Essex County Soil Survey Report - Southern Part - Non-technical Map Unit Descriptions
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/AGR
WATER An on-site investigation is necessary to determine suitability and limitations.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/SOI
This map unit includes areas that are normally covered with water.
Map Unit: 12A - MAYBID SILT LOAM, 0 TO 3 PERCENT SLOPES
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/AGR
The map unit is in capability subclass 6W indicating severe limitations that make the soil generally unsuited to cultivation and limit its
use largely to pasture. Water in or on the soil interferes with plant growth or cultivation.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/SOI
The map unit is very poorly drained; water is removed from the soil so slowly that free water remains near the surface. Agronomic
capability class is 6W. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/URB
This map unit has severe limitation for use as a septic tank absorbtion field because of ponding and slow percolation. There is severe
limitation for local roads and streets due to ponding, low strength and frost action. For dwellings with basement, there is severe limitation
because of ponding and for small commercial buildings, there is severe limitation due to ponding.
Map Unit: 14B - SCITICO SILT LOAM, 0 TO 5 PERCENT SLOPES
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/AGR
The map unit is in capability subclass 4W indicating very severe limitations that reduce the choice of plants or require very careful
management, or both. Water in or on the soil may interfere with plant growth or cultivation.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/SOI
The map unit is poorly drained; water is removed so slowly that the soil is saturated or remains wet for long periods. Agronomic capability
class is 4W. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches. A seasonal high water table is normally between 0 and 1.0 feet below the
surface from OCT through JUN.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/URB
This map unit has severe limitation for use as a septic tank absorbtion field because of wetness and slow percolation. There is severe
limitation for local roads and streets due to low strength, wetness and frost action. For dwellings with basement, there is severe limitation
because of wetness and for small commercial buildings, there is severe limitation due to wetness.
Map Unit: 31A - WALPOLE FINE SANDY LOAM, 0 TO 3 PERCENT SLOPES
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/AGR
The map unit is in capability subclass 3W indicating severe limitations that reduce the choice of plants or require special conservation
practices, or both. Water in or on the soil may interfere with plant growth or cultivation.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/SOI
The map unit is poorly drained; water is removed so slowly that the soil is saturated or remains wet for long periods. Agronomic capability
class is 3W. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches. A seasonal high water table is normally between 0 and 1.0 feet below the
surface from NOV through MAY.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/URB
This map unit has severe limitation for use as a septic tank absorbtion field because of wetness and poor filtration. There is severe
limitation for local roads and streets due to wetness and frost action. For dwellings with basement, there is severe limitation because of
wetness and for small commercial buildings, there is severe limitation due to wetness.
Map Unit: 31B - WALPOLE FINE SANDY LOAM, 3 TO 8 PERCENT SLOPES
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/AGR
The map unit is in capability subclass 3W indicating severe limitations that reduce the choice of plants or require special conservation
practices, or both. Water in or on the soil may interfere with plant growth or cultivation.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/SOI
The map unit is poorly drained; water is removed so slowly that the soil is saturated or remains wet for long periods. Agronomic capability
class is 3W. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches. A seasonal high water table is normally between 0 and 1.0 feet below the
surface from NOV through MAY.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/URB
This map unit has severe limitation for use as a septic tank absorbtion field because of wetness and poor filtration. There is severe
limitation for local roads and streets due to wetness and frost action. For dwellings with basement, there is severe limitation because of
wetness and for small commercial buildings, there is severe limitation due to wetness.
Map Unit: 32A - WAREHAM LOAMY SAND, 0 TO 3 PERCENT SLOPES
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/AGR
The map unit is in capability subclass 4W indicating very severe limitations that reduce the choice of plants or require very careful
management, or both. Water in or on the soil may interfere with plant growth or cultivation.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/SOI
The map unit is poorly drained; water is removed so slowly that the soil is saturated or remains wet for long periods. Agronomic capability
class is 4W. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches. A seasonal high water table is normally between 0 and 0.5 feet below the
surface from SEP through JUN.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/URB
This map unit has severe limitation for use as a septic tank absorbtion field because of wetness and poor filtration. There is severe
limitation for local roads and streets due to wetness. For dwellings with basement, there is severe limitation because of wetness and for
small commercial buildings, there is severe limitation due to wetness.
Map Unit: 38A - PIPESTONE LOAMY FINE SAND, 0 TO 3 PERCENT SLOPES
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/AGR
The map unit is in capability subclass 4W indicating very severe limitations that reduce the choice of plants or require very careful
management, or both. Water in or on the soil may interfere with plant growth or cultivation.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/SOI
The map unit is poorly drained; water is removed so slowly that the soil is saturated or remains wet for long periods. Agronomic capability
class is 4W. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches. A seasonal high water table is normally between 0.5 and 1.5 feet below the
surface from OCT through JUN.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/URB
This map unit has severe limitation for use as a septic tank absorbtion field because of wetness and poor filtration. There is severe
limitation for local roads and streets due to wetness. For dwellings with basement, there is severe limitation because of wetness and for
small commercial buildings, there is severe limitation due to wetness.
Map Unit: 43A - SCARBORO MUCKY LOAMY FINE SAND, 0 TO 1 PERCENT SLOPES
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/AGR
The map unit is in capability subclass 5W indicating little or no erosion hazard but other limitations, impractical to remove, that limit
agronomic use. Water in or on the soil interferes with plant growth or cultivation.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/SOI
The map unit is very poorly drained; water is removed from the soil so slowly that free water remains near the surface. Agronomic
capability class is 5W. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/URB
This map unit has severe limitation for use as a septic tank absorbtion field because of ponding and poor filtration. There is severe
limitation for local roads and streets due to ponding and frost action. For dwellings with basement, there is severe limitation because of
ponding and for small commercial buildings, there is severe limitation due to ponding.
Map Unit: 51A - SWANSEA MUCK, 0 TO 1 PERCENT SLOPES
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/AGR
The map unit is in capability subclass 5W indicating little or no erosion hazard but other limitations, impractical to remove, that limit
agronomic use. Water in or on the soil interferes with plant growth or cultivation.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/SOI
The map unit is very poorly drained; water is removed from the soil so slowly that free water remains near the surface. Agronomic
capability class is 5W. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches. A seasonal high water table is normally between 0 and 1.0 feet below
the surface from JAN through DEC.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/URB
This map unit has severe limitation for use as a septic tank absorbtion field because of wetness and poor filtration. There is severe
limitation for local roads and streets due to wetness, low strength and frost action. For dwellings with basement, there is severe limitation
because of wetness and for small commercial buildings, there is severe limitation due to wetness and low strength.
Map Unit: 52A - FREETOWN MUCK, 0 TO 1 PERCENT SLOPES
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/AGR
The map unit is in capability subclass 5W indicating little or no erosion hazard but other limitations, impractical to remove, that limit
agronomic use. Water in or on the soil interferes with plant growth or cultivation.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/SOI
The map unit is very poorly drained; water is removed from the soil so slowly that free water remains near the surface. Agronomic
capability class is 5W. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches. A seasonal high water table is normally between 0.0 and 1.0 feet
below the surface from JAN through DEC.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/URB
This map unit has severe limitation for use as a septic tank absorbtion field because of wetness. There is severe limitation for local
roads and streets due to wetness, low strength and frost action. For dwellings with basement, there is severe limitation because of
wetness and low strength and for small commercial buildings, there is severe limitation due to wetness and low strength.
Map Unit: 53A - FREETOWN MUCK, PONDED, 0 TO 1 PERCENT SLOPES
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/AGR
The map unit is in capability subclass 7W which has very severe limitations that make the soil unsuited to cultivation and that restricts
its use to grazing. Water in or on the soil interferes with plant growth or cultivation.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/SOI
The map unit is very poorly drained; water is removed from the soil so slowly that free water remains near the surface. Agronomic
capability class is 7W. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/URB
This map unit has severe limitation for use as a septic tank absorbtion field because of ponding. There is severe limitation for local
roads and streets due to ponding, low strength and frost action. For dwellings with basement, there is severe limitation because of
ponding and low strength and for small commercial buildings, there is severe limitation due to ponding and low strength.
Map Unit: 70B - RIDGEBURY FINE SANDY LOAM, 0 TO 6 PERCENT SLOPES
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/AGR
The map unit is in capability subclass 3W indicating severe limitations that reduce the choice of plants or require special conservation
practices, or both. Water in or on the soil may interfere with plant growth or cultivation.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/SOI
The map unit is poorly drained; water is removed so slowly that the soil is saturated or remains wet for long periods. Agronomic capability
class is 3W. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches. A firm layer at about 20 inches impedes the vertical movement of water. A
seasonal high water table is normally between 0 and 0.5 feet below the surface from NOV through MAY.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/URB
This map unit has severe limitation for use as a septic tank absorbtion field because of slow percolation and wetness. There is severe
limitation for local roads and streets due to wetness and frost action. For dwellings with basement, there is severe limitation because of
wetness and for small commercial buildings, there is severe limitation due to wetness.
Map Unit: 71A - RIDGEBURY FINE SANDY LOAM, 0 TO 3 PERCENT SLOPES, EXTREMELY STONY
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/AGR
The map unit is in capability subclass 7S which has very severe limitations that make the soil unsuited to cultivation and that restricts its
use to grazing. Stoniness is a significant limitation.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/SOI
The map unit is poorly drained; water is removed so slowly that the soil is saturated or remains wet for long periods. Surface stones limit
cultivation or use of equipment. Agronomic capability class is 7S. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches. A firm layer at about 20
inches impedes the vertical movement of water. A seasonal high water table is normally between 0 and 0.5 feet below the surface from
NOV through MAY.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/URB
This map unit has severe limitation for use as a septic tank absorbtion field because of slow percolation and wetness. There is severe
limitation for local roads and streets due to wetness and frost action. For dwellings with basement, there is severe limitation because of
wetness and for small commercial buildings, there is severe limitation due to wetness.
Map Unit: 71B - RIDGEBURY FINE SANDY LOAM, 3 TO 8 PERCENT SLOPES, EXTREMELY STONY
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/AGR
The map unit is in capability subclass 7S which has very severe limitations that make the soil unsuited to cultivation and that restricts its
use to grazing. Stoniness is a significant limitation.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/SOI
The map unit is poorly drained; water is removed so slowly that the soil is saturated or remains wet for long periods. Surface stones limit
cultivation or use of equipment. Agronomic capability class is 7S. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches. A firm layer at about 20
inches impedes the vertical movement of water. A seasonal high water table is normally between 0 and 0.5 feet below the surface from
NOV through MAY.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/URB
This map unit has severe limitation for use as a septic tank absorbtion field because of slow percolation and wetness. There is severe
limitation for local roads and streets due to wetness and frost action. For dwellings with basement, there is severe limitation because of
wetness and for small commercial buildings, there is severe limitation due to wetness.
Map Unit: 73A - WHITMAN LOAM, 0 TO 3 PERCENT SLOPES, EXTREMELY STONY
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/AGR
The map unit is in capability subclass 7S which has very severe limitations that make the soil unsuited to cultivation and that restricts its
use to grazing. Stoniness is a significant limitation.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/SOI
The map unit is very poorly drained; water is removed from the soil so slowly that free water remains near the surface. Surface stones
limit cultivation or use of equipment. Agronomic capability class is 7S. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches. A firm layer at about
14 inches impedes the vertical movement of water.
Text Kind/Category: Nontechnical description/URB
This map unit has severe limitation for use as a septic tank absorbtion field because of slow percolation and ponding. There is severe
limitation for local roads and streets due to frost action and ponding. For dwellings with basement, there is severe limitation because of
ponding and for small commercial buildings, there is severe limitation due to ponding.
