The following is a map unit description from the "Soil Survey of Norfolk and Suffolk Counties, Massachusetts (Peragallo, 1989)"
NuC-Newport-Urban land complex, 3 to 15 percent slopes. This map unit consists of very deep, gently sloping and strongly sloping, well drained soil and areas of Urban land on hills in the Boston Basin. In a typical area it is about 50 percent Newport soil, 40 percent Urban land, and 10 percent other soils. The Newport soil and areas of Urban land are in such an intricate pattern that it was not practical to separate them at the scale used for mapping. Areas are oval in shape and range from 10 to 500 acres.
Typically, the surface layer of the Newport soil is dark brown silt loam about 9 inches thick. The subsoil is light olive brown silt loam about 17 inches thick. The substratum is firm, light yellowish brown silt loam to a depth of 60 inches or more. In many areas the coarse fragments in the soil are 50 to 75 percent, by volume, flat, dark gray shale and slate and are 1 to 15 inches long.
Urban land consists of areas where the original soil has been covered with impervious surfaces, such as asphalt, concrete, and buildings, In most cases the underlying soil has been cut away or covered by fill from surrounding areas of the Newport soil.
Included with this unit in mapping are small areas of Paxton soils in positions on the landscape similar to those of the Newport soil. Also included are Pittstown soils in low, flat areas or depressions. Also included are small areas of Udorthents, loamy, where the Newport soil has been cut away or covered with 20 inches or more of loamy fill material. Included areas make up about 10 percent of the map unit.
Permeability: Moderate in the surface layer and the subsoil and slow in the substratum.
Available water capacity: Moderate.
Soil reaction: Very strongly acid to moderately acid throughout.
Depth to bedrock: More than 60 inches.
Depth to the seasonal high water table: 1.5 to 2.5 feet.
Hydrologic group: C.
The mapped areas of this complex are in residential and commercial uses.
If the Newport soil is used as sites for septic tank absorption fields, the slow permeability of the substratum restricts it from readily absorbing the effluent. Installing a drain field that is larger than average helps to overcome this limitation. Tile drains around building foundations help to lower the seasonal high water table. Designing lots to drain surface water away from buildings helps to prevent damage to the structural interior by the seasonal high water table, During construction, minimizing the exposed soil area helps to control erosion. Hay bale barriers, sediment basins, and other erosion control measures also help to control erosion. Lawns, landscape planting, and gardens are easily established and maintained on the Newport soil.
This soil has not been assigned to a capability subclass.
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