Soil Map Unit Description from the RI Soil Survey Report

MmA - Merrimac sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes.

Link to Official Soil Series Description for Merrimac Soils

This nearly level, somewhat excessively drained soil is on outwash plains and terraces. Areas are irregular in shape and mostly range from 2 to 400 acres.

Typically the surface layer is dark brown sandy loam about 8 inches thick. The subsoil is yellowish brown and dark yellowish brown sandy loam 17 inches thick. The substratum is light yellowish brown gravelly sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of excessively drained Windsor and Hinckley soils, well drained Agawam soils, and moderately well drained Ninigret and Sudbury soils. Also included are small areas of soils with slopes of more than 3 percent and a few areas of darker colored soils. Included areas make up about 10 percent of this map unit.

The permeability of this soil is moderately rapid in the surface layer and upper part of the subsoil, moderately rapid to rapid in the lower part of the subsoil, and rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate, 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 the summer. Quickly establishing plant cover helps to control erosion during construction.

This soil is suited to trees. Droughtiness causes seedling mortality in the summer.

This soil is suited to cultivated crops, and most areas are used for farming. Irrigation is needed. Cover crops and the return of crop residue to the soil help to maintain tilth and organic matter content.

The soil is suitable for woodland wildlife habitat and openland wildlife habitat, but it is too dry to provide wetland wildlife habitat. Capability subclass Is; woodland group 4s.

Soil Map Unit Description from the Soil Survey of Rhode Island

MmB - Merrimac sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes.

Link to Official Soil Series Description for Merrimac Soils

This gently sloping, somewhat excessively drained soil is on undulating terraces and outwash plains. Areas are irregular in shape and mostly range from 2 to 75 acres.

Typically the surface layer is dark brown sandy loam about 8 inches thick. The subsoil is yellowish brown and dark yellowish brown sandy loam 17 inches thick. The substratum is light yellowish brown gravelly sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of excessively drained Windsor and Hinckley soils, well drained Agawam soils, and moderately well drained Ninigret and Sudbury soils. Also included are small areas of soils that have slopes of less than 3 percent and areas of darker colored soils. Included areas make up about 10 percent of this map unit.

The permeability of this soil is moderately rapid in the surface layer and upper part of the subsoil, moderately rapid to rapid in the lower part of the subsoil, and rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate, and runoff is medium. 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 the summer. The use of straw bale sediment barriers, quickly establishing plant cover, and providing temporary siltation basins help to control erosion during construction.

This soil is suited to trees, but droughtiness causes seedling mortality in the summer.

This soil is suited to cultivated crops. Irrigation is needed, and the hazard of erosion is moderate. Strip- cropping, cover crops, and the return of crop residue to the soil help to control erosion and maintain tilth and organic matter content.

This soil is suited to woodland wildlife habitat and openland wildlife habitat. It is too dry to provide wetland wildlife habitat. Capability subclass IIs; woodland group 4s.

Soil Map Unit Description from the Soil Survey of Rhode Island

MU - Merrimac-Urban land complex.

Link to Official Soil Series Description for Merrimac Soils

This complex consists of well drained Merrimac soils and areas of Urban land. The complex is on terraces and outwash plains in densely populated areas of the State, mainly in the areas of Providence and Warwick. Areas are irregular in shape and mostly range from 10 to 400 acres. Slopes are mainly about 1 percent but range from 0 to 15 percent. The complex is about 40 percent Merrimac soils, 40 percent Urban land, and 20 percent other soils. The soils and urban land are so intermingled that it was not practical to map them separately.

Typically the Merrimac soils have a surface layer of dark brown sandy loam 8 inches thick. The subsoil is yellowish brown and dark yellowish brown sandy loam 17 inches thick. The substratum is light yellowish brown gravelly sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Urban land consists of areas covered by streets, parking lots, buildings, and other urban structures.

Included with this complex in mapping are areas, up to 10 acres in size, of Udorthents, excessively drained Hinckley and Windsor soils, well drained Agawam and Enfield soils, and moderately well drained Sudbury and Ninigret soils. Also included are areas of darker colored soils.

The permeability of the Merrimac soils is moderately rapid in the surface layer and upper part of the subsoil, moderately rapid to rapid in the lower part of the subsoil, and rapid in the substratum. The available water capacity is moderate. Runoff is slow to medium on the Merrimac soils. The soil is extremely acid through medium acid.

This complex is mainly used for home sites, shopping centers, industrial parks, and other urban purposes. The home sites mostly range from 5,000 to 50,000 square feet.

Onsite septic systems in this complex 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 the summer. The use of straw bale sediment barriers and quickly establishing plant cover help to control erosion during construction.

Areas of this complex require onsite investigation and evaluation for most uses. Capability subclass and wood land group not assigned.
 

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