Soils 661

Consultant Report 1

Mark Breunig

Introduction

The Jefferson Property is located in eastern Adams County, Wisconsin. Frank Jefferson recently inherited this land from his grandfather, Lloyd Jefferson, and has requested a residential site suitability report. Mr. Jefferson has hired the Breunig & Company Consulting Firm because Lloyd had warned him that certain parts of his land were not good home sites. Mr. Jefferson is interested in building a home that is near a pre-existing road to save on driveway construction costs. He also would prefer a site that is not adjacent to a pre-existing home, and is hoping his home can have a basement.

The current land uses on the Jefferson property vary, and can be found in Figure 1. Table 1 provides a summary of the acreage and percent area of each land use. The mixed forest area accounts for majority, 83.6% - 320.1 acres, of the 383 plot of land. The thinly forested areas within the mixed forest land have recently been converted from cultivated land to forest. The next largest proportion of land, 41.8 acres or 10.9% of the total land, is currently rented out to a local pine plantation operation that extends south of the Jefferson property. Three small patches of cultivated land, accounting for 18.8 acres or 4.9% of the total area, are currently leased out to local farmers. County Highway G runs through the center of the property, accounting for 2.1 acres or 0.5% of the total property.

Figure 1. Current land use as of February 2009 on the Jefferson property.

Table 1. Summary of land use areas on the Jefferson Property.

Land Use / Acres / Percent of Total
Forest - Mixed / 320.1 / 83.6%
Pine Plantation / 41.8 / 10.9%
Cultivated Land / 18.8 / 4.9%
Transportation / 2.1 / 0.5%
Total / 383

Residential Site Suitability Data

This 383 acre plot of land contains 13 different soil map units. A soil map unit represents an area that is predominantly composed of one or more dominant soil type. Although they appear as specific areas on the map in Figure 2, they actual soil composition and distribution is more variable and complex. However, the soil map unit serves as a very useful tool to land managers because the dominant soil type within a contiguous area will have the most impact on the behavior and properties of the soil.

Figure 2. Soil map unit symbols within the Jefferson property (Soil Survey Staff 2006).

Most of the Jefferson property is composed of one of three soil map units. The acres of each soil map unit and percent area can be found in Table 2. 108.4 acres or 28.4% of the area is Boone sand (BnD), 6 to 12% slopes. 93.7 or 24.6% of the area is Boone sand (BnC) 6 to 12% slopes. 54.3 acres or 14.2% of the area is Plainfield sand (PfB), 2-6% slopes. The other ten soil map units each compose less than 9% of the total Jefferson property.

The suitability for dwellings with basements rating is a good starting point when deciding on a residential site. Figure 3 provides a map of these ratings, Table 3 describes the ratings by soil map unit, and Table 4 summarizes the total areas for each ranking. According to Table 4, 101.5 acres or 26.5% of the Jefferson property is ranked as “not limited”, meaning it is very well suited for a dwelling with a basement. The rest of the land is either somewhat limited (37.7%) or very limited (35.8%)for dwellings with basements.

The erosion hazard for unsurfaced roads and trails is also important to consider, since a driveway will need to be constructed prior to building the home in order to accommodate construction equipment. Figure 4 displays these rankings as a map, Table 5 describes the ratings by soil map unit, and Table 6 summarizes the over areas for each ranking. According to Table 6, 26.5% of the Jefferson property has a slight erosion hazard for unsurfaced roads and trails.

Table 2. Soil map unit symbols, names, acres, and percent of total area within the Jefferson property (Web Soil Survey 2009).

Figure 3. Suitability for dwelling with basements. Red = very limited, yellow = somewhat limited, green = not limited. Map scale is 1:20,000 (Web Soil Survey 2009).

Table 3. Suitability for dwelling with basements by map unit for the Jefferson property (Web Soil Survey 2009).
Map unit symbol / Map unit name / Rating / Component name (percent) / Rating reasons (numeric values) / Acres in AOI / Percent of AOI
BnC / Boone sand, 6 to 12 percent slopes / Somewhat limited / Boone (100%) / Slope (0.04) / 93.0 / 24.3%
Depth to soft bedrock (0.01)
BnD / Boone sand, 12 to 25 percent slopes / Very limited / Boone (100%) / Slope (1.00) / 3.6 / 1.0%
Depth to soft bedrock (0.01)
BpF / Boone-Rock outcrop complex, 25 to 45 percent slopes / Very limited / Boone (60%) / Slope (1.00) / 108.6 / 28.4%
Depth to soft bedrock (0.01)
CoB / Coloma sand, 2 to 6 percent slopes / Not limited / Coloma (100%) / 29.3 / 7.6%
CoC / Coloma sand, 6 to 12 percent slopes / Somewhat limited / Coloma (100%) / Slope (0.04) / 34.1 / 8.9%
CoD / Coloma sand, 12 to 25 percent slopes / Very limited / Coloma (100%) / Slope (1.00) / 14.7 / 3.8%
OkB / Okee loamy sand, 2 to 6 percent slopes / Not limited / Okee (100%) / 5.0 / 1.3%
OkC / Okee loamy sand, 6 to 12 percent slopes / Somewhat limited / Okee (100%) / Slope (0.04) / 17.0 / 4.4%
OkD / Okee loamy sand, 12 to 25 percent slopes / Very limited / Okee (100%) / Slope (1.00) / 9.5 / 2.5%
PfA / Plainfield sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes / Not limited / Plainfield (100%) / 10.4 / 2.7%
PfB / Plainfield sand, 2 to 6 percent slopes / Not limited / Plainfield (100%) / 55.0 / 14.4%
WyB / Wyocena loamy sand, 2 to 6 percent slopes / Not limited / Wyocena (100%) / 1.9 / 0.5%
WyD / Wyocena loamy sand, 12 to 25 percent slopes / Very limited / Wyocena (100%) / Slope (1.00) / 0.4 / 0.1%
Totals for Area of Interest / 382.5 / 100.0%
Table 4. Summary of suitability for dwelling with basements for the Jefferson property (Web Soil Survey 2009).
Rating / Acres in AOI / Percent of AOI
Somewhat limited / 144.2 / 37.7%
Very limited / 136.8 / 35.8%
Not limited / 101.5 / 26.5

Figure 4. Erosion hazard for unsurfaced roads and trails. Orange = severe, light green = moderate, green = slight. Map scale is 1:20,000 (Web Soil Survey 2009).

Table 5. Erosion hazard for unsurfaced roads and trails by soil map unit (Web Soil Survey 2009).
Map unit symbol / Map unit name / Rating / Component name (percent) / Rating reasons (numeric values) / Acres in AOI / Percent of AOI
BnC / Boone sand, 6 to 12 percent slopes / Moderate / Boone (100%) / Slope/erodibility (0.50) / 93 / 24.30%
BnD / Boone sand, 12 to 25 percent slopes / Severe / Boone (100%) / Slope/erodibility (0.95) / 3.6 / 1.00%
BpF / Boone-Rock outcrop complex, 25 to 45 percent slopes / Severe / Boone (60%) / Slope/erodibility (0.95) / 108.6 / 28.40%
Rock outcrop (40%) / Slope/erodibility (0.95)
Slope/erodibility (0.95)
CoB / Coloma sand, 2 to 6 percent slopes / Slight / Coloma (100%) / 29.3 / 7.60%
CoC / Coloma sand, 6 to 12 percent slopes / Moderate / Coloma (100%) / Slope/erodibility (0.50) / 34.1 / 8.90%
CoD / Coloma sand, 12 to 25 percent slopes / Severe / Coloma (100%) / Slope/erodibility (0.95) / 14.7 / 3.80%
OkB / Okee loamy sand, 2 to 6 percent slopes / Slight / Okee (100%) / 5 / 1.30%
Table 6. Erosion hazard for unsurfaced roads and trails by soil map unit (Web Soil Survey 2009).
Map unit symbol / Map unit name / Rating / Component name (percent) / Rating reasons (numeric values) / Acres in AOI / Percent of AOI
OkC / Okee loamy sand, 6 to 12 percent slopes / Moderate / Okee (100%) / Slope/erodibility (0.50) / 17 / 4.40%
OkD / Okee loamy sand, 12 to 25 percent slopes / Severe / Okee (100%) / Slope/erodibility (0.95) / 9.5 / 2.50%
PfA / Plainfield sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes / Slight / Plainfield (100%) / 10.4 / 2.70%
PfB / Plainfield sand, 2 to 6 percent slopes / Slight / Plainfield (100%) / 55 / 14.40%
WyB / Wyocena loamy sand, 2 to 6 percent slopes / Slight / Wyocena (100%) / 1.9 / 0.50%
WyD / Wyocena loamy sand, 12 to 25 percent slopes / Severe / Wyocena (100%) / Slope/erodibility (0.95) / 0.4 / 0.10%
Totals for Area of Interest / 382.5 / 100.00%
Table 7. Summary of erosion hazards for unsurfaced roads and trails for the Jefferson property. (Web Soil Survey 2009).
Rating / Acres in AOI / Percent of AOI
Moderate / 144.2 / 37.7%
Severe / 136.8 / 35.8%
Slight / 101.5 / 26.5%
Totals for Area of Interest / 382.5 / 100.0%

Recommended Site

The Breunig and Company Consulting Firm recommends the new home be built anywhere in the 10 acre zone in the northwest corner of the property shown in Figure 5. The selection criteria consisted of: close proximity to pre-existing road, not adjacent to other dwelling, soils suitable for dwellings with basement, and a low erosion hazard associated with unsurfaced roads. The recommended area represents an area that has the best combination of all these factors. It is near a pre-existing road, and is not adjacent to another home. As can be seen onFigure 2, the recommended area consists of Plainfield sand (PfA), 0-2% slopes. This soil’s suitability is “not limited” for residential dwellings with basements (Figure 3, Table 1), meaning it is a prime location for such a use. In addition, the erosion hazard for unsurfaced roads is ranked as slight, meaning there should be limited impacts from the construction equipment (Table 5, Figure 4). Also, the option of having an unsurfaced road will save Mr. Jefferson money. The gentle slope itself (0-2%) is another benefit of this area, as construction equipment can more easily navigate and will have less impact.

Figure 5. Recommended site for Frank Jefferson’s new home designated by the orange polygon in the northwest corner of the property.

It is also recommended that the original forest type, white pine, be re-established on the zone indicated in Figure 1Figure 5. This will certainly make the home a more ascetically pleasing environment, and restore the land back to its natural state. Contact a local tree company for more specific planting strategies or tips.

As can be seen in Figure 3, there are other areas within the property that are well suited for dwelling with basements. However, each of these areas lacks some other criteria. For example, the PfB map unit (Plainfield sand, 2-6% slopes) just west of County Highway G is well suited for a home with a basement. However, it is near another home, and the 2-6% slopes are less ideal than the 0-2% slopes found in the PfA map unit.

Certain areas within the property should definitely not be built on. These include any of the red areas in Figure 3. The BpFCoD soil map units have much too steep slopes for home construction, and are a far distance from any roads. Comparing Figure 3 and Figure 4, the same areas that have poor suitabilities for homes with basements have high unsurface road erosion potentials. It is strongly recommended to avoid these areas.

Thank You!

We know you have a choice when selecting an environmental consulting firm. Thank you for choosing Breunig & Company! We can assure you we provide the most for your dollar.

Works Cited

Soil Survey Staff. 2006. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) database for Adams County, Wisconsin. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Soil Web Survey. Accessed Feb 2009. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.