Soil Survey of Calhoun and Roane Counties, West VirginiaCalhoun and Roane Counties, West Virginia...

United StatesDepartment ofAgriculture

NaturalResourcesConservationService

In cooperation withWest Virginia Agriculturaland Forestry ExperimentStation

Soil Survey ofCalhoun andRoane Counties,West Virginia

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 home page on the World Wide Web. Theaddress is http://www.nrcs.usda.gov (click on “Technical Resources”).

This soil survey is a publication of the National Cooperative Soil Survey, a joint effort ofthe United States Department of Agriculture and other Federal agencies, State agenciesincluding the Agricultural Experiment Stations, and local agencies. The Natural ResourcesConservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) has leadership for theFederal part of the National Cooperative Soil Survey.

This survey updates the “Soil Survey of the Spencer Area, West Virginia,” printed in1910 (Latimer and Meeker, 1910). It provides additional information and has larger maps,which show the soils in greater detail.

Major fieldwork for this soil survey was completed in the period 1989 to 1993. Soilnames and descriptions were approved in 1992. Unless otherwise indicated, statements inthis publication refer to conditions in the survey area in 1992. This survey was madecooperatively by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the West VirginiaAgricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. The survey is part of the technicalassistance furnished to the Little Kanawha 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, mapsdo not show the small areas of contrasting soils that could have been shown at a largerscale.

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

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider andemployer.

Cover: A typical area of the Gilpin-Peabody complex, 35 to 70 percent slopes, severely eroded.

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov

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How to Use This Soil Survey ................................. 3Foreword ................................................................. 7General Nature of the Survey Area .......................... 9

Settlement ............................................................ 9Population .......................................................... 10Transportation Facilities ..................................... 10Farming .............................................................. 10Relief and Drainage ........................................... 10Geology ............................................................. 10Climate ............................................................... 11

How This Survey Was Made .................................. 12General Soil Map Units ........................................ 15

Soil Descriptions ................................................ 151. Gilpin-Peabody-Upshur Association ........ 152. Gilpin-Pineville-Peabody Association ...... 163. Moshannon-Vandalia-Hackers

Association ............................................ 17Detailed Soil Map Units ........................................ 19

GpF3—Gilpin-Peabody complex, 35 to 70percent slopes, severely eroded .................. 20

GvF—Gilpin-Pineville complex, 35 to 70percent slopes, very stony ........................... 21

Ha—Hackers silt loam........................................ 22MoB—Monongahela silt loam, 3 to 8 percent

slopes .......................................................... 23Ms—Moshannon silt loam.................................. 23PvE—Pineville loam, 25 to 35 percent slopes,

very stony .................................................... 25RpF3—Rock outcrop-Peabody-Gilpin

complex, 35 to 70 percent slopes,severely eroded ........................................... 25

Sc—Senecaville silt loam, rarely flooded ........... 26Sm—Senecaville and Melvin silt loams,

occasionally flooded .................................... 27Ss—Sensabaugh silt loam ................................. 28TsB—Tilsit silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes ........ 30Ud—Udorthents, smoothed ............................... 30UgC3—Upshur-Gilpin complex, 8 to 15

percent slopes, severely eroded .................. 31UgD3—Upshur-Gilpin complex, 15 to 25

percent slopes, severely eroded .................. 32UgE3—Upshur-Gilpin complex, 25 to 35

percent slopes, severely eroded .................. 34VaD—Vandalia silt loam, 15 to 25 percent

slopes .......................................................... 35

VbD—Vandalia silt loam, 15 to 25 percentslopes, extremely bouldery .......................... 36

Prime Farmland .................................................... 39Use and Management of the Soils ...................... 41

Crops and Pasture ............................................. 41Yields per Acre .............................................. 42Land Capability Classification ........................ 42

Woodland Management and Productivity .......... 43Recreation ......................................................... 46Wildlife Habitat ................................................... 47Engineering ........................................................ 48

Building Site Development ............................. 49Sanitary Facilities ........................................... 50Construction Materials ................................... 51Water Management ....................................... 52

Soil Properties ...................................................... 55Engineering Index Properties ............................. 55Physical and Chemical Properties ..................... 56Soil and Water Features ..................................... 57

Classification of the Soils .................................... 59Soil Series and Their Morphology .......................... 59

Gilpin Series....................................................... 59Hackers Series ................................................... 60Melvin Series ..................................................... 61Monongahela Series .......................................... 61Moshannon Series ............................................. 62Peabody Series .................................................. 63Pineville Series .................................................. 63Senecaville Series ............................................. 64Sensabaugh Series ........................................... 65Tilsit Series ........................................................ 65Udorthents ......................................................... 66Upshur Series .................................................... 66Vandalia Series .................................................. 67

Formation of the Soils ......................................... 69Factors of Soil Formation ................................... 69

Parent Material, Time, and Climate ................ 69Living Organisms ........................................... 69Topography .................................................... 69

Morphology of the Soils ..................................... 70References ............................................................ 71Glossary ................................................................ 73Tables .................................................................... 81

Table 1.—Temperature and Precipitation ........... 82Table 2.—Freeze Dates in Spring and Fall ......... 83

Contents

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Table 3.—Growing Season ................................ 83Table 4.—Acreage and Proportionate Extent

of the Soils ................................................... 84Table 5.—Prime Farmland ................................. 84Table 6.—Land Capability Classification and

Yields per Acre of Crops and Pasture ......... 85Table 7.—Capability Classes and Subclasses ... 86Table 8.—Woodland Management and

Productivity .................................................. 87Table 9.—Recreational Development ................. 89

Table 10.—Wildlife Habitat ................................. 91Table 11.—Building Site Development ............... 93Table 12.—Sanitary Facilities ............................. 95Table 13.—Construction Materials ..................... 97Table 14.—Water Management ......................... 99Table 15.—Engineering Index Properties......... 101Table 16.—Physical and Chemical Properties

of the Soils ................................................. 105Table 17.—Soil and Water Features ................. 107Table 18.—Classification of the Soils ............... 108

Issued 1999

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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, ranchers, foresters,and agronomists can use it to evaluate the potential of the soil and the managementneeded for maximum food and fiber production. Planners, community officials,engineers, developers, builders, and home buyers can use the survey to plan land use,select sites for construction, and identify special practices needed to ensure properperformance. 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 moderately deep to bedrock. Some aretoo unstable 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.

William J. HartmanState ConservationistNatural Resources Conservation Service

Foreword

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CALHOUN AND ROANE COUNTIES are in the west-centralpart of West Virginia (fig. 1). Calhoun County is179,500 acres, or about 280 square miles, in size, andRoane County is 309,700 acres, or about 484 squaremiles, in size. In the two counties, land makes upabout 487,500 acres and water about 1,700 acres.

The major enterprises throughout the survey areaare oil and gas production, timber and related woodproduction, and a small amount of manufacturing inincorporated areas.

General Nature of the Survey AreaThis section provides information about some of the

natural and cultural factors that affect land use in thesurvey area.

Settlement

The first settler in Calhoun County was AbrahamThomas, who settled along the banks of the LittleKanawha River in 1774 (Mills and the Calhoun CountyHistorical and Genealogical Society, 1900). CalhounCounty was formed from Gilmer County, Virginia, in1856 and was named in honor of John C. Calhoun.Grantsville, the county seat, was named for GeneralUlysses S. Grant.

The first settlers in Roane County were the SamuelTanner family, who settled near Spencer in 1812(Mylott, 1984). Roane County was formed from Gilmer,Jackson, and Kanawha Counties, Virginia, in 1856 andwas named in honor of Judge Spencer Roane of the

Court of Appeals of Virginia. Spencer, the county seat,also was named for Judge Spencer Roane.

The early settlers in the survey area were hunters,trappers, and woodsmen. Cattle grazing and timberproduction were the chief sources of income. Corn,wheat, and oats were the first crops. Later, tobaccoalso was grown. There were extensive areas ofbluegrass pasture. The first pure breed of cattle wasthe Shorthorn in 1880.

Soil Survey of

Calhoun and Roane Counties,West Virginia

By Robert N. Pate, Natural Resources Conservation Service

Soils surveyed by Robert N. Pate, Claude L. Marra, and Carlos Cole, NaturalResources Conservation Service

United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service,in cooperation withthe West Virginia Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station

Figure 1.—Location of Calhoun and Roane Counties in WestVirginia.

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Population

In 1990, the population of Calhoun County was7,885 (U.S. Department of Commerce, 1991). In thatyear, Grantsville had a population of 671, making it thelargest city in Calhoun County. The population ofRoane County was 15,095 in 1990. There are twoincorporated cities in Roane County—Spencer andReedy. In 1990, Spencer had a population of 2,203and Reedy had a population of 229. Many scatteredsmall communities that are unincorporated arethroughout the survey area.

Transportation Facilities

The transportation needs of the survey area aremet by Interstate 79; U.S. Routes 33 and 119; StateRoutes 5, 14, 16, and 36; and numerous county routes.At present, there are no railroads operating in thesurvey area.

Farming

In 1992, Calhoun County had 162 farms and a totalfarm acreage of 34,919 acres. The average farm sizewas 216 acres. In 1982, the total number of farms was191 and the average farm size was 198 acres (U.S.Department of Commerce, 1992).

In 1992, Roane County had 437 farms and a totalfarm acreage of 82,154 acres. The average farm sizewas 188 acres. In 1982, the total number of farms was522 and the average farm size was 193 acres (U.S.Department of Commerce, 1992).

Most of the farms are used for raising sheep andbeef cattle in conjunction with the production of hayand pasture species. The beef cattle are raised mostlyin cow-calf operations. Small acreages are used fortobacco or corn. The production of specialty crops,such as summer vegetables, is proving profitable, andmarkets for these crops are growing. Most of the farmsare operated on a part-time basis.

Relief and Drainage

Calhoun and Roane Counties are in the highlydissected Central Allegheny Plateau land resourcearea. They are characterized by moderately steepridgetops and very steep side slopes that are brokenby narrow bench areas. This type of landscape iscalled “bench-break topography.” The flood plainsgenerally are narrow but widen out along the majorstreams. Stream terraces are along the larger streams.

They remain as evidence of the various stream levelsthrough the ages.

Elevations in Calhoun County range from 1,584 feeton Mule Knob, at the head of Owl Run north-northeastof Chloe, to 635 feet in an area where the LittleKanawha River runs into Wirt County and in an area onthe Calhoun-Roane County line where the West Fork ofthe Little Kanawha River runs into Wirt County.

Elevations in Roane County range from 1,470 feeton Weedy Knob, at the head of Blowntimber Run eastof Newton, to 635 feet in an area where Big SandyCreek runs into Kanawha County and in an areawhere the West Fork of the Little Kanawha Riverenters Wirt County.

The Little Kanawha River is the largest waterway inthe survey area. It flows from east to west across thenorthern part of Calhoun County. Calhoun County isdrained by the West Fork of the Little Kanawha Riverand by Henry Fork. These streams form the boundarybetween Calhoun and Roane Counties. Roane Countyis dissected by many small streams, such as ReedyCreek, Spring Creek, Big Sandy Creek, and theheadwaters of the Pocatalico River.

Geology

Gordon B. Bayles, Geologist, Natural Resources ConservationService, helped prepare this section.

Most of the soils in Calhoun and Roane Countiesare weathered from bedrock that generally is part ofthe Dunkard, Monongahela, and Conemaugh Groups(Hennen, 1911). A small part of the AlleghenyFormation is in the southeast corner of Roane County.These groups are considered to be approximately 280to 320 million years old. The bedrock consists of redand olive yellow shale interbedded with acid, gray andbrown siltstone and sandstone. Limestone and coalseams occur, but they are thin and of no commercialvalue.

The dominant rock types of the Dunkard andMonongahela Groups are red and olive yellow shaleand siltstone interbedded with sandstone. Thesegroups are in the northwestern part of Calhoun andRoane Counties and cover approximately 80 percent ofthe survey area. Gilpin, Peabody, and Upshur soils arein this part of the survey area. They formed in materialweathered from these red and yellow shales andsiltstones. The more resistant sandstone layers cropout in many areas along the spines of ridges and inareas where the ridgetops break to steeper slopes (fig.2).

The dominant rock types of the Conemaugh Group

Calhoun and Roane Counties, West Virginia 11

and the Allegheny Formation are olive yellow siltstoneand sandstone about equally mixed with areas of redand olive yellow shale and siltstone. These groups arein the southeast part of Calhoun and Roane Countiesand cover approximately 20 percent of the survey area.These rock types weather into two distinct bands ofsoils. The red and yellow shales and siltstones formthe Gilpin, Peabody, and Upshur soils, and the sandierolive yellow siltstone and sandstone form the Gilpinand Pineville soils.

The rock types in the survey area are typical of theAppalachian Plateau province, which consists mostlyof horizontally bedded sedimentary rocks. There aresome areas with subtle synclines and anticlines, whichform the major oil and gas fields in Calhoun and RoaneCounties.

The soils along the Little Kanawha River, the WestFork of the Little Kanawha River, Spring Creek, Reedy

Creek, the Pocatalico River, and Big Sandy Creekformed in Quaternary alluvial material of recentdeposition.

Climate

Winters are cold and snowy in the survey area, butintermittent thaws preclude a long-lasting snow cover.Summers are very warm and occasionally include veryhot days when the humidity is very high. The normalannual precipitation is adequate for all of the cropscommonly grown in the survey area.

Table 1 gives data on temperature and precipitationfor the survey area as recorded at Spencer, WestVirginia, in the period 1951 to 1986. Table 2 showsprobable dates of the first freeze in fall and the lastfreeze in spring. Table 3 provides data on length of thegrowing season.

Figure 2.—A natural bridge formed from resistant sandstone of the Monongahela Group.

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In winter, the average temperature is 34 degrees Fand the average daily minimum temperature is 23degrees. The lowest temperature on record, whichoccurred at Spencer on January 22, 1984, is -20degrees. In summer, the average temperature is 72degrees and the average daily maximum temperatureis 84 degrees. The highest recorded temperature,which occurred on August 14, 1954, is 100 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 (40 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 is nearly 42 inches.Of this, nearly 23 inches, or about 55 percent, usuallyfalls in April through September. The growing seasonfor most crops falls within this period. In 2 years out of10, the rainfall in April through September is less than20 inches. The heaviest 1-day rainfall during theperiod of record was 3.50 inches at Spencer onAugust 10, 1969. Thunderstorms occur on about 44days each year. Heavy rains, which occur at any timeof the year, and severe thunderstorms in summersometimes cause flash flooding, particularly in narrowvalleys.

The average seasonal snowfall is about 28 inches.The greatest snow depth at any one time during theperiod of record was 24 inches. On the average, 11days of the year have at least 1 inch of snow on theground, but the number of such days varies greatlyfrom year to year.

The average relative humidity in midafternoon isabout 55 percent. Humidity is higher at night, and theaverage at dawn is about 80 percent. The sun shines50 percent of the time possible in summer and 35percent in winter. The prevailing wind is from thesouthwest. The average windspeed is highest, 8 milesper hour, in spring.

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

the soils and miscellaneous areas in the survey area.The information 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 is

the 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 surveyarea are in an orderly pattern that is related to thegeology, landforms, relief, climate, and naturalvegetation of the area. 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 thesurvey area and relating their position to specificsegments of the landform, a soil scientist develops aconcept or model of how they were formed. Thus,during mapping, this model enables the soil scientistto predict 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 surveyarea and determining their properties, the soilscientists assigned the soils to taxonomic classes(units). Taxonomic classes are concepts. Eachtaxonomic class has a set of soil characteristics withprecisely defined limits. The classes are used as abasis for comparison to classify soils systematically.Soil taxonomy, the system of taxonomic classificationused in the United States, is based mainly on the kindand character of soil properties and the arrangementof horizons within the profile. After the soil scientistsclassified and named the soils in the survey area, 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 area generally are collected forlaboratory analyses and for engineering tests. Soil


scientists 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 only

on 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 survey area,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.

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The general soil map in this publication showsbroad areas that have a distinctive pattern of soils,relief, and drainage. These areas are called soilassociations. Each association on the general soilmap is a unique natural landscape. Typically, itconsists of one or more major soils or miscellaneousareas and some minor soils or miscellaneous areas. Itis named for the major soils or miscellaneous areas.The components of one association can occur inanother but in a different pattern.

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.

In some areas where the general soil map ofCalhoun and Roane Counties joins the general soilmap of Kanawha, Jackson, Wirt, Ritchie, or BraxtonCounty, West Virginia, there are differences in the mapunit names or in the proportion of component soils.These differences are the result of variations in themap scale and advancements in soil science.

Soil Descriptions

1. Gilpin-Peabody-Upshur Association

Moderately deep and deep, well drained, stronglysloping to very steep soils on uplands

This association consists of soils on ridgetops,benches, and very steep side slopes on uplands in thenorthern and central parts of the survey area. Thevery steep side slopes generally are broken by aseries of moderately steep bench areas. This type oflandscape is commonly referred to as “bench-breaktopography.” This association is dissected by manysmall intermittent streams, which form narrow, nearlylevel flood plains and alluvial fans. The association

also includes soils on colluvial footslopes. Slopesrange from 15 to 70 percent.

This association makes up 86 percent of the surveyarea. It is 43 percent Gilpin soils, 20 percent Peabodysoils, 10 percent Upshur soils, and 27 percent soils ofminor extent (fig. 3).

Gilpin soils are moderately deep, well drained, andstrongly sloping to very steep. They are on ridgetops,backslopes, and benches. They have a dark brown,medium textured surface layer; a yellowish brown andbrown, medium textured subsoil; and a yellowishbrown, medium textured substratum. These soilsformed in acid material weathered from interbeddedsiltstone, shale, and sandstone.

Peabody soils are moderately deep, well drained,and very steep. They are on shoulders andbackslopes. They have a reddish brown, mediumtextured surface layer and a reddish brown, finetextured subsoil. These soils formed in materialweathered from clayey shale and siltstone.

Upshur soils are deep, well drained, and stronglysloping to steep. They on ridgetops and benches. Theyhave a brown, medium textured surface layer; ayellowish red, dark red, and dusky red, fine texturedsubsoil; and a dusky red, fine textured substratum.These soils formed in material weathered from clayeyshale and siltstone.

The Gilpin-Peabody soils and the Upshur-Gilpin soilsoccur as areas so intermingled that it was not practicalto separate them in mapping.

The minor soils are the well drained Vandalia soilson colluvial footslopes, the well drained Sensabaughsoils on flood plains, and the moderately well drainedTilsit soils on flat, broad ridgetops.

Most of this association consists of very steepareas that were once cleared but are now wooded.Erosion in these areas is severe. About 30 percent ofthe association is used for farming. Most cleared areasare used for hay and pasture. Some small areas areused for tobacco, specialty crops, or home gardens.

Most farms in areas of this association aremanaged for the production of beef cattle (cow-calfoperations) and sheep. Timber and woodland productsalso are important. Generally, the soils on ridgetops,benches, and bottom land are suitable for hay and

General Soil Map Units

16 Soil Survey

pasture. The soils on very steep side slopes aresuitable for woodland. The hazards of slippage anderosion, slope, and the depth to bedrock are the mainlimitations.

About 70 percent of this association is used aswoodland. The association is suitable for trees.Woodland productivity is moderate or moderately high.Proper woodland management techniques canincrease yields and production. The hazard of erosionand equipment limitations are the main managementconcerns.

Some of the more nearly level areas on ridgetopsand benches are used for housing. These areas havelimited suitability for housing and septic tankabsorption fields because of slope, slow permeability,the depth to bedrock, a high shrink-swell potential, andslippage. Sites for houses are available in many areasof the minor Sensabaugh soils on rarely floodedalluvial fans. These areas have limited suitability forhousing because of flooding and underground pipingof water.

2. Gilpin-Pineville-Peabody Association

Moderately deep and very deep, well drained, stronglysloping to very steep soils on rugged uplands

This association consists of soils on very steepshoulders, backslopes, and sharp, peaked ridgetops inthe uplands on the eastern edge of Calhoun Countyand in the southern, most rugged part of RoaneCounty. In the southern part of Roane County, theassociation generally corresponds to the sandiergeology of the Conemaugh Group. This is atransitional area where distinct units of Gilpin-Pinevillesoils are directly adjacent to distinct units of Gilpin-Peabody soils. This association is dissected by smallintermittent streams, which form narrow, nearly levelflood plains and alluvial fans. Slopes range from 35 to70 percent.

This association makes up 10 percent of the surveyarea. It is 43 percent Gilpin soils, 19 percent Pinevillesoils, 10 percent Peabody soils, and 28 percent soilsof minor extent.

Figure 3.—Pattern of soils and parent material in the Gilpin-Peabody-Upshur association.


Gilpin soils are moderately deep, well drained, andstrongly sloping to very steep. They are on ridgetops,shoulders, backslopes, and benches. They have adark brown, medium textured surface layer; ayellowish brown and brown, medium textured subsoil;and a yellowish brown, medium textured substratum.These soils formed in acid material weathered frominterbedded sandstone, siltstone, and shale.

Pineville soils are very deep, well drained, andsteep and very steep. They are on the lowerbackslopes and on colluvial footslopes. They have adark brown, coarse textured surface layer; a yellowishbrown and strong brown, medium textured subsoil;and a yellowish brown, coarse textured substratum.These soils formed in colluvium derived fromsandstone, siltstone, and shale.

Peabody soils are moderately deep, well drained,and very steep. They on shoulders and backslopes.They have a reddish brown, medium textured surfacelayer and a reddish brown, fine textured subsoil. Thesesoils formed in material weathered from clayey shaleand siltstone.

The Gilpin-Pineville soils and the Gilpin-Peabodysoils occur as areas so intermingled that it was notpractical to separate them in mapping.

The minor soils are the well drained Upshur soils onuplands, the well drained Vandalia soils on colluvialfootslopes, the well drained Sensabaugh soils on floodplains, and Udorthents in the area disturbed by theconstruction of Interstate 79.

About 5 percent of this association has beencleared and is used for hay or pasture. Most of thisassociation consists of rugged, generally inaccessible,very steep areas that are used as woodland.

This association is used for the production of timberand woodland products and for outdoor recreation.Generally, the soils on narrow bottom land are used forpermanent housing or hunting camps. The ridgetopsgenerally are inaccessible. Oil and gas production is agrowing industry in areas of this association and maylead to better access because of the roads built to thewell sites. The hazard of erosion, slope, and the depthto bedrock are the main limitations.

About 95 percent of this association is wooded. Theassociation is suitable for trees. Woodland productivityis moderately high. Proper woodland managementtechniques can increase yields and production. Thehazard of erosion and equipment limitations are themain management concerns.

Some of the more nearly level areas on ridgetopsand benches are used for housing. These areas havelimited suitability for housing and septic tankabsorption fields because of slope, slow permeability,the depth to bedrock, a high shrink-swell potential, and

slippage. Sites for houses are available in many areasof the minor Sensabaugh soils on rarely floodedalluvial fans. These areas have limited suitability forhousing because of flooding and underground pipingof water.

3. Moshannon-Vandalia-Hackers Association

Very deep, well drained, nearly level or moderatelysteep soils on flood plains and footslopes

This association consists of occasionally flooded orrarely flooded alluvial soils and soils on colluvialfootslopes that are not subject to flooding. Theassociation is along the major streams in the surveyarea. Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent on the floodplains and from 15 to 25 percent on the footslopes.

This association makes up 4 percent of the surveyarea. It is 39 percent Moshannon soils, 21 percentVandalia soils, 11 percent Hackers soils, and 29percent soils of minor extent.

Moshannon soils are very deep, well drained, andnearly level. They are on low flood plains. They arereddish brown and medium textured in the surfacelayer, subsoil, and substratum. These soils formed inalluvial material that washed from reddish soils onuplands.

Vandalia soils are very deep, well drained, andmoderately steep. They are on colluvial footslopes.They have a reddish brown, medium textured surfacelayer; a yellowish red and reddish brown, fine texturedsubsoil; and a dark reddish brown, medium texturedsubstratum. These soils formed in colluvial materialthat collected from reddish soils on uplands.

Hackers soils are very deep, well drained, andnearly level. They are on high flood plains. They have abrown, medium textured surface layer and a reddishbrown, medium textured subsoil and substratum.These soils formed in alluvial material that washedfrom reddish soils on uplands.

The minor soils are the well drained Sensabaugh,moderately well drained Senecaville, and poorlydrained Melvin soils on flood plains; the moderatelywell drained Monongahela soils on stream terraces;and the well drained Gilpin, Peabody, and Upshur soilson uplands.

About 80 percent of this association has beencleared and is used for hay, pasture, cultivated crops,or housing. The cultivated areas are used for tobacco,specialty crops, or home gardens. Most of the clearedareas are used for hay. Only a small percentage of theassociation is used as woodland.

Most farms in areas of this association areintensively managed for the production of beef cattle(cow-calf operations) and hay. Usually, the meadows

18

are cut for hay only twice during the year. They arethen grazed later in the fall or left idle until the nextyear’s growing season. On many farms the bottomland is used to feed livestock in winter because of theclose proximity to the barns where the hay is stored.

About 20 percent of this association is wooded. Theassociation is suitable for trees. Woodland productivityis moderately high. Proper woodland management

techniques can increase yields and production.Equipment limitations caused by flooding, slope,slippage, and low soil strength during wet seasons arethe main management concerns.

Many areas are used for housing. These areashave limited suitability for housing and septic tankabsorption fields because of the hazard of flooding,slope, slippage, and slow permeability.

19

Dr. John Sencindiver, Professor of Agronomy, West VirginiaAgricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, helped prepare thissection.

The map units delineated on the detailed mapsrepresent the soils or miscellaneous areas in thesurvey area. The map unit descriptions in this section,along with the maps, can be used to determine thesuitability and potential of a unit for specific uses. Theyalso can be used to plan the management needed forthose uses. More information is given under theheading “Use and 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. Within a taxonomic class there areprecisely defined limits for the properties of the soils.On the landscape, however, the soils 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 unit

descriptions. A few included areas may not have beenobserved, and consequently they are not mentioned inthe 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. If intensive use of small areas is planned,however, onsite investigation is needed to define andlocate the soils 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, salinity, degree oferosion, and other characteristics that affect their use.On the basis of such differences, a soil series isdivided into soil phases. Most of the areas shown onthe detailed soil maps are phases of soil series. Thename of a soil phase commonly indicates a featurethat affects use or management. For example,Vandalia silt loam, 15 to 25 percent slopes, extremelybouldery, is a phase of the Vandalia series.

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 of

Detailed Soil Map Units

20 Soil Survey

the soils or miscellaneous areas are somewhat similarin all areas. Gilpin-Peabody complex, 35 to 70 percentslopes, severely eroded, is an example.

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. Senecaville and Melvin silt loams,occasionally flooded, is an undifferentiated group inthis survey area.

This survey includes miscellaneous areas. Suchareas have little or no soil material and support little orno vegetation. Rock outcrop 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 potentialsfor many uses. The Glossary defines many of theterms used in describing the soils or miscellaneousareas.

GpF3—Gilpin-Peabody complex, 35 to 70percent slopes, severely eroded

This complex consists of very steep, well drainedsoils on hillsides, shoulders, backslopes, and benchesthroughout most of the survey area. The very steephillsides generally are broken by a series of less steepbench areas. This type of landform is commonlyreferred to as “bench-break topography” (fig. 4). Thehillsides are dissected by drainageways, and land slipsare common in some areas. Erosion has removedmost of the original surface layer of these soils, and inplaces the subsoil is exposed. The two soils occur aslong, narrow areas in a repeating, alternating pattern,and it was not practical to separate them in mapping.This complex is about 50 percent Gilpin soil, 30percent Peabody soil, and 20 percent other soils.

Typically, the surface layer of the Gilpin soil is darkbrown silt loam about 3 inches thick. The subsoil is 22inches thick. The upper 5 inches is yellowish brown siltloam, the next 10 inches is yellowish brown channerysilty clay loam, and the lower 7 inches is brown verychannery silty clay loam. The substratum is yellowish

Figure 4.—Typical bench-break topography in an area of Gilpin-Peabody complex, 35 to 70 percent slopes, severely eroded.


brown very channery silty clay loam. Rippable bedrockis at a depth of 32 inches.

Typically, the surface layer of the Peabody soil isreddish brown silt loam about 3 inches thick. Thesubsoil is 21 inches thick. It is reddish brown. Theupper 6 inches is channery silty clay loam, and thelower 15 inches is channery silty clay. Bedrock is at adepth of 24 inches.

Included with these soils in mapping are a few smallareas of the moderately well drained Tilsit and welldrained Vandalia soils. Also included are areas ofUpshur soils, which have bedrock at a depth of morethan 40 inches; Udorthents, which have more than 35percent rock fragments in the control section; a fewareas where 1 to 3 percent of the surface is coveredwith stones; some areas where rock ledges crop outalong the spines of ridges or directly below the crest ofhills; and less eroded areas.

The available water capacity of the Gilpin soil ismoderate. Permeability is moderate in the subsoil.Runoff is very rapid. Natural fertility is low or moderate.In unlimed areas the soil ranges from extremely acidto strongly acid. The root zone of some plants isrestricted by bedrock at a depth of 20 to 40 inches.

The available water capacity of the Peabody soil islow or moderate. Permeability is slow or moderatelyslow in the subsoil. Runoff is very rapid. Natural fertilityis moderate or high. In unlimed areas the soil rangesfrom very strongly acid to slightly acid in the solum.The root zone of some plants is restricted by bedrockat a depth of 20 to 40 inches. The subsoil has a highshrink-swell potential. The hazard of slippage issevere.

Most areas of these soils are used as woodland. Asmall percentage of this unit is used as pasture.

These soils are not suited to cultivated crops or hayand are difficult to manage as pasture. The hazard oferosion is very severe in unvegetated areas and is amajor management concern.

These soils have moderately high potentialproductivity for trees. The tree species on these soilsinclude northern red oak, white oak, chestnut oak,hickory, beech, sugar maple, yellow-poplar, andVirginia pine. Proper woodland managementtechniques, such as timber stand improvement, canincrease yields in wooded areas.

The use of equipment is restricted on these soilsbecause of the slope. Erosion on logging roads andskid trails is a major management concern. It can becontrolled by establishing roads and skid trails on agentle side slope. The hazard of slippage is severe onthe Peabody soil. Many of the logging roads and skidtrails can be constructed so that they follow the smallbenches in areas of this unit. Minimizing road cuts can

help to prevent slippage on the Peabody soil. Divertingsurface water from the logging road, establishing andmaintaining a crown on the road, and establishing andmaintaining sod on bare roadbanks help to controlerosion. Plant competition is a management concern.

The very steep slope and the depth to bedrock arethe main limitations if the Gilpin and Peabody soils areused as sites for dwellings or septic tank absorptionfields. Slow or moderately slow permeability, a highshrink-swell potential in the subsoil, and the hazard ofslippage are additional limitations in areas of thePeabody soil. Alternative sites with fewer limitationsshould be selected for dwellings and septic tankabsorption fields.

The very steep slope and other soil-relatedmanagement concerns severely limit the use of thisunit as a site for local roads and streets.

The capability subclass is VIIe.

GvF—Gilpin-Pineville complex, 35 to 70percent slopes, very stony

This complex consists of very steep, well drainedsoils on narrow ridgetops and side slopes in southernRoane County and in a small area on the easternedge of Calhoun County. In some areas the very steepside slopes are broken by a series of less steep benchareas. Stones 10 to 24 inches in diameter cover 1 to 3percent of the surface. The Gilpin and Pineville soilsare closely intermingled on the landscape. Thus, it wasnot practical to separate them in mapping. Thiscomplex is about 55 percent Gilpin soil, 35 percentPineville soil, and 10 percent other soils.

Typically, the surface layer of the Gilpin soil is darkbrown silt loam about 3 inches thick. The subsoil is 22inches thick. The upper 5 inches is yellowish brown siltloam, the next 10 inches is yellowish brown channerysilty clay loam, and the lower 7 inches is brown verychannery silty clay loam. The substratum is yellowishbrown very channery silty clay loam. Rippable bedrockis at a depth of 32 inches.

Typically, the surface layer of the Pineville soil isdark brown loam about 3 inches thick. The subsoil is53 inches thick. The upper 7 inches is yellowish brownchannery loam, the next 12 inches is strong brownchannery loam, the next 13 inches is strong brownchannery clay loam, and the lower 21 inches is strongbrown very channery clay loam. The substratum isyellowish brown very channery sandy loam. It extendsto a depth of 65 inches.

Included with these soils in mapping are a few smallareas of the well drained Peabody soils, soils thathave bedrock within a depth of 20 inches, and some

22 Soil Survey

areas of rock outcrop 5 to 15 feet high. Also includedsome areas of soils that are similar to the Pineville soilbut have a weak fragipan below a depth of 40 inches,soils that are similar to the Gilpin soil but are sandierthroughout, and soils that have more than 35 percentrock fragments throughout.


The available water capacity of the Pineville soil ismoderate or high. Permeability is moderate in thesubsoil and moderately rapid in the substratum. Runoffis very rapid. Natural fertility is low or moderate. Inunlimed areas the soil ranges from extremely acid toneutral in the surface layer and from extremely acid tostrongly acid in the subsoil and substratum. The depthto bedrock is more than 60 inches.

Most areas of these soils are used as woodland.These soils are not suited to cultivated crops or hay

and are difficult to manage as pasture. The hazard oferosion is very severe in unvegetated areas and is amajor management concern.

These soils have moderately high potentialproductivity for trees. The tree species on these soilsinclude northern red oak, white oak, chestnut oak,hickory, beech, sugar maple, yellow-poplar, andVirginia pine. Proper woodland managementtechniques, such as timber stand improvement, canincrease yields in wooded areas.

The use of equipment is severely restricted onthese soils because of the slope. Erosion on loggingroads and skid trails is a major management concern.It can be controlled by establishing roads and skidtrails on a gentle grade across the slope. Many of thelogging roads and skid trails can be constructed sothat they follow the small benches in areas of this unit.Diverting surface water from the logging road,establishing and maintaining a crown on the road, andestablishing and maintaining sod on bare roadbankshelp to control erosion. Plant competition is amanagement concern.

The very steep slope is the main limitation if thesesoils are used as sites for dwellings or septic tankabsorption fields. The depth to bedrock is an additionallimitation in areas of the Gilpin soil. Alternative siteswith fewer limitations should be selected for dwellingsand septic tank absorption fields.

The very steep slope and other soil-relatedmanagement concerns severely limit the use of thesesoils as sites for local roads and streets.

The capability subclass is VIIs.

Ha—Hackers silt loam

This soil is nearly level, very deep, and well drained.It is on high flood plains and low stream terraces alongthe Little Kanawha River and the West Fork of theLittle Kanawha River and is in small areas along othermajor streams in the survey area. The soil is subject torare flooding. Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent.

Typically, the surface layer is brown silt loam about8 inches thick. The subsoil is 42 inches thick. It isreddish brown. The upper 4 inches is silt loam, and thelower 38 inches is silty clay loam. The substratum isreddish brown silty clay loam. It extends to a depth of65 inches.

Included with this soil in mapping are a few smallareas of the well drained Moshannon and Vandaliasoils, the moderately well drained Senecaville soils,and the poorly drained Melvin soils. Also included aresmall areas of soils that have more sand in the subsoilthan the Hackers soil and some areas of soils withslopes of more than 3 percent. Included soils make upabout 10 percent of this map unit.

The available water capacity of the Hackers soil ishigh. Permeability is moderate in the subsoil. Runoff isslow. Natural fertility is high. In unlimed areas the soilranges from strongly acid to slightly acid. The depth tobedrock is more than 60 inches.

Most areas of this soil are used for hay. A smallacreage is wooded.

This soil is well suited to cultivated crops, hay, andpasture. Crops can be grown year after year, but theprotection of a cover crop is needed. Applying asystem of conservation tillage and returning cropresidue and cover crops to the soil help to controlerosion and maintain fertility and tilth. Proper stockingrates, which help to maintain desirable grasses andlegumes, and rotational grazing are the major pasturemanagement needs.

This soil has moderately high potential productivityfor trees. The tree species on this soil includeboxelder, yellow-poplar, sycamore, and ash. Properwoodland management techniques, such as timberstand improvement, can increase yields in woodedareas. Plant competition is a management concern.

The flooding is the main limitation if this soil is usedas a site for dwellings or septic tank absorption fields.Soils that are not subject to flooding should beselected for these uses.

The flooding, the potential for frost action, and lowsoil strength limit the use this soil as a site for localroads and streets. Constructing the roads and streetson raised fill and properly installing culverts canminimize these limitations.

The capability class is I.


MoB—Monongahela silt loam, 3 to 8percent slopes

This soil is gently sloping, very deep, andmoderately well drained. It is on stream terraces alongthe Little Kanawha River, the West Fork of the LittleKanawha River, Reedy and Spring Creeks, and othermajor streams in the survey area.

Typically, the surface layer is brown silt loam about8 inches thick. The subsoil is 57 inches thick. Theupper 15 inches is yellowish brown silt loam, the next11 inches is a fragipan of yellowish brown silt loamthat has common light brownish gray mottles andblack manganese concretions, and the lower 31inches is a fragipan of strong brown silt loam that hasmany brown mottles and black manganeseconcretions.

Included with this soil in mapping are small areas ofthe well drained Gilpin, Upshur, Vandalia, and Hackerssoils. Also included are small areas of well drainedsoils that do not have a fragipan, small areas of soilswith slopes of less than 3 percent, small areas of soilswith slopes of more than 8 percent, and areas onshort, steep slopes that generally are a mixture ofresidual and alluvial soils. Included soils make upabout 15 percent of this map unit.

The available water capacity of the Monongahelasoil is moderate. Permeability is moderate above thefragipan and moderately slow or slow in the fragipan.Runoff is medium. Natural fertility is moderate. Inunlimed areas the soil is very strongly acid or stronglyacid in the surface layer, very strongly acid to neutralin the upper part of the subsoil, and very strongly acidor strongly acid in the fragipan and in the substratum.A seasonal high water table at a depth of 1.5 to 3.0feet and the fragipan restrict the root zone of deep-rooted plants. The depth to bedrock is more than 60inches.


This soil is suited to cultivated crops, hay, andpasture (fig. 5). The hazard of erosion is moderate inunvegetated areas, and the protection of a cover cropis needed. Applying a system of conservation tillage,including hay in the crop rotation, maintaining sod inshallow drainageways, and returning crop residue andcover crops to the soil help to control erosion andmaintain fertility and tilth. The seasonal high watertable may become an important factor during thegrowing season. In dry years row crops and hay growwell because of the available moisture. In wet years,however, growth can be inhibited by excess soilmoisture. Proper stocking rates, which help to maintaindesirable grasses and legumes, rotational grazing,

and deferment of grazing until the soil is reasonablyfirm in the spring are the major pasture managementneeds.

This soil has moderately high potential productivityfor trees. The tree species on this soil include northernred oak, white oak, scarlet oak, hickory, yellow-poplar,sycamore, and ash. Proper woodland managementtechniques, such as timber stand improvement, canincrease yields in wooded areas. Plant competition is amanagement concern.

The seasonal high water table and moderately slowor slow permeability are the main limitations if this soilis used as a site for dwellings or septic tank absorptionfields. The limitations on sites for dwellings can beminimized by correctly installed footer drains andupslope ditches, which can divert water. When footerdrains are installed, clean, sized gravel should be usedas fill close to the surface. Installing the absorptionfield on the contour and as shallow as possible,enlarging the absorption area, installing an alternativesystem (such as a mound system), or selectingadjacent soils that are better suited to onsite wastedisposal can minimize or avoid the limitations affectingseptic tank absorption fields. Erosion is a hazard inareas that are cleared for construction. Revegetatingduring or soon after construction reduces this hazard.

The wetness and the potential for frost action arelimitations if this soil is used as a site for local roadsand streets. Constructing the roads and streets onraised fill and properly installing culverts minimizethese limitations.

The capability subclass is IIe.

Ms—Moshannon silt loam

This soil is nearly level, very deep, and well drained.It is on flood plains along streams throughout thesurvey area. The soil is subject to occasional flooding.Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent.

Typically, the surface layer is reddish brown siltloam about 10 inches thick. The subsoil is 28 inchesthick. It is reddish brown, The upper 9 inches is siltloam, and the lower 19 inches is silty clay loam. Thesubstratum is reddish brown silt loam. It extends to adepth of 65 inches.

Included with this soil in mapping are a few smallareas of the well drained Hackers and Sensabaughsoils, the moderately well drained Senecaville soils,and the poorly drained Melvin soils. Also included aresmall areas of soils that have a higher sand contentthroughout than the Moshannon soil. Included soilsmake up about 5 percent of this map unit.

The available water capacity of the Moshannon soil

24 Soil Survey

is high. Permeability is moderate in the subsoil. Runoffis slow. Natural fertility is high. In unlimed areas thesoil is moderately acid to neutral in the surface layer,slightly acid or moderately acid in the subsoil, andmoderately acid to neutral in the substratum. Thedepth to bedrock is more than 60 inches.


This soil is suited to cultivated crops, hay, andpasture. In some areas crops are subject to damagefrom flooding. Crops can be grown year after year, butthe protection of a cover crop is needed. Working theresidue from the cover crop into the soil and returningother crop residue to the soil help to maintain fertilityand tilth. Proper stocking rates, which help to maintaindesirable grasses and legumes, rotational grazing,

and deferment of grazing until the soil is reasonablyfirm in the spring are the major pasture managementneeds. Establishing a plant cover on unprotectedstreambanks and providing proper access for livestockto streams help to control stream scouring andsedimentation.

This soil has moderately high potential productivityfor trees. The tree species on this soil includeboxelder, sycamore, yellow-poplar, and ash. Properwoodland management techniques, such as timberstand improvement, can increase yields in woodedareas. Plant competition is a management concern.

The flooding is the main limitation if this soil is usedas a site for dwellings or septic tank absorption fields.Alternative sites should be selected.

The flooding restricts the use of this soil as a site

Figure 5.—Hay on Monongahela silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes.


for local roads and streets. Constructing the roads andstreets on raised fill and properly installing culvertscan minimize the hazard of flood damage.

The capability subclass is IIw.

PvE—Pineville loam, 25 to 35 percentslopes, very stony

This soil is steep, very deep, and well drained. It isin a small area along the eastern border of CalhounCounty. It is south of Steer Creek, east of the WestFork of the Little Kanawha River, north of Left Fork,and west of the Gilmer County line. It is on colluvialfootslopes and at the head of drainageways at thebase of very steep areas of the Gilpin-Pinevillecomplex. Stones 10 to 24 inches in diameter cover 1to 3 percent of the surface.

Typically, the surface layer is dark brown loamabout 3 inches thick. The subsoil is 53 inches thick.The upper 7 inches is yellowish brown channery loam,the next 12 inches is strong brown channery loam, thenext 13 inches is strong brown channery clay loam,and the lower 21 inches is strong brown verychannery clay loam. The substratum is yellowishbrown very channery sandy loam. It extends to adepth of 65 inches.

Included with this soil in mapping are a few smallareas of the well drained Gilpin and Vandalia soils andUdorthents, isolated areas of rock outcrop 5 to 15 feethigh, soils that are similar to the Pineville soil but havea weak fragipan below a depth of 40 inches, and smallareas of Sensabaugh soils in the drainageways thatdissect this unit. Also included are small areas of soilswith slopes of less than 25 percent and small areas ofsoils that have more than 35 percent rock fragmentsthroughout. Included areas make up about 20 percentof this map unit.

The available water capacity of the Pineville soil ismoderate or high. Permeability is moderate in thesubsoil and moderately rapid in the substratum. Runoffis very rapid. Natural fertility is low or moderate. Inunlimed areas the soil ranges from extremely acid toneutral in the surface layer and from extremely acid tostrongly acid in the subsoil and substratum. The depthto bedrock is more than 60 inches.

Most areas of this soil are used as woodland.This soil is not suited to cultivated crops or hay and

is difficult to manage as pasture. The hazard oferosion is very severe in unvegetated areas and is amajor management concern.

This soil has a moderately high potentialproductivity for trees. The tree species on this soilinclude northern red oak, white oak, chestnut oak,hickory, beech, sugar maple, and yellow-poplar.

Proper woodland management techniques, such astimber stand improvement, can increase yields inwooded areas.

The use of equipment is restricted on this soilbecause of the slope. Erosion on logging roads andskid trails is a major management concern. It can becontrolled by establishing roads and skid trails on agentle grade across the slope. Diverting surface waterfrom the logging road, establishing and maintaining acrown on the road, and establishing and maintainingsod on bare roadbanks also help to control erosion.Plant competition and seedling mortality aremanagement concerns.

The steep slope is the main limitation if this soil isused as a site for dwellings or septic tank absorptionfields. Alternative sites with fewer limitations should beselected for these uses.

The steep slope and other soil limitations requirespecial attention in the development of local roads andstreets.


RpF3—Rock outcrop-Peabody-Gilpincomplex, 35 to 70 percent slopes,severely eroded

This complex consists of nearly vertical rockoutcrops and very steep, moderately deep, welldrained soils on side slopes. The nearly vertical rockcliffs in areas of this unit are 10 to 50 feet tall. Most ofthe acreage in this unit is along the Little KanawhaRiver and its main tributaries. The unit is typically onthe outside cutting curve of a river or larger stream,where water action has exposed resistant bedrockand left very steep slopes. Land slips are common.Erosion has removed most of the original surfacelayer of the Peabody and Gilpin soils, and in placesthe subsoil is exposed. The Rock outcrop and thePeabody and Gilpin soils occur as long, very narrowareas in alternating patterns on the contour. It wasnot practical to separate them in mapping. Thiscomplex is about 40 percent Rock outcrop, 30percent Peabody soil, 20 percent Gilpin soil, and10 percent other soils. Slopes are nearly verticalin the areas of Rock outcrop and range from 35to 70 percent in the areas of Peabody and Gilpinsoils.

Typically, the Rock outcrop consists of nearlyvertical escarpments of horizontally beddedsandstone, siltstone, and shale.

Typically, the surface layer of the Peabody soil isreddish brown silt loam about 3 inches thick. Thesubsoil is 21 inches thick. It is reddish brown. Theupper 6 inches is channery silty clay loam, and the

26 Soil Survey

lower 15 inches is channery silty clay. Bedrock is at adepth of 24 inches.

Typically, the surface layer of the Gilpin soil is darkbrown silt loam about 3 inches thick. The subsoil is 22inches thick. The upper 5 inches is yellowish brown siltloam, the next 10 inches is yellowish brown channerysilty clay loam, and the lower 7 inches is brown verychannery silty clay loam. The substratum is yellowishbrown very channery silty clay loam. It extends torippable bedrock at a depth of 32 inches.

Included in this unit in mapping are small areas ofVandalia and Upshur soils. Also included are smallareas of soils that are more shallow to bedrock thanthe Gilpin and Peabody soils, less eroded areas, andsome areas where stones 10 to 24 inches in diametercover 3 to 15 percent of the surface.

The available water capacity of the Peabody soil islow or moderate. Permeability is slow or moderatelyslow in the subsoil. Runoff is very rapid. Natural fertilityis moderate or high. In unlimed areas the soil rangesfrom very strongly acid to slightly acid in the solum.The root zone of some plants is restricted by bedrockat a depth of 20 to 40 inches. The subsoil has a highshrink-swell potential. The hazard of slippage issevere.


Most areas of this unit are used as woodland.The Peabody and Gilpin soils are not suited to

cultivated crops, hay, or pasture, but they havemoderately high potential productivity for trees. Thetree species on these soils include northern red oak,white oak, chestnut oak, hickory, beech, yellow-poplar,and Virginia pine. The hazard of erosion is very severein unvegetated areas and is a major managementconcern. Proper woodland management techniques,such as timber stand improvement, can increaseyields in wooded areas.

Woodland management is very difficult. Traversingthe unit with equipment is impossible in some areasbecause of rock outcrops as much as 50 feet high. Ifaccess is available, logging roads and skid trails canbe constructed. Constructing them on a gentle gradeacross the slope helps to control erosion. Divertingsurface water from the logging road, establishing andmaintaining a crown on the road, and establishing andmaintaining sod on bare roadbanks also help tocontrol erosion. Plant competition is a managementconcern.

The Peabody and Gilpin soils are not suited tourban uses. They are better suited to woodland andwildlife habitat.

The Rock outcrop, the very steep slope, and othersoil-related management concerns severely limit theuse of this unit as a site for local roads and streets.


Sc—Senecaville silt loam, rarely flooded

This soil is nearly level, very deep, and moderatelywell drained. It is on flood plains throughout the surveyarea. The soil is subject to rare flooding. Slopes rangefrom 0 to 3 percent.

Typically, the surface layer is brown silt loam about5 inches thick. The subsoil is reddish brown silt loamabout 27 inches thick. It is mottled with pinkish grayand yellowish red in the lower 14 inches. The upper 23inches of the substratum is brown silt loam mottledwith pinkish gray. The lower part of the substratum isbrown fine sandy loam mottled with pinkish gray. Itextends to a depth of 65 inches.

Included with this soil in mapping are a few smallareas of the well drained Vandalia, Moshannon,Sensabaugh, and Hackers soils. Also included aresmall areas of soils with slopes of more than 3percent. Included soils make up about 15 percent ofthis map unit.

The available water capacity of the Senecaville soilis moderate or high. Permeability is moderate ormoderately slow in the subsoil. Runoff is slow. Naturalfertility is moderate. A seasonal high water table at adepth of 1.5 to 3.0 feet restricts the root zone of sometypes of plants. In unlimed areas the soil ranges fromstrongly acid to slightly acid. The depth to bedrock ismore than 60 inches.

Most areas of this soil are used for hay (fig. 6). Asmall acreage is wooded.

This soil is suited to cultivated crops, hay, andpasture. The seasonal high water table becomes animportant factor during the growing season. In dryyears row crops, hay, and pasture plants grow wellbecause of the available moisture. In wet years,however, growth can be inhibited by excess soilmoisture and equipment access can be limited.Proper stocking rates, which help to maintaindesirable grasses and legumes, rotational grazing,and deferment of grazing until the soil is reasonablyfirm in the spring are the major pasture managementneeds.

This soil has moderately high potential productivityfor trees. The tree species on this soil include


boxelder, sycamore, and ash. Proper woodlandmanagement techniques, such as timber standimprovement, can increase yields in wooded areas.Plant competition is a management concern.

The seasonal high water table, the flooding, and themoderate or moderately slow permeability are themain limitations if this soil is used as a site fordwellings or septic tank absorption fields. Soils thatare not subject to flooding should be selected as sitesfor dwellings. Installing the absorption field as shallowas possible, enlarging the absorption area, installingan alternative system, or selecting adjacent soils thatare better suited to onsite waste disposal can help toovercome or avoid the limitations affecting septic tankabsorption fields.

The rare flooding, the potential for frost action,low soil strength, and wetness restrict the use ofthis soil as a site for local roads and streets.Constructing the roads and streets on raised filland properly installing culverts can minimize theselimitations.


Sm—Senecaville and Melvin silt loams,occasionally flooded

These soils are nearly level and very deep. TheSenecaville soil is moderately well drained, and theMelvin soil is poorly drained. Both soils are on floodplains along streams throughout the survey area.Some areas consist mostly of Senecaville soil, somemostly of Melvin soil, and some of both soils. The totalacreage of this unit is about 60 percent Senecavillesoil, 35 percent Melvin soil, and 5 percent other soils.Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent.

Typically, the surface layer of the Senecaville soil isbrown silt loam about 5 inches thick. The subsoil isreddish brown silt loam about 27 inches thick. It ismottled with pinkish gray and yellowish red in thelower 14 inches. The upper 23 inches of thesubstratum is brown silt loam mottled with pinkish gray.The lower part of the substratum is brown fine sandyloam mottled with pinkish gray. It extends to a depth of65 inches.

Typically, the surface layer of the Melvin soil is

Figure 6.—Hay on Senecaville silt loam, rarely flooded.

28 Soil Survey

about 7 inches of brown silt loam mottled with strongbrown and light brownish gray. The subsoil is about 14inches of gray silty clay loam mottled with strongbrown. The upper 26 inches of the substratum is graysilty clay loam mottled with strong brown and brownishyellow. The lower part of the substratum is gray siltyclay loam mottled with strong brown. It extends to adepth of 65 inches.

Included with these soils in mapping are a few smallareas of the well drained Moshannon, Hackers, andSensabaugh soils. Also included are small areas ofvery poorly drained soils.

The available water capacity of the Senecaville soilis moderate or high. Permeability is moderate ormoderately slow in the subsoil. Runoff is slow. Naturalfertility is moderate. A seasonal high water table at adepth of 1.5 to 3.0 feet restricts the root zone of sometypes of plants. In unlimed areas the soil ranges fromstrongly acid to slightly acid. The depth to bedrock ismore than 60 inches.

The available water capacity of the Melvin soil ishigh. Permeability is moderate in the subsoil. Runoff isslow. Natural fertility is high. A seasonal high watertable within a depth of 1.0 foot restricts the root zoneof many types of plants and favors hydric plants.Crayfish crotovinas are common. In unlimed areas thesoil ranges from moderately acid to mildly alkaline. Thedepth to bedrock is more than 60 inches.

Most areas of these soils are used for hay. A smallacreage is wooded.

The Senecaville soil is suited to cultivated crops,hay, and pasture. In some areas crops are subject todamage from flooding. The seasonal high water tablebecomes an important factor during the growingseason. In dry years row crops, hay, and pastureplants grow well because of the available moisture. Inwet years, however, growth can be inhibited by excesssoil moisture and equipment access can be limited.

Where drained, the Melvin soil is suited to cultivatedcrops, hay, and pasture. Where undrained, it is bettersuited to water-tolerant hay or pasture plants. Inundrained areas, crop growth is inhibited by theexcess moisture and most of the acreage supportshay that can be harvested only during the driest timesof the year.

If these soils are used as pasture, rotationalgrazing and prevention of overstocking are the majormanagement needs. Establishing a plant cover onunprotected streambanks and providing properaccess for livestock to streams help to control streamscouring and sedimentation.

These soils have moderately high potentialproductivity for trees. The tree species on these soilsinclude boxelder, sycamore, and willow. Because of

the high water table in the Melvin soil, the use ofequipment is restricted to periods when the soil is dry.Plant competition is a management concern on bothsoils, and seedling mortality is a management concernon the Melvin soil.

The flooding and the high water table are themain limitations if these soils are used as sites fordwellings or septic tank absorption fields. Alternativesites with fewer limitations should be selected forthese uses.

The flooding, the potential for frost action, wetness,and low strength restrict the use of these soils as sitesfor local roads and streets. Constructing the roads andstreets on raised fill and properly installing culvertscan minimize these limitations.

The capability subclass is IIIw.

Ss—Sensabaugh silt loam

This soil is nearly level, very deep, and well drained.It is on flood plains and alluvial fans along smallstreams throughout the survey area. The soil issubject to occasional flooding. Slopes range from 0 to3 percent.

Typically, the surface layer is reddish brown siltloam about 6 inches thick. The subsoil is 23 inchesthick. It is reddish brown. The upper 14 inches isgravelly silt loam, and the lower 9 inches is verygravelly loam. The substratum is reddish brownvery gravelly loam. It extends to a depth of 65inches.

Included with this soil in mapping are small areas ofthe well drained Vandalia, Moshannon, and Hackerssoils; the moderately well drained Senecaville soils;and the poorly drained Melvin soils. Also included area few small areas of soils that have more than 35percent rock fragments throughout the control sectionand, on alluvial fans at the mouth of hollows, soils thathave slopes of 3 to 8 percent and are subject to rareflooding. Included soils make up about 25 percent ofthis map unit.

The available water capacity of the Sensabaugh soilis moderate or high. Permeability is moderate ormoderately rapid in the subsoil. Runoff is slow. Naturalfertility is moderate. In unlimed areas the soil rangesfrom moderately acid to mildly alkaline. The depth tobedrock is more than 60 inches.

Most areas of this soil are used for hay. Some areasare used as cropland, and some are reverting towoodland.

This soil is suited to cultivated crops, hay, andpasture (fig. 7). In some areas crops are subject todamage from flooding. Crops can be grown year after


year, but the protection of a cover crop is needed.Working the residue from the cover crop into the soiland returning other crop residue to the soil help tomaintain fertility and tilth. Proper stocking rates, whichhelp to maintain desirable grasses and legumes, androtational grazing are the major pasture managementneeds. Establishing a plant cover on unprotectedstreambanks and providing proper access for livestockto streams help to control stream scouring andsedimentation.

This soil has moderately high potential productivityfor trees. The tree species on this soil includeboxelder, sycamore, yellow-poplar, ash, and blackwalnut. Proper woodland management techniques,such as timber stand improvement, can increaseyields in wooded areas. Plant competition is amanagement concern.

The flooding is the main limitation if this soil is usedas a site for dwellings or septic tank absorption fields.Alternative sites should be selected.

Many homesites are available in the rarely floodedincluded areas of this unit. These areas generally areon the higher alluvial fans at the mouth of hollows.Included areas that are not subject to flooding shouldbe selected as sites for dwellings without basements.Correctly installed footer drains are important becauseof piping of water in the gravelly substratum. Whenfooter drains are installed, clean, sized gravel shouldbe used as fill close to the surface. Erosion is a hazardin areas that are cleared for construction.Revegetating during or soon after constructionreduces this hazard.

The flooding restricts the use of this soil as a site forlocal roads and streets. Constructing the roads and

Figure 7.—Cropland and pasture in an area of Sensabaugh silt loam.

30 Soil Survey

streets on raised fill and properly installing culvertscan minimize the hazard of flood damage.


TsB—Tilsit silt loam, 3 to 8 percentslopes

This soil is gently sloping, deep, and moderatelywell drained. It is on broad ridgetops throughout thesurvey area.

Typically, the surface layer is brown silt loam about7 inches thick. The subsoil is 36 inches thick. Theupper 3 inches is yellowish brown silt loam, the next11 inches is yellowish brown silty clay loam, the next 6inches is a fragipan of brownish yellow channery loammottled with strong brown and light brownish gray, andthe lower 16 inches is a fragipan of brownish yellowvery channery loam mottled with strong brown andlight brownish gray. Rippable, weathered shalebedrock is at a depth of 43 inches.

Included with this soil in mapping are a few smallareas of the well drained Gilpin, Upshur, and Peabodysoils. Also included are soils that are similar to Upshursoils but are moderately well drained, small areas ofsoils with slopes of less than 3 percent or more than 8percent, and soils that have bedrock at a depth of 20to 40 inches. Included soils make up about 30 percentof this map unit.

The available water capacity of the Tilsit soil ismoderate. Permeability is moderate above the fragipanand slow in the fragipan. Runoff is medium. Naturalfertility is low or moderate. A seasonal high water tableat a depth of 1.5 to 2.5 feet restricts the root zone ofsome types of plants. In unlimed areas the soil rangesfrom extremely acid to strongly acid. The depth tobedrock ranges from 40 to 60 inches.

Most areas of this soil are used for pasture or hay. Asmall acreage is wooded.

This soil is suited to cultivated crops, hay, andpasture. The hazard of erosion is moderate inunprotected areas. Applying a system of conservationtillage, growing crops in contour strips, including hay inthe crop rotation, maintaining sod in shallowdrainageways, and returning crop residue to the soilhelp to control erosion and maintain fertility and tilth.The seasonal high water table becomes an importantfactor during the growing season. In dry years rowcrops and hay grow well because of the availablemoisture. In wet years, however, growth can beinhibited by excess soil moisture. Proper stockingrates, which help to maintain desirable grasses andlegumes, rotational grazing, and deferment of grazinguntil the soil is reasonably firm in the spring are themajor pasture management needs.

This soil has moderately high potential productivityfor trees. The tree species on this soil include red oak,white oak, cherry, and ash. Proper woodlandmanagement techniques, such as timber standimprovement, can increase yields in wooded areas.Plant competition is a management concern.

The seasonal high water table and slowpermeability are the main limitations if this soil is usedas a site for dwellings or septic tank absorption fields.The wetness is the main limitation on sites fordwellings. The limitations on sites for dwellings can beovercome by correctly installed footer drains andupslope ditches, which can divert water. When footerdrains are installed, clean, sized gravel should be usedas fill close to the surface. Installing the absorptionfield on the contour and as shallow as possible,enlarging the absorption area, installing an alternativesystem (such as a mound system), or selectingadjacent soils that are better suited to onsite wastedisposal can minimize or avoid the limitations affectingseptic tank absorption fields. Erosion is a hazard inareas that are cleared for construction. Revegetatingduring or soon after construction reduces this hazard.

Low soil strength and the potential for frost action inthis soil require special attention in the development oflocal roads and streets. Constructing the roads andstreets on raised fill and properly installing culvertscan minimize these limitations.

The capability subclass is IIe.

Ud—Udorthents, smoothed

These well drained, nearly level to very steep soilsare in areas that have been disturbed by roadconstruction and urban development. Commonlycalled cut and fill, these soils are mainly alongInterstate 79 in southern Roane County and in smallerareas near the towns of Spencer and Grantsville.

A typical profile of Udorthents is not describedbecause of the variability of these soils.

Included with these soils in mapping are smallareas of the well drained Gilpin, Peabody, Upshur, andVandalia soils. Included soils make up about 5 percentof this map unit.

In many areas the surface of the Udorthents hasbeen covered with concrete or asphalt. Shale,siltstone, and sandstone bedrock are exposed in cutareas. These exposed highwalls along Interstate 79can reach heights of more than 100 feet. The highwallsare divided into a series of vertical escarpments andnearly level bench areas, which serve to catch anytalus or rock fragments that fall from the weatheringbedrock.

It is impractical to estimate the physical and


chemical properties of the soils in this unit because ofsurface disturbance and high variability. In most fillareas, however, the soils are more than 65 inchesdeep over bedrock. Runoff ranges from medium innearly level areas to very rapid in very steep areas.Natural fertility generally is high.

Most areas that are not covered with concrete orasphalt have b

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