Soil Survey of Taylor County, Wisconsin...Soil Survey of Taylor County, Wisconsin In cooperation...

United StatesDepartment ofAgriculture

NaturalResourcesConservationService

Soil Survey ofTaylor County,Wisconsin

In cooperation withUnited States Departmentof Agriculture, ForestService, and the ResearchDivision of the College ofAgricultural and LifeSciences, University ofWisconsin

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is committed to making itsinformation accessible to all of its customers and employees. If you are experiencingaccessibility issues and need assistance, please contact our Helpdesk by phone at1-800-457-3642 or by e-mail at [email protected]. For assistancewith publications that include maps, graphs, or similar forms of information, you mayalso wish to contact our State or local office. You can locate the correct office andphone number at http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app.

NRCS Accessibility Statement

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Soil Maps

The soil maps can be useful in planning the use and management of small areas.

To find information about your area of interest, locate that area on the Index to Map Sheets. Note the number ofthe map sheet and turn to that sheet.

Locate your area of interest on the map sheet. Note the map unit symbols that are in that area. Turn to theContents, which lists the map units by symbol and name and shows the page where each map unit is described.The map symbols and names also appear as bookmarks, which link directly to the appropriate page in thepublication.

The Contents shows which table has data on a specific land use for each soil map unit. Also see the Contents forsections of this publication that may address your specific needs.

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How To Use This Soil Survey

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

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

Major fieldwork for this soil survey was completed in 1998. Soil names anddescriptions were approved in 2000. Unless otherwise indicated, statements in thispublication refer to conditions in the survey area in 2000. This survey was madecooperatively by the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural ResourcesConservation Service and Forest Service, and by the Research Division of the Collegeof Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin. The survey is part of thetechnical assistance furnished to the Taylor County Soil and Water ConservationDistrict. The Taylor County Land Conservation Committee provided financial assistance.

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

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

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

Cover: Little Chelsea Lake is one of the many scenic lakes within the Perkinstown end moraine inTaylor County.

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/

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Contents

How To Use This Soil Survey ................................. 3Foreword ................................................................. 9General Nature of the Survey Area ......................... 11

History and Development ................................... 11Climate ............................................................... 12Physiography, Relief, and Drainage .................... 12Geology and Underlying Material ....................... 13Water Supply ...................................................... 14Transportation Facilities and Industry ................. 14Forestry .............................................................. 15Farming .............................................................. 15

How This Survey Was Made ................................... 16Soil Map Unit Descriptions .................................. 19

22A—Comstock silt loam, 0 to 3 percentslopes .......................................................... 21

24A—Poskin silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes ...... 2243B—Antigo silt loam, 1 to 6 percent slopes ...... 2243C—Antigo silt loam, 6 to 15 percent slopes .... 2243D—Antigo silt loam, 15 to 30 percent

slopes .......................................................... 2348B—Brill silt loam, 1 to 6 percent slopes .......... 2357B—Spencer silt loam, 1 to 6 percent

slopes .......................................................... 2459A—Almena silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes .... 2463B—Crystal Lake silt loam, 2 to 6 percent

slopes .......................................................... 2463C—Crystal Lake silt loam, 6 to 12 percent

slopes .......................................................... 2563D—Crystal Lake silt loam, 12 to 20 percent

slopes .......................................................... 2563E—Crystal Lake silt loam, 20 to 35 percent

slopes .......................................................... 2677A—Auburndale silt loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 26182B—Padus sandy loam, 0 to 6 percent

slopes .......................................................... 26182C—Padus sandy loam, 6 to 15 percent

slopes .......................................................... 27182D—Padus sandy loam, 15 to 30 percent

slopes .......................................................... 27192A—Worcester sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent

slopes .......................................................... 28193A—Minocqua muck, 0 to 2 percent slopes ... 28

215B—Pence sandy loam, 0 to 6 percentslopes .......................................................... 28

215C—Pence sandy loam, 6 to 15 percentslopes .......................................................... 29

215D—Pence sandy loam, 15 to 30 percentslopes .......................................................... 29

308B—Blackriver silt loam, 1 to 6 percentslopes .......................................................... 30

315A—Rib silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ......... 30324A—Maplehurst silt loam, 0 to 3 percent

slopes .......................................................... 30337A—Plover fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent

slopes .......................................................... 31345B—Freeon, very stony-Sconsin complex,

2 to 6 percent slopes.................................... 31346E—Newot-Pence complex, 15 to 45

percent slopes, very stony ........................... 32355B—Loyal silt loam, 1 to 6 percent slopes ...... 33355C—Loyal silt loam, 6 to 12 percent slopes .... 33356A—Withee silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes ... 33357A—Marshfield silt loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 34408A—Lupton and Cathro soils, 0 to 1

percent slopes ............................................. 34414A—Loxley and Beseman soils, 0 to 1

percent slopes ............................................. 35457B—Freeon, very stony-Freeon complex,

ground moraine, 1 to 6 percent slopes ......... 35457C—Freeon, very stony-Freeon complex,

ground moraine, 6 to 12 percent slopes ....... 36515A—Manitowish sandy loam, 0 to 3

percent slopes ............................................. 37525B—Newood, very stony-Padwood-Tipler

complex, 2 to 6 percent slopes .................... 37527B—Padwood sandy loam, 0 to 6 percent

slopes .......................................................... 38537D—Newot, very stony-Newood, very

stony-Cathro complex, 0 to 35 percentslopes .......................................................... 38

545C—Freeon, very stony-Antigo complex,6 to 15 percent slopes.................................. 39

555A—Fordum silt loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes .......................................................... 40

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560A—Worwood sandy loam, 0 to 3 percentslopes .......................................................... 41

571E—Pelissier gravelly sandy loam, 15 to 45percent slopes ............................................. 41

612A—Magnor, very stony-Ossmer complex,0 to 3 percent slopes.................................... 41

623A—Capitola muck, 0 to 2 percent slopes,very stony .................................................... 42

624A—Ossmer silt loam, 0 to 3 percentslopes .......................................................... 42

632B—Aftad fine sandy loam, 2 to 6 percentslopes .......................................................... 43

637B—Newood sandy loam, 2 to 6 percentslopes, very stony ........................................ 43

637C—Newood sandy loam, 6 to 15 percentslopes, very stony ........................................ 44

642B—Pesabic-Capitola-Newood complex,0 to 6 percent slopes, very stony ................. 44

648B—Sconsin silt loam, 1 to 6 percentslopes .......................................................... 45

683A—Tipler sandy loam, 0 to 3 percentslopes .......................................................... 46

737D—Santiago silt loam, 15 to 30 percentslopes, very stony ........................................ 46

748A—Brander silt loam, 0 to 3 percentslopes .......................................................... 46

755A—Moppet-Fordum complex, 0 to 3percent slopes ............................................. 47

757B—Magnor-Freeon complex, 0 to 6percent slopes, very stony ........................... 47

766A—Moppet fine sandy loam, 0 to 3percent slopes ............................................. 49

822A—Comstock-Magnor, very stony-Ossmer complex, 0 to 3 percent slopes ....... 49

837E—Newot sandy loam, 15 to 45 percentslopes, very stony ........................................ 50

848A—Ribriver silt loam, 0 to 3 percentslopes .......................................................... 50

863B—Crystal Lake-Freeon, very stony-Sconsin complex, 2 to 6 percent slopes ....... 51

923A—Capitola-Cebana complex, 0 to 2percent slopes, very stony ........................... 52

956B—Magnor silt loam, end moraine, 0 to 4percent slopes, very stony ........................... 52

957B—Freeon silt loam, end moraine, 2 to 6percent slopes, very stony ........................... 53

957C—Freeon silt loam, end moraine, 6 to 15percent slopes, very stony ........................... 53

2015—Pits .......................................................... 543011A—Barronett silt loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 543456A—Magnor, very stony-Magnor complex,

ground moraine, 0 to 3 percent slopes ......... 543525C—Newood, very stony-Padwood-Padus

complex, 6 to 15 percent slopes .................. 553546C—Newood-Pence complex, 6 to 15

percent slopes, very stony ........................... 563556C—Newood, very stony-Magnor, very

stony-Cathro complex, 0 to 15 percentslopes .......................................................... 56

3561A—Pesabic, very stony-Worwood-Worcester complex, 0 to 3 percentslopes .......................................................... 57

3569C—Newood, very stony-Pesabic, verystony-Cathro complex, 0 to 15 percentslopes .......................................................... 58

3666B—Pesabic sandy loam, 0 to 4 percentslopes, very stony ........................................ 59

3863C—Crystal Lake-Freeon, very stony-Antigo complex, 6 to 15 percent slopes ....... 60

9052A—Cathro-Capitola, very stony-Luptoncomplex, 0 to 1 percent slopes .................... 61

9055A—Loxley peat, 0 to 1 percent slopes ........ 619060D—Pelissier sandy loam, 20 to 45

percent slopes ............................................. 629071B—Freeon silt loam, 5 to 10 percent

slopes, very stony ........................................ 629077C—Freeon silt loam, 10 to 20 percent

slopes, very stony ........................................ 639078A—Freeon, very stony-Magnor, very

stony-Ossmer complex, 0 to 5 percentslopes .......................................................... 63

9081C—Newot sandy loam, 10 to 30 percentslopes, very stony ........................................ 64

9082B—Newood sandy loam, 5 to 10 percentslopes, very stony ........................................ 64

9083A—Crystal Lake silt loam, 0 to 5 percentslopes .......................................................... 65

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9083B—Crystal Lake silt loam, 5 to 10percent slopes ............................................. 65

9086A—Freeon silt loam, 0 to 5 percentslopes, very stony ........................................ 65

9087C—Crystal Lake-Freeon, very stony-Newot, very stony, complex, 10 to 20percent slopes ............................................. 66

9088A—Newood-Capitola complex, 0 to 5percent slopes, very stony ........................... 67

9089B—Newood, very stony-Lupton complex,0 to 10 percent slopes.................................. 67

9090C—Newood, very stony-Newot, verystony-Lupton complex, 0 to 30 percentslopes .......................................................... 68

9092D—Newot sandy loam, 20 to 45 percentslopes, very stony ........................................ 69

9093C—Pence-Padus complex, 10 to 30percent slopes ............................................. 69

9096C—Newot, very stony-Pesabic, verystony-Lupton complex, 0 to 30 percentslopes .......................................................... 70

9097B—Newood-Padus complex, 5 to 10percent slopes, very stony ........................... 71

9098A—Oesterle loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes .... 729099B—Antigo silt loam, 5 to 10 percent

slopes .......................................................... 729197C—Pelissier very cobbly sandy loam,

10 to 30 percent slopes ................................ 72M-W—Miscellaneous water ................................ 73W—Water ........................................................... 73

Use and Management of the Soils ...................... 75Interpretive Ratings ............................................ 75

Rating Class Terms ........................................ 75Numerical Ratings .......................................... 75

Crops and Pasture ............................................. 75Cropland Management Considerations .......... 76Crop Yield Estimates ...................................... 77Land Capability Classification ........................ 77Prime Farmland ............................................. 78

Windbreaks and Environmental Plantings .......... 80Conservation Tree/Shrub Suitability Groups ... 80

Forest Land Management and Productivity ........ 80Forest Land Harvest Equipment

Considerations ...................................... 81Forest Haul Road Considerations .................. 81

Forest Log Landing Considerations ................ 82Forest Land Site Preparation and Planting

Considerations ...................................... 83Forest Productivity ......................................... 83Forest Habitat Types ...................................... 83

Recreation .......................................................... 86Wildlife Habitat ................................................... 87Engineering ........................................................ 89

Building Site Development ............................. 91Sanitary Facilities ........................................... 92Construction Materials ................................... 93Agricultural Waste Management .................... 94Water Management ........................................ 97

Soil Properties ...................................................... 99Engineering Index Properties ............................. 99Physical Properties .......................................... 100Chemical Properties ......................................... 101Water Features ................................................. 102Soil Features .................................................... 103Engineering Index Test Data ............................. 104

Classification of the Soils .................................. 105Soil Series and Their Morphology ..................... 105

Aftad Series ................................................. 105Almena Series ............................................. 106Antigo Series ............................................... 107Auburndale Series ....................................... 108Barronett Series ........................................... 109Beseman Series .......................................... 110Blackriver Series .......................................... 110Brander Series ............................................. 111Brill Series .................................................... 112Capitola Series............................................. 113Cathro Series ............................................... 114Cebana Series ............................................. 115Comstock Series .......................................... 116Crystal Lake Series ...................................... 117Fordum Series ............................................. 118Freeon Series .............................................. 118Loxley Series ............................................... 120Loyal Series ................................................. 120Lupton Series ............................................... 121Magnor Series ............................................. 122Manitowish Series ........................................ 123Maplehurst Series ........................................ 124Marshfield Series ......................................... 125

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Minocqua Series .......................................... 125Moppet Series .............................................. 126Newood Series ............................................. 127Newot Series................................................ 129Oesterle Series ............................................ 130Ossmer Series ............................................. 131Padus Series ................................................ 132Padwood Series ........................................... 133Pelissier Series ............................................ 134Pence Series ................................................ 135Pesabic Series ............................................. 136Plover Series ................................................ 137Poskin Series ............................................... 138Rib Series .................................................... 139Ribriver Series ............................................. 140Santiago Series............................................ 141Sconsin Series ............................................. 142Spencer Series ............................................ 143Tipler Series ................................................. 144Withee Series .............................................. 145Worcester Series ......................................... 146Worwood Series ........................................... 148

Formation of the Soils ........................................ 151References .......................................................... 153Glossary .............................................................. 155Tables .................................................................. 169

Table 1.—Temperature and Precipitation .......... 170Table 2.—Freeze Dates in Spring and Fall ........ 171Table 3.—Growing Season ............................... 171Table 4.—Acreage and Proportionate Extent

of the Soils ................................................. 172Table 5.—Cropland Management

Considerations ........................................... 174Table 6a.—Land Capability and Yields per

Acre of Crops ............................................. 194Table 6b.—Land Capability and Yields per

Acre of Crops ............................................. 201

Table 7.—Prime Farmland ................................ 208Table 8.—Windbreaks and Environmental

Plantings .................................................... 209Table 9.—Conservation Tree/Shrub

Suitability Groups ....................................... 228Table 10.—Forest Land Harvest Equipment

Considerations ........................................... 235Table 11.—Forest Haul Road

Considerations ........................................... 242Table 12.—Forest Log Landing

Considerations ........................................... 250Table 13.—Forest Land Site Preparation

and Planting Considerations ...................... 258Table 14.—Forest Productivity .......................... 268Table 15.—Forest Habitat Types ....................... 293Table 16a.—Recreation .................................... 301Table 16b.—Recreation .................................... 320Table 17.—Wildlife Habitat ................................ 335Table 18a.—Building Site Development ............ 344Table 18b.—Building Site Development ............ 358Table 19a.—Sanitary Facilities ......................... 376Table 19b.—Sanitary Facilities .......................... 395Table 20a.—Construction Materials .................. 410Table 20b.—Construction Materials .................. 422Table 21a.—Agricultural Waste Management ... 443Table 21b.—Agricultural Waste Management ... 470Table 22.—Water Management ........................ 497Table 23.—Engineering Index Properties ......... 512Table 24.—Physical Properties of the Soils ...... 599Table 25.—Chemical Properties of the Soils ..... 619Table 26.—Soil Moisture Status by Depth ........ 639Table 27.—Flooding Frequency and Duration ... 662Table 28.—Ponding Frequency, Duration,

and Depth .................................................. 673Table 29.—Soil Features .................................. 686Table 30.—Engineering Index Test Data ........... 697Table 31.—Classification of the Soils ................ 699

Issued July 2005

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

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

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

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

These and many other soil properties that affect land use are described in this soilsurvey. The location of each soil is shown on the soil maps. Each soil in the survey areais described, and information on specific uses is given. Help in using this publicationand additional information are available at the local office of the Natural ResourcesConservation Service or the Cooperative Extension Service.

Patricia S. LeavenworthState ConservationistNatural Resources Conservation Service

Foreword

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Where To Get Updated Information

The soil properties and interpretations included in this survey were current as ofJanuary 2004. More current information may be available from the Natural ResourcesConservation Service (NRCS) Field Office Technical Guide at Medford, Wisconsin, oronline at www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/efotg. The data in the Field Office TechnicalGuide are updated periodically.

More current information may also be available through the NRCS Soil Data MartWebsite at http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/

Additional information about soils and about NRCS is available through theWisconsin NRCS Web page at www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov.

For further information, please contact:

USDA, Natural Resources Conservation ServiceMedford Service Center925 Donald Street, Room 101Medford, WI 54451-2099Phone: 715-748-4121

www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/efotghttp://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov

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TAYLOR COUNTY is in north-central Wisconsin (fig. 1).It is bounded on the north by Price and RuskCounties, on the east by Lincoln and MarathonCounties, on the south by Marathon and ClarkCounties, and on the west by Chippewa and RuskCounties. Taylor County has a total area of 628,538acres.

In 1990, the population of the county was 18,901.Medford, the county seat, had a population of 4,283.

The majority of privately owned land in TaylorCounty is used as farmland. Agriculture, lumbering,manufacturing, recreation, and tourism also are part ofthe Taylor County economy.

General Nature of the Survey AreaThis section provides some general information

about the survey area. It describes history anddevelopment; climate; physiography, relief, anddrainage; geology and underlying material; watersupply; transportation facilities and industry; forestry;and farming.

History and Development

The original inhabitants of the survey area werewoodland Native Americans, dominantly the Chippewatribe (Mravik, 1997). Little is known about the history ofthe area during the period when Wisconsin was

controlled by the English and French. There is noknown record of any exploration in this area, which liesbetween the Chippewa and Wisconsin Rivers,

Soil Survey of

Taylor County, WisconsinBy Joseph M. Boelter, Stacy S. Eichner, Angela M. Elg, William D. Fiala, andRichard M. Johannes, Natural Resources Conservation Service

Fieldwork by Joseph M. Boelter, John E. Campbell, Roger A. Dahl, Stacy S. Eichner,Angela M. Elg, William D. Fiala, Ulf B. Gafvert, Sam D. Hagedorn, Dale E. Jakel,Richard M. Johannes, John L. Langton, Kenneth W. Lubich, Tim J. Miland,Augustine J. Otter, and Robert D. Weihrouch, Natural Resources Conservation Service,and Leonard S. Kempf and Gregory A. Knight, Forest Service

United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service andForest Service,in cooperation with the Research Division of the College of Agricultural and LifeSciences, University of Wisconsin

Figure 1.—Location of Taylor County in Wisconsin.

12 Soil Survey of

because there were no large streams within itsborders connecting it to either river (Hafs and others,1981).

Taylor County was created from parts of Lincoln,Clark, Marathon, and Chippewa Counties. It wasestablished as a result of an act by the StateLegislature in 1875. The origin of the name isuncertain. One assumption is that the name was inhonor of the Governor of Wisconsin, William R. Taylor.Another is that the county was named for David Taylor,a prominent jurist at that time and later a StateSupreme Court Justice (Taylor County, Wisconsin,1994).

The timber industry was the first industry to beestablished in Taylor County. The main species oftimber harvested during the early logging years wasthe valuable eastern white pine. Medford was the firstorganized town in the county, but as the timberindustry grew, other towns were created whereverthere was a sawmill (Rusch, 1996). The first railroadarrived in Taylor County in 1873. After 60 years oflogging, the timber resource became depleted and thesettlers turned to farming. As more land was cleared,there was an increase in the number of homesteads.

In the 1880s and 1890s, the Native Americanpopulation increased as tribal members came from thewest (primarily Kansas) to gather cranberries andblueberries, to hunt, and to make maple sugar in thePerkinstown area. In 1990, an epidemic of smallpoxreduced the Native American population by half. Manyof the remaining Native Americans have since left thearea.

Climate

Table 1 gives data on temperature and precipitationfor the survey area as recorded at Medford in theperiod 1971 to 2000. Table 2 shows probable dates ofthe first freeze in fall and the last freeze in spring.Table 3 provides data on the length of the growingseason.

In winter, the average temperature is 13.8 degreesF and the average daily minimum temperature is 4.1degrees. The lowest temperature on record, whichoccurred at Medford on March 1, 1962, is -40 degrees.In summer, the average temperature is 65.6 degreesand the average daily maximum temperature is 76.6degrees. The highest temperature, which occurred atMedford on July 14, 1995, is 95 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 base

temperature (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 33.27 inches. Ofthis, 20.8 inches, or about 63 percent, usually falls inMay through September. The growing season for mostcrops falls within this period. The heaviest 1-dayrainfall on record was 4.77 inches at Medford on July8, 1959. Thunderstorms occur on about 37 days eachyear, and most occur in July.

The average seasonal snowfall is 37.9 inches. Thegreatest snow depth at any one time during the periodof record was 48 inches recorded on March 9, 1972.On an average, 110 days per year have at least 1 inchof snow on the ground. The heaviest 1-day snowfall onrecord was 12 inches recorded on February 5, 1971.

The average relative humidity in midafternoon isabout 59 percent. Humidity is higher at night, and theaverage at dawn is about 78 percent. The sun shines69 percent of the time possible in summer and 51percent in winter. The prevailing wind is from thenorthwest. Average windspeed is highest, 12.3 milesper hour, in April.

Physiography, Relief, and Drainage

Taylor County is in the Northern Highlandsphysiographic region of Wisconsin. The highestelevation in the county, 1,805 feet above sea level, ison a hill bordering the north side of James Lake in thenortheastern part of the county. The lowest elevation,1,104 feet above sea level, is in the northwestern partof the county at a point where the Jump River leavesthe county.

The physiography, relief, and drainage of TaylorCounty are primarily the result of glaciation. Thickglacial deposits in most areas overlie Precambrianand Cambrian rock, although rock outcrops also occuralong parts of the Jump River and the Yellow River.The rest of the county is covered by drift from variousglacial advances.

The most prominent physiographic feature is anend moraine, locally named the Perkinstown endmoraine, which extends from the northeast corner ofthe county to the southwest corner. The highestelevations and roughest terrain are within the endmoraine. The landscape has high relief and featureswetlands, lakes, and preserved glacial landforms.

The Perkinstown Moraine separates thenortheastern and southwestern parts of the county. Inthe southeastern part of Taylor County, the terrain hasvery low relief. This area was glaciated at an earlier

Taylor County, Wisconsin 13

time, and erosion has since destroyed the glaciallandforms. As a result, the landscape is gently rollingand has very few surface stones.

The northwestern part of the county was coveredby ice during the last part of the glaciation. Becauseerosion has not greatly modified the area, the glaciallandscapes have been preserved. This area probablyclosely resembles the shape of the bed of theChippewa Lobe (Attig, 1993). The landscape is of lowrelief and gently rolling. Small hilly areas and smalleskers occur in places.

Taylor County is drained by three main drainagesystems. The Wisconsin River system, which includesthe Big Rib River and its tributaries, drains the easternpart of the county. The western part of the county isdrained by the Chippewa River system. The majorwaterways in this drainage system in Taylor Countyinclude the Jump River, the Yellow River, theMondeaux River, the North Fork of the Eau ClaireRiver, and the Fisher River and its tributaries. TheBlack River and its tributaries drain the rest of thecounty.

Geology and Underlying Material

The landscape of Taylor County and the distributionand character of the geologic material that overliesPrecambrian rock are a direct result of glaciation.During the last part of the Wisconsin Glaciation,between about 25,000 and 15,000 years ago, theLaurentide Ice Sheet reached its maximum extent innorth-central Wisconsin. At that time the glaciercovered northern and western Taylor County (Attig,1993). The remainder of the county had beenglaciated several times earlier, during the PleistoceneEpoch. The timing of these earlier glaciations in north-central Wisconsin is not well understood. It is possiblethat some may have occurred as early as late in thePliocene Epoch.

Taylor County is underlain predominantly by EarlyProterozoic metavolcanic rock that is part of thePenokean volcanic belt. The metavolcanic rock isintruded by granitic rock in the southeastern,northeastern, and northwestern parts of the county.Outliers of Cambrian sandstone occur in places. Pre-Pleistocene rock occurs at the surface only in a fewplaces in the county, but outcrops are common alongparts of the Jump River and the Yellow River. Nosedimentary record is known for events between thedeposition of the Cambrian sandstone and thePleistocene glaciations in Taylor County.

The various glacial landforms and deposits in TaylorCounty can be divided into distinct zones. Each zone

contains material and features that record a geologichistory different from that in the other zones.

The Edgar till plain in southeastern Taylor Countycontains till of the Medford and Edgar Members of theMarathon Formation. Till of the Edgar Member occursat or near the surface throughout most of the area. Inplaces, the Medford Member occurs in the subsurface.In southeastern Taylor County, the MarathonFormation is typically less than 15 meters thick.

The Merrill till plain contains till of the MerrillMember of the Lincoln Formation. Till of the MerrillMember is the surface till in a broad band acrosssouth-central and east-central Taylor County. Merrill tilloverlies Edgar and Medford till of the MarathonFormation.

The marginal zone of the Chippewa and WisconsinValley Lobes includes the thickest Pleistocenesediment in Taylor County. This zone extends from thesouthwest corner of the county to the northeast cornerand is characterized by a high-relief landscape withwell preserved glacial landforms, lakes, and wetlands.Some of the features in this zone include ice-marginalridges, hilly topography, and ice-walled lake plains. Anarea of tunnel channels and eskers at the MondeauxFlowage is associated with melting water cuttingthrough a marginal zone where the glacier was frozento its bed. The deposition of the eskers was likelyduring the last phase of drainage through the tunnel tothe ice margin.

The Black River Lobe in the central part of TaylorCounty near Whittlesey is an area of well preservedglacial landforms that extends beyond the moraineridge and outwash plain formed along the margin ofthe late Wisconsin Chippewa Lobe. The mostconspicuous glacial landforms preserved in the areaare ice-walled plains. The margins of the Black RiverLobe form part of the drainage divide around theupper part of the Black River. The Black River Lobewas most likely a small offshoot of the Chippewa Lobethat reached its maximum position slightly before theChippewa Lobe margin stabilized to the northwest.

North of the marginal zone of the Chippewa Lobelies the till plain of the Chippewa Lobe, which isunderlain by uniform till of the Copper Falls Formation.The landscape is a low-relief, gently rolling till plain.Small areas of hilly topography occur in places, andsmall eskers also occur. Copper Falls till is typicallyless than 10 meters thick and overlies meltwater-stream sediment or older glacial material in manyareas. The loess cover is typically less than 0.5 meterthick. Erosion has probably not greatly modified thelate glacial landscape, except along large, late- orpost-glacial drainageways.

14 Soil Survey of

A streamlined zone of the Chippewa Lobe is innorthwestern Taylor County. The orientation of hillsand intervening wetlands characterizes a landscapethat has a strong northeast-southwest grain and thatextends northward into Price and Rusk Counties. Thetill is of the Copper Falls Formation and is similar tothe till that occurs throughout western Taylor County.Till of the Lincoln or Marathon Formation occurs inplaces beneath till of the Copper Falls Formation. Theorigin of the topography in this area is unclear, but it ispossible that the elongate hills and wetlands innorthwestern Taylor County are a reflection of thestructurally controlled topography of the Precambrianrock surface.

Water Supply

Taylor County has many streams, lakes, and riversthat furnish about 7,364 acres of surface water. Of thistotal, about 6,116 acres is the surface water of 283lakes and impoundments. There are 67 namedstreams and rivers that account for about 494 milesand 1,248 surface acres of water in Taylor County(Haanpaa and others, 1970).

Of the 283 lakes in the county, 250, or 88 percent,are natural but account for only 36 percent of the totallake acreage; 33 lakes, or about 12 percent, areimpounded waters and account for 64 percent of thelake surface area. Most of the lakes are small; 217, orabout 77 percent, are less than 10 acres. Lakes in thissize class make up only 9 percent of the surface areaof lakes. Only four lakes (less than 1 percent) are 100acres or larger, and these lakes account for 59 percentof the surface lake acreage. The largest lake is knownas Chequamegon Waters, an impoundment of 2,730acres. This lake contains 45 percent of the surfacearea of lakes in the county.

Maximum lake depths range considerably fromshallow pondlike lakes to the deeper bog lakes. Thethree deepest lakes in Taylor County are North TwinLake and Spruce Lake (each with a maximum depth of60 feet) and Lake Thirty-Three (which has a maximumdepth of 61 feet).

In Taylor County, surface water is used mainly forrecreation, watering stock, and wildlife. The village ofRib Lake at one time used water from the Big RibRiver for municipal supplies, but the community nowrelies on two ground-water wells to meet its waterneeds.

Ground-water resources supply most water needsin the county. Ground water is generally available insufficient quantities to meet domestic, agricultural,municipal, and industrial needs.

The depth to ground water below the soil surface

depends on the general topography, elevation abovethe permanent stream level, and the lithology of theunderlying bedrock and glacial deposits. Water isstored in porous and permeable strata called aquifers.The quantity of water that can be tapped from anaquifer depends on its thickness and extent, the rateof water movement through it, the recharge rate to theaquifer, and the storage capacity of the aquifer.

The availability of ground water varies locally.Onsite investigation is needed when waterdevelopments are planned.

The saturated sand and gravel aquifers associatedwith outwash plains yield the largest quantities ofwater. Yields are generally up to 200 gallons perminute. In Taylor County, most of the ground water isobtained from sand and gravel deposits in or under thetill of ground moraines or from sand and graveldeposits in areas of end moraine. These yields aretypically less than 50 gallons per minute, but localwells may yield 100 to 200 gallons per minute (Youngand Borman, 1973). The Precambrian rock underlyingthe county is not considered a significant source ofwater. The availability of water from the bedrock isdifficult to predict but is probably less than 5 gallonsper minute.

The quality of the ground water in Taylor County isbasically good. Regional differences are a result of thecomposition, solubility, and surface area of theparticles of soil and rock through which the watermoves and of the length of time the water is in contactwith these materials. Local problems with groundwater include hardness, high concentrations of iron,and dissolved solids (Devaul and Green, 1971).

Transportation Facilities and Industry

Taylor County is served by 6 State highways and 17county roads. The major north-south highways areState Highway 13 in the eastern part of the county andState Highway 73 in the western part. The major east-west highway is State Highway 64, which crossessouthern Taylor County. State Highway 102 serves theRib Lake area in the northeastern part of the county.The county road system completes a secondary roadnetwork connecting local communities to Medford, thecounty seat. The county has rail service, and anairport southeast of Medford serves small aircraft.

Most of the industry in Taylor County is related tomanufacturing forest products. Forest productsproduced locally include windows, window grids,molding, plywood, cabinets, and specialty woodproducts. The county has a number of agriculture-related industries. There are several cheeseprocessors and a pizza manufacturer. Other local


industries produce plastic and metal components.Construction and trucking complement themanufacturing industry.

The many lakes and streams and the surroundingforested areas provide year-round opportunities forrecreation and tourism. A wide variety of outdooractivities, such as fishing, hunting, boating, water-skiing, swimming, camping, hiking, bicycling,horseback riding, ATV riding, snowmobiling, anddownhill and cross-country skiing are enjoyed byvisitors and vacationers (Albrecht, 1997).

Forestry

Most of Taylor County was forested prior tosettlement. The forests were a mixture of easternwhite pine, northern hardwoods, hemlock, lowlandhardwoods, and swamp conifers. Lumbering in TaylorCounty began with the depletion of the eastern whitepine stock in neighboring Clark County and theconstruction of the railroad in Taylor County in 1873(Latton and others, 1974). Logging companies, chieflyfrom La Crosse, sent their crews from Clark Countyfarther up the Black River Valley to cut eastern whitepine in Taylor County and float the logs down to theirmills to be sawed. Other companies sent their crewsup the Yellow, Rib, and Jump River Valleys (Hafs andothers, 1981).

From the 1870s to the early 1900s, the railroadsexpanded their routes in Taylor County. The towns ofMedford, Chelsea, Westboro, Rib Lake, Jump River,Gilman, and Hannibal were established as sawmillswere built to process the pine. As the supply ofeastern white pine declined in the 1880s, loggersturned their attention to hemlock. Hemlock bark wasused to make tannin, and tanneries were establishedat Perkinstown, Rib Lake, and Medford (Latton, 1975).

Lumbering has remained a major enterprise inTaylor County. In 1996, 126 harvesters wereharvesting timber and 2 sawmills were operating.About 5,635,000 cords of growing stock, including963,007,000 board feet of sawtimber, was removedfrom the forest. This harvest was about 45 percent ofthe net annual growth of growing stock. Hardwoods,mostly aspen and maple, made up about 76 percent ofthe harvest (Schmidt, 1996).

Growing Christmas trees is an important enterprisefor many landowners in Taylor County (fig. 2). Severalthousand acres of land is used for the trees, mostlybalsam fir, white spruce, Scotch pine, and easternwhite pine. Conifer boughs, mostly balsam fir, areharvested by private individuals from native stands forthe use of Christmas trimmings and are sold locally.

Most of the trees are transported to southern markets,but many are sold locally.

The collection of sugar maple sap and theproduction of maple syrup also are important forestryenterprises (fig. 3). The sap is refined into maple syrupor sold to major refineries in the area. Because thecounty has large acreages of sugar maple, there is apotential for increased production of maple syrup.Tapping these trees for sap, however, lowers thequality of veneer sawlogs because of staining near theboreholes.

Some timber harvesters cut hardwood poletimberfor firewood. The firewood market fluctuates, however,depending on the costs of other types of fuel.

Farming

Farming began in Taylor County in conjunction withlumbering. Feed and produce were grown in clearingsthat were established in areas close to the loggingcamps. Most farmers worked in logging camps orsawmills in the winter and enlarged and cultivated theircropland in the summer. They used their winterearnings to improve their farms (Hafs and others,1981).

There were only 266 farms in Taylor County in1880. The major crops produced were hay and oats,but some corn, barley, potatoes, wheat, and rye alsowere grown. Most early farmers kept small herds ofcows for milk, which was also converted to butter.Dairying started with the sale of surplus milk, cream,and butter. It increased rapidly after the cheeseindustry was developed in the early 1900s (Latton andothers, 1974).

The number of farms peaked at about 3,300 in theearly 1940s and has declined since then (TaylorCounty, Wisconsin, 1994). There were 2,865 farms in1950 and only 1,570 farms in 1975 (Taylor County Soiland Water Conservation District, 1977). By 1995, thenumber of farms had declined to 1,090 (Albrecht,1997).

Dairying is still the main farming enterprise in thecounty. The trend is toward fewer dairy farms, largerherds, and more efficient husbandry. Although therehas been a decline in the total number of milk cows inrecent years, the average per cow increase inproductivity has nearly offset this decline. The milk ismarketed mostly as cheese.

Some farming enterprises produce beef cattle,hogs, chicken, sheep, buffalo, emu, and pheasants.Special products produced by some enterprisesinclude ginseng, honey from bees, maple syrup,Christmas trees, and fur from mink.

16 Soil Survey of

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 properties and the subsequenteffects on suitability, limitations, and management forspecified uses. Soil scientists observed the steepness,length, and shape of the slopes; the general pattern ofdrainage; the kinds of crops and native plants; and thekinds of bedrock. They dug many holes to study thesoil profile, which is the sequence of natural layers, orhorizons, in a soil. The profile extends from the surfacedown into the unconsolidated material in which the soilformed. The unconsolidated material is devoid of rootsand other living organisms and has not been changedby other biological activity.

The soils and miscellaneous areas in the survey

area 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 kindor segment of the landscape. By observing the soilsand miscellaneous areas in the survey area andrelating their position to specific segments of thelandscape, soil scientists develop a concept, or model,of how the soils were formed. Thus, during mapping,this model enables the soil scientists to predict with aconsiderable degree of accuracy the kind of soil ormiscellaneous area at a specific location on thelandscape.

Individual soils on the landscape commonly mergeinto one another as their characteristics graduallychange. To construct an accurate map, however, soilscientists must determine the boundaries between thesoils. They can observe only a limited number of soilprofiles. Nevertheless, these observations,

Figure 2.—Sheared conifers in an area of Freeon, very stony-Freeon complex, ground moraine, 1 to 6 percent slopes.


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 soil color,texture, size and shape of soil aggregates, kind andamount of rock fragments, distribution of plant roots,soil 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. Soilscientists interpret the data from these analyses andtests as well as the field-observed characteristics andthe soil properties to determine the expected behaviorof the soils under different uses. Interpretations for allof the soils are field tested through observation of thesoils in different uses and under different levels ofmanagement. Interpretations are modified asnecessary to fit local conditions, and some newinterpretations are developed to meet local needs.Data are assembled from other sources, such asresearch information, production records, and fieldexperience of specialists. For example, data on cropyields under defined levels of management areassembled from farm records and from field or plotexperiments on the same kinds of soil.

Predictions about soil behavior are based not onlyon soil properties but also on such variables asclimate and biological activity. Soil conditions arepredictable over long periods of time, but they are notpredictable from year to year. For example, soilscientists can predict with a fairly high degree ofaccuracy that a given soil will have a zone in which thesoil moisture status is wet within certain depths inmost years, but they cannot predict that the zone ofwet soil moisture status will always be at a specificlevel 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.

The Medford Ranger District of the ChequamegonNational Forest is within Taylor County. The land in thisarea was mapped by Forest Service staff and by aprivate contractor hired by the Forest Service. Mapunits were defined at the Ecological Land Type (ELT)level. The Natural Resources Conservation Serviceprogressively correlated these ELT map units toconsociations, complexes, and undifferentiated groupsof soil series recognized by the National CooperativeSoil Survey. The final correlation of the Taylor Countysurvey incorporated the correlated map units from thefinal field correlation of the Chequamegon NationalForest, Medford Ranger District, as revised inFebruary 1996.

The descriptions, names, and delineations of the

Figure 3.—Collection of sugar maple sap in an area ofComstock-Magnor, very stony-Ossmer complex, 0 to 3percent slopes.

18

soils in this survey area do not fully agree with thoseof the soils in adjacent survey areas. Differences arethe result of a better knowledge of soils, modifications

in series concepts, or variations in the intensity ofmapping or in the extent of the soils in the surveyareas.

19

The map units delineated on the soil maps in thissurvey represent the soils or miscellaneous areas inthe survey area. These soils or miscellaneous areasare listed as individual components in the map unitdescriptions. 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 about each map unit isprovided in the tables (see Contents).

A map unit delineation on the soil maps representsan area on the landscape. It is identified by differencesin the properties and taxonomic classification ofcomponents and by the percentage of eachcomponent in the map unit.

Components that are dissimilar, or contrasting, areidentified in the map unit description. Dissimilarcomponents are those that have properties andbehavioral characteristics divergent enough fromthose of the major components to affect use or torequire different management. They generally are insmall areas and could not be mapped separatelybecause of the scale used. Some small areas ofstrongly contrasting soils or miscellaneous areas areidentified by a special symbol on the maps.

Components that are similar to the majorcomponents (noncontrasting) are not identified in themap unit description. Similar components are thosethat have properties and behavioral characteristicssimilar enough to those of the major components thatthey do not affect use or require differentmanagement.

The presence of multiple components in a map unitin no way diminishes the usefulness or accuracy of thedata. The objective of mapping is not to delineate puretaxonomic classes but rather to separate thelandscape into segments that have similar use andmanagement requirements. The delineation of suchlandscape segments on the map provides sufficientinformation for the development of resource plans, butif intensive use of small areas is planned, onsiteinvestigation is needed to define and locate the soilsand miscellaneous areas.

An identifying symbol is used for each map unit onthe soil maps. This symbol precedes the map unit

name in the map unit descriptions. Each descriptionincludes general information about the unit. The mapunit descriptions include representative values in feetand the months in which a wet zone (a zone in whichthe soil moisture status is wet) is highest and lowest inthe soil profile and ponding is shallowest and deepeston the soil surface. The descriptions also include thefrequency of flooding (if it occurs) and the months inwhich flooding is most frequent and least frequent.Tables 26, 27, and 28 provide a complete display ofthis data for every month of the year. The availablewater capacity given in each map unit description iscalculated for all horizons in the upper 60 inches of thesoil profile. The organic matter content displayed ineach map unit description is calculated for all horizonsin the upper 10 inches of the soil profile, except thosethat represent the surface duff layer on forested soils.Table 24 provides a complete display of availablewater capacity and organic matter content by horizon.

The principal hazards and limitations to beconsidered in planning for specific uses are describedin other sections of this survey.

Soils that have profiles that are almost alike makeup a soil series. Except for differences in texture of thesurface layer or of the underlying layers, all the soils ofa series have major horizons that are similar incomposition, thickness, and arrangement.

Soils of one series can differ in texture of thesurface layer or of the underlying layers. They also candiffer in slope, stoniness, salinity, wetness, degree oferosion, and other characteristics that affect their use.On the basis of such differences, a soil series isdivided into soil phases. The name of a soil phasecommonly indicates a feature that affects use ormanagement. For example, Crystal Lake silt loam, 2 to6 percent slopes, is a phase of the Crystal Lakeseries.

A map unit is named for the component orcomponents that make up a dominant percentage ofthe map unit. Many map units consist of one dominantcomponent. These map units are consociations.Almena silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes, is an example.

Some map units are made up of two or moredominant components. These map units arecomplexes or undifferentiated groups.

Soil Map Unit Descriptions

20 Soil Survey of

A complex consists of two or more components insuch an intricate pattern or in such small areas thatthey cannot be shown separately on the maps.Attempting to delineate the individual components of acomplex would result in excessive clutter that couldmake the map illegible. The pattern and proportion ofthe components in a complex are somewhat similar inall areas. Newood, very stony-Pesabic, very stony-Cathro complex, 0 to 15 percent slopes, is an example(fig. 4).

An undifferentiated group is made up of two ormore components that could be mapped individuallybut are mapped as one unit because similarinterpretations can be made for use and management.

The pattern and proportion of the components in amapped area are not uniform. An area can be madeup of only one of the dominant components, or it canbe made up of all of them. Loxley and Beseman soils,0 to 1 percent slopes, is an undifferentiated group inthis survey area (fig. 5).

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

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

Figure 4.—An area of Newood, very stony-Pesabic, very stony-Cathro complex, 0 to 15 percent slopes, used as pastureland. TheNewood soil is in the hilly area in the background. The cattails in the center are in an area of Cathro muck. The Pesabic soil isin the foreground.


22A—Comstock silt loam, 0 to 3 percentslopes

Component Description

Comstock and similar soils

Extent: 80 to 100 percent of the unitGeomorphic component: Lake plains and stream

terracesPosition on the landform: FootslopesSlope range: 0 to 3 percentTexture of the surface layer: Silt loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)

Drainage class: Somewhat poorly drainedParent material: Silty lacustrine depositsFlooding: NoneShallowest depth to wet zone: 0.5 foot (April)Deepest depth to wet zone: 5 feet (September)Ponding: NoneAvailable water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 11.4

inchesContent of organic matter in the upper 10 inches: 2.5

percentTypical profile:

Ap—0 to 8 inches; silt loamE—8 to 15 inches; silt loamB/E—15 to 21 inches; silt loam

Figure 5.—An area of Loxley and Beseman soils, 0 to 1 percent slopes. The typical vegetation in areas of these soils is leatherleaf,sphagnum moss, and stunted black spruce and tamarack.

22 Soil Survey of

Bt—21 to 34 inches; silt loamBC—34 to 44 inches; stratified silt loam to very

fine sandC—44 to 60 inches; stratified silt loam to very fine

sand

Dissimilar Components

Barronett soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unitCrystal Lake soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unit

Major Uses

• Cropland, forest land, hayland, pasture

24A—Poskin silt loam, 0 to 3 percentslopes


Poskin and similar soils

Extent: 80 to 100 percent of the unitGeomorphic component: Outwash plains and stream

terracesPosition on the landform: FootslopesSlope range: 0 to 3 percentTexture of the surface layer: Silt loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Somewhat poorly drainedParent material: Loess or silty alluvium underlain by

stratified sandy and gravelly outwashFlooding: NoneShallowest depth to wet zone: 0.5 foot (April)Deepest depth to wet zone: 4 feet (February, August)Ponding: NoneAvailable water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 8.7



Ap—0 to 9 inches; silt loamE—9 to 12 inches; silt loamE/B—12 to 19 inches; silt loamBt1—19 to 36 inches; silt loam2Bt2—36 to 39 inches; sandy loam3C—39 to 60 inches; stratified sand to very

gravelly coarse sand


Brander soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unitBrill soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unitRib soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unit

Major Uses


43B—Antigo silt loam, 1 to 6 percentslopes


Antigo and similar soils

Extent: 80 to 100 percent of the unitGeomorphic component: Outwash plains, stream

terraces, and outwash terracesPosition on the landform: SummitsSlope range: 1 to 6 percentTexture of the surface layer: Silt loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Well drainedParent material: Loess or silty alluvium underlain by

sandy and gravelly outwashFlooding: NoneDepth to wet zone: More than 6.7 feet all yearPonding: NoneAvailable water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 7.3



Ap—0 to 9 inches; silt loamE—9 to 12 inches; silt loamB/E—12 to 19 inches; silt loamBt1—19 to 28 inches; silt loam2Bt2—28 to 31 inches; loam2Bt3—31 to 33 inches; very gravelly sandy loam3C—33 to 60 inches; stratified sand to very



Brill soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unitSconsin soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unitRosholt soils: 0 to 5 percent of the unit

Major Uses


43C—Antigo silt loam, 6 to 15 percentslopes




terraces, and outwash terracesPosition on the landform: Backslopes and shouldersSlope range: 6 to 15 percent


Texture of the surface layer: Silt loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60





Ap—0 to 9 inches; silt loamE—9 to 12 inches; silt loamB/E—12 to 19 inches; silt loamBt1—19 to 28 inches; silt loam2Bt2—28 to 31 inches; loam2Bt3—31 to 33 inches; very gravelly sandy

loam3C—33 to 60 inches; stratified sand to very



Padus soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unitRosholt soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unit

Major Uses


43D—Antigo silt loam, 15 to 30 percentslopes



Extent: 85 to 100 percent of the unitGeomorphic component: Stream terraces, outwash

plains, and outwash terracesPosition on the landform: Backslopes and shouldersSlope range: 15 to 30 percentTexture of the surface layer: Silt loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60



inches

Content of organic matter in the upper 10 inches: 1.9percent

Typical profile:Ap—0 to 9 inches; silt loamE—9 to 12 inches; silt loamB/E—12 to 19 inches; silt loamBt1—19 to 28 inches; silt loam2Bt2—28 to 31 inches; loam2Bt3—31 to 33 inches; very gravelly sandy loam3C—33 to 60 inches; stratified sand to very



Padus soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unitRosholt soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unit

Major Uses

• Forest land, hayland, pasture

48B—Brill silt loam, 1 to 6 percent slopes


Brill and similar soils


terracesSlope range: 1 to 6 percentTexture of the surface layer: Silt loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Moderately well drainedParent material: Loess or silty alluvium over loamy

alluvium underlain by sandy or sandy and gravellyoutwash

Flooding: NoneShallowest depth to wet zone: 1.5 feet (April)Deepest depth to wet zone: More than 6.7 feet

(January, February, March, June, July, August,September, October, November, December)

Ponding: NoneAvailable water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 8



Ap—0 to 7 inches; silt loamE—7 to 11 inches; silt loamE/B—11 to 19 inches; silt loamBt1—19 to 34 inches; silt loam2Bt2—34 to 38 inches; loam3C—38 to 60 inches; stratified sand to very


24 Soil Survey of


Brander soils: 0 to 15 percent of the unitAntigo soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unitPoskin soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unit

Major Uses

• Cropland, hayland, pasture, forest land

57B—Spencer silt loam, 1 to 6 percentslopes


Spencer and similar soils

Extent: 70 to 100 percent of the unitGeomorphic component: Ground morainesSlope range: 1 to 6 percentTexture of the surface layer: Silt loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Moderately well drainedParent material: Loess or silty alluvium underlain by

loamy tillFlooding: NoneShallowest depth to wet zone: 1 foot (April)Deepest depth to wet zone: More than 6.7 feet

(January, February, June, July, August,September)

Ponding: NoneAvailable water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 10.6



Ap—0 to 9 inches; silt loamE—9 to 12 inches; silt loamE/B—12 to 22 inches; silt loamB/E—22 to 30 inches; silt loamBt1—30 to 42 inches; silt loam2Bt2—42 to 48 inches; loam2C—48 to 72 inches; sandy loam


Almena soils: 0 to 15 percent of the unitFreeon soils: 0 to 15 percent of the unit

Major Uses


59A—Almena silt loam, 0 to 3 percentslopes


Almena and similar soils

Extent: 65 to 100 percent of the unitGeomorphic component: Ground morainesSlope range: 0 to 3 percentTexture of the surface layer: Silt loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Somewhat poorly drainedParent material: Loess or silty alluvium underlain by

dense loamy tillFlooding: NoneShallowest depth to wet zone: 0.5 foot (April)Deepest depth to wet zone: More than 6.7 feet (July,

August)Ponding: NoneAvailable water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 11.1



Ap—0 to 9 inches; silt loamE/B—9 to 13 inches; silt loamB/E—13 to 21 inches; silt loamBt—21 to 42 inches; silt loam2C—42 to 60 inches; sandy loam


Auburndale soils: 0 to 15 percent of the unitMagnor soils: 0 to 15 percent of the unitFreeon soils: 0 to 5 percent of the unitSpencer soils: 0 to 5 percent of the unit

Major Uses


63B—Crystal Lake silt loam, 2 to 6percent slopes


Crystal Lake and similar soils

Extent: 85 to 100 percent of the unitGeomorphic component: Kames, lake plains, and

stream terracesPosition on the landform: Summits


Slope range: 2 to 6 percentTexture of the surface layer: Silt loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Moderately well drainedParent material: Mostly silty lacustrine depositsFlooding: NoneShallowest depth to wet zone: 2 feet (April)Deepest depth to wet zone: More than 6.7 feet

(January, February, March, August, September,October, December)




Ap—0 to 8 inches; silt loamE—8 to 12 inches; silt loamB/E—12 to 20 inches; silt loamBt—20 to 32 inches; silt loamC—32 to 60 inches; stratified silt loam to very fine

sand


Aftad soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unitComstock soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unit

Major Uses


63C—Crystal Lake silt loam, 6 to 12percent slopes




stream terracesPosition on the landform: Backslopes and shouldersSlope range: 6 to 12 percentTexture of the surface layer: Silt loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Moderately well drainedParent material: Mostly silty lacustrine depositsFlooding: NoneShallowest depth to wet zone: 2 feet (April)Deepest depth to wet zone: More than 6.7 feet

(January, February, March, July, August,September, October, November, December)





sand


Aftad soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unit

Major Uses


63D—Crystal Lake silt loam, 12 to 20percent slopes





inches)Drainage class: Moderately well drainedParent material: Mostly silty lacustrine depositsFlooding: NoneShallowest depth to wet zone: 2.5 feet (April)Deepest depth to wet zone: More than 6.7 feet






sand

26 Soil Survey of


Antigo soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unit

Major Uses

• Pasture, forest land

63E—Crystal Lake silt loam, 20 to 35percent slopes



Extent: 90 to 100 percent of the unitGeomorphic component: Lake plains, kames, and


inches)Drainage class: Moderately well drainedParent material: Mostly silty lacustrine depositsFlooding: NoneShallowest depth to wet zone: 2.5 feet (April)Deepest depth to wet zone: More than 6.7 feet






sand


Antigo soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unit

Major Uses

• Forest land

77A—Auburndale silt loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes


Auburndale and similar soils

Extent: 60 to 100 percent of the unit

Geomorphic component: Depressions anddrainageways on ground moraines

Slope range: 0 to 2 percentTexture of the surface layer: Silt loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Poorly drainedParent material: Loess or silty alluvium underlain by

dense loamy tillFlooding: NoneShallowest depth to wet zone: At the surface (April,

May, November)Deepest depth to wet zone: More than 6.7 feet

(August)Months in which ponding does not occur: January,

February, March, June, July, August, September,October, November, December

Deepest ponding: 0.5 foot (April, May)Available water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 11.6



Ap—0 to 7 inches; silt loamEg—7 to 14 inches; silt loamBtg1—14 to 41 inches; silt loam2Btg2—41 to 53 inches; loam2C—53 to 60 inches; sandy loam


Cathro soils: 0 to 15 percent of the unitCebana soils: 0 to 15 percent of the unitAlmena soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unitAuburndale soils that are subject to flooding for brief

periods: 0 to 5 percent of the unit

Major Uses

• Forest land, wetland wildlife habitat

182B—Padus sandy loam, 0 to 6 percentslopes


Padus and similar soils


terraces, and eskersPosition on the landform: SummitsSlope range: 0 to 6 percentTexture of the surface layer: Sandy loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Well drained


Parent material: Loamy alluvium underlain by sandyand gravelly outwash

Flooding: NoneDepth to wet zone: More than 6.7 feet all yearPonding: NoneAvailable water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 6



A—0 to 2 inches; sandy loamE—2 to 3 inches; sandy loamBs—3 to 19 inches; sandy loamE/B—19 to 26 inches; sandy loamB/E—26 to 38 inches; sandy loam2C—38 to 60 inches; stratified sand to very



Pence soils: 0 to 15 percent of the unitTipler soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unit

Major Uses

• Cropland, forest land, pasture, wildlife habitat

182C—Padus sandy loam, 6 to 15 percentslopes



Extent: 85 to 100 percent of the unitGeomorphic component: Eskers, outwash plains, and

stream terracesPosition on the landform: Backslopes and shouldersSlope range: 6 to 15 percentTexture of the surface layer: Sandy loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Well drainedParent material: Loamy alluvium underlain by sandy

and gravelly outwashFlooding: NoneDepth to wet zone: More than 6.7 feet all yearPonding: NoneAvailable water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 6



A—0 to 2 inches; sandy loamE—2 to 3 inches; sandy loam

Bs—3 to 19 inches; sandy loamE/B—19 to 26 inches; sandy loamB/E—26 to 38 inches; sandy loam2C—38 to 60 inches; stratified sand to very



Pence soils: 0 to 15 percent of the unit

Major Uses


182D—Padus sandy loam, 15 to 30percent slopes



Extent: 80 to 100 percent of the unitGeomorphic component: Eskers, outwash plains, and

stream terracesPosition on the landform: Backslopes and shouldersSlope range: 15 to 30 percentTexture of the surface layer: Sandy loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Well drainedParent material: Loamy alluvium underlain by sandy

and gravelly outwashFlooding: NoneDepth to wet zone: More than 6.7 feet all yearPonding: NoneAvailable water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 6



A—0 to 2 inches; sandy loamE—2 to 3 inches; sandy loamBs—3 to 19 inches; sandy loamE/B—19 to 26 inches; sandy loamB/E—26 to 38 inches; sandy loam2C—38 to 60 inches; stratified sand to very



Pence soils: 0 to 15 percent of the unitPelissier soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unit

Major Uses

• Pasture, forest land, wildlife habitat

28 Soil Survey of

192A—Worcester sandy loam, 0 to 3percent slopes


Worcester and similar soils

Extent: 75 to 100 percent of the unitGeomorphic component: Stream terraces and

outwash plainsPosition on the landform: FootslopesSlope range: 0 to 3 percentTexture of the surface layer: Sandy loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Somewhat poorly drainedParent material: Loamy alluvium underlain by sandy

and gravelly outwashFlooding: NoneShallowest depth to wet zone: 0.5 foot (April)Deepest depth to wet zone: 4 feet (February, August)Ponding: NoneAvailable water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 5.5



A—0 to 2 inches; sandy loamE—2 to 3 inches; sandy loamBhs—3 to 6 inches; sandy loamBs—6 to 16 inches; sandy loamB/E—16 to 20 inches; sandy loamBt1—20 to 32 inches; sandy loam2Bt2—32 to 39 inches; gravelly loamy sand2C—39 to 60 inches; stratified sand to very



Minocqua soils: 0 to 15 percent of the unitTipler soils: 0 to 15 percent of the unit

Major Uses


193A—Minocqua muck, 0 to 2 percentslopes


Minocqua and similar soils

Extent: 70 to 100 percent of the unitGeomorphic component: Depressions and

drainageways on outwash plains and streamterraces

Slope range: 0 to 2 percentTexture of the surface layer: MuckDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Poorly drainedParent material: Silty and loamy alluvium underlain by

sandy and gravelly outwashFlooding: NoneShallowest depth to wet zone: At the surface (April,

May, November)Deepest depth to wet zone: 2.5 feet (February, August)Months in which ponding does not occur: January,

February, March, June, July, August, September,October, November, December

Deepest ponding: 0.5 foot (April, May)Available water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 6.2



Oe—0 to 4 inches; muckEg—4 to 15 inches; silt loam2Bg—15 to 28 inches; loam3C—28 to 60 inches; stratified sand to very



Cathro soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unitOesterle soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unitWorcester soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unitMinocqua soils that are subject to flooding for brief

periods: 0 to 5 percent of the unit

Major Uses

• Forest land, wetland wildlife habitat

215B—Pence sandy loam, 0 to 6 percentslopes


Pence and similar soils


outwash plainsPosition on the landform: SummitsSlope range: 0 to 6 percentTexture of the surface layer: Sandy loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Somewhat excessively drainedParent material: Mostly loamy alluvium underlain by

stratified sandy and gravelly outwash


Flooding: NoneDepth to wet zone: More than 6.7 feet all yearPonding: NoneAvailable water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 4



A—0 to 3 inches; sandy loamE—3 to 8 inches; sandy loamBs—8 to 15 inches; gravelly sandy loam2BC—15 to 21 inches; gravelly coarse sand2C—21 to 60 inches; stratified sand to very



Padus soils: 0 to 15 percent of the unitManitowish soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unit

Major Uses

• Cropland, forest land, hayland, pasture, wildlifehabitat

215C—Pence sandy loam, 6 to 15 percentslopes




outwash plainsPosition on the landform: Backslopes and shouldersSlope range: 6 to 15 percentTexture of the surface layer: Sandy loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60


stratified sandy and gravelly outwashFlooding: NoneDepth to wet zone: More than 6.7 feet all yearPonding: NoneAvailable water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 4



A—0 to 3 inches; sandy loamE—3 to 8 inches; sandy loam

Bs—8 to 15 inches; gravelly sandy loam2BC—15 to 21 inches; gravelly coarse sand2C—21 to 60 inches; stratified sand to very



Padus soils: 0 to 15 percent of the unit

Major Uses


215D—Pence sandy loam, 15 to 30percent slopes




outwash plainsPosition on the landform: Backslopes and shouldersSlope range: 15 to 30 percentTexture of the surface layer: Sandy loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60


stratified sandy and gravelly outwashFlooding: NoneDepth to wet zone: More than 6.7 feet all yearPonding: NoneAvailable water capacity to a depth of 60 inches: 4



A—0 to 3 inches; sandy loamE—3 to 8 inches; sandy loamBs—8 to 15 inches; gravelly sandy loam2BC—15 to 21 inches; gravelly coarse sand2C—21 to 60 inches; stratified sand to very



Padus soils: 0 to 15 percent of the unitPelissier soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unit

Major Uses

• Forest land, hayland, pasture, wildlife habitat

30 Soil Survey of

308B—Blackriver silt loam, 1 to 6 percentslopes


Blackriver and similar soils


terracesSlope range: 1 to 6 percentTexture of the surface layer: Silt loamDepth to restrictive feature: Very deep (more than 60

inches)Drainage class: Moderately well drainedParent material: Loess or silty alluvium underlain by

sandy and gravelly outwashFlooding: NoneShallowest depth to wet zone: 1.5 feet (April)Deepest depth to wet zone: More than 6.7 feet





Ap—0 to 9 inches; silt loamE/B—9 to 18 inches; silt loamB/E—18 to 25 inches; silt loamBt1—25 to 48 inches; silt loam2Bt2—48 to 52 inches; sandy loam3C—52 to 60 inches; stratified sand to very



Ribriver soils: 0 to 15 percent of the unitMaplehurst soils: 0 to 10 percent of the unit

Major Uses


315A—Rib silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes


Rib and similar soils

Extent: 70 to 100 percent of the unitGeomorphic component: Drainageways on stream

terraces; drainageways and depressions onoutwash plains

Slope range: 0 to 2 percentTexture of the surface layer: Silt loam

Depth to restrictive feature:

Soil Survey of Taylor County, Wisconsin...Soil Survey of Taylor County, Wisconsin In cooperation...

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