Soil Map Unit Description from the RI Soil Survey Report

GBC—Gloucester-Bridgehampton complex, rolling.

Link to Official Soil Series Description for Gloucester Soils
Link to Official Soil Series Description for Bridgehampton Soils

These somewhat excessively drained and well drained soils are on side slopes and crests of glacial till upland hills and ridges on Block Island. Areas are irregular in shape and mostly range from 2 to 160 acres. Slopes range from 3 to 15 percent. This complex is approximately 50 percent Gloucester soils, 30 percent Bridgehampton soils, and 20 percent other soils. The soils are so intermingled that it was not practical to map them separately.

Typically the Gloucester soils have a surface layer of dark brown gravelly sandy loam about 5 inches thick. The subsoil is 17 inches thick. The upper 9 inches is brownish yellow gravelly sandy loam, and the lower 8 inches is light yellowish brown gravelly loamy sand. The substratum is light brownish gray very gravelly loamy sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Typically the Bridgehampton soils have a surface layer of very dark grayish brown silt loam about 8 inches thick. The subsoil is 33 inches thick. The upper 16 inches is yellowish brown and brown silt loam; the next 8 inches is grayish brown, mottled silt loam; the next 6 inches is strong brown silt loam; and the lower 3 inches is light olive brown, mottled very fine sandy loam. The substratum is grayish brown very gravelly sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Included with these soils in mapping are areas, up to 10 acres in size, of somewhat excessively drained Hinckley soils, well drained Narragansett soils, and moderately well drained Wapping soils. Also included are small areas of soils that have slopes of more than 15 percent and small areas that have stones on the surface.

The permeability of the Gloucester soils is rapid. Available water capacity is low, and runoff is medium. This soil is extremely acid through medium acid.

The permeability of the Bridgehampton soils is moderate in the surface layer and subsoil and rapid or very rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity is high, and runoff is medium. This soil is very strongly acid through medium acid.

These soils are suitable for trees, but the strong prevailing winds and salt spray on Block Island severely hinder tree growth. Most areas are in shrubs and brush or unimproved pasture.

The soils are suitable for community development. Slopes of excavated areas are commonly unstable. Lawn grasses, shallow-rooted trees, and shrubs on the Gloucester soils in this complex require watering in summer. Roads and streets on the Bridgehampton soils need proper design to prevent frost heaving. The use of straw bale sediment barriers and quickly establishing plant cover help to control erosion during construction.

The strong prevailing winds and salt spray on Block Island limit the soils for crop production. The hazard of erosion is moderate to severe. Use of cover crops, strip-cropping, and the return of crop residue to the soil help to control erosion and maintain tilth and organic matter content.

Some areas of these soils are suitable for openland wildlife habitat. The soils are poorly suited to woodland wildlife habitat because of the small acreage of wood land on Block Island. The soils are too dry to provide wetland wildlife habitat. Capability subclass IIIe; Gloucester part in woodland group 4s, Bridgehampton part in woodland group 3o.

Soil Map Unit Description from the Soil Survey of Rhode Island

GBD—Gloucester-Bridgehampton complex, hilly.

Link to Official Soil Series Description for Gloucester Soils
Link to Official Soil Series Description for Bridgehampton Soils

These somewhat excessively drained and well drained soils are on side slopes of glacial till upland hills and ridges on Block Island. Areas are irregular in shape and mostly range from 2 to 165 acres. Slopes range from 15 to 35 percent. This complex is approximately 50 percent Gloucester soils, 30 percent Bridgehampton soils, and 20 percent other soils. The soils are so intermingled that it was not practical to map them separately.

Typically the Gloucester soils have a surface layer of dark brown gravelly sandy loam about 2 inches thick. The subsoil is 20 inches thick. The upper 12 inches is brownish yellow gravelly sandy loam, and the lower 8 inches is light yellowish brown gravelly loamy sand. The substratum is light brownish gray very gravelly loamy sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Typically the Bridgehampton soils have a surface layer of very dark grayish brown silt loam about 2 inches thick. The subsoil is 39 inches thick. The upper 22 inches is dark yellowish brown and brown silt loam; the next 8 inches is grayish brown, mottled silt loam; the next 6 inches is strong brown silt loam; and the lower 3 inches is light olive brown, mottled very fine sandy loam. The substratum is grayish brown very gravelly sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Included with these soils in mapping are areas, up to 10 acres in size, of excessively drained Hinckley soils, well drained Narragansett soils, and moderately well drained Wapping soils. Also included are small areas of soils that have slopes of less than 15 percent and small areas with stones on the surface.

The permeability of the Gloucester soils is rapid. Avail able water capacity is low, and runoff is medium. This soil is extremely acid through medium acid.

The permeability of the Bridgehampton soils is moderate in the surface layer and subsoil and rapid or very rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity is high, and runoff is medium. This soil is very strongly acid through medium acid.

These soils are suited to trees, but the strong prevailing winds and salt spray on Block Island severely hinder tree growth. Most areas are in shrubs and brush.

The steep slopes make these soils poorly suited to community development. Onsite sewage disposal systems need careful design and installation to prevent effluent from seeping to the surface. Lawn grasses, shallow-rooted trees, and shrubs on the Gloucester soils need watering in summer. Quickly establishing plant cover and the use of straw bale sediment barriers help to control erosion during construction.

These soils are not suited to cultivated crops. The steep slopes are the main limitation. The hazard of erosion is severe.

These soils are poorly suited to openland wildlife habitat. The soils are poorly suited to woodland wildlife habitat; tree growth on Block Island is limited by the strong winds and salt spray. The soils are too dry to provide wetland wildlife habitat. Capability subclass IVe; Gloucester part in woodland group 4s, Bridgehampton part in woodland group 3r.

Soil Map Unit Description from the Soil Survey of Rhode Island

GhC—Gloucester-Hinckley very stony sandy loams, rolling.

Link to Official Soil Series Description for Gloucester Soils
Link to Official Soil Series Description for Hinckley Soils

These excessively drained and somewhat excessively drained soils are on hills and ridges. Areas are irregular in shape and mostly range from 10 to 500 acres. Stones and boulders cover 2 to 10 percent of the surface of the Gloucester soils and 0 to 3 percent of the surface of the Hinckley soils. Slopes range from 3 to 15 percent. This complex is approximately 50 percent Gloucester soils, 25 percent Hinckley soils, and 25 percent other soils. The soils in this complex are so intermingled that it was not practical to map them separately.

Typically the Gloucester soils have a surface layer of dark brown gravelly sandy loam about 2 inches thick. The subsoil is 20 inches thick. The upper 12 inches is brownish yellow gravelly sandy loam, and the lower 8 inches is light yellowish brown gravelly loamy sand. The substratum is light brownish gray very gravelly loamy sand to a depth of 60 inches of more.

Typically the Hinckley soils have a surface layer of dark brown gravelly sandy loam 2 inches thick. The sub soil is 15 inches thick. The upper 8 inches is yellowish brown gravelly sandy loam, and the lower 7 inches is light yellowish brown gravelly loamy sand. The substratum is light brownish gray very gravelly sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Included with these soils in mapping are small areas of excessively drained Windsor soils, somewhat excessively drained Merrimac soils, and moderately well drained Sudbury soils. Also included are small areas with no stones on the surface.

The permeability of the Gloucester soils is rapid. Available water capacity is low, and runoff is slow to medium. The soil is extremely acid through medium acid.

The permeability of the Hinckley soils is rapid in the surface layer and subsoil and very rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity is low, and runoff is slow to medium. This soil is extremely acid through medium acid.

This complex is suitable for community development. Onsite septic systems need careful design and installation to prevent pollution of ground water. Slopes of excavated areas are commonly unstable. Lawn grasses, shallow-rooted trees, and shrubs require watering in summer. The use of straw bale sediment barriers and quickly establishing plant cover help to control erosion during construction.

These soils are suited to trees, and most areas are wooded. Droughtiness in summer is the main limitation. Seedlings are difficult to establish.

The stony surface makes these soils unsuitable for cultivated crops. The hazard of erosion is moderate, and establishing a permanent plant cover helps to control erosion.

This complex is suitable for woodland wildlife habitat. Because of the stony surface, the soils are poorly suited to openland wildlife habitat. They are too dry to provide wetland wildlife habitat. Capability subclass VIs; Gloucester part in woodland group 4s, Hinckley part in woodland group 5s.

Soil Map Unit Description from the Soil Survey of Rhode Island

GhD—Gloucester-Hinckley very stony sandy loams, hilly.

Link to Official Soil Series Description for Gloucester Soils
Link to Official Soil Series Description for Hinckley Soils

These excessively drained and somewhat excessively drained soils are on hills and ridges. Areas are irregular in shape and mostly range from 10 to 300 acres. Stones cover 2 to 10 percent of the surface of the Gloucester soils and 0 to 3 percent of the surface of the Hinckley soils. Slopes range from 15 to 35 percent. This complex is approximately 50 percent Gloucester soils, 25 percent Hinckley soils, and 25 percent other soils. The soils are so intermingled that it was not practical to map them separately.

Typically the Gloucester soils have a surface layer of dark brown gravelly sandy loam about 2 inches thick. The subsoil is 20 inches thick. The upper 12 inches is brownish yellow gravelly sandy loam, and the lower 8 inches is light yellowish brown gravelly loamy sand. The substratum is light brownish gray very gravelly loamy sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Typically the Hinckley soils have a surface layer of dark brown gravelly sandy loam 2 inches thick. The sub soil is 15 inches thick. The upper 8 inches is yellowish brown gravelly sandy loam, and the lower 7 inches is light yellowish brown gravelly loamy sand. The substratum is light brownish gray very gravelly sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Included with these soils in mapping are small areas of excessively drained Windsor soils, somewhat excessively drained Merrimac soils, and moderately well drained Sudbury soils. Also included are small areas of soils that do not have stones on the surface.

The permeability of the Gloucester soils is rapid. Avail able water capacity is low, and runoff is medium. This soil is extremely acid through medium acid.

The permeability of the Hinckley soils is rapid in the surface layer and subsoil and very rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity is low, and runoff is rapid. This soil is extremely acid through medium acid.

The steep slopes and stony surface make this complex poorly suited to community development. Onsite septic systems need careful design and installation to prevent effluent from seeping to the surface or polluting the ground water. Slopes of excavated areas are commonly unstable. The use of straw bale sediment barriers and siltation basins and quickly establishing plant cover help to control erosion during construction.

These soils are suited to trees, and most areas are wooded. Steep slopes and droughtiness are the main limitations.

These soils are not suited to cultivated crops because of steep slopes and the stony surface. The hazard of erosion is severe.

This complex is suitable for woodland wildlife habitat. The soils are not suited to openland wildlife habitat; the stony surface and steep slopes are the main limitations. These soils are too dry to provide wetland wildlife habitat. Capability subclass VIIs; Gloucester part in woodland group 4s, Hinckley part in woodland group 5s.

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