Soil Survey of Matagorda County, Texas
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United States In cooperation with Department of Texas Agricultural Agriculture Experiment Station Soil Survey of Natural Matagorda Resources Conservation Service County, Texas 1 How To Use This Soil Survey General Soil Map The general soil map, which is a color map, shows the survey area divided into groups of associated soils called general soil map units. This map is useful in planning the use and management of large areas. To find information about your area of interest, locate that area on the map, identify the name of the map unit in the area on the color-coded map legend, then refer to the section General Soil Map Units for a general description of the soils in your area. Detailed Soil Maps The detailed 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 of the 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 the Contents, which lists the map units by symbol and name and shows the page where each map unit is described. The Contents shows which table has data on a specific land use for each detailed soil map unit. Also see the Contents for sections of this publication that may address your specific needs. 2 This soil survey is a publication of the National Cooperative Soil Survey, a joint effort of the United States Department of Agriculture and other Federal agencies, State agencies including the Agricultural Experiment Stations, and local agencies. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) has leadership for the Federal part of the National Cooperative Soil Survey. Major fieldwork for this soil survey was completed in 1989. Soil names and descriptions were approved in 1991. Unless otherwise indicated, statements in this publication refer to conditions in the survey area in 1991. This survey was made cooperatively by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. The survey is part of the technical assistance furnished to the Matagorda County Soil and Water Conservation District. Soil maps in this survey may be copied without permission. Enlargement of these maps, 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 a larger scale. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all of its 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 bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact 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, DC 20250-9410, or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Cover: A duned area of Galveston fine sand, undulating, on the Matagorda Peninsula. The dunes protect the peninsula from tidal waves during storms. Additional information about the Nation’s natural resources is available on the Natural Resources Conservation Service homepage on the World Wide Web. The address is http://www.nrcs.usda.gov. 3 Contents How To Use This Soil Survey ................................. 1 FoB—Fordtran loamy fine sand, 0 to 2 Foreword ................................................................. 5 percent slopes ............................................. 35 General Nature of the County ................................... 7 FrA—Francitas clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes.......... 35 History and Settlement ......................................... 7 FuC—Fulshear fine sandy loam, 2 to 5 Agriculture .......................................................... 10 percent slopes ............................................. 36 Natural Resources and Industry ......................... 11 GaB—Galveston fine sand, undulating ............... 37 Climate ............................................................... 11 Ha—Harris clay, frequently flooded .................... 37 How This Survey Was Made ................................... 12 ImB—Ijam clay, 1 to 3 percent slopes ................. 38 General Soil Map Units ........................................ 15 KaB—Katy fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent Clayey and Loamy Soils of Upland Prairies ........ 15 slopes .......................................................... 38 1. Laewest-Dacosta ..................................... 15 LaA—Laewest clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes .......... 39 2. Edna-Texana-Telferner ............................ 16 LaB—Laewest clay, 1 to 3 percent slopes .......... 40 3. Livco-Dacosta ......................................... 17 LaD2—Laewest clay, 5 to 8 percent slopes, Clayey and Loamy Soils of Flood Plains ............. 17 eroded ......................................................... 40 4. Pledger-Asa............................................. 17 LoA—Laewest silty clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes, 5. Brazoria-Norwood-Clemville .................... 18 overwashed ................................................. 40 Dominantly Clayey Soils on Coastal Lowlands ... 19 LtA—Livco-Dacosta complex, 0 to 1 percent 6. Livia-Palacios-Francitas ........................... 20 slopes .......................................................... 41 7. Harris-Velasco-Placedo ........................... 20 LvA—Livia loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes .............. 43 8. Surfside ................................................... 20 MuA—Mustang fine sand, 0 to 1 percent Sandy and Loamy Soils on the Matagorda slopes .......................................................... 44 Peninsula ..................................................... 21 No—Norwood silty clay loam, rarely flooded ...... 44 9. Galveston-Follet ...................................... 21 PaA—Palacios loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes ........ 45 Detailed Soil Map Units ........................................ 23 Pc—Placedo silty clay, frequently flooded .......... 46 Aa—Asa silt loam, rarely flooded........................ 24 Pe—Pledger clay, rarely flooded ......................... 47 As—Asa silty clay loam, rarely flooded ............... 24 Pg—Pledger clay, occasionally flooded .............. 47 Az—Asa silty clay loam, saline, occasionally RoB—Riolomas fine sand, 1 to 3 percent flooded ......................................................... 25 slopes .......................................................... 48 BaA—Bacliff clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes ............. 26 Sf—Sumpf clay, frequently flooded ..................... 49 Bb—Beaches ..................................................... 27 Sr—Surfside clay, occasionally flooded .............. 49 Br—Brazoria clay, rarely flooded ........................ 28 TfA—Telferner very fine sandy loam, 0 to 1 CeA—Cieno sandy clay loam, 0 to 1 percent percent slopes ............................................. 50 slopes .......................................................... 29 TxA—Texana fine sandy loam, 0 to 1 percent Cm—Clemville silty clay loam, rarely flooded ..... 29 slopes .......................................................... 50 DaA—Dacosta sandy clay loam, 0 to 1 TxB—Texana fine sandy loam, 1 to 3 percent percent slopes ............................................. 30 slopes .......................................................... 51 EdA—Edna fine sandy loam, 0 to 1 percent Ve—Velasco clay, frequently flooded .................. 52 slopes .......................................................... 31 Vs—Veston loam, strongly saline, frequently EoA—Edna silty clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes, flooded ......................................................... 52 overwashed ................................................. 31 Prime Farmland .................................................... 53 ExA—Edna-Cieno complex, 0 to 1 percent Use and Management of the Soils ...................... 55 slopes .......................................................... 33 Crops and Pasture ............................................. 55 FaA—Faddin loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes ........... 34 Crops ............................................................. 55 Fe—Follet loam, frequently flooded .................... 34 Pasture and Hayland ...................................... 58 4 Land Capability Classification ........................ 58 Placedo Series ................................................. 103 Yields per Acre ............................................... 60 Pledger Series.................................................. 103 Rangeland .......................................................... 60 Riolomas Series ............................................... 104 Marsh Rangeland ........................................... 62 Sumpf Series.................................................... 105 Prairie Rangeland .......................................... 66 Surfside Series ................................................. 106 Recreation .......................................................... 69 Telferner Series ................................................ 106 Wildlife Habitat ................................................... 69 Texana Series