Soil Map Unit Description from the RI Soil Survey Report

HkA—Hinckley gravelly sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes.

This nearly level, excessively drained soil is on terraces and outwash plains. Areas are irregular in shape and mostly range from 5 to 75 acres.

Typically the surface layer is dark brown gravelly sandy loam about 6 inches thick. The subsoil is 11 inches thick. The upper 4 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 this soil in mapping are small areas of excessively drained Windsor and Quonset soils, somewhat excessively drained Merrimac soils, well drained Agawam soils, and moderately well drained Sudbury soils and small areas of soils with stones on the surface. Included areas make up about 10 percent of this map unit.

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

This soil 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.

This soil is suited to trees. The major limitation for woodland is droughtiness, which makes tree seedlings difficult to establish.

This soil is suited to cultivated crops, and most areas are farmed or idle. Droughtiness is the main limitation, and irrigation is needed. Cover crops and the return of crop residue to the soil help to maintain tilth and organic matter content.

This soil is suitable for woodland wildlife habitat and openland wildlife habitat. It is too dry to provide wetland wildlife habitat. Capability subclass IIIs; woodland group 5s.

Soil Map Unit Description from the Soil Survey of Rhode Island

HkC—Hinckley gravelly sandy loam, rolling.

This excessively drained soil is on terraces, outwash plains, kames, and eskers. Areas are irregular in shape and mostly range from 2 to 20 acres. Slopes range from 3 to 15 percent.

Typically the surface layer is dark brown gravelly sandy loam about 6 inches thick. The subsoil is 11 inches thick. The upper 4 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 this soil in mapping are small areas of excessively drained Windsor and Quonset soils, somewhat excessively drained Merrimac soils, well drained Agawam soils, and moderately well drained Sudbury soils and small areas with a few stones on the surface. Included areas make up about 10 percent of this map unit.

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

This soil 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.

Many areas of this soil are wooded. The soil is suited to trees but is limited by droughtiness. Tree seedlings are difficult to establish.

The soil is suited to cultivated crops, and some areas are used for pasture. The hazard of erosion is moderate. The use of cover crops, stripcropping, the return of crop residue to the soil, and irrigation are suitable management practices for farming.

This soil is suited to woodland wildlife habitat and openland wildlife habitat. It is too dry to provide wetland wildlife habitat. Capability subclass IVs; woodland group 5s.

Soil Map Unit Description from the Soil Survey of Rhode Island

HkD—Hinckley gravelly sandy loam, hilly.

This excessively drained soil is on terraces, outwash plains, kames, eskers, and recessional moraines. Areas are irregular in shape and mostly range from 5 to 40 acres. Slopes range from 15 to 35 percent.

Typically the surface layer is dark brown gravelly sandy loam about 2 inches thick. The subsoil 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 this soil in mapping are small areas of excessively drained Windsor and Quonset soils and small areas of soils that have slopes of less than 15 percent. Included areas make up about 10 percent of this map unit.

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

Steep slopes make this soil poorly suited to community development. Onsite septic systems need special design and installation to prevent effluent from seeping to the surface or polluting the ground water. Slopes of excavated areas are commonly unstable. Lawn grasses, shallow-rooted trees, and shrubs require watering in summer. Quickly establishing plant cover, providing temporary diversions, and using siltation basins help to control erosion during construction.

This soil is suited to trees, and most areas are wooded. The major limitations for woodland are steep slopes and droughtiness.

Because of the steep slopes, the soil is poorly suited to cultivated crops. The hazard of erosion is severe.

This soil is suited to woodland wildlife habitat. It is poorly suited to openland wildlife habitat, and it is too dry to provide wetland wildlife habitat. Capability subclass VIIs; woodland group 5s.

Soil Map Unit Description from the Soil Survey of Rhode Island

HnC – Hinckley - Enfield complex, rolling.

These rolling, excessively drained and well drained soils are on hills and ridges of recessional moraines, kames, and eskers. The Hinckley soils are mostly on the crests of the kames and eskers, and the Enfield soils are in con cave positions. Areas are irregular in shape and mostly range from 10 to 50 acres. Slopes range from 3 to 15 percent. The complex is approximately 60 percent Hinckley soils, 30 percent Enfield soils, and 10 percent other soils. The soils are so intermingled that it was not practical to map them separately.

Typically the Hinckley soils have a surface layer of dark bro gravelly sandy loam 6 inches thick. The subsoil is 11 inches thick. The upper 4 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.

Typically the Enfield soils have a surface layer of dark grayish brown silt loam 7 inches thick. The subsoil is strong brown and light olive brown silt loam 18 inches thick. The substratum is brown 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, well drained Agawam and Bridgehampton soils, and moderately well drained Tisbury and Sudbury soils. Also included are small areas of soils that have slopes of more than 15 percent.

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. The soils are extremely acid through medium acid.

The permeability of the Enfield soils is moderate in the surface layer and subsoil and very rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate, and runoff is slow to medium. The soils are very strongly 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 on the Hinckley soils need watering during the 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 many areas are wooded. Droughtiness on the Hinckley soils is the main limitation and makes seedling establishment difficult.

These soils are suited to cultivated crops. Some areas are used for pasture. The hazard of erosion is moderate to severe. Irrigation is needed. The use of cover crops and stripcropping and the return of crop residue to the soil help to control erosion and maintain tilth and organic matter content.

The complex is suitable for woodland wildlife habitat and openland wildlife habitat. It is too dry to provide wetland wildlife habitat. Capability subclass IVs; Hinckley part in woodland group 5s, Enfield part in woodland group 3r.

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