Plymouth County Soil Survey
GENERAL SOIL MAP UNITS
April 27, 2000 (Advanced Information Subject to Change)
1. Birchwood-Poquonock-Mattapoisett: Very deep, nearly level to moderately steep, well
drained to poorly drained soils formed in sandy mantled underlain
by loamy firm to friable glacial till in areas of ground moraines
and uplands.
2. Freetown-Swansea-Scarboro: Very deep, nearly level, very poorly drained soils
formed in very deep to shallow freshwater organic deposits,
underlain by glacial fluvial deposits in swamps and depressions.
3. Hinckley-Windsor-Deerfield: Very deep, nearly level to steep, excessively to
moderately well drained soils formed in glacial fluvial deposits
on outwash plains, deltas, kames, and ice contact deposits.
4. Scituate- -Montauk-Norwell: Very deep, gently sloping to steep, well drained to
poorly drained soils formed in loamy glacial till overlying dense
glacial till; on upland oval hills (drumlins) and ground moraines.
5. Plymouth-Carver: Gently sloping to steep, excessively drained soils
formed in loose sandy ice contact and glacial outwash deposits on
moraines and outwash plains.
6. Canton-Chatfield-Rock outcrop: Very deep to moderately deep, gently sloping to very
steep, well drained soils formed in glacial till and ice-contact,
stratified drift; in areas of bedrock controlled uplands.
7. Carver: Nearly
level to steep, very deep, excessively drained sandy soils formed
in glacial outwash and ice-contact deposits, on outwash plains
and kames.
8. Ipswich-Pawcatuck-Hooksan: Level, very deep, very poorly drained and excessively
drained soils formed in organic and sandy eolian marine deposits;
in areas sheltered from ocean waves along coastal shorelines and
adjacent to brackish water bodies.
9. Raynham-Scio-Birdsall: Very deep, nearly level to gently sloping, moderately
well to very poorly drained soils formed in silty lacustrine
deposits.
10. Woodbridge-Paxton-Ridgebury: Very deep, gently sloping to steep, well drained to
poorly drained soils formed in loamy glacial till overlying dense
glacial till; on upland oval hills (drumlins) and ground moraines.
1. Birchwood-Poquonock-Mattapoisett (Click for Block Diagram)
Very deep, nearly level to moderately steep, moderately well drained, well drained, and poorly drained soils formed in sandy eolian and/or fluvial material underlain by loamy firm to friable glacial till in areas of ground moraines, drumlins and uplands. The depth to the underlying dense till typically ranges from 35 to 70 inches.
This map unit occurs throughout Plymouth County and makes up about xx percent of the survey area. It is about xx percent Birchwood soils, xx percent Poquonock soils, and xx percent Mattapoisett soils and xx percent soil of minor extent. The type of basal till underlying these soils varies depending on the bedrock type carried and deposited by the glacier. In general, the Southern portion of the County has a sandy, granitic till, the Northern and Western part has a loamy dark till high with a high percentage of flat shale and siltstone, the Central part of the county has a loamy olive colored till with mixed mineralogy. For more information see the geology section.
Birchwood soils are moderately well drained soils on gentle sideslopes and footslopes of hills. Birchwood soils have a perched, seasonal high watertable about 1.5 to 4 feet below the surface. Poquonock soils are well drained soils on convex hilltops and moderately steep sideslopes. Poquonock soils have a perched, seasonal high watertable approximately 2.5 to 5 feet below the surface. Mattapoisett soils are poorly drained soils on lowlying flat areas along drainageways. Mattapoisett soils have a perched, seasonal high watertable about 0.5 to 1.5 feet below the surface. Complete descriptions of Birchwood, Poquonock, and Mattapoisett soils can be found in the "classification of the soils" section of this report.
Minor soils in this map unit are the well drained Montauk and Paxton soils, the moderately well drained Scituate and Woodbridge soils, and the very poorly drained Brockton soils. Deerfield and Windsor soils are on nearby fluvial landforms. Montauk, Paxton, Woodbridge, and Scituate soils are loamy throughout and have a firm to very firm substratum. Brockton soils have a perched watertable at or near the surface for most of the year. Deerfield and Windsor soils are sandy throughout.
Most areas of this map unit are in woodland, some areas are developed and some areas used for agricultural production.
These soils are generally poorly suited for dwellings with on-site septic tank absorption fields because of the slow permeability of the substratum and perched, seasonal high watertables. Mattapoisett soils are very poorly suited for most uses because of the high watertable. Birchwood and Poquonock soils are suited for woodland and crop productivity, irrigation is needed for optimal production.
Very deep, nearly level to gently sloping, very poorly drained soils formed in very deep to shallow, freshwater organic deposits, underlain by glacial fluvial or Lacustrine deposits in swamps, bogs, fens, and depressions.
This map unit occurs throughout Plymouth County and makes up about xx percent of the survey area. It is about xx percent Freetown soils, xx percent Swansea soils, xx percent Scarboro soils, and xx percent soils of minor extent.
Freetown, Swansea, and Scarboro soils are all mapped within lowlying depressional areas and are associated with swamps and freshwater wetlands. All three soils have a seasonal high watertable at or near the surface for most of the year and are often ponded for long durations. Freetown soils consist of very deep organic material ranging from 51 to more than 20 feet in thickness. Swansea soils consist of organic material, 16 to 51 inches thick, underlain by fluvial material. Scarboro soils consist of organic material less than 16 inches thick, underlain by fluvial deposits. A description of each soil can be found in the "classification of the soils" section of this report.
Minor soils in this map unit are excessively drained Carver and Hinckley soils, moderately well drained Birchwood and Deerfield soils, and poorly drained Mattapoisett and Pipestone soils. Very poorly drained Berryland and Brockton soils are also included in this map unit.
Most areas of this map unit are wooded and scrub-shrub wetlands, many areas are used for cranberry production.
These soils are very poorly suited for most uses due to a seasonal high watertable and low soil strength. Areas that are used for the cultivation of cranberries are well suited for production. Areas of this map unit are well suited for wetland wildlife habitat.
Very deep, nearly level to steep, excessively to moderately well drained soils formed in glacial fluvial deposits on outwash plains, deltas, kames, and ice contact deposits.
This map unit makes up about xx percent of Plymouth County. It is about xx percent Hinckley soils, xx percent Windsor soils, xx percent Deerfield soils, and xx percent soils of minor extent.
Hinckley soils are very gravelly, excessively drained, soils on kames, eskers, moraines and heads of outwash plains. Windsor soils are sandy, excessively drained, soils on deltas and along the southern end of outwash plains (distal part). Deerfield soils are moderately well drained soils on lower elevations and in swales of outwash plains and deltas. Descriptions of Hinckley, Windsor, and Deerfield soils can be found in the "classification of the soils" section of this report.
Minor soils in this map unit are the somewhat excessively drained Merrimac soils, moderately well drained Sudbury soils, poorly drained Wareham and Pipestone soils, and very poorly drained Scarboro and Berryland soils. Merrimac and Sudbury soils have loamy solums. Wareham and Pipestone soils have a seasonal high watertable between .5 and 1.5 feet below the surface. Scarboro and Berryland soils have a seasonal high watertable at or near the surface for most of the year.
Most areas of this map unit are in woodland or mixed residential or industrial development, some areas are in cropland.
These soils are generally well suited to building site development. Deerfield soils have an apparent seasonal high watertable between 1.5 and 4 feet and require mounded septic systems. These soils occur in areas of aquifer recharge and caution should be taken to protect the aquifer. These soils are well suited for woodland productivity, they are also well suited for cropland, irrigation is required for optimal growth.
Very deep, gently sloping to steep, well drained to poorly drained soils formed in sandy loam eolian material underlain by dense glacial till derived primarily from granitic materials on uplands, drumlins, and ground moraines.
This map unit makes up about xx percent of Plymouth county. It is about xx percent Montauk soils, xx percent Scituate soils, and xx percent Norwell soils and soils of minor extent.
Scituate soils are moderately well drained soils on foot slopes and gently sloping hillsides. Scituate soils have a perched, seasonal high watertable about 1.5 to 4 feet below the surface. Montauk soils are well drained soils convex top and side slopes of hills. Montauk soils have a perched, seasonal high watertable approximately 2.5 to 5 feet below the surface. Norwell soils are poorly drained soils on concave slopes along drainageways and depressions. Norwell soils have a perched, seasonal high watertable about 0.5 to 1.5 feet below the surface Descriptions of Scituate, Montauk, and Norwell soils can be found in the "classification of the soils" section of this report.
Minor soils in this map unit are the well-drained Poquonock and Paxton soils, moderately well drained Birchwood and Woodbridge soils, and poorly drained Ridgebury and Mattapoisett soils. Poquonock Birchwood, and Mattapoisett soils have sandy solums, Paxton, Woodbridge and Ridgebury soils have a finer textured and more compact substratum.
Most areas of this map unit are in woodland and mixed residential and industrial development. Some areas are used for cropland.
Montauk and Scituate soils are well suited for woodland productivity and cropland, Norwell soils are poorly suited for woodland and cropland due to wetness. These soils are poorly suited to use as sites for septic tank absorption fields because the slowly permeable dense substratum which does not readily absorb the effluent. Subsurface drainage is also a problem with these soils; the firm substratum causes a perched seasonal high watertable.
Gently sloping to steep, excessively drained soils formed in thick sand deposits and/or loose sandy ice contact till on end and recessional moraines and ice contact landforms.
This map unit is mapped primarily in the southeastern part of Plymouth County. It makes up about xx percent of the county. It is about 45 percent Plymouth soils, 40 percent Carver soils, and 15 percent other soils.
Plymouth and Carver soils are commonly mapped in a complex of the two soils due to their similar properties. Plymouth soils have a higher percentage of coarse fragments (cobbles to boulder size), while Carver soils typically lack the larger size coarse fragments. Both soils are extremely droughty. A description of each soil can be found in the "classification of the soils" section of this report.
Minor inclusions in this general soil map unit consist of the very poorly drained Freetown soils, moderately well drained Deerfield soils, and well drained Merrimac, Barnstable, and Montauk soils. Freetown soils formed in freshwater organic deposits and are commonly used for the production of cranberries. Deerfield soils have a seasonal high watertable. Merrimac soils have a loamy topsoil and subsoil underlain by sand and gravel. Barnstable soils are similar to Plymouth soils except they have loamy topsoil and subsoil layers. Montauk soils formed in dense glacial till.
Most areas of this map unit are forested with pitch pine, white pine, and scrub oak, some areas are used for homesites or cropland. Areas of this map unit are poorly suited to woodland, cultivated crops and pasture because of the very low water holding capacity. There are no major limitations which affect the use of these soils as building sites. Large boulders are associated with the Plymouth soils and may hinder excavation activities. This map unit is associated with groundwater aquifer recharge areas and precautions should be taken to protect the aquifer.
6. Canton-Chatfield-Rock outcrop
Very deep to shallow, gently sloping to very steep, well drained soils formed in ablation glacial till in areas of bedrock controlled uplands.
This map unit is occurs primarily in the northern and central part of Plymouth County. It makes up about xx percent of the survey area. It is about xx percent Canton soils, xx percent Chatfield soils, xx percent rock outcrop, and xx percent soils of minor extent.
Canton soils are very deep soils (greater than 6 feet to bedrock) on low pockets in bedrock controlled uplands, and on small undulating hills adjacent to valleys. Chatfield soils are moderately deep soils and typically have hard bedrock between 20 to 40 inches. Chatfield soils are on knobs and near ridge tops in bedrock controlled uplands. A description of Canton and Chatfield soils can be found in the "classification of the soils" section of this report. Rock outcrops are areas where bedrock (ledge) is exposed at the surface, some areas have a very shallow covering of soil less than 20 inches thick. The type of bedrock depends on the area, for more information regarding bedrock types refer to the bedrock map included with this report.
Minor soils included in this map unit are the well drained Paxton and Newport soils, moderately well drained Woodbridge and Pittstown soils, and very poorly drained Brockton soils. Also included are soils that have bedrock between 40 and 60 inches. Paxton and Newport soils are on smooth slopes, both soils are very deep and have dense till in the substratum. Woodbridge and Pittstown soils are at the base of slopes and smooth gentile slopes. Both soils have dense till in the substratum and a perched seasonal high watertable between 1.5 and 3 feet. Brockton soils are along drainage-ways and in depressions.
Most of the soils in this map unit are used for woodland and residential development, some areas are used as sites for quarries.
These soils are fairly well suited to woodland productivity; areas of shallow depth to bedrock have shallow rooting depth and tree-throw hazard. Canton soils are well suited for cropland. Areas of Canton soils are also well suited for development. Areas of Chatfield soils and bedrock outcrop are poorly suited for most uses due to the shallow depth to hard bedrock. Blasting is often required for excavation; however, in the northern part of the county the bedrock is ripable in many areas.
Nearly level to steep, very deep, excessively drained sandy soils formed in glacial outwash and ice-contact deposits, on outwash plains and kames.
This map unit occurs in the southeastern part of Plymouth County. It is mapped within the Wareham-Plymouth pitted outwash plain and the Kings pond plain (see geology section). It comprises about xx percent of the survey area and is about 80 percent Carver soils and 20 percent soils of minor extent.
Nearly level to gently sloping, broad areas of Carver soils occur throughout this unit. Strongly sloping to steep areas of this soil occur on the side slopes of swales and valleys on outwash plains, and on ridges and hills within areas of ice-contact deposits. A description of Carver soils can be found in the "classification of the soils" section of this report
Minor soils in this map unit are the excessively drained Plymouth, Hinckley, and Merrimac soils, and the very poorly drained Berryland, Swansea and Freetown soils. Plymouth and Hinckley soils have a higher percentage of coarse fragments (cobble to boulder size) and Merrimac soils have a loamy surface and subsoil. The Berryland, Swansea and Freetown soils have a seasonal high water table within 0.5 feet of the surface and occur in swales, depressions, and in lowlying areas adjacent to streams, ponds and lakes. Berryland soils formed in sandy outwash. Freetown and Swansea soils formed in freshwater organic deposits.
Most areas of this map unit are in scrub oak and pitch pine woodland. Some areas have been developed for homesites. This map unit is poorly suited to cultivated crops and pasture because of a very low available water capacity and low fertility. There are no major limitations for use as building sites, but the sides of excavations generally cave in because of the loose nature of the substratum. This map unit is associated with aquifer recharge areas and caution should be taken to protect the aquifer.
Level to steep, very deep, very poorly drained and excessively drained soils formed in organic and mineral marine deposits and eolian sand deposits along coastal areas.
This map unit occurs along Buzzards Bay, Cape Cod Bay, and Boston Harbor. It comprises about xx percent of the survey area and is about 50 percent Ipswich soils, 25 percent Pawcatuck soils, and 20 percent Hooksan, and about 5 percent soils of minor extent.
The level, very poorly drained Ipswich and Pawcatuck soils border salt water and brackish water bodies that are protected, by beaches and sand dunes, from the direct force of ocean waves. These soils are in tidal areas subject to daily inundation and are vegetated with salt grasses. Excessively drained Hooksan soils are on vegetated dunes adjacent to beeches. Descriptions of Ipswich, Pawcatuck, and Hooksan soils can be found in the "Classification of Soils" section of this report.
Included within this map unit are areas of Dunes and Beeches and very poorly drained Matunuck soils.
Areas of this map unit are in grassy vegetation, many areas are used for homes and recreational uses. Ipswich and Pawcatuck soils are best suited for wetland habitat and poorly suited for other uses due to flooding, low strength, and wetness. Hooksan soils are poorly suited for most uses due to droughtyness and high erosional and depositional events.
Very deep, nearly level to gently sloping, very poorly to moderately well drained soils formed in silty lacustrine sediments in areas of glacial lakebeds plains and deltas.
This map unit occurs in the central part of Plymouth County and makes up about xx percent of the survey area. It is about xx percent Raynham soils, xx percent Eldridge soils, and xx percent Birdsall soils and xx percent soil of minor extent.
Raynham soils are poorly drained soils on level and depressional slopes. Raynham soils have a seasonal high watertable about 0.5 to 1.5 feet below the surface. Eldridge soils are moderately well drained soils on undulating landforms. Eldridge soils have a seasonal high watertable approximately 1.5 to 4 feet below the surface. Birdsall are very poorly drained soils in drainageways and swamps. Birdsall soils are ponded for long periods of time. Descriptions of Raynham, Eldridge and Birdsall soils can be found in the "classification of the soils" section of this report.
Minor soils in this map unit are the moderately well drained Scio soils, poorly drained Enosburg soils, and well drained Hinesburg soils.Scio soils have silty textures throughout, Enosburg soils have sandy material underlain by the silty lacustrine sediments, and Hinesburg soils have a sandy solum.
Most areas of this map unit are in woodland and cropland.
Eldridge soils are well suited for woodland productivity and cropland production, Raynham and Birdsall soils are poorly suited for most uses due to wetness. Areas of this map unit are generally poorly suited for dwellings with on-site sewage disposal systems due to slow permeability and seasonal high watertables.
10. Woodbridge-Paxton-Ridgebury
Very deep, gently sloping to steep, well drained to poorly drained soils formed in fine sandy loam eolian material underlain by loamy dense glacial till on uplands, drumlins, and ground moraines.
This map unit makes up about xx percent of Plymouth county. It is about xx percent Woodbridge soils, xx percent Paxton soils, and xx percent Ridgebury soils and soils of minor extent.
Woodbridge soils are moderately well drained soils on foot slopes and gently sloping hillsides. Woodbridge soils have a perched, seasonal high watertable about 1.5 to 4 feet below the surface. Paxton soils are well drained soils convex top and side slopes of hills. Paxton soils have a perched, seasonal high watertable approximately 2.5 to 5 feet below the surface. Ridgebury soils are poorly drained soils on concave slopes along drainageways and depressions. Ridgebury soils have a perched, seasonal high watertable about 0.5 to 1.5 feet below the surface Descriptions of Woodbridge, Paxton, and Ridgebury soils can be found in the "classification of the soils" section of this report.
Minor soils in this map unit are the well-drained Poquonock and Montauk soils, moderately well drained Birchwood and Scituate soils, and poorly drained Norwell and Mattapoisett soils. Poquonock Birchwood, and Mattapoisett soils have sandy solums, Montauk, Scituate and Norwell soils have a coarser textured and less dense substratum derived mainly from granitic material.
Most areas of this map unit are in woodland and mixed residential and industrial development. Some areas are used for cropland.
Paxton and Woodbridge soils are well suited for woodland productivity and cropland, Ridgebury soils are poorly suited for woodland and cropland due to wetness. These soils are poorly suited to use as sites for septic tank absorption fields because the slowly permeable dense substratum which does not readily absorb the effluent. Subsurface drainage is also a problem with these soils; the firm substratum causes a perched seasonal high watertable.
