Soil Survey of Otsego County, Michigan - USDA · Soil Survey of Otsego County, Michigan. General...

United StatesDepartment ofAgriculture

NaturalResourcesConservationService

In cooperation withMichigan Department ofAgriculture, Michigan StateUniversity Extension,Michigan AgriculturalExperiment Station,Michigan TechnologicalUniversity, and OtsegoCounty

Soil Survey ofOtsego County,Michigan

General Soil Map

The general soil map, which is a color map, shows the survey area divided into groups of associated soils calledgeneral soil map units. This map is useful in planning the use and management of large areas.

To find information about your area of interest, locate that area on the map, identify the name of the map unit in thearea on the color-coded map legend, then refer to the section General Soil Map Units for a general description ofthe soils in your area.

Detailed Soil Maps

The detailed soil maps can be useful in planning the use andmanagement of small areas.

To find information about your areaof interest, locate that area on theIndex to Map Sheets. Note thenumber of the map sheet and turnto that sheet.

Locate your area of interest onthe map sheet. Note the map unitsymbols that are in that area. Turnto the Contents, which lists themap units by symbol and nameand shows the page where eachmap unit is described.

The Contents shows which tablehas data on a specific land use foreach detailed soil map unit. Alsosee the Contents for sections ofthis publication that may addressyour specific needs.

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How To Use This Soil Survey

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Additional information about the Nation’s natural resources is available on theNatural Resources Conservation Service homepage on the World Wide Web. Theaddress is http://www.nrcs.usda.gov.

This soil survey is a publication of the National Cooperative Soil Survey, a joint effortof the United States Department of Agriculture and other Federal agencies, Stateagencies including the Agricultural Experiment Stations, and local agencies. TheNatural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) hasleadership for the Federal part of the National Cooperative Soil Survey.

Major fieldwork for this soil survey was completed in 1997. Soil names anddescriptions were approved in 1997. Unless otherwise indicated, statements in thispublication refer to conditions in the survey area in 1997. This survey was madecooperatively by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the MichiganDepartment of Agriculture, the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, MichiganState University Extension, Michigan Technological University, and Otsego County.Otsego County provided financial assistance. The survey is part of the technicalassistance furnished to the Otsego County Soil Conservation District.

Soil maps in this survey may be copied without permission. Enlargement of thesemaps, however, could cause misunderstanding of the detail of mapping. If enlarged,maps do not show the small areas of contrasting soils that could have been shown at alarger scale.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all ofits programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability,political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited basesapply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means forcommunication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) shouldcontact the USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice or TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights,Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC20250-9410, or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunityprovider and employer.

Cover: The 18th hole on one of the many golf courses in Otsego County. Blue Lake loamy sand, 6to 18 percent slopes, is in the foreground. The wetland in the background is an area of Dawson-Loxley peats. Photo courtesy of the Gaylord Area Convention and Tourism Bureau.

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov

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Contents

How To Use This Soil Survey ................................. 1Foreword ................................................................. 7General Nature of the County ................................... 9

Climate ............................................................... 10History and Development ................................... 10Industry and Transportation Facilities ................. 12Lakes and Streams ............................................ 12Farming .............................................................. 13Physiography and Geology ................................. 13Soils and Water Quality ...................................... 16

How This Survey Was Made ................................... 18General Soil Map Units ........................................ 21

1. Rubicon-Croswell Association...................... 212. Grayling Association .................................... 213. Graycalm-Grayling Association .................... 224. Islandlake-Blue Lake-Mancelona

Association .................................................. 225. Kalkaska-Blue Lake-Rubicon Association .... 236. Rubicon-Lindquist Association ..................... 257. Leelanau-Lindquist Association ................... 258. Blue Lake-Feldhauser-Kalkaska

Association .................................................. 269. Blue Lake-Mossback-Mancelona

Association .................................................. 2710. Ossineke-Blue Lake-Morganlake

Association .................................................. 2811. Tawas-Lupton Association ........................... 29

Detailed Soil Map Units ........................................ 3113—Tawas-Lupton mucks .................................. 3214—Dawson-Loxley peats .................................. 3315A—Croswell-Au Gres sands, 0 to 3 percent

slopes .......................................................... 3416B—Graycalm sand, 0 to 6 percent slopes ...... 3517A—Croswell sand, 0 to 3 percent slopes ........ 3617B—Croswell sand, 0 to 6 percent slopes ........ 3718A—Au Gres sand, 0 to 3 percent slopes......... 3819—Leafriver muck ............................................ 3920B—Graycalm-Grayling sands, 0 to 6

percent slopes ............................................. 4020D—Graycalm-Grayling sands, 6 to 18

percent slopes ............................................. 4120F—Graycalm-Grayling sands, 18 to 45

percent slopes ............................................. 4223—Ausable-Bowstring mucks, frequently

flooded ......................................................... 43

24A—Kinross-Au Gres complex, 0 to 3percent slopes ............................................. 45

25B—Kent sandy loam, 0 to 6 percent slopes .... 4625C—Kent sandy loam, 6 to 12 percent

slopes .......................................................... 4728B—East Lake sand, 0 to 6 percent slopes ...... 4828C—East Lake sand, 6 to 12 percent slopes.... 4928E—East Lake sand, 12 to 35 percent

slopes .......................................................... 5032B—Kellogg sand, 0 to 6 percent slopes .......... 5133B—Mancelona loamy sand, 0 to 6 percent

slopes .......................................................... 5233C—Mancelona loamy sand, 6 to 12 percent

slopes .......................................................... 5333D—Mancelona loamy sand, 12 to 18

percent slopes ............................................. 5433E—Mancelona loamy sand, 18 to 35

percent slopes ............................................. 5547D—Graycalm sand, 6 to 18 percent slopes .... 5647F—Graycalm sand, 18 to 45 percent

slopes .......................................................... 5749B—Kalkaska sand, 0 to 6 percent slopes ....... 5850B—Au Gres-Kinross-Croswell complex, 0

to 6 percent slopes ...................................... 5951—Tawas-Leafriver mucks ............................... 6152B—Blue Lake loamy sand, 0 to 6 percent

slopes .......................................................... 6252D—Blue Lake loamy sand, 6 to 18 percent

slopes .......................................................... 6352E—Blue Lake loamy sand, 18 to 35 percent

slopes .......................................................... 6464B—Feldhauser fine sandy loam, 0 to 6

percent slopes ............................................. 6565F—Rubicon sand, 8 to 50 percent slopes,

dissected ..................................................... 6675B—Rubicon sand, 0 to 6 percent slopes ........ 6775D—Rubicon sand, 6 to 18 percent slopes ...... 6875E—Rubicon sand, 18 to 35 percent slopes..... 6978—Pits, borrow ................................................. 7081B—Grayling sand, 0 to 6 percent slopes ........ 7081D—Grayling sand, 6 to 18 percent slopes ...... 7181E—Grayling sand, 18 to 35 percent slopes .... 7281F—Grayling sand, 18 to 45 percent slopes ..... 7382B—Udorthents, loamy, nearly level and

undulating .................................................... 74

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83B—Udipsamments, nearly level andundulating .................................................... 74

86—Histosols and Aquents, ponded .................. 7590B—Chinwhisker sand, 0 to 4 percent

slopes .......................................................... 7595D—Menominee loamy sand, 12 to 18

percent slopes ............................................. 7695E—Menominee loamy sand, 18 to 35

percent slopes ............................................. 77113—Angelica loam ........................................... 78115D—Kalkaska sand, 6 to 18 percent

slopes .......................................................... 79116B—Mancelona sand, 0 to 6 percent

slopes .......................................................... 80126F—Udipsamments-Haplorthods-

Glossudalfs complex, nearly level tosteep ............................................................ 81

127—Cathro muck ............................................. 82141B—Leelanau loamy sand, 0 to 6 percent

slopes .......................................................... 83141C—Leelanau loamy sand, 6 to 12 percent

slopes .......................................................... 84141D—Leelanau loamy sand, 12 to 18

percent slopes ............................................. 85146F—Rubicon-Graycalm sands, 8 to 50

percent slopes, dissected ............................ 86147B—Lindquist sand, 0 to 6 percent slopes ..... 87147C—Lindquist sand, 6 to 12 percent

slopes .......................................................... 89147D—Lindquist sand, 12 to 18 percent

slopes .......................................................... 90147E—Lindquist sand, 18 to 35 percent

slopes .......................................................... 91166A—Slade loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes........... 92197A—Gladwin loamy sand, 0 to 3 percent

slopes .......................................................... 93323B—East Lake-Rubicon sands, 0 to 6

percent slopes ............................................. 94323C—East Lake-Rubicon sands, 6 to 12

percent slopes ............................................. 95337B—Mancelona-East Lake complex, 0 to

6 percent slopes .......................................... 96337C—Mancelona-East Lake complex, 6 to

12 percent slopes ........................................ 98338B—Islandlake sand, 0 to 6 percent slopes .... 99

338C—Islandlake sand, 6 to 12 percentslopes ........................................................ 101

338D—Islandlake sand, 12 to 18 percentslopes ........................................................ 102

347F—Kalkaska sand, 8 to 50 percentslopes, dissected ....................................... 103

349B—Hartwick sand, 0 to 6 percent slopes .... 104350D—Blue Lake sand, 6 to 18 percent

slopes ........................................................ 105352B—Deford-Au Gres-Croswell complex, 0

to 6 percent slopes .................................... 106354F—Mancelona-Blue Lake sands, 15 to

70 percent slopes, dissected ..................... 107360—Wakeley muck ......................................... 108362D—Millersburg loamy sand, 6 to 18

percent slopes ........................................... 109365F—Blue Lake loamy sand, 8 to 50

percent slopes, dissected .......................... 110368A—Au Gres-Deford complex, 0 to 3

percent slopes ........................................... 111369—Deford muck ........................................... 112380—Access denied ........................................ 113387F—Mancelona-Rubicon sands, 15 to 70

percent slopes, dissected .......................... 113393B—Morganlake loamy sand, 0 to 6

percent slopes ........................................... 115393C—Morganlake loamy sand, 6 to 12

percent slopes ........................................... 116399D—Menominee-Bamfield, sandy

substratum-Blue Lake complex, 12 to 18percent slopes ........................................... 117

400F—Menominee-Bamfield, sandysubstratum-Blue Lake complex, 18 to 70percent slopes, dissected .......................... 118

401F—Lindquist sand, 8 to 50 percentslopes, dissected ....................................... 120

402B—Islandlake loamy sand, 0 to 6percent slopes ........................................... 121

402C—Islandlake loamy sand, 6 to 12percent slopes ........................................... 123

402D—Islandlake loamy sand, 12 to 18percent slopes ........................................... 124

424B—Morganlake-Ossineke, sandysubstratum-Blue Lake complex, 0 to 6percent slopes ........................................... 125

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424C—Morganlake-Ossineke, sandysubstratum-Blue Lake complex, 6 to 12percent slopes ........................................... 127

452D—Bamfield fine sandy loam, sandysubstratum, 12 to 18 percent slopes .......... 129

452E—Bamfield fine sandy loam, sandysubstratum, 18 to 35 percent slopes .......... 130

453B—Ossineke fine sandy loam, sandysubstratum, 0 to 6 percent slopes .............. 130

453C—Ossineke fine sandy loam, sandysubstratum, 6 to 12 percent slopes ............ 132

463F—Leelanau loamy sand, 8 to 50percent slopes, dissected .......................... 133

464B—Mossback sandy loam, 0 to 6percent slopes ........................................... 134

464C—Mossback sandy loam, 6 to 12percent slopes ........................................... 135

464D—Mossback sandy loam, 12 to 18percent slopes ........................................... 136

464E—Mossback sandy loam, 18 to 35percent slopes ........................................... 137

465—Caffey muck ............................................ 138Use and Management of the Soils .................... 141

Crops and Pasture ........................................... 141Yields per Acre ............................................. 143Land Capability Classification ...................... 143Prime Farmland ........................................... 144

Forestland Management and Productivity ........ 145Equipment Limitations on Forestland ........... 148

Plant Communities on Selected Soils ............... 149Windbreaks and Environmental Plantings ........ 150Recreation ........................................................ 150Wildlife Habitat ................................................. 151Engineering ...................................................... 153

Building Site Development ........................... 154Sanitary Facilities ......................................... 154Construction Materials ................................. 155Water Management ...................................... 156

Soil Properties ................................................ 159Engineering Index Properties ....................... 159Physical Properties ...................................... 160Chemical Properties..................................... 161Water Features ............................................ 162Soil Features ................................................ 163Hydric Soils .................................................. 163

Classification of the Soils .................................. 165Soil Series and Their Morphology ......................... 165

Angelica Series ................................................ 165Aquents ............................................................ 166Au Gres Series ................................................. 166Ausable Series ................................................. 167Bamfield Series ................................................ 168Blue Lake Series .............................................. 169Bowstring Series .............................................. 170Caffey Series .................................................... 171Cathro Series ................................................... 171Chinwhisker Series .......................................... 172Croswell Series ................................................ 173Dawson Series ................................................. 174Deford Series ................................................... 174East Lake Series .............................................. 175Feldhauser Series ............................................ 176Gladwin Series ................................................. 176Glossudalfs ...................................................... 177Graycalm Series ............................................... 177Grayling Series ................................................. 178Haplorthods ...................................................... 178Hartwick Series ................................................ 179Histosols .......................................................... 179Islandlake Series .............................................. 180Kalkaska Series ............................................... 181Kellogg Series .................................................. 182Kent Series ....................................................... 183Kinross Series .................................................. 184Leafriver Series ................................................ 185Leelanau Series ............................................... 185Lindquist Series ................................................ 186Loxley Series .................................................... 187Lupton Series ................................................... 187Mancelona Series ............................................ 188Menominee Series ........................................... 189Millersburg Series............................................. 190Morganlake Series ........................................... 191Mossback Series .............................................. 193Ossineke Series ............................................... 194Rubicon Series ................................................. 195Slade Series ..................................................... 196Tawas Series .................................................... 197Udipsamments ................................................. 197Udorthents ....................................................... 198

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Wakeley Series ................................................ 198Formation of the Soils ........................................ 199

Factors of Soil Formation ................................. 199Parent Material ............................................. 199Climate ......................................................... 200Plant and Animal Life ................................... 200Topography .................................................. 201Time ............................................................. 202

Processes of Soil Formation............................. 202References .......................................................... 203Glossary .............................................................. 205Tables .................................................................. 219

Table 1.—Temperature and Precipitation .......... 220Table 2.—Freeze Dates in Spring and Fall ........ 221Table 3.—Growing Season ............................... 221Table 4.—Acreage and Proportionate Extent

of the Soils ................................................. 222Table 5.—Land Capability and Yields per

Acre of Crops ............................................. 224Table 6.—Land Capability and Yields per

Acre of Hay and Pasture ............................ 226Table 7.—Land Capability and Yields per

Acre of Specialty Crops ............................. 230

Issued 2004

Table 8.—Prime Farmland ................................ 232Table 9.—Forestland Management and

Productivity ................................................ 233Table 10.—Equipment Limitations on

Forestland .................................................. 257Table 11.—Plant Communities on Selected

Soils ........................................................... 265Table 12.—Windbreaks and Environmental

Plantings .................................................... 289Table 13.—Recreational Development .............. 299Table 14.—Wildlife Habitat ................................ 309Table 15.—Building Site Development .............. 317Table 16.—Sanitary Facilities ........................... 328Table 17.—Construction Materials .................... 340Table 18.—Water Management ........................ 350Table 19.—Engineering Index Properties ......... 363Table 20.—Physical Properties of the Soils ...... 382Table 21.—Chemical Properties of the

Soils ........................................................... 394Table 22.—Water Features ............................... 406Table 23.—Soil Moisture Status by Depth ........ 419Table 24.—Soil Features .................................. 437Table 25.—Classification of the Soils ................ 443

Figures

Figure 1.—Locator map ............................................ 9Figure 2.—Use of ”Big Wheels” to transport logs .... 11Figure 3.—Dixon Lake ............................................ 13Figure 4.—Glacial landforms in Otsego County ...... 14Figure 5.—Topography of Otsego County ............... 15Figure 6.—Ground-water contamination ................. 17Figure 7.—Block diagram of association 5 .............. 24Figure 8.—Block diagram of association 7 .............. 26Figure 9.—Ausable-Bowstring mucks,

frequently flooded ............................................... 43Figure 10.—Red pine on a Rubicon sand ............... 67Figure 11.—Christmas trees on a Lindquist soil ..... 88Figure 12.—Aspen regeneration on an

Islandlake soil ................................................... 100

Figure 13.—Irrigated potatoes on anIslandlake soil ................................................... 122

Figure 14.—Hay on an Ossineke soil .................... 132Figure 15.—Log landing on a Blue Lake soil ......... 149Figure 16.—A ski hill on dissected Menominee,

Bamfield, and Blue Lake soils ........................... 151Figure 17.—Textural triangle ................................. 159Figure 18.—Profile of a Bamfield soil .................... 168Figure 19.—Profile of an Islandlake soil ................ 180Figure 20.—Profile of a Kalkaska soil ................... 181Figure 21.—Profile of a Kellogg soil ...................... 182Figure 22.—Profile of a Mancelona soil ................ 188Figure 23.—Profile of a Morganlake soil ............... 192Figure 24.—Profile of a Mossback soil .................. 193

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This soil survey contains information that affects land use planning in this surveyarea. It contains predictions of soil behavior for selected land uses. The survey alsohighlights soil limitations, improvements needed to overcome the limitations, and theimpact of selected land uses on the environment.

This soil survey is designed for many different users. Farmers, foresters, andagronomists can use it to evaluate the potential of the soil and the management neededfor maximum food and fiber production. Planners, community officials, engineers,developers, builders, and home buyers can use the survey to plan land use, select sitesfor construction, and identify special practices needed to ensure proper performance.Conservationists, teachers, students, and specialists in recreation, wildlifemanagement, waste disposal, and pollution control can use the survey to help themunderstand, protect, and enhance the environment.

Various land use regulations of Federal, State, and local governments may imposespecial restrictions on land use or land treatment. The information in this report isintended to identify soil properties that are used in making various land use or landtreatment decisions. Statements made in this report are intended to help the land usersidentify and reduce the effects of soil limitations that affect various land uses. Thelandowner or user is responsible for identifying and complying with existing laws andregulations.

Great differences in soil properties can occur within short distances. Some soils areseasonally wet or subject to flooding. Some are shallow to bedrock. Some are toounstable to be used as a foundation for buildings or roads. Clayey or wet soils arepoorly suited to use as septic tank absorption fields. A high water table makes a soilpoorly suited to basements or underground installations.

These and many other soil properties that affect land use are described in this soilsurvey. Broad areas of soils are shown on the general soil map. The location of eachsoil is shown on the detailed soil maps. Each soil in the survey area is described.Information on specific uses is given for each soil. Help in using this publication andadditional information are available at the local office of the Natural ResourcesConservation Service or the Cooperative Extension Service.

Ronald C. WilliamsState ConservationistNatural Resources Conservation Service

Foreword

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OTSEGO COUNTY is in the north-central part of theLower Peninsula of Michigan (fig. 1). It has an area of336,749 acres, or about 538 square miles. Gaylord isthe county seat as well as the commercial, industrial,and educational center of the county. The population ofthe county was 17,975 in 1990.

Most of Otsego County consists of gently rolling tosteep moraines and remnant moraines, nearly level tovery steep outwash plains, and channeled uplands.About 79 percent of the county is forested, 5.5 percentis cropland, 3.3 percent is pasture, 2 percent is openwater, and 10.2 percent is urban land, built-up land,land used for transportation, or other land.

The county has 44 different kinds of soil. The soilsrange widely in texture, natural drainage, slope, andother characteristics. Excessively drained to welldrained soils make up about 76 percent of theacreage in the county, moderately well drained soilsmake up 7 percent, somewhat poorly drained soilsmake up 2 percent, and poorly drained and verypoorly drained soils make up 10 percent. The rest ofthe county is miscellaneous areas, including waterareas.

This soil survey updates the land type map ofOtsego County published in 1939 (MichiganAgricultural Experiment Station, 1939). It providesadditional information and has larger maps, whichshow the soils in greater detail. It also recorrelates theportion of the soil survey interim report for CampGrayling that is within the boundaries of OtsegoCounty (Werlein and Kroell, 1990).

General Nature of the CountyThis section gives general information about the

county. It describes climate, history and development,industry and transportation facilities, lakes and

Soil Survey of

Otsego County, MichiganBy William E. Perkis, Natural Resources Conservation Service

Fieldwork by Kelley A. Bishop-Dukes, Martin L. Kroell III, Christopher J. Pappas,William E. Perkis, and John O. Werlein, Natural Resources Conservation Service

United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service,in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Agriculture, the Michigan AgriculturalExperiment Station, Michigan State University Extension, Michigan TechnologicalUniversity, and Otsego County

Figure 1.—Location of Otsego County in Michigan.

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streams, farming, physiography and geology, and soilsand water quality.

Climate

Prepared by the Water and Climate Center, Natural ResourcesConservation Service, Portland, Oregon.

Table 1 gives data on temperature and precipitationfor the survey area as recorded at Gaylord in theperiod 1961 to 1990. Table 2 shows probable datesof the first freeze in fall and the last freeze in spring.Table 3 provides data on length of the growingseason.

In winter, the average temperature is 19.5 degreesFahrenheit (F) and the average daily minimumtemperature is 11.3 degrees. The lowest temperatureon record, which occurred in Gaylord on February 17,1979, is -37 degrees. In summer, the averagetemperature is 65.5 degrees and the average dailymaximum temperature is 78.2 degrees. The highestrecorded temperature, which occurred in Gaylord onAugust 21, 1955, is 99 degrees.

Growing degree days are shown in table 1. Theyare equivalent to “heat units.” During the month,growing degree days accumulate by the amount thatthe average temperature each day exceeds a basetemperature (50 degrees F). The normal monthlyaccumulation is used to schedule single or successiveplantings of a crop between the last freeze in springand the first freeze in fall.

The total annual precipitation in Gaylord is about35.63 inches. Of this, 19 inches, or about 53 percent,usually falls in April through September. The growingseason for most crops falls within this period. In 2years out of 10, the rainfall in April through Septemberis less than 10.0 inches. The heaviest 1-day rainfall onrecord was 5.00 inches at Gaylord on August 17,1995. Thunderstorms occur on about 35 days eachyear, and most occur in July.

The average seasonal snowfall is about 150 inches.The greatest snow depth at any one time during theperiod of record was 50 inches. On the average, 129days of the year have at least 1 inch of snow on theground. The number of such days varies greatly fromyear to year.

The average relative humidity in midafternoon isabout 61 percent. Humidity is higher at night, and theaverage at dawn is about 83 percent. The sun shines63 percent of the time possible in summer and 37percent in winter. The prevailing wind is from thesouthwest. Average windspeed is highest, 9.5 milesper hour, in April.

History and Development

Prepared by Bill Granlund, Otsego County Historian.

Otsego County was first laid out in 1840 and giventhe name “Okkuddo,” which means “sickly” or“stomach pains.” The reason the name was given isnot known. In 1843, the name was changed to Otsego,which comes from the Iroquois Indian language. Themeaning of the word “Otsego” has been defined inseveral ways. The two most popular definitions are “aplace where meetings are held” and “beautiful lake.”

Though no permanent settlements wereestablished, there was some Native American activityin the survey area during the pre-settlement period.Visitors to the area at that time came for berries, fish,maple sugar, and passenger pigeons.

In 1854, David Ward visited the survey area andclaimed large tracts of fine timber. John Mellen, aFederal surveyor, had told Ward of some fine stands of“Cork” pine, a variety of white pine that was highlyvalued by the lumber interests of Michigan.

In 1868, Alfred A. Dwight, a prominent Detroitlumberman, became the first person to undertake abusiness in the survey area. The first expedition thathe sent to the area, in April of 1868, failed because ofpoor weather and supply problems. Dwight sent out asecond expedition in April of 1869. It established apermanent settlement at Farm Lake, now known asTecon Lake.

In the fall of 1872, Otsego Lake Village, the firstvillage in the survey area, was established. On March12, 1878, Otsego County was organized with OtsegoLake as the county seat. Later that year, the countyseat was permanently located in the city of Gaylord.Many of the early residents were Civil War veteranswho took advantage of the lumber company’s offer ofbuilding lots. Other veterans took advantage of theHomestead Act, which provided them with free land.

Early settlements were numerous in Otsego Countybut by the 1920s were narrowed down to the few thatare major population centers today. They includeOtsego Lake Village, 1872; Waters (first namedBradford Lake), 1876; Elmira (first named Windsor),1877; Vanderbilt, 1875; Johannesburg, 1901; andGaylord (first named Barnes), 1873.

Lumbering was the first major industry in thecounty. It remained so into the early part of the 20thcentury (fig. 2). Agriculture also played an importantrole during the period of early development, when thecounty produced barley, potatoes, wheat, corn,apples, and maple sugar as well as horses, cattle,sheep, and swine.

Otsego County, Michigan 11

The completion of Interstate 75 and improvementsof Michigan Highway 32 (M-32) have made OtsegoCounty a major destination for tourists seeking naturalbeauty and opportunities for recreational activities. ThePigeon River State Forest with its elk herd has been agreat attraction for visitors. One of the last witnesstrees still standing is in that forest. The tourist industryhas become a major source of income for the county.Many eating establishments, motels, resorts, andtourist attractions have moved to the county becauseof the natural recreational areas that are available. Thejunction of I-75 and M-32 has made Gaylord a popularstopping off place for fuel and food.

In the 1940s, a large ski resort, the Otsego Ski Club,was established in the county. Today, it is known asHidden Valley. Hidden Valley, Sylvan Resort (TreeTops),Marsh Ridge, Michaywe, Wilderness Valley, andBeaver Creek Resort provide opportunities for golf orskiing. Otsego Lake State Park and Otsego LakeCounty Park are important parts of the tourist industry.

There have been close ties between lumberingactivity and agricultural activity in the county. Thefarmers in the early years depended on both activities

to make a living. With the loss of a ready market fortheir agricultural products in the lumbering camps anda place of employment in the winter months, theincome of the farmers declined as lumbering activitiesdiminished. Failure to adopt appropriate farmingpractices resulted in the abandonment of many farmsand thus a decline in most kinds of agriculturalproduction since the 1940s.

A large acreage of county land is unsuited toprolonged farming. The county has some excellentfarmland that, with proper management, can produceand has produced good crops. Proper landmanagement is being addressed by soil conservationgroups. Trees have again become an important “crop”in the county. Trees, potatoes, hay, corn for silage, andbeef and dairy cattle will be the major products in thefuture.

The gas and oil industry is fairly recent in thecounty. The large deposits of these resources havemade the county one of the top producers in the State.The future looks bright for Otsego County, as perhapsit did for the early settlers when they first entered thecounty.

Figure 2.—Use of “Big Wheels” to transport logs in the early days of Otsego County. Photo courtesy of the Otsego CountyHistorical Society.

12 Soil Survey of

Industry and Transportation Facilities

Manufacturing has been important in the countysince the 1880s. The early emphasis was on woodproducts. Numerous mills in the county producedlumber, shingles, and lathes. Wood-product plantsmanufactured a variety of other products. Theseincluded toys, tables, baseball bats, shoe lasts, golfheads, bowling pins, barrel parts, sleighs, skiddingwheels, wagons, butter bowls, and whippletrees.

In 1910, the Gaylord Motor Car Company wasestablished. It produced cars for about 3 years. One ofthe cars is on display at the Chamber of Commercebuilding in Gaylord. Other early manufacturing plantsincluded a bottling plant, a charcoal operation, theDayton Last Block works, Saginaw Wood products,Huff and Mitchell, and Jackson, Wylie and Company.The first factory was Hindyelman and Walburn, awoodenware factory that made butter bowls andwhippletrees. It started in the 1880s. The countycurrently has numerous manufacturing firms. Becauseof its central location, it has become a majordistribution center for many additional services andproducts.

The oil and gas industry in Otsego County firstbegan in 1940, when Antrim gas was discovered inBagley Township (Michigan’s Oil and Gas News,1988). This discovery was long before Antrim gas wasexploited on a large-scale commercial basis. The firstsuccessful oil well was drilled in 1951, in ChesterTownship. The early drillings were not very productive,but they did serve to alert the industry of areas thatwould eventually boom in oil and gas development.

The first “modern era” drilling occurred in 1969, inHayes Township. It resulted in a productive well fromthe Northern Niagaran Reef Trend and was soonfollowed by other drilling. Some of the discoveriesduring the next 5 years were among the largest andmost prolific reef finds ever drilled in Michigan, through1990.

The large boom in oil and gas exploration occurredin the 1980s. From 1985 to 1990, the density of oil andgas wells in Otsego County increased from just overone well per square mile to nearly five wells persquare mile (Michigan’s Oil and Gas News, 1988).Most of this activity resulted from the drilling successof shallow Antrim gas wells. Production records revealthat 87 million barrels of oil and 200 billion cubic feet ofgas have been produced in Otsego County throughthe end of 1987. Most of this production has been fromthe Niagaran Reservoir.

Early transportation was by foot and oxen, andtravel was difficult. When the Jackson, Lansing, and

Saginaw Railroad reached Otsego Lake in the early1870s, travel became much easier for prospectivesettlers. In later years, two other railroads also servedthe county.

Otsego County has one railroad that is still inoperation. It runs south from Gaylord to Grayling. Therail line north of Gaylord was abandoned in 1993.

Roads were improved in the first half of the 20thcentury. Started in 1913, M-32 is the major east-westtravel route from Alpena to Charlevoix. U.S. Highway27 started in about 1920 and was superseded in 1962by the opening of Interstate 75, which has become themain travel route from Detroit and other downstateareas to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and has broughtprosperity and growth to Otsego County.

River transportation was limited to the moving oflogs during the lumbering period. The last log drivetook place on the Black River.

The county has one airport, which is located inGaylord.

Lakes and Streams

There are more than 370 lakes throughout OtsegoCounty. Most of the lakes are in the southern part ofthe county. The largest lake is Otsego Lake, which hasa surface area of 1,972 acres. It is about 3 miles southof Gaylord. Other large lakes in the southern part ofthe county include Big Lake, Big Bear Lake, BuhlLake, Crapo Lake, Dixon Lake (fig. 3), Douglas Lake,Guthrie Lake, Heart Lake, Lake Tecon, Manuka Lake,Opal Lake, Turtle Lake, and Pencil Lake. The largerlakes in the northern part of the county are FiveLakes, Hardwood Lake, Lake Twenty Seven, andPickerel Lake. Many of these are kettle lakes, formedin the depression left by a large block of glacial ice.The ice broke free from the retreating glacier andgradually melted, leaving a water-filled depression.

The headwaters of the Au Sable, Black, Manistee,Pigeon, and Sturgeon Rivers occur in Otsego County.The Au Sable River watershed is the largestwatershed in the county. This river drainsapproximately 38 percent of the county. It is in thesouth-central and southern parts of the county. Thegeneral gradient is to the south.

The Black River watershed is in the northeasternpart of the county. This river drains approximately 12percent of the county. The general gradient is to thenorth and east.

The Manistee River watershed is along thesouthwestern edge of the county. This river drainsapproximately 9 percent of the county. The generalgradient is to the south.


The Pigeon River watershed is the north-centralpart of the county. This river drains about 15 percent ofthe county. The general gradient is to the north.

The Sturgeon River watershed is in thenorthwestern part of county. This river drainsapproximately 24 percent of the county. The generalgradient is to the north.

A small part of the Boyne River watershed is alongthe west-central edge of the county, near Elmira. Thisriver drains less than 2 percent of the county.

Farming

Although farming is not the most important industryin Otsego County, it does have a significant impact onthe economy and land use in the county.Approximately 5.5 percent of the total land area in thecounty currently is active or idle farmland. The countyhas 133 farms, which average 300 acres in size. Themajor agricultural products are forage crops, 9,380acres; corn, 1,460 acres; potatoes, 900 acres; oats,800 acres; wheat, 700 acres; and cattle and calves,3,400 head.

On June 15, 1944, local farmers formed theOtsego County Soil Conservation District to assistand educate landowners. The district is active incontrolling soil erosion, maintaining or improvingproductivity, maintaining water quality, and controllingpollution.

Physiography and Geology

Glacial drift is 100 to 600 feet thick throughout mostof Otsego County. This glacial veneer is the result of atleast four advances of continental glaciers. Only thedeposits of the various advances of the last, orWisconsinan, stage remain exposed at the surface.This last ice sheet melted and receded back from theOtsego County area about 11,800 years ago. Thesurface features in the county are a result of thisglacial action.

There are eight distinct types of surface features inOtsego County. These features are end moraines,remnant moraines, ground moraines, kame terraces,pitted outwash plains, outwash plains, outwashchannels, and lake plains (figs. 4 and 5).

Figure 3.—Dixon Lake, which is surrounded by northern hardwoods growing on Mancelona loamy sand, 6 to 12 percent slopes.

14 Soil Survey of

Parallel north-to-south ridges in southwesternOtsego County are parts of a remnant moraine of thePort Bruce ice advance. This moraine was dissectedinto its conspicuous north-to-south ridges by themeltwater of the Port Huron ice advance. As the PortHuron advance stagnated and retreated, the meltwaterdissected the moraine, exposing the sandy glacial driftcore of the moraine and forming the outwash channelsbetween the remnants. The fast-moving meltwaterdeposited the sand and gravel now in the channels.

The meltwater outlet for these channels was the valleyof the Manistee River and then the basin of LakeMichigan. The iceblocks left behind during the glacialretreat and those rafted by meltwater into the channelswere subsequently buried by the ensuing outwash.When these iceblocks eventually melted, they leftdepressions, many of which are below the regionalwater table. These depressions filled with water andbecame lakes. Remnants of ablation till are at thesummit of these ridges, at elevations above 1,380 feet.

Figure 4.—The dominant glacial landforms in Otsego County. A modification of Burgis and Eschman (1981).


Figure 5.—Topography of Otsego County, from north to south; the relationship between elevation, landforms, parent material, andsoil series.

16 Soil Survey of

This supraglacial till was deposited as the Port Bruceglacial advance stagnated and the glacier melted inplace.

The largest glacial end moraine in the county, theJohannesburg Moraine, extends from the northwest tothe southeast through the central part of the county. Inmost areas of the moraine, loamy glacial till overliessandy glacial drift or outwash from a previousadvance. This moraine marks the terminus of the PortHuron ice advance of about 12,500 years ago. Themeltwater released from this advance went bothsouthward, eroding channels into the Port BruceMoraine, and later southeastward along the ice frontthrough the Lewiston-Au Sable River valley and intoSaginaw Bay. The latter flow formed the Gaylord-Lewiston outwash plain, a large level area of sandyglaciofluvial material.

In the northeastern part of the county, dissectedground moraines, called the Atlanta ChanneledUplands, developed about 11,800 years ago, duringthe Valders readvancement stage. As this stagestagnated and retreated, it left iceblocks and outwashalong the northern and southern flanks of theJohannesburg Moraine. Areas of pitted outwash, orsmall kettlelike depressions, formed in these areas.The meltwater that was formed on the southern aspectof the Johannesburg Moraine was released throughthe valley of the Au Sable River.

As the ice retreat continued north of its contact withthe Johannesburg Moraine, the meltwater was trappedin the channeled uplands. Most of the material in theuplands was deposited during the Port Huron iceretreat. At this time, however, the stagnant ice of theValders advance melted in place and built up highkamelike masses, which formed the basis of thechanneled uplands. The meltwater then flowed throughand dissected the glacial drift of the uplands, formingoutwash channels and depositing sand and gravelwithin the channels. Many of the channels are belowthe regional water table, are filled with organicmaterial, and are swamplike.

In the northwest corner of the county, theJohannesburg Moraine breaks sharply to thesouthwest. This point of inflection is the renitent anglewhere the Huron and Michigan Lobes of the PortHuron ice advance met. At this point a kame terraceoriginated, as the meltwater deposited stratified sandand gravel in a streambed constrained by the MichiganLobe.

During this time, an area of meltwater southeast ofwhat is now the town of Vanderbilt was contained byan ice dam and a small proglacial lake developed. Thelake allowed the fine textured material to settle out ofthe meltwater and develop a lacustrine deposit in the

lake basin. After the ice dam melted, most of the areawas subsequently covered with a thin mantle of sandyglacial outwash.

Soils and Water Quality

Otsego County is well known for its high-qualitywater resources. It is the headwaters for five majorriver systems and is blessed with an abundance ofhigh-quality lakes and streams. Thousands of touristsand part-time residents enjoy the recreational andesthetic opportunities that these water resourcesprovide.

The attractiveness of the area, however, is resultingin an increase in development pressure. This pressure,in turn, is having a greater impact on the waterresources. Ground-water contamination is occurring atan increasing rate. Such sources as leakingunderground storage tanks, oil and gas well sites, olddump sites, agricultural areas, and various commercialand residential areas have all contributed to theproblem. In order to effectively maintain high-qualitywater resources, it is imperative that local units ofgovernment initiate and implement measures thatprotect ground water and surface water.

Ground water is at risk in Otsego County. Thecounty is dominated by highly permeable, sandy soils.Most of these soils occur in the southern andsouthwestern parts of the county. They typically occursouth of a line from Big Lake to a point directly north ofElmira. The city of Gaylord is within this area of highlypermeable soils. According to well logs, uninterruptedsand and gravel deposits are common to a depth of100 feet or more. The sand and gravel allow water toquickly pass beyond the root zone and recharge theground water. Unfortunately, the rapid absorption ofthe water and the lack of protective clay layers placethe ground water at risk of contamination. In manyareas of the county, the ground water is within 50 feetof the soil surface. Near wetlands, lakes, and rivers,the ground water can be within a few feet of thesurface. In most areas the surface water is anextension of the water table and is directly connectedto the ground water. Most of the drinking water wellsare just deep enough to reach the uppermost region ofthe water table. The combination of sandy soils andshallow ground water results in the vulnerability of theground-water aquifer to contamination.

Soil maps and information about the different soiltypes in Otsego County are extremely helpful indetermining areas that have a high, moderate, or lowpotential for ground-water contamination. Thisinformation can provide a basis for wise land useplanning and should help to highlight areas of


vulnerability. With adequate use of planning andzoning tools and the incorporation of information aboutsoils, the ground-water resources of Otsego Countycan continue to provide safe and healthy drinkingwater for future generations.

Figure 6 shows the vulnerability to ground-watercontamination in Otsego County. It is based on soilinterpretations and on the geomorphology andphysiography of the land in the county. The leastvulnerable areas are generally on the Johannesburg

Moraine. They are sandy loam to clay loam to a depthof 80 inches and are characterized by moderatelyrapid to slow permeability.

The moderately vulnerable areas are generallyon the remnant moraines in the southwest corner ofthe county and in the kamelike masses in thechanneled uplands in the northeast corner. The soilsin these areas have a texture of loamy sand to loamor are sandy and have bands of loamy sand to sandyloam that have a total thickness of more than 6

Figure 6.—The vulnerability of Otsego County to ground-water contamination.

18 Soil Survey of

inches. Permeability is moderately rapid to moderatelyslow.

The highly vulnerable areas are generally onoutwash plains and in outwash channels in the rest ofthe county. The soils in these areas have a texture ofloamy sand, sand, stratified sand and gravel, or muck.Permeability is rapid in the sandy material. The watertable is at or near the surface in the areas of muck.

How This Survey Was MadeThis survey was made to provide information about

the soils and miscellaneous areas in the county. Theinformation includes a description of the soils andmiscellaneous areas and their location and adiscussion of their suitability, limitations, andmanagement for specified uses. Soil scientistsobserved the steepness, length, and shape of theslopes; the general pattern of drainage; the kinds ofcrops and native plants; and the kinds of bedrock.They dug many holes to study the soil profile, which isthe sequence of natural layers, or horizons, in a soil.The profile extends from the surface down into theunconsolidated material in which the soil formed. Theunconsolidated material is devoid of roots and otherliving organisms and has not been changed by otherbiological activity.

The soils and miscellaneous areas in the countyoccur in an orderly pattern that is related to thegeology, landforms, relief, climate, and naturalvegetation of the county. Each kind of soil andmiscellaneous area is associated with a particular kindof landform or with a segment of the landform. Byobserving the soils and miscellaneous areas in thecounty and relating their position to specific segmentsof the landform, a soil scientist develops a concept ormodel of how they were formed. Thus, duringmapping, this model enables the soil scientist topredict with a considerable degree of accuracy thekind of soil or miscellaneous area at a specific locationon the landscape.

Commonly, individual soils on the landscape mergeinto one another as their characteristics graduallychange. To construct an accurate soil map, however,soil scientists must determine the boundaries betweenthe soils. They can observe only a limited number ofsoil profiles. Nevertheless, these observations,supplemented by an understanding of the soil-vegetation-landscape relationship, are sufficient toverify predictions of the kinds of soil in an area and todetermine the boundaries.

Soil scientists recorded the characteristics of thesoil profiles that they studied. They noted color,texture, size and shape of soil aggregates, kind andamount of rock fragments, distribution of plant roots,reaction, and other features that enable them toidentify soils. After describing the soils in the countyand determining their properties, the soil scientistsassigned the soils to taxonomic classes (units).Taxonomic classes are concepts. Each taxonomicclass has a set of soil characteristics with preciselydefined limits. The classes are used as a basis forcomparison to classify soils systematically. Soiltaxonomy, the system of taxonomic classification usedin the United States, is based mainly on the kind andcharacter of soil properties and the arrangement ofhorizons within the profile. After the soil scientistsclassified and named the soils in the county, theycompared the individual soils with similar soils in thesame taxonomic class in other areas so that theycould confirm data and assemble additional databased on experience and research.

While a soil survey is in progress, samples of someof the soils in the survey area generally are collectedfor laboratory analyses and for engineering tests. Soilscientists interpret the data from these analyses andtests, as well as the field-observed characteristics andthe soil properties, to determine the expected behaviorof the soils under different uses. Interpretations for allof the soils are field tested through observation of thesoils in different uses and under different levels ofmanagement. Some interpretations are modified to fitlocal conditions, and some new interpretations aredeveloped to meet local needs. Data are assembledfrom other sources, such as research information,production records, and field experience of specialists.For example, data on crop yields under defined levelsof management are assembled from farm records andfrom field or plot experiments on the same kinds ofsoil.

Predictions about soil behavior are based not onlyon soil properties but also on such variables asclimate and biological activity. Soil conditions arepredictable over long periods of time, but they are notpredictable from year to year. For example, soilscientists can predict with a fairly high degree ofaccuracy that a given soil will have a high water tablewithin certain depths in most years, but they cannotpredict that a high water table will always be at aspecific level in the soil on a specific date.

After soil scientists located and identified thesignificant natural bodies of soil in the county, they


drew the boundaries of these bodies on aerialphotographs and identified each as a specific mapunit. Aerial photographs show trees, buildings, fields,roads, and rivers, all of which help in locatingboundaries accurately.

The descriptions, names, and delineations of thesoils in this survey area do not fully agree with thoseof the soils in adjacent survey areas. Differences are

the result of a better knowledge of soils, modificationsin series concepts, or variations in the intensity ofmapping or in the extent of the soils in the surveyareas.

Soil scientists were denied access to some areas inthe county. No information about the soils in theseareas is available. The areas are identified by the mapsymbol 380.

21

General Soil Map Units

The general soil map at the back of this publicationshows broad areas that have a distinctive patternof soils, relief, and drainage. Each association onthe general soil map is a unique natural landscape.Typically, it consists of one or more major soils ormiscellaneous areas and some minor soils ormiscellaneous areas. It is named for the major soilsor miscellaneous areas. The components of oneassociation can occur in another but in a differentpattern.

The general soil map can be used to compare thesuitability of large areas for general land uses. Areasof suitable soils can be identified on the map. Likewise,areas where the soils are not suitable can beidentified.

Because of its small scale, the map is not suitablefor planning the management of a farm or field or forselecting a site for a road or building or other structure.The soils in any one association differ from place toplace in slope, depth, drainage, and othercharacteristics that affect management.

1. Rubicon-Croswell Association

These nearly level to rolling, excessively drainedand moderately well drained soils formed in sandymaterial mainly on outwash plains. The soils have verylow natural fertility and a low water-holding capacityand are highly susceptible to ground-watercontamination.

Setting

Landform: Outwash plains, outwash channels, andstream terraces

Slope range: 0 to 18 percent

Composition

Extent of the association:Less than 1 percent of the county

Extent of the soils in the association:Rubicon and similar soils—80 percentCroswell and similar soils—15Minor soils—5 percent

Soil Properties and Qualities

Rubicon

Drainage class: Excessively drainedParent material: Sandy materialTexture of the surface layer: SandSlope: 0 to 18 percent

Croswell

Drainage class: Moderately well drainedParent material: Sandy materialTexture of the surface layer: SandSlope: 0 to 6 percent

Minor Soils

• Au Gres soils, which are somewhat poorly drainedand are on low flats and in depressions

• Leafriver soils, which are very poorly drained andare in depressions

Use and Management

Major use: ForestlandManagement concerns on forestland: Rubicon and

Croswell—equipment limitations, seedlingmortality; Croswell—windthrow, plant competition

Minor use: Building site developmentManagement concerns on building sites: Slope in

some areas, wetness in the Croswell soilsManagement concerns on sites for septic tank

absorption fields: Rapid permeability, slope insome areas, wetness in the Croswell soils

2. Grayling Association

These nearly level to rolling, excessively drainedsoils formed in sandy material mainly on outwashplains. The soils have very low natural fertility and alow water-holding capacity and are highly susceptibleto ground-water contamination.

Setting

Landform: Outwash plains, low knolls, and ridgesSlope range: 0 to 18 percent

22 Soil Survey of

Composition

Extent of the association:1 percent of the county

Extent of the soils in the association:Grayling and similar soils—85 percentMinor soils—15 percent


Grayling


Minor Soils

• Croswell soils, which are moderately well drainedand are on the slightly lower flats, in concave areas,and on the border of depressions


• Deford soils, which are very poorly drained and arein depressions

Use and Management

Major uses: Forestland and wildlife habitatManagement concerns on forestland: Equipment

limitations, seedling mortality

Minor use: Building site developmentManagement concern on building sites: Slope in some

areasManagement concerns on sites for septic tank

absorption fields: Rapid permeability, slope insome areas

3. Graycalm-Grayling Association

These nearly level to rolling, somewhat excessivelyand excessively drained soils formed in sandy materialon outwash plains. The soils have very low naturalfertility and a low water-holding capacity and are highlysusceptible to ground-water contamination.

Setting

Landform: Outwash plains, some of which are pittedSlope range: 0 to 18 percent

Composition


Extent of the soils in the association:Graycalm—65 percentGrayling—25 percent

Minor soils—10 percent


Graycalm

Drainage class: Somewhat excessively drainedParent material: Sandy materialTexture of the surface layer: SandSlope: 0 to 18 percent

Grayling


Minor Soils

• Lindquist soils, which are somewhat excessivelydrained, are redder in the subsoil than the majorsoils, and are in landscape positions similar to thoseof the major soils




• Dawson soils, which are very poorly drained and arein closed depressions

• The Udipsamments-Haplorthods-Glossudalfscomplex, which is in the Camp Grayling impact area

Use and Management

Major use: ForestlandManagement concerns on forestland: Equipment

limitations, seedling mortality

Minor use: Building site developmentManagement concern on building sites: Slope in some



4. Islandlake-Blue Lake-MancelonaAssociation

These nearly level to very steep, somewhatexcessively drained and well drained soils formed insandy and gravelly material mainly on outwash plains.The soils have moderately low or low natural fertilityand a low water-holding capacity and are moderatelysusceptible or highly susceptible to ground-watercontamination.


Setting

Landform: Outwash plains, outwash channels, streamterraces, kame terraces, and kames


Composition


Extent of the soils in the association:Islandlake—32 percentBlue Lake—25 percentMancelona—17 percentMinor soils—26 percent


Islandlake

Drainage class: Somewhat excessively drainedParent material: Sandy materialTexture of the surface layer: Loamy sand and sandSlope: 0 to 18 percent

Blue Lake

Drainage class: Well drainedParent material: Sandy materialTexture of the surface layer: Loamy sandSlope: 0 to 50 percent

Mancelona

Drainage class: Somewhat excessively drainedParent material: Sandy and gravelly materialTexture of the surface layer: Loamy sandSlope: 0 to 50 percent

Minor Soils

• Kalkaska soils, which are somewhat excessivelydrained, do not have gravel in the substratum orlamellae in the subsoil, and are in landscapepositions similar to those of the major soils

• Lindquist soils, which are somewhat excessivelydrained, have less development in the subsoil thanthe major soils, and are in landscape positionssimilar to those of the major soils

• East Lake soils, which are somewhat excessivelydrained, do not have lamellae in the substratum, andare in landscape positions similar to those of themajor soils

Use and Management


limitations, water erosion in some areas, seedlingmortality

Minor uses: Cropland, pasture, and building sitedevelopment

Management concerns on cropland: Droughtiness andsoil blowing

Management concern on pasture: DroughtinessManagement concern on building sites: Slope in some



5. Kalkaska-Blue Lake-RubiconAssociation

These nearly level to very steep, well drained toexcessively drained soils formed in sandy materialmainly on moraines and outwash plains (fig. 7). Thesoils have moderately low or low natural fertility and alow water-holding capacity and are moderatelysusceptible or highly susceptible to ground-watercontamination.

Setting

Landform: Dissected remnant moraines, channeleduplands, stream terraces, and outwash channels


Composition


Extent of the soils in the association:Kalkaska—50 percentBlue Lake—25 percentRubicon—10 percentMinor soils—15 percent


Kalkaska


Blue Lake


Rubicon

Drainage class: Excessively drainedParent material: Sandy material

24 Soil Survey of

Texture of the surface layer: SandSlope: 0 to 18 percent

Minor Soils

• Leelanau soils, which are well drained, have moredevelopment in the subsoil than the major soils, andare on moraines

• Lindquist soils, which are somewhat excessivelydrained, have less development in the subsoil thanthe major soils, and are in outwash channels

• Islandlake soils, which are somewhat excessivelydrained and are on outwash plains



Use and Management


limitations, water erosion on side slopes, seedlingmortality

Minor uses: Pasture and building site developmentManagement concern on pasture: DroughtinessManagement concern on building sites: Slope in some



Figure 7.—Typical pattern of soils and parent material in the Kalkaska-Blue Lake-Rubicon association. Depth is indicated in inches.


6. Rubicon-Lindquist Association

These nearly level to steep, excessively drainedand somewhat excessively drained soils formed insandy material mainly on moraines and outwashplains. The soils have low natural fertility and a lowwater-holding capacity and are highly susceptible toground-water contamination.

Setting

Landform: Moraines, outwash channels, and outwashplains


Composition


Extent of the soils in the association:Rubicon—67 percentLindquist—28 percentMinor soils—5 percent


Rubicon


Lindquist


Minor Soils

• Grayling soils, which are excessively drained, haveless development in the subsoil than the major soils,and are on outwash plains

• East Lake soils, which are excessively drained, havemore gravel in the subsoil than the major soils, andare on outwash plains

• Dawson and Loxley soils, which are organic and arein closed depressions

• Croswell soils, which are moderately well drainedand are adjacent to depressions on outwash plains

• Au Gres soils, which are somewhat poorly drainedand are on terraces adjacent to drainageways and inshallow depressions


• Tawas soils, which are organic and are indepressions and drainageways

Use and Management


limitations, water erosion in the steeper areas,seedling mortality

Minor use: Building site developmentManagement concern on building sites: SlopeMangement concerns on sites for septic tank

absorption fields: Rapid permeability, slope

7. Leelanau-Lindquist Association

These nearly level to very steep, well drained andsomewhat excessively drained soils formed in sandymaterial mainly on moraines and outwash plains(fig. 8). The soils have moderately low or low naturalfertility and a low water-holding capacity and aremoderately susceptible or highly susceptible toground-water contamination.

Setting

Landform: Channeled uplands, till plains, and outwashchannels


Composition


Extent of the soils in the association:Leelanau—82 percentLindquist—8 percentMinor soils—10 percent


Leelanau

Drainage class: Well drainedParent material: Loamy sandTexture of the surface layer: Loamy sandSlope: 0 to 50 percent

Lindquist


Minor Soils

• Blue Lake soils, which are well drained and are inlandscape positions similar to those of the majorsoils

• East Lake soils, which are somewhat excessively

26 Soil Survey of

drained, have more gravel in the substratum thanthe major soils, and are on kames

• Chinwhisker soils, which are moderately well drainedand are on the slightly lower flats, in concave areas,and on the border of depressions

• Ausable soils, which are very poorly drained and areon flood plains

• Rubicon soils, which are excessively drained andare in landscape positions similar to those of themajor soils

Use and Management

Major use: ForestlandManagement concerns on forestland: Seedling

mortality, water erosion

Minor use: Building site development

Management concern on building sites: Slope in someareas

Management concerns on sites for septic tankabsorption fields: Rapid permeability, slope insome areas

8. Blue Lake-Feldhauser-KalkaskaAssociation

These nearly level to very steep, moderately welldrained to somewhat excessively drained soils formedin sandy and loamy material mainly on remnantmoraines. The soils have moderate or moderately lownatural fertility and a moderate or low water-holdingcapacity and are moderately susceptible to ground-water contamination.

Figure 8.—Typical pattern of soils and parent material in the Leelanau-Lindquist association. Depth is indicated in inches.


Setting

Landform: Dissected remnant moraines andsummits


Composition


Extent of the soils in the association:Blue Lake—55 percentFeldhauser and similar soils—25 percentKalkaska—18 percentMinor soils—2 percent


Blue Lake


Feldhauser

Drainage class: Moderately well drainedParent material: Loamy material underlain by sandy

materialTexture of the surface layer: Fine sandy loamSlope: 0 to 6 percent

Kalkaska


Minor Soils

• Hartwick soils, which are somewhat excessivelydrained, have gravel in the substratum, and are inoutwash channels


Use and Management


limitations, water erosion on side slopes, seedlingmortality in some areas

Minor uses: Cropland, pasture, and building sitedevelopment

Management concerns on cropland: Water erosion,tilth, compaction

Management concerns on pasture: Compaction,seasonal wetness on summits, droughtiness onside slopes

Management concerns on building sites: Wetness onsummits, slope on side slopes

Management concerns on sites for septic tankabsorption fields: Wetness on summits, rapidpermeability, slope on side slopes

9. Blue Lake-Mossback-MancelonaAssociation

These nearly level to very steep, well drained andsomewhat excessively drained soils formed in sandyand loamy material mainly on moraines. The soilshave moderate or moderately low natural fertility anda moderate or low water-holding capacity and aremoderately susceptible to ground-watercontamination.

Setting

Landform: Terminal moraines, till plains, dissectedmoraines in the channeled uplands, kames, andstream terraces


Composition


Extent of the soils in the association:Blue Lake—35 percentMossback—30 percentMancelona—20 percentMinor soils—15 percent


Blue Lake


Mossback

Drainage class: Well drainedParent material: Sandy loam underlain by sandy

materialTexture of the surface layer: Sandy loamSlope: 0 to 35 percent

Mancelona

Drainage class: Somewhat excessively drainedParent material: Sandy and gravelly material

28 Soil Survey of

Texture of the surface layer: Loamy sandSlope: 0 to 70 percent

Minor Soils


• Morganlake soils, which are moderately welldrained, have sandy material that is 20 to 40 inchesdeep over loamy material, and are in nearly levelareas

• Menominee soils, which are well drained, havesandy material that is 20 to 40 inches deep overloamy material, and are in landscape positionssimilar to those of the major soils

• Bamfield soils, which are well drained, have moreclay in the subsoil than the major soils, and are inlandscape positions similar to those of the majorsoils

• Leafriver soils, which are very poorly drained, areorganic in the upper part and sandy in the lowerpart, and are in depressions

• Gladwin soils, which are somewhat poorly drainedand are in depressions

Use and Management

Major uses: Forestland and croplandManagement concerns on forestland: Equipment

limitations, water erosion in the steeper areasManagement concerns on cropland: Droughtiness,

water erosion

Minor uses: Pasture and building site developmentManagement concern on pasture: OvergrazingManagement concern on building sites: Slope in some

areasManagement concern on sites for septic tank

absorption fields: Slope in some areas

10. Ossineke-Blue Lake-MorganlakeAssociation

These nearly level to very steep, moderately welldrained and well drained soils formed in sandy andloamy material mainly on moraines. The soils havelow to high natural fertility and a moderate or lowwater-holding capacity and are moderatelysusceptible or slightly susceptible to ground-watercontamination.

Setting

Landform: Terminal moraines and till plains


Composition


Extent of the soils in the association:Ossineke—30 percentBlue Lake—29 percentMorganlake—25 percentMinor soils—16 percent


Ossineke

Drainage class: Moderately well drainedParent material: Loamy material underlain by sandy

materialTexture of the surface layer: Fine sandy loamSlope: 0 to 12 percent

Blue Lake


Morganlake

Drainage class: Moderately well drainedParent material: Loamy sand underlain by loamy

materialTexture of the surface layer: Loamy sandSlope: 0 to 12 percent

Minor Soils

• Mancelona soils, which are somewhat excessivelydrained, have more gravel in the substratum thanthe major soils, and are on kames and in outwashchannels

• Bamfield and Menominee soils, which are welldrained and are in the steeper areas

• Kent soils, which are moderately well drained, havemore clay than the major soils, and are in landscapepositions similar to those of the major soils

• Slade soils, which are somewhat poorly drained andare in shallow depressions

• Angelica soils, which are poorly drained and are indepressions

• Cathro soils, which are organic and are indepressions

Use and Management

Major uses: Forestland and croplandManagement concerns on forestland: Equipment

limitations


Management concern on cropland: Water erosion

Minor uses: Pasture and building site developmentManagement concern on pasture: OvergrazingManagement concerns on building sites: Shrink-swell

potential, frost action, wetness, slope in someareas

Management concerns on sites for septic tankabsorption fields: Moderately slow or slowpermeability, wetness, slope in some areas

11. Tawas-Lupton Association

These nearly level, very poorly drained soilsformed in muck or in muck over sandy material.They are mainly in depressions and drainageways.The soils have low natural fertility, have a highwater-holding capacity in the organic layers and alow water-holding capacity in the sandy material,and are highly susceptible to ground-watercontamination.

Setting

Landform: Drainageways, flood plains, anddepressions on outwash plains, in outwashchannels, and on moraines


Composition


Extent of the soils in the association:Tawas—53 percentLupton—32 percentMinor soils—15 percent


Tawas

Drainage class: Very poorly drainedParent material: Organic material that is 16 to 51

inches deep over sandy materialTexture of the surface layer: MuckSlope: 0 to 2 percent

Lupton

Drainage class: Very poorly drainedParent material: More than 51 inches of organic materialTexture of the surface layer: MuckSlope: 0 to 2 percent

Minor Soils

• Croswell soils, which are moderately well drained,are sandy throughout, and are on islands, terraces,and outwash plains

• Au Gres soils, which are somewhat poorly drained,are sandy throughout, and are on islands and terraces

• Ausable and Bowstring soils, which have alternatinglayers of mineral and organic material and are onflood plains

• Histosols and Aquents, which are ponded and are indepressions and near areas of open water

• Kellogg soils, which are moderately well drained,have sandy material that is 20 to 40 inches deepover clayey material, and are on lake plains

Use and Management

Major uses: Forestland, recreational development, andwildlife habitat

Management concerns on forestland: Equipmentlimitations, windthrow, seedling mortality

31

The map units delineated on the detailed maps inthis survey represent the soils or miscellaneous areasin the survey area. The map unit descriptions in thissection, along with the maps, can be used todetermine the suitability and potential of a unit forspecific uses. They also can be used to plan themanagement needed for those uses. More informationabout each map unit is given under the heading “Useand Management of the Soils.”

A map unit delineation on a map represents an areadominated by one or more major kinds of soil ormiscellaneous areas. A map unit is identified andnamed according to the taxonomic classification of thedominant soils or miscellaneous areas. Within ataxonomic class there are precisely defined limits forthe properties of the soils. On the landscape, however,the soils and miscellaneous areas are naturalphenomena, and they have the characteristicvariability of all natural phenomena. Thus, the range ofsome observed properties may extend beyond thelimits defined for a taxonomic class. Areas of soils of asingle taxonomic class rarely, if ever, can be mappedwithout including areas of other taxonomic classes.Consequently, every map unit is made up of the soilsor miscellaneous areas for which it is named andsome “included” areas that belong to other taxonomicclasses.

Most included soils have properties similar to thoseof the dominant soil or soils in the map unit, and thusthey do not affect use and management. These arecalled noncontrasting, or similar, inclusions. They mayor may not be mentioned in the map unit description.Other included soils and miscellaneous areas,however, have properties and behavioralcharacteristics divergent enough to affect use or torequire different management. These are calledcontrasting, or dissimilar, inclusions. They generallyare in small areas and could not be mappedseparately because of the scale used. Some smallareas of strongly contrasting soils or miscellaneousareas are identified by a special symbol on the maps.The included areas of contrasting soils ormiscellaneous areas are mentioned in the map unitdescriptions. A few included areas may not have beenobserved, and consequently they are not mentioned in

the descriptions, especially where the pattern was socomplex that it was impractical to make enoughobservations to identify all the soils and miscellaneousareas on the landscape.

The presence of included areas in a map unit in noway diminishes the usefulness or accuracy of the data.The objective of mapping is not to delineate puretaxonomic classes but rather to separate thelandscape into landforms or landform segments thathave similar use and management requirements. Thedelineation of such segments on the map providessufficient information for the development of resourceplans, but if intensive use of small areas is planned,onsite investigation is needed to define and locate thesoils and miscellaneous areas.

An identifying symbol precedes the map unit namein the map unit descriptions. Each description includesgeneral facts about the unit and gives the principalhazards and limitations to be considered in planningfor specific uses.

Soils that have profiles that are almost alike makeup a soil series. Except for differences in texture of thesurface layer, all the soils of a series have majorhorizons that are similar in composition, thickness,and arrangement.

Soils of one series can differ in texture of thesurface layer, slope, stoniness, degree of erosion, andother characteristics that affect their use. On the basisof such differences, a soil series is divided into soilphases. Most of the areas shown on the detailed soilmaps are phases of soil series. The name of a soilphase commonly indicates a feature that affects useor management. For example, Islandlake loamy sand,0 to 6 percent slopes, is a phase of the Islandlakeseries.

Some map units are made up of two or more majorsoils or miscellaneous areas. These map units arecomplexes or undifferentiated groups.

A complex consists of two or more soils ormiscellaneous areas in such an intricate pattern or insuch small areas that they cannot be shownseparately on the maps. The pattern and proportion ofthe soils or miscellaneous areas are somewhat similarin all areas. Deford-Au Gres-Croswell complex, 0 to 6percent slopes, is an example.

Detailed Soil Map Units

32 Soil Survey of

An undifferentiated group is made up of two ormore soils or miscellaneous areas that could bemapped individually but are mapped as one unitbecause similar interpretations can be made for useand management. The pattern and proportion of thesoils or miscellaneous areas in a mapped area are notuniform. An area can be made up of only one of themajor soils or miscellaneous areas, or it can be madeup of all of them. An example of an undifferentiatedgroup in this survey area is the map unit Histosols andAquents, ponded.

This survey includes miscellaneous areas. Suchareas have little or no soil material and support little orno vegetation. Pits, borrow, is an example.

Table 4 gives the acreage and proportionate extentof each map unit. Other tables give properties of thesoils and the limitations, capabilities, and potentials formany uses. The Glossary defines many of the termsused in describing the soils or miscellaneous areas.

13—Tawas-Lupton mucks

Setting

Landform: Low flats, depressions, and drainagewayson outwash plains and end moraines

Slope: 0 to 2 percentShape of areas: Irregular or ovalSize of areas: 3 to 4,180 acres

Typical Profile

Tawas

Surface layer:0 to 9 inches—black muck

Subsoil:9 to 24 inches—black and very dark gray muck

Substratum:24 to 80 inches—dark gray sand

Lupton

Surface layer:0 to 13 inches—black muck

Substratum:13 to 80 inches—black muck


Permeability: Tawas—moderately slow to moderatelyrapid in the organic material and rapid in theunderlying sand; Lupton—moderately slow tomoderately rapid

Available water capacity: High

Drainage class: Very poorly drainedSeasonal high water table: Apparent, 1.0 foot above to

1.0 foot below the surface throughout the yearSurface runoff class: NegligibleFlooding: NoneHazard of water erosion: SlightHazard of soil blowing: ModerateShrink-swell potential: LowPotential for frost action: High

Composition

Tawas and similar soils: 35 to 70 percentLupton and similar soils: 25 to 50 percentContrasting inclusions: 0 to 15 percent

Inclusions

Contrasting inclusions:• The somewhat poorly drained Au Gres soils in the

slightly higher landscape positions• The very poorly drained Deford soils in landscape

positions similar to those of the Tawas and Luptonsoils

• Small areas of open water

Similar inclusions:• Areas near the Tawas soil where thin layers of loamy

material are in the substratum• Areas near the Tawas soil where the muck is more

than 9 inches and less than 16 inches thick• Soils that are very strongly acid in some parts

Use and Management

Dominant use: Forestland

Forestland

Major management concerns: Equipment limitations,seedling mortality, windthrow hazard, plantcompetition

Management considerations:• Because of wetness and low strength, special

harvesting equipment is needed. The equipment canbe used only during periods in winter when skidroads and access roads are frozen.

• Windthrow can be minimized by harvest methodsthat do not leave the remaining trees widely spacedand by such harvest methods as selective cuttingand strip cutting.

• Because of wetness, severe seedling mortality, andplant competition, trees are generally not planted onthese soils.

• Selective cutting or cutting in strips and naturallyregenerating the area by leaving desirable seedtrees along the edge of the openings can improvethe stand.

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