed
a B
h or
Bhs
hor
izon
that
ext
ends
bel
ow 1
2” fr
om th
e m
iner
al s
oil s
urfa
ce.
VIII
. Psa
mm
aque
nts
that
hav
e ei
ther
: 1)
a la
yer
4 to
8 in
ches
thic
k of
slig
htly
to w
ell-d
ecom
pose
d or
gani
c so
il m
ater
ial a
nd/o
r a
muc
ky A
or A
p
hor
izon
, and
are
dire
ctly
und
erla
in b
y a
laye
r w
ith 2
per
cent
or
mor
e re
doxi
mor
phic
feat
ures
; or
2) b
egin
ning
with
in 1
0 in
ches
of t
he to
p
of t
he m
iner
al s
oil m
ater
ial a
nd d
irect
ly u
nder
lyin
g a
dark
A o
r Ap
horiz
on (
with
or
with
out a
n O
hor
izon
) is
a h
oriz
on w
ith a
with
a m
atrix
c
olor
due
to w
etne
ss o
f chr
oma
3 or
less
, val
ue 4
or
mor
e, w
ith 2
per
cent
or
mor
e re
doxi
mor
phic
feat
ures
; or
3) b
egin
ning
with
in 1
5 in
ches
o
f the
top
of th
e m
iner
al s
oil m
ater
ial a
nd d
irect
ly u
nder
lyin
g a
thic
k, v
ery
dark
A o
r Ap
horiz
on th
ere
is a
hor
izon
with
a m
atrix
col
or d
ue to
w
etne
ss o
f chr
oma
3 or
less
, val
ue 3
or
mor
e, w
ith 2
per
cent
or
mor
e re
doxi
mor
phic
feat
ures
. IX
. A
ll E
ntis
ols
and
Ince
ptis
ols
that
hav
e on
e of
the
follo
win
g: 1
) be
ginn
ing
with
in 1
0 in
ches
of t
he to
p of
the
min
eral
soi
l mat
eria
l and
dire
ctly
u
nder
lyin
g a
dark
A o
r Ap
horiz
on (
with
or
with
out a
n O
hor
izon
) a
horiz
on w
ith 5
per
cent
or
mor
e de
plet
ions
, and
with
in 2
0 in
ches
of t
he
top
of t
he m
iner
al s
oil m
ater
ial t
here
is a
hor
izon
with
a d
eple
ted
or g
leye
d m
atrix
; or
2) b
egin
ning
with
in 1
5 in
ches
of t
he to
p of
the
min
eral
soi
l mat
eria
l and
dire
ctly
und
erly
ing
a th
ick,
ver
y da
rk A
p ho
rizon
a h
oriz
on w
ith 5
per
cent
or
mor
e de
plet
ions
and
with
in 2
0 in
ches
of t
he
t
op o
f the
min
eral
soi
l mat
eria
l the
re is
a h
oriz
on w
ith a
dep
lete
d or
gle
yed
mat
rix; o
r 3)
soi
ls th
at h
ave
a ve
ry d
ark
A o
r Ap
horiz
on le
ss
t
han
10 in
ches
thic
k (w
ith o
r w
ithou
t an
O h
oriz
on)
that
are
dire
ctly
und
erla
in b
y a
horiz
on w
ith a
mat
rix c
olor
due
to w
etne
ss o
f chr
oma
3
or
less
, with
10
perc
ent o
r m
ore
redo
xim
orph
ic fe
atur
es; a
nd w
ithin
6 in
ches
of t
he to
p of
the
min
eral
soi
l mat
eria
l hav
e 2
perc
ent o
r
mor
e re
doxi
mor
phic
feat
ures
; and
with
in 1
8 in
ches
of t
he to
p of
the
min
eral
soi
l mat
eria
l hav
e 2
perc
ent o
r m
ore
redo
x de
plet
ions
.
Sta
ndar
ds a
nd P
roce
dure
s fo
r S
ite S
peci
fic S
oil M
appi
ng in
Rho
de Is
land
25
Wet
nes
s C
lass
1:
Soi
ls m
eetin
g th
e fo
llow
ing
crite
rion
are
cons
ider
ed to
hav
e a
wet
ness
cla
ss o
f 1 a
nd a
SH
WT
bet
wee
n a
dept
h of
12”
and
24”
fr
om th
e so
il su
rfac
e.
All
min
eral
soi
ls w
ith c
omm
on o
r m
any
dist
inct
or
prom
inen
t red
oxim
orph
ic fe
atur
es b
etw
een
a de
pth
of 1
2” a
nd 2
4” fr
om th
e so
il su
rfac
e.
Wet
nes
s C
lass
2:
Soi
ls m
eetin
g th
e fo
llow
ing
crite
rion
are
cons
ider
ed to
hav
e a
wet
ness
cla
ss o
f 2 a
nd a
SH
WT
bet
wee
n a
dept
h of
24”
and
36”
from
the
soil
surf
ace.
All
min
eral
soi
ls w
ith c
omm
on o
r m
any
dist
inct
or
prom
inen
t red
oxim
orph
ic fe
atur
es b
etw
een
a de
pth
of 2
4” a
nd 3
6” fr
om th
e so
il su
rfac
e.
Wet
nes
s C
lass
3:
Soi
ls m
eetin
g th
e fo
llow
ing
crite
rion
are
cons
ider
ed to
hav
e a
wet
ness
cla
ss o
f 3 a
nd a
SH
WT
bet
wee
n a
dept
h of
36”
and
48”
from
the
soil
surf
ace.
A
ll m
iner
al s
oils
with
com
mon
or
man
y di
stin
ct o
r pr
omin
ent r
edox
imor
phic
feat
ures
bet
wee
n a
dept
h of
36”
and
48”
from
the
so
il su
rfac
e.
Wet
nes
s C
lass
4:
Soi
ls m
eetin
g th
e fo
llow
ing
crite
rion
are
cons
ider
ed to
hav
e a
wet
ness
cla
ss o
f 4 a
nd a
SH
WT
at a
dep
th >
48”
from
the
soil
su
rfac
e.
All
min
eral
soi
ls w
ith c
omm
on o
r m
any
dist
inct
or
prom
inen
t red
oxim
orph
ic fe
atur
es a
t a d
epth
of >
48”
from
the
soil
surf
ace.
Sta
ndar
ds a
nd P
roce
dure
s fo
r S
ite S
peci
fic S
oil M
appi
ng in
Rho
de Is
land
26
Ap
pen
dix
10.
Key
to th
e S
oil O
rder
s (a
dapt
ed fr
om S
oil S
urve
y S
taff,
200
6). S
ee S
oil S
urve
y S
taff
(200
6) fo
r de
finiti
on o
f ter
ms.
Soi
ls th
at h
ave
orga
nic
soil
mat
eria
ls th
at m
eet o
ne o
r m
ore
of th
e fo
llow
ing:
a.
Con
stitu
te tw
o-th
irds
or m
ore
of th
e to
tal t
hick
ness
of t
he s
oil t
o a
dens
ic, l
ithic
, or
para
lithi
c co
ntac
t and
hav
e no
min
eral
hor
izon
s or
hav
e
min
eral
hor
izon
s w
ith a
tota
l thi
ckne
ss o
f 10
cm o
r le
ss; o
r b.
Are
sat
urat
ed w
ith w
ater
for
30 d
ays
or m
ore
per
year
in n
orm
al y
ears
(or
are
art
ifici
ally
dra
ined
), h
ave
an u
pper
bou
ndar
y w
ithin
40
cm o
f the
soil
surf
ace,
and
hav
e a
tota
l thi
ckne
ss o
f eith
er: (
1) 6
0 cm
or
mor
e if
thre
e-fo
urth
s or
mor
e of
thei
r vo
lum
e co
nsis
ts o
f mos
s fib
ers
or if
thei
r
bulk
den
sity
, m
oist
, is
less
than
0.1
g/c
m3;
or
(2)
40 c
m o
r m
ore
if th
ey c
onsi
st e
ither
of s
apric
or
hem
ic m
ater
ials
, or
of fi
bric
mat
eria
ls w
ith le
ss
th
an th
ree-
four
ths
(by
volu
me)
mos
s fib
ers
and
a bu
lk d
ensi
ty, m
oist
, of 0
.1 g
/cm
3 or
mor
e.
His
toso
ls,
Oth
er s
oils
that
hav
e a
spod
ic h
oriz
on w
ith a
ll of
the
follo
win
g ch
arac
teris
tics:
a.
One
or
mor
e of
the
follo
win
g: (
1) A
thic
knes
s of
10
cm o
r m
ore;
or
(2) A
n ov
erly
ing
Ap
horiz
on; o
r (3
) C
emen
tatio
n in
50
perc
ent o
r m
ore
of e
ach
pe
don;
or
(4) A
coa
rse-
loam
y, lo
amy-
skel
etal
, or
finer
par
ticle
siz
e cl
ass;
and
b. A
n up
per
boun
dary
with
in th
e fo
llow
ing
dept
hs fr
om th
e m
iner
al s
oil s
urfa
ce: e
ither
(1)
Les
s th
an 5
0 cm
; or
(2)
Less
than
200
cm
if th
e so
il ha
s
a sa
ndy
part
icle
siz
e cl
ass
in a
t lea
st s
ome
part
bet
wee
n th
e m
iner
al s
oil s
urfa
ce a
nd th
e sp
odic
hor
izon
; and
c.
A lo
wer
bou
ndar
y as
follo
ws:
(1)
Eith
er a
t a d
epth
of 2
5 cm
or
mor
e be
low
the
min
eral
soi
l sur
face
or
at th
e to
p of
a d
ensi
c, li
thic
, par
alith
ic
co
ntac
t,
Sp
od
oso
ls,
Oth
er s
oils
that
hav
e ei
ther
:1.
A c
ambi
c ho
rizon
with
its
uppe
r bo
unda
ry w
ithin
100
cm
of t
he m
iner
al s
oil s
urfa
ce a
nd it
s lo
wer
bou
ndar
y at
a d
epth
of 2
5 cm
or
mor
e be
low
the
min
eral
soi
l sur
face
; or
2. N
o su
lfidi
c m
ater
ials
with
in 5
0 cm
of t
he m
iner
al s
oil s
urfa
ce; a
nd b
oth:
a. I
n on
e or
mor
e ho
rizon
s be
twee
n 20
and
50
cm b
elow
the
min
eral
soil
surf
ace,
eith
er a
n n
valu
e of
0.7
or
less
or
less
than
8 p
erce
nt c
lay
in th
e fin
e-ea
rth
frac
tion;
and
b. a
his
tic o
r um
bric
epi
pedo
n;
Ince
pti
sols
,
A
ll ot
her
soils
:
En
tiso
ls.
Ap
pen
dix
11.
Com
plet
e si
te s
peci
fic s
oil s
urve
y fo
r d
emon
stra
tion
area
. Thi
s ex
ampl
e so
il su
rvey
is fo
r de
mon
stra
tion
purp
oses
onl
y.
Sta
ndar
ds a
nd P
roce
dure
s fo
r S
ite S
peci
fic S
oil M
appi
ng in
Rho
de Is
land
27
Ap
pen
dix
12.
Soi
l obs
erva
tions
tabl
e fo
r th
e si
te s
peci
fic s
oil s
urve
y de
mon
stra
tion.
Obs
erva
tons
38
-51
wer
e re
cord
ed to
ass
ess
map
uni
t ava
riabi
lity
App
endi
x 12
.Soi
l obs
erva
tions
tabl
e fo
r the
site
spe
cific
soi
l sur
vey
dem
onst
ratio
n. O
bser
vatio
ns 3
8 th
roug
h 51
w
ere
reco
rded
to a
sses
s m
ap u
nit v
aria
bilit
y.
Soil
Scie
ntis
t:___
____
____
____
____
___
Soil
Surv
ey A
rea:
____
____
Obs
erva
tion
I.D
and
Dat
e
Land
scap
epo
sitio
n Sl
ope
%Pa
rent
M
ater
ial
Surf
ace
Text
ure
Pare
nt
Mat
eria
l Te
xtur
e
Ston
ines
s C
lass
Dep
th to
B
edro
ck o
r D
ensi
c M
ater
ials
in
ches
Dep
th to
Fe
Con
cent
ratio
nsin
ches
Dep
th to
D
eple
tions
inch
es
Wet
ness
C
lass
M
appi
ng
Uni
t
1S
UM
3
LS
SIL
S
IL
NS
>4
8 38
383
633/
1A1
2B
S4
LS
SIL
S
IL
NS
>4
8 40
403
633/
1A1
3N
/A
1LS
/OW
S
IL
SL
NS
>4
8 -
--4
1(6)
43/3
A1
4N
/A
3O
W
SL
LS
NS
>4
8 -
-4
143/
6A3
5N
/A
2O
W
SL
SL
NS
>4
8 -
-4
143/
3A3
6N
/A
0LS
/OW
S
IL
LS
NS
>4
8 46
-4
1(6)
33/6
A1
7N
/A
2LS
/OW
S
IL
SL
NS
>4
8 -
-4
1(6)
43/3
A1
8N
/A
0O
W
SL
LS
NS
>4
8 -
-4
143/
6A3
9N
/A
1O
W
SL
LS
NS
>4
8 -
-4
143/
6A3
10N
/A
2O
W
SL
SL
NS
>4
8 -
-4
143/
3A3
11N
/A
3O
W
SL
LS
NS
>4
8 40
-3
133/
6B3
12S
H4
OW
S
L LS
N
S
>48
42-
313
3/6B
3
13N
/A
1O
W
SL
LS
NS
>4
8 -
-4
143/
6A3
14N
/A
0O
W
SL
SL
NS
>4
8 46
-4
143/
3A3
15N
/A
2H
TM
/OW
S
IL
SL
NS
>4
8 -
-4
1(8)
43/3
A1
16N
/A
1H
TM/
OW
S
IL
SL
NS
>4
8 -
-4
1(8)
43/3
A1
17B
S9
OW
S
L LS
N
S
>48
41-
313
3/6C
3
18B
S4
OW
S
L LS
N
S
>48
42-
313
3/6B
3
19B
S3
OW
S
L LS
N
S
>48
43-
313
3/6B
3 28S
tand
ards
and
Pro
cedu
res
for S
ite S
peci
fic S
oil M
appi
ng in
Rho
de Is
land
Sta
ndar
ds a
nd P
roce
dure
s fo
r S
ite S
peci
fic S
oil M
appi
ng in
Rho
de Is
land
28
Soil
Scie
ntis
t:___
____
____
____
____
___
Soil
Surv
ey A
rea:
____
____
Obs
erva
tion
I.D
and
Dat
e La
ndsc
ape
posi
tion
Slop
e %
Pare
nt
Mat
eria
l Su
rfac
e Te
xtur
e Pa
rent
M
ater
ial
Text
ure
Ston
ines
s C
lass
Dep
th to
B
edro
ck
or D
ensi
c M
ater
ials
in
ches
Dep
th to
Fe
Con
cent
-ra
tions
in
ches
Dep
th to
D
eple
tions
inch
es
Wet
ness
C
lass
M
appi
ng
Uni
t
20S
UM
0
LS/O
W
SIL
LS
N
S
>48
--
41(
6)43
/3A
1
21B
S9
OW
S
L S
L N
S
>48
39-
313
3/6C
3
22FS
5O
W
SL
LS
NS
>4
8 14
181
113/
6B3
23FS
4O
W
SL
LS
NS
>4
8 15
191
113/
6B3
24B
S7
OW
S
L LS
N
S
>48
37-
313
3/6B
3
25B
S5
OW
S
L LS
N
S
>48
37-
313
3/6B
3
26B
S3
OW
S
L S
L N
S
>48
1616
111
3/6B
3
27B
S8
OW
S
L LS
N
S
>48
2222
111
3/6C
3
28FS
9O
W
SL
LS
NS
>4
8 40
403
133/
6C3
29TS
2O
W
SL
LS
NS
>4
8 6
100
103/
6A3
30TS
0A
L FS
L FS
L N
S
>48
511
010
3/6B
3
31B
S8
OW
S
L LS
N
S
>48
41-
313
3/6C
3
32B
S9
OW
S
L S
L N
S
>48
1414
111
3/3C
3
33B
S9
OW
S
L LS
N
S
>48
1515
111
3/6C
3
34TS
0A
L FS
L LF
S
NS
>4
8 6
60
503/
4A4
35TS
0A
L FS
L FS
L N
S
>48
88
050
3/4A
4
36TS
1O
W
SL
LS
NS
>4
8 7
70
103/
6A3
37N
/A
3O
W
SL
LS
NS
>4
8 -
-4
143/
6A3
38B
S4
LS
SIL
S
IL
NS
>48
4646
363
3/1A
1
29S
tand
ards
and
Pro
cedu
res
for S
ite S
peci
fic S
oil M
appi
ng in
Rho
de Is
land
Sta
ndar
ds a
nd P
roce
dure
s fo
r S
ite S
peci
fic S
oil M
appi
ng in
Rho
de Is
land
29
Soil
Scie
ntis
t:___
____
____
____
____
___
Soil
Surv
ey A
rea:
____
____
Obs
erva
tion
I.D
and
Dat
e La
ndsc
ape
posi
tion
Slop
e %
Pare
nt
Mat
eria
l Su
rfac
e Te
xtur
e Pa
rent
M
ater
ial
Text
ure
Ston
ines
s C
lass
Dep
th to
B
edro
ck
or D
ensi
c M
ater
ials
in
ches
Dep
th to
Fe
C
once
nt-
ratio
ns
inch
es
Dep
th to
D
eple
tions
inch
es
Wet
ness
C
lass
M
appi
ng
Uni
t
39S
UM
2
LS
SIL
S
IL
NS
>4
8 37
453
633/
1A1
40N
/A
0LS
/OW
S
IL
SL
NS
>48
---
41(
6)43
/3A
1
41N
/A
2O
W
SL
LCS
N
S>4
8-
-4
143/
8A3
42N
/A
1O
W
SL
LS
NS
>48
--
414
3/6A
3
43B
S4
OW
S
L LS
N
S>4
847
-3
133/
6B3
44B
S3
OW
S
L LS
N
S>4
837
373
133/
6B3
45B
S4
OW
S
L LS
N
S>4
836
363
133/
6B3
46N
/A
0H
TM
/OW
S
IL
SL
NS
>48
--
41(
8)43
/3A
1
47N
/A
1H
TM
/OW
S
IL
LS
NS
>48
--
41(
8)43
/6A
1
48FS
3O
W
SL
LS
NS
>48
2020
111
3/6B
3
49FS
5O
W
SL
LS
NS
>48
1418
111
3/6B
3
50TS
0A
L FS
L FS
L N
S>4
86
60
503/
4A4
51TS
1O
W
SL
LS
NS
>48
99
010
3/6A
3
Land
scap
e Po
sitio
ns: s
umm
it (S
UM
), sh
ould
er (S
H),
back
slop
e (B
S), f
oots
lope
(FS)
, toe
slop
e (T
S), a
nd n
on-a
pplic
able
(N/A
). Pa
rent
Mat
eria
ls: o
utw
ash
(OW
), lo
ess
(LS)
, loe
ss o
ver o
utw
ash
(LS
/OW
), hu
man
-tran
spor
ted
mat
eria
ls o
ver o
utw
ash
(HTM
/OW
), an
d al
luvi
um (A
L).
Text
ures
: silt
loam
(SIL
), fin
e sa
ndy
loam
(FS
L), s
andy
loam
(SL)
, loa
my
sand
(LS)
, loa
my
fine
sand
y (L
FS),
and
loam
y co
arse
san
d (L
CS)
.St
onin
ess
Cla
ss: n
on-s
tony
(NS)
.
30S
tand
ards
and
Pro
cedu
res
for S
ite S
peci
fic S
oil M
appi
ng in
Rho
de Is
land
Sta
ndar
ds a
nd P
roce
dure
s fo
r S
ite S
peci
fic S
oil M
appi
ng in
Rho
de Is
land
30
Sta
ndar
ds a
nd P
roce
dure
s fo
r S
ite S
peci
fic S
oil M
appi
ng in
Rho
de Is
land
31
Ap
pen
dix
13.
Map
uni
t des
crip
tions
and
var
iabi
lity
asse
ssm
ent f
or th
e si
te s
peci
fic s
oil s
urve
y de
mon
stra
tion
map
.
103/
6A3—
Soi
ls o
ccur
in th
e to
eslo
pe p
ositi
on o
f dra
inag
eway
s at
the
low
er p
art o
f the
out
was
h pl
ain
land
scap
e. T
he a
vera
ge s
easo
nal h
igh
wat
er ta
ble
is le
ss th
an 1
2” fr
om th
e so
il su
rfac
e. S
urfa
ce a
nd n
ear
surf
ace
horiz
ons
have
san
dy lo
am te
xtur
es.
Sub
soil
text
ures
are
loam
y sa
nd.
Slo
pes
are
less
than
3%
. With
in th
e so
il su
rvey
are
a, th
ese
soils
are
of m
inim
al e
xten
t.
113/
6B3—
Soi
ls o
ccur
with
in th
e up
per
port
ion
of th
e pr
imar
y dr
aina
gew
ay o
f the
sur
vey
area
. Soi
ls h
ave
form
ed in
out
was
h de
posi
ts. S
urfa
ce
and
near
-sur
face
text
ures
are
san
dy lo
am. M
ost o
f the
sub
soil
text
ures
are
loam
y sa
nd. T
his
map
uni
t als
o in
clud
es s
mal
l are
as w
here
san
dy
loam
mat
eria
ls a
re a
lso
enco
unte
red
in th
e su
bsoi
l. T
he a
vera
ge s
easo
nal h
igh
wat
er ta
ble
rang
es fr
om 1
2 to
24”
from
the
soil
surf
ace.
Slo
pes
rang
e be
twee
n 3
and
8%.
113/
6C3—
Soi
ls o
ccur
on
back
slop
e po
sitio
ns a
djac
ent t
o dr
aina
gew
ays
and
flood
plai
ns. S
oils
hav
e fo
rmed
in o
utw
ash
depo
sits
. Sur
face
and
ne
ar-s
urfa
ce te
xtur
es a
re s
andy
loam
. Mos
t of t
he s
ubso
il te
xtur
es a
re lo
amy
sand
. Thi
s m
ap u
nit a
lso
incl
udes
sm
all a
reas
whe
re s
andy
loam
m
ater
ials
are
als
o en
coun
tere
d in
the
subs
oil.
The
ave
rage
sea
sona
l hig
h w
ater
tabl
e ra
nges
from
12
to 2
4” fr
om th
e so
il su
rfac
e. S
lope
s ar
e 8
to
15%
.
133/
6B3—
Soi
ls o
ccur
on
the
slop
ing
or m
ore
undu
latin
g po
rtio
ns o
f the
out
was
h pl
ane.
The
text
ure
of th
e su
rfac
e an
d ne
ar-s
urfa
ce h
oriz
ons
is
sand
y lo
am. T
he d
eepe
r ou
twas
h m
ater
ials
are
prim
arily
loam
y sa
nd. T
his
map
uni
t als
o in
clud
es s
mal
l are
as w
here
san
dy lo
am m
ater
ials
are
al
so e
ncou
nter
ed in
the
subs
oil.
Evi
denc
e of
a s
easo
nal w
ater
tabl
e oc
curs
bet
wee
n 36
to 4
8” fr
om th
e so
il su
rfac
e. S
lope
s ar
e be
twee
n 3
and
8%.
133/
6C3—
Soi
ls o
ccur
on
the
slop
ing
or m
ore
undu
latin
g po
rtio
ns o
f the
out
was
h pl
ane.
The
text
ure
of th
e su
rfac
e an
d ne
ar-s
urfa
ce h
oriz
ons
is
sand
y lo
am. T
he d
eepe
r ou
twas
h m
ater
ials
are
prim
arily
loam
y sa
nd. T
his
map
uni
t als
o in
clud
es s
mal
l are
as w
here
san
dy lo
am m
ater
ials
are
al
so e
ncou
nter
ed in
the
subs
oil.
Evi
denc
e of
a s
easo
nal w
ater
tabl
e oc
curs
bet
wee
n 36
and
48”
from
the
soil
surf
ace.
Slo
pes
are
betw
een
8 an
d 15
%.
143/
6A3—
Soi
ls o
ccur
on
flat o
utw
ash
plai
n la
ndfo
rms.
The
out
was
h is
san
dy lo
am in
the
surf
ace
and
near
-sur
face
hor
izon
s an
d pr
imar
ily lo
amy
sand
in th
e lo
wer
sol
um a
nd d
eepe
r re
golit
h. T
his
map
uni
t als
o in
clud
es s
mal
l are
as w
here
san
dy lo
am a
nd lo
amy
coar
se s
and
mat
eria
ls a
re
enco
unte
red
in th
e su
bsoi
l. In
mos
t cas
es e
vide
nce
of a
sea
sona
l wat
er ta
ble
is g
reat
er th
an 4
8”. T
his
map
uni
t als
o in
clud
es s
mal
l are
as w
here
th
e av
erag
e se
ason
al h
igh
wat
er ta
ble
is w
ithin
36”
of t
he s
oil s
urfa
ce. A
ll sl
opes
are
less
than
3%
.
1(6)
43/3
A1—
Soi
ls o
ccur
on
flat o
utw
ash
plai
n la
ndfo
rms
whi
ch a
re c
over
ed in
a m
oder
atel
y th
ick
(30
to 4
8”)
cap
of lo
ess.
The
loes
s is
silt
loam
in
text
ure.
The
und
erly
ing
outw
ash
is s
andy
loam
or
loam
y sa
nd.
In m
ost c
ases
the
aver
age
seas
onal
wat
er ta
ble
is g
reat
er th
an 4
8”.
Thi
s m
ap
unit
also
incl
udes
sm
all a
reas
whe
re th
e av
erag
e se
ason
al h
igh
wat
er ta
ble
is w
ithin
36”
of t
he s
oil s
urfa
ce. A
ll sl
opes
are
less
than
3%
.
Sta
ndar
ds a
nd P
roce
dure
s fo
r S
ite S
peci
fic S
oil M
appi
ng in
Rho
de Is
land
32
1(8)
43/3
A1—
Soi
ls fo
rmed
in h
uman
tran
spor
ted
mat
eria
ls (
HT
M)
depo
site
d fr
om o
n-si
te o
ver
outw
ash
pare
nt m
ater
ials
. The
HT
M is
silt
loam
in
text
ure
and
betw
een
30 a
nd 4
8” in
thic
knes
s. U
nder
lyin
g th
e H
TM
is o
utw
ash
mat
eria
ls w
ith a
san
dy lo
am a
nd lo
amy
sand
text
ure.
The
ave
rage
se
ason
al h
igh
wat
er ta
ble
is g
reat
er th
an 4
8” b
elow
the
soil
surf
ace.
All
slop
es a
re le
ss th
an 3
%.
503/
4A4—
Soi
ls fo
rmed
on
flood
plai
n la
ndsc
apes
. The
allu
vial
par
ent m
ater
ials
are
prim
arily
fine
san
dy lo
am w
ith s
ome
soils
hav
ing
a lo
amy
fine
sand
text
ure.
Sur
face
and
nea
r-su
rfac
e ho
rizon
s ar
e fin
e sa
ndy
loam
. The
ave
rage
sea
sona
l hig
h w
ater
tabl
e is
bet
wee
n 0
and
12”
belo
w th
e so
il su
rfac
e. S
lope
s ar
e 3%
or
less
.
633/
1A1—
Soi
ls, f
ound
on
sum
mits
and
bac
kslo
pes,
hav
e fo
rmed
in lo
ess
pare
nt m
ater
ials
that
are
gre
ater
than
48”
thic
k. S
urfa
ce a
nd s
ubsu
r-fa
ce h
oriz
ons
are
silt
loam
in te
xtur
e. T
he a
vera
ge s
easo
nal h
igh
wat
er ta
ble
is b
etw
een
36 a
nd 4
8” b
elow
the
soil
surf
ace.
Slo
pes
are
3% o
r le
ss.
Var
iab
ility
Ass
essm
ent
Add
ition
al s
oil o
bser
vatio
ns w
ere
mad
e in
the
larg
est o
f the
map
uni
ts h
avin
g th
e sa
me
pare
nt m
ater
ial,
wet
ness
cla
ss, a
nd d
epth
to r
estr
ictiv
e la
yer
to a
sses
s th
e am
ount
of v
aria
bilit
y (s
ee v
aria
bilit
y po
ints
on
obse
rvat
ion
map
; App
endi
x 7)
. The
num
ber
of to
tal o
bser
vatio
ns n
eces
sary
to
asse
ss v
aria
bilit
y fo
r ea
ch m
ap u
nit w
as d
eter
min
ed fr
om T
able
2.
The
loca
tions
of t
hese
poi
nts
wer
e ra
ndom
ly c
hose
n. A
t lea
st 6
5% o
f the
obs
er-
vatio
ns w
ithin
eac
h of
the
map
uni
ts e
xam
ined
had
the
sam
e cl
assi
ficat
ion
base
d on
par
ent m
ater
ial,
wet
ness
cla
ss, a
nd d
epth
to r
estr
ictiv
e la
yer.
The
var
iatio
ns in
the
soils
with
in e
ach
map
uni
t are
dis
cuss
ed in
the
map
uni
t leg
end.
