The following is a map unit description from the "Soil Survey of Barnstable County, Massachusetts (Fletcher, 1993)"
CcA-Carver loamy coarse sand, 0 to 3 percent slopes. This very deep, nearly level, excessively drained soil generally is in broad areas on outwash plains but is also in areas of sandy glacial lake deposits. It makes up approximately 1.2 percent (3,020 acres) of the survey area. It is mapped mainly in the Enfield-Merrimac-Carver general soil map unit. Areas are irregular in shape and range from 5 to 300 acres in size.
Typically, the surface is covered with an organic layer. This layer is about 2 inches of loose, undecomposed pine needles, leaves, and twigs and 1 inch of matted, partly decomposed and well decomposed organic material. The surface layer is light brownish gray, very friable loamy coarse sand about 3 inches thick. The subsoil is coarse sand about 33 inches thick. The upper 10 inches is strong brown and very friable, the next 9 inches is yellowish brown and very friable, and the lower 14 inches is brownish yellow and loose. The substratum to a depth of 65 inches or more is light yellowish brown, loose coarse sand.
Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of Eastchop, Enfield, Hinckley, and Merrimac soils and areas where slopes are more than 3 percent. Included soils make up about 20 percent of this unit.
Permeability is very rapid in the subsoil and substratum of the Carver soil. Available water capacity is very low. The soil is droughty in late summer. Depth to the seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet.
Most areas are used as woodland. Many areas have been developed for homesites, and a few areas are farmed.
This soil is poorly suited to cultivated crops because of the low available water capacity. Irrigation is needed for most cultivated crops. Mixing plant residue and manure into the surface layer increases the available water capacity, helps to maintain good tilth, and increases the organic matter content.
This soil is poorly suited to hay and pasture. The main management objective is the prevention of overgrazing, which reduces the hardiness and density of desirable plants. Proper stocking rates, timely grazing, and restricted use during wet periods help to maintain plant density and minimize surface compaction.
This soil is poorly suited to woodland because of the droughtiness. Thinning dense stands to standard stocking levels results in more vigorous tree growth. Diseased, deformed, and otherwise undesirable trees should be removed when the stands are thinned. The most common trees are pitch pine, scrub oak, scarlet oak, white oak, and black oak. Generally, these trees are of poor quality and seldom attain heights of more than 35 feet.
Few limitations affect the use of this soil as a site for buildings with or without basements. The droughtiness is a limitation affecting lawns and shallow-rooted trees and shrubs. Adding a layer of topsoil and frequently watering during dry periods help to overcome this limitation.
This soil readily absorbs but may not adequately filter the effluent in septic tank absorption fields. The poor filtering capacity may result in the pollution of ground water. The hazard of pollution increases with the density of housing. Precautionary measures may be necessary in some areas.
