Major Land Resource Area 063A

Northern Rolling Pierre Shale Plains

Accessed: 11/21/2024

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Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin

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Provisional

R063AY001SD/R063AY001SD

Shallow Marsh
i
Key Characteristics
1. OTHER LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Basin, Depression, Normal, Run-off and/or Run-in, All Hillslope Positions except Shoulder)
2. Dig a hole to 20 inches. Does the soil have a claypan within 16 inches?
3. No. Is the area in a basin or closed depression with no outlet?
4. Yes. Does the site pond water until early to mid summer and have high organic matter content?
5. Yes.
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Provisional

R063AY002SD/R063AY002SD

Wet Land
i
Key Characteristics
1. RUN-IN LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Bottomlands, Drainageways, etc., not depressions,Toe slope)
2. Observe the soil to a depth of 60 inches. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 1-2 feet of the surface and the site is dominated by hydrophytes?
3. Yes.
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Provisional

R063AY003SD/R063AY003SD

Subirrigated
i
Key Characteristics
1. RUN-IN LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Bottomlands, Drainageways, etc., not depressions,Toe slope)
2. Observe the soil to a depth of 60 inches. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 1-2 feet of the surface and the site is dominated by hydrophytes?
3. No. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 2 to 5 feet of the surface?
4. Yes.
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Provisional

R063AY007SD/R063AY007SD

Saline Lowland
i
Key Characteristics
1. RUN-IN LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Bottomlands, Drainageways, etc., not depressions,Toe slope)
2. Observe the soil to a depth of 60 inches. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 1-2 feet of the surface and the site is dominated by hydrophytes?
3. No. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 2 to 5 feet of the surface?
4. No. Does water flow into and over/through the site?
5. Yes. Are there visible salts within 16 inches of the surface and permanently moist soil at 4 to 5 feet?
6. Yes.
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Provisional

R063AY008SD/R063AY008SD

Sands

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Provisional

R063AY009SD/R063AY009SD

Sandy
i
Key Characteristics
1. NORMAL LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Upland, slopes normally linear, 1-6 percent except sandy/sands sites can have complex slopes, Back slope, Summit, Foot slope)
2. Dig hole to 20 inches. Are there visible salts within 16 inches of the surface?
3. No. What is the surface and subsoil texture? Clay, Silty Clay (40 to 55% clay)orLoamy Surface (1.75 –3.0” ribbon) with Clayey Subsoil
4. No. Clay or Silty Clay (> 55% clay). ( > 3.0” ribbon) Bare ground will be common
5. No. Loam, Silt loam, Silty, Clay loam, Clay Loam, Sandy clay loam, Very fine sandy loam (0.5–1.75” ribbon)
6. No. Sandy loam, Fine sandy loam, Loamy very fine sand (0.25-0.5” ribbon)
7. Yes. Is the site an old stream terrace?
8. No.
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Provisional

R063AY010SD/R063AY010SD

Loamy
i
Key Characteristics
1. NORMAL LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Upland, slopes normally linear, 1-6 percent except sandy/sands sites can have complex slopes, Back slope, Summit, Foot slope)
2. Dig hole to 20 inches. Are there visible salts within 16 inches of the surface?
3. No. What is the surface and subsoil texture? Clay, Silty Clay (40 to 55% clay)orLoamy Surface (1.75 –3.0” ribbon) with Clayey Subsoil
4. No. Clay or Silty Clay (> 55% clay). ( > 3.0” ribbon) Bare ground will be common
5. No. Loam, Silt loam, Silty, Clay loam, Clay Loam, Sandy clay loam, Very fine sandy loam (0.5–1.75” ribbon)
6. Yes. Is the site an old stream terrace?
7. No.
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Provisional

R063AY011SD/R063AY011SD

Clayey
i
Key Characteristics
1. NORMAL LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Upland, slopes normally linear, 1-6 percent except sandy/sands sites can have complex slopes, Back slope, Summit, Foot slope)
2. Dig hole to 20 inches. Are there visible salts within 16 inches of the surface?
3. No. What is the surface and subsoil texture? Clay, Silty Clay (40 to 55% clay)orLoamy Surface (1.75 –3.0” ribbon) with Clayey Subsoil
4. Yes. Is the site an old stream terrace?
5. No.
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Provisional

R063AY012SD/R063AY012SD

Thin Upland
i
Key Characteristics
1. RUN-OFF LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Upland, normally convex short slopes > 6 percent, Shoulder)
2. Is the site on a steep slope, escarpment, river break or slump area with (15-60% slope), exposed bedrock at or near the surface, with soils generally calcareous and of various depths, and deciduous trees and shrub almost always present?
3. No. Dig hole to a depth of 20 inches minimum.Is there root restrictive layer within 10 inches of the soil surface?
4. No. Is there a root restricting layer within 10-20 inches of the surface?
5. No. Is the soil > 20 inches in depth but has a thin loamy or sandy loam surface layer (< 3” ) and effervesce at or near the surface (within 6” )?
6. Yes.
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Provisional

R063AY013SD/R063AY013SD

Claypan
i
Key Characteristics
1. OTHER LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Basin, Depression, Normal, Run-off and/or Run-in, All Hillslope Positions except Shoulder)
2. Dig a hole to 20 inches. Does the soil have a claypan within 16 inches?
3. Yes. Is it in a closed depression?
4. No. Is the claypan within 4 inches of the surface?
5. No.
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Provisional

R063AY014SD/R063AY014SD

Shallow To Gravel
i
Key Characteristics
1. RUN-OFF LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Upland, normally convex short slopes > 6 percent, Shoulder)
2. Is the site on a steep slope, escarpment, river break or slump area with (15-60% slope), exposed bedrock at or near the surface, with soils generally calcareous and of various depths, and deciduous trees and shrub almost always present?
3. No. Dig hole to a depth of 20 inches minimum.Is there root restrictive layer within 10 inches of the soil surface?
4. No. Is there a root restricting layer within 10-20 inches of the surface?
5. Yes. Is the soil derived from shale with numerous (up to 50%) weathered shale chips throughout the soil profile and the soil is acid (non-calcareous)?
6. No. Is the soil derived from shale with weathered shale chips below 4” in the soil profile and the soil iscalcareous? Clayey surface texture (2-3 inch ribbon)?
7. No. Is there a gravelly subsurface layer within 20 inches of the surface?
8. Yes.
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Provisional

R063AY015SD/R063AY015SD

Thin Claypan
i
Key Characteristics
1. OTHER LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Basin, Depression, Normal, Run-off and/or Run-in, All Hillslope Positions except Shoulder)
2. Dig a hole to 20 inches. Does the soil have a claypan within 16 inches?
3. Yes. Is it in a closed depression?
4. No. Is the claypan within 4 inches of the surface?
5. Yes.
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Provisional

R063AY016SD/R063AY016SD

Very Shallow
i
Key Characteristics
1. RUN-OFF LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Upland, normally convex short slopes > 6 percent, Shoulder)
2. Is the site on a steep slope, escarpment, river break or slump area with (15-60% slope), exposed bedrock at or near the surface, with soils generally calcareous and of various depths, and deciduous trees and shrub almost always present?
3. No. Dig hole to a depth of 20 inches minimum.Is there root restrictive layer within 10 inches of the soil surface?
4. Yes.
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Provisional

R063AY017SD/R063AY017SD

Shallow Clay
i
Key Characteristics
1. RUN-OFF LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Upland, normally convex short slopes > 6 percent, Shoulder)
2. Is the site on a steep slope, escarpment, river break or slump area with (15-60% slope), exposed bedrock at or near the surface, with soils generally calcareous and of various depths, and deciduous trees and shrub almost always present?
3. No. Dig hole to a depth of 20 inches minimum.Is there root restrictive layer within 10 inches of the soil surface?
4. No. Is there a root restricting layer within 10-20 inches of the surface?
5. Yes. Is the soil derived from shale with numerous (up to 50%) weathered shale chips throughout the soil profile and the soil is acid (non-calcareous)?
6. No. Is the soil derived from shale with weathered shale chips below 4” in the soil profile and the soil iscalcareous? Clayey surface texture (2-3 inch ribbon)?
7. Yes.
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Provisional

R063AY018SD/R063AY018SD

Dense Clay
i
Key Characteristics
1. NORMAL LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Upland, slopes normally linear, 1-6 percent except sandy/sands sites can have complex slopes, Back slope, Summit, Foot slope)
2. Dig hole to 20 inches. Are there visible salts within 16 inches of the surface?
3. No. What is the surface and subsoil texture? Clay, Silty Clay (40 to 55% clay)orLoamy Surface (1.75 –3.0” ribbon) with Clayey Subsoil
4. No. Clay or Silty Clay (> 55% clay). ( > 3.0” ribbon) Bare ground will be common
5. Yes.
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Provisional

R063AY019SD/R063AY019SD

Closed Depression
i
Key Characteristics
1. OTHER LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Basin, Depression, Normal, Run-off and/or Run-in, All Hillslope Positions except Shoulder)
2. Dig a hole to 20 inches. Does the soil have a claypan within 16 inches?
3. Yes. Is it in a closed depression?
4. Yes.
5. OTHER LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Basin, Depression, Normal, Run-off and/or Run-in, All Hillslope Positions except Shoulder)
6. Dig a hole to 20 inches. Does the soil have a claypan within 16 inches?
7. No. Is the area in a basin or closed depression with no outlet?
8. Yes. Does the site pond water until early to mid summer and have high organic matter content?
9. No. All other closed depressions or basins that pond water briefly after snowmelt or heavy rain or during abnormally wet years.
10. Yes.
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Provisional

R063AY020SD/R063AY020SD

Loamy Overflow
i
Key Characteristics
1. RUN-IN LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Bottomlands, Drainageways, etc., not depressions,Toe slope)
2. Observe the soil to a depth of 60 inches. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 1-2 feet of the surface and the site is dominated by hydrophytes?
3. No. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 2 to 5 feet of the surface?
4. No. Does water flow into and over/through the site?
5. Yes. Are there visible salts within 16 inches of the surface and permanently moist soil at 4 to 5 feet?
6. No. Does the site occasionally flood and have a clayey or silty clay surface texture?
7. No.
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Provisional

R063AY021SD/R063AY021SD

Clayey Overflow
i
Key Characteristics
1. RUN-IN LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Bottomlands, Drainageways, etc., not depressions,Toe slope)
2. Observe the soil to a depth of 60 inches. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 1-2 feet of the surface and the site is dominated by hydrophytes?
3. No. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 2 to 5 feet of the surface?
4. No. Does water flow into and over/through the site?
5. Yes. Are there visible salts within 16 inches of the surface and permanently moist soil at 4 to 5 feet?
6. No. Does the site occasionally flood and have a clayey or silty clay surface texture?
7. Yes.
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Provisional

R063AY022SD/R063AY022SD

Loamy Terrace
i
Key Characteristics
1. NORMAL LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Upland, slopes normally linear, 1-6 percent except sandy/sands sites can have complex slopes, Back slope, Summit, Foot slope)
2. Dig hole to 20 inches. Are there visible salts within 16 inches of the surface?
3. No. What is the surface and subsoil texture? Clay, Silty Clay (40 to 55% clay)orLoamy Surface (1.75 –3.0” ribbon) with Clayey Subsoil
4. No. Clay or Silty Clay (> 55% clay). ( > 3.0” ribbon) Bare ground will be common
5. No. Loam, Silt loam, Silty, Clay loam, Clay Loam, Sandy clay loam, Very fine sandy loam (0.5–1.75” ribbon)
6. Yes. Is the site an old stream terrace?
7. Yes.
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Provisional

R063AY024SD/R063AY024SD

Shallow
i
Key Characteristics
1. RUN-OFF LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Upland, normally convex short slopes > 6 percent, Shoulder)
2. Is the site on a steep slope, escarpment, river break or slump area with (15-60% slope), exposed bedrock at or near the surface, with soils generally calcareous and of various depths, and deciduous trees and shrub almost always present?
3. No. Dig hole to a depth of 20 inches minimum.Is there root restrictive layer within 10 inches of the soil surface?
4. No. Is there a root restricting layer within 10-20 inches of the surface?
5. Yes. Is the soil derived from shale with numerous (up to 50%) weathered shale chips throughout the soil profile and the soil is acid (non-calcareous)?
6. No. Is the soil derived from shale with weathered shale chips below 4” in the soil profile and the soil iscalcareous? Clayey surface texture (2-3 inch ribbon)?
7. No. Is there a gravelly subsurface layer within 20 inches of the surface?
8. No. Is the soil surface 10 -20 inches or less with a Clay loam, Silty clay loam, Sandy clay loam, Sandy loam or Silty texture?
9. Yes.
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Provisional

R063AY025SD/R063AY025SD

Shallow Porous Clay
i
Key Characteristics
1. RUN-OFF LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Upland, normally convex short slopes > 6 percent, Shoulder)
2. Is the site on a steep slope, escarpment, river break or slump area with (15-60% slope), exposed bedrock at or near the surface, with soils generally calcareous and of various depths, and deciduous trees and shrub almost always present?
3. No. Dig hole to a depth of 20 inches minimum.Is there root restrictive layer within 10 inches of the soil surface?
4. No. Is there a root restricting layer within 10-20 inches of the surface?
5. Yes. Is the soil derived from shale with numerous (up to 50%) weathered shale chips throughout the soil profile and the soil is acid (non-calcareous)?
6. Yes.
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Provisional

R063AY026SD/R063AY026SD

Thin Breaks
i
Key Characteristics
1. RUN-OFF LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Upland, normally convex short slopes > 6 percent, Shoulder)
2. Is the site on a steep slope, escarpment, river break or slump area with (15-60% slope), exposed bedrock at or near the surface, with soils generally calcareous and of various depths, and deciduous trees and shrub almost always present?
3. Yes.
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Provisional

R063AY030SD/R063AY030SD

Limy Clay
i
Key Characteristics
1. RUN-OFF LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Upland, normally convex short slopes > 6 percent, Shoulder)
2. Is the site on a steep slope, escarpment, river break or slump area with (15-60% slope), exposed bedrock at or near the surface, with soils generally calcareous and of various depths, and deciduous trees and shrub almost always present?
3. No. Dig hole to a depth of 20 inches minimum.Is there root restrictive layer within 10 inches of the soil surface?
4. No. Is there a root restricting layer within 10-20 inches of the surface?
5. No. Is the soil > 20 inches in depth but has a thin loamy or sandy loam surface layer (< 3” ) and effervesce at or near the surface (within 6” )?
6. No. Thin Calcareous clayey surface texture?
7. Yes.
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Provisional

R063AY032SD/R063AY032SD

Clayey Terrace
i
Key Characteristics
1. NORMAL LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Upland, slopes normally linear, 1-6 percent except sandy/sands sites can have complex slopes, Back slope, Summit, Foot slope)
2. Dig hole to 20 inches. Are there visible salts within 16 inches of the surface?
3. No. What is the surface and subsoil texture? Clay, Silty Clay (40 to 55% clay)orLoamy Surface (1.75 –3.0” ribbon) with Clayey Subsoil
4. Yes. Is the site an old stream terrace?
5. Yes.
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Provisional

R063AY999SD/R063AY999SD

Non-site

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Ecological site keys

MLRA 63A - Northern Rolling Pierre Shale Plains. (Run-off, Run-in, Normal and Other Landscape Positions)

I. RUN-OFF LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Upland, normally convex short slopes > 6 percent, Shoulder)

A. Is the site on a steep slope, escarpment, river break or slump area with (15-60% slope), exposed bedrock at or near the surface, with soils generally calcareous and of various depths, and deciduous trees and shrub almost always present?

1 Yes. ... R063AY026SD – Thin Breaks

2 No. Dig hole to a depth of 20 inches minimum.Is there root restrictive layer within 10 inches of the soil surface?

i. Yes. ... R063AY016SD – Very Shallow

ii. No. Is there a root restricting layer within 10-20 inches of the surface?

a. Yes. Is the soil derived from shale with numerous (up to 50%) weathered shale chips throughout the soil profile and the soil is acid (non-calcareous)?

1) Yes. ... R063AY025SD – Shallow Porous Clay

2) No. Is the soil derived from shale with weathered shale chips below 4” in the soil profile and the soil iscalcareous? Clayey surface texture (2-3 inch ribbon)?

a) Yes. ... R063AY017SD – Shallow Clay

b) No. Is there a gravelly subsurface layer within 20 inches of the surface?

(1) Yes. ... R063AY014SD – Shallow To Gravel

(2) No. Is the soil surface 10 -20 inches or less with a Clay loam, Silty clay loam, Sandy clay loam, Sandy loam or Silty texture?

(a) Yes. ... R063AY024SD – Shallow

(b) No. See “Normal Landscape Positions”

b. No. Is the soil > 20 inches in depth but has a thin loamy or sandy loam surface layer (< 3” ) and effervesce at or near the surface (within 6” )?

1) Yes. ... R063AY012SD – Thin Upland

2) No. Thin Calcareous clayey surface texture?

a) Yes. ... R063AY030SD – Limy Clay

b) No. See “Normal Landscape Positions”

II. NORMAL LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Upland, slopes normally linear, 1-6 percent except sandy/sands sites can have complex slopes, Back slope, Summit, Foot slope)

A. Dig hole to 20 inches. Are there visible salts within 16 inches of the surface?

1 Yes. Is there a claypan within 16 inches of the surface?

i. Yes. See “Other Landscape Positions”

2 No. What is the surface and subsoil texture? Clay, Silty Clay (40 to 55% clay)orLoamy Surface (1.75 –3.0” ribbon) with Clayey Subsoil

i. Yes. Is the site an old stream terrace?

a. Yes. ... R063AY032SD – Clayey Terrace

b. No. ... R063AY011SD – Clayey

ii. No. Clay or Silty Clay (> 55% clay). ( > 3.0” ribbon) Bare ground will be common

a. Yes. ... R063AY018SD – Dense Clay

b. No. Loam, Silt loam, Silty, Clay loam, Clay Loam, Sandy clay loam, Very fine sandy loam (0.5–1.75” ribbon)

1) Yes. Is the site an old stream terrace?

a) Yes. ... R063AY022SD – Loamy Terrace

b) No. ... R063AY010SD – Loamy

2) No. Sandy loam, Fine sandy loam, Loamy very fine sand (0.25-0.5” ribbon)

a) Yes. Is the site an old stream terrace?

(1) Yes. Sandy Terrace This ES will replace Sands In Progress

(2) No. ... R063AY009SD – Sandy

III. RUN-IN LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Bottomlands, Drainageways, etc., not depressions,Toe slope)

A. Observe the soil to a depth of 60 inches. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 1-2 feet of the surface and the site is dominated by hydrophytes?

1 Yes. ... R063AY002SD – Wet Land

2 No. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 2 to 5 feet of the surface?

i. Yes. ... R063AY003SD – Subirrigated

ii. No. Does water flow into and over/through the site?

a. Yes. Are there visible salts within 16 inches of the surface and permanently moist soil at 4 to 5 feet?

1) Yes. ... R063AY007SD – Saline Lowland

2) No. Does the site occasionally flood and have a clayey or silty clay surface texture?

a) Yes. ... R063AY021SD – Clayey Overflow

b) No. ... R063AY020SD – Loamy Overflow

b. No. See “Other Landscape Positions”

IV. OTHER LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Basin, Depression, Normal, Run-off and/or Run-in, All Hillslope Positions except Shoulder)

A. Dig a hole to 20 inches. Does the soil have a claypan within 16 inches?

1 Yes. Is it in a closed depression?

i. Yes. ... R063AY019SD – Closed Depression

ii. No. Is the claypan within 4 inches of the surface?

a. Yes. ... R063AY015SD – Thin Claypan

b. No. ... R063AY013SD – Claypan

2 No. Is the area in a basin or closed depression with no outlet?

i. Yes. Does the site pond water until early to mid summer and have high organic matter content?

a. Yes. ... R063AY001SD – Shallow Marsh

b. No. All other closed depressions or basins that pond water briefly after snowmelt or heavy rain or during abnormally wet years.

1) Yes. ... R063AY019SD – Closed Depression

ii. No. Re-think your position and start again!

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