For Low Density Development in the Unorganized Area of Maine April 2004
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for Low Density Development in The Unorganized Area Of Maine April 2004 967 Illinois Ave, Suite #3 Bangor, ME 04401 Tel: (207) 990-9100 • Fax: (207) 990-9599 FOREWORD The Unorganized Area of Maine is facing changes in land use which have placed enormous pressure on land and water resources. As parts of the Unorganized Area are converted from forestry to urban, large lot subdivision and summer camp uses, soil and water resources can be threatened. The construction of homes, septic tank absorption fields, wells, and roads, if not properly planned, can negatively affect the quality of life. In many cases, soil conditions such as wetness, depth to bedrock and steep slopes can be the catalyst for environmental degradation. Many potential soil related problems can be avoided by sound land use planning before development begins. Costs for overcoming soil limitations increase as the degree of soil limitations becomes more severe. These increased costs to make an area suitable for development are passed on to the landowner. Soil Potential Ratings for Low Density Development in The Unorganized Area of Maine is a planning tool for state planners, and others, to address soil limitations by rating soils as to the costs of corrective measures and the long term maintenance costs needed to satisfactorily overcome soil problems. The purpose of this publication is to assist landowners, state planners, developers, engineers, and others in their planning activities. Information obtained from Natural Resources Conservation Service soil maps in the Unorganized Area of Maine should only be used for general planning purposes. This is because the smallest map unit delineated in these areas is commonly 16 to 40 acres and is composed of 2 or 3 soil types due to the scale of mapping. For site specific decisions, more detailed soil information such as a High Intensity Soil Survey done by a Maine certified Soil Scientist is needed. This index has been designed to be used with a variety of scales of soil mapping. It has general ratings for broad map units and more specific ratings with individual soil series within these map units if more detailed mapping is available. State officials, land use planners, land users, and other are encouraged to contact the local Soil and Water Conservation District Office for assistance when using this information. Other information concerning land use in agricultural and forestry planning also is readily available in this office. This publication is designed for use with soil survey maps and information available from the local Soil and Water Conservation Districts as well as more detailed certified mapping. The district office addresses are: Androscoggin/Sagadahoc Aroostook-Southern Androscoggin Valley SWCD Southern Aroostook SWCD P.O. Box 1938 (254 Goddard Rd.) RR3, Box 45 Lewiston, ME 04241-1938 Houlton, ME 04730 Phone: (207) 783-9196 Phone: (207) 532-2087 Aroostook-Central Knox/Lincoln Central Aroostook SWCD Knox/Lincoln SWCD 744 Maine Street 191 Camden Road Presque Isle, ME 04769 Warren, ME 04866 Phone: (207) 764-4770 Phone: (207) 273-2005 1 Oxford Kennebec Oxford County SWCD Kennebec County SWCD 1570 Main Street Suite 10 9 Green Street (3rd Floor) Oxford, ME 04270 Augusta, ME 04330 Phone: (207) 743-5789 Phone: (207) 622-8250 Penobscot Piscataquis Penobscot County SWCD Piscataquis County SWCD 28 Gilman Plaza, Suite 2 42 Pine Crest Drive Bangor, ME 04401 Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426 Phone: (207) 947-6622 Phone: (207) 564-2321 Aroostook Somerset St. John Valley Somerset County SWCD St. John Valley SWCD 7 High Street 96 Market Street Skowhegan, ME 04976 Fort Kent, ME 04743 Phone: (207) 474-8324 Phone: (207) 834-3311 Waldo Cumberland Waldo County SWCD Cumberland County SWCD 266 Waterville Road 201 Main Street, Suite 6 Belfast, ME 04915 Westbrook, ME 04092 Phone: (207) 338-3069 Phone: (207) 856-2777 Washington Franklin Washington County SWCD Franklin County SWCD Federal Bldg., & Post Office 107 Park Street 51 Court Street Farmington, ME 04938 Machias, ME 04654-0121 Phone: (207) 778-4279 Phone: (207) 255-3995 Hancock York Hancock County SWCD York County SWCD 190 Bangor Road P.O. Box 819 (8 Waterboro Road) Ellsworth, ME 04605 Alfred, ME 04002 Phone (207) 667-8663 Phone: (207) 324-7015 2 Table of Contents: FOREWORD ...................................................................................................................... 1 Table of Contents:............................................................................................................... 3 TABLE OF FIGURES:....................................................................................................... 3 TABLES: ............................................................................................................................ 4 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 5 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 5 SOIL LIMITATION RATINGS......................................................................................... 5 SOIL POTENTIAL RATINGS .......................................................................................... 5 PURPOSE........................................................................................................................... 7 DEVELOPMENT OF SOIL POTENTIAL RATING........................................................ 7 FACTORS FOR DETERMINING SOIL POTENTIAL RATINGS FOR DEVELOPMENT............................................................................................................... 7 SOIL PROPERTIES ........................................................................................................... 7 TEXTURE ...................................................................................................................... 8 PERMEABILITY ........................................................................................................... 8 SLOPE ............................................................................................................................ 9 SURFACE STONES ...................................................................................................... 9 WATER TABLE .......................................................................................................... 10 FLOODING .................................................................................................................. 11 DEPTH TO BEDROCK ............................................................................................... 11 RESTRICTIVE LAYER........................................................................................... 12 NATURAL DRAINAGE CLASS ............................................................................ 12 DEFINITION OF LOW DENSITY DEVELOPMENT................................................... 12 SEPTIC TANK ABSORPTION FIELD SYSTEM...................................................... 13 DWELLINGS WITH BASEMENTS........................................................................... 13 LOCAL ROADS AND STREETS ............................................................................... 13 RATING FACTORS .................................................................................................... 13 REFERENCE SOIL...................................................................................................... 14 SOIL POTENTIAL INDEX ............................................................................................. 16 ADDITIONAL NOTES.................................................................................................... 18 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 19 SOIL SURVEY PROJECT AREAS................................................................................. 19 INTRODUCTION TO ADDITIONAL TABLES AND WORKSHEETS ...................... 77 WORKSHEETS FOR PREPARING CORRECTIVE MEASURES ............................... 83 TABLE OF FIGURES: Figure 1 - Soil Slope Related to the Landscape.................................................................. 9 Figure 2 - Diagram Showing the Relation of the Water Table to the Earth's Surface.......10 Figure 3 - Soils in the Flood Plain are Subject to Flooding...............................................11 Figure 4 - Depth to Bedrock ............................................................................................. 11 Figure 5 - Soil Drainage Class.......................................................................................... 12 Figure 6 - Profile of Danforth Soil, Each Soil Has a Unique Profile................................ 15 3 TABLES: Table 1 - The Major Steps in Determining Soil Potential Ratings ..................................... 6 Table 2 – Figuring the Development Index ...................................................................... 16 Table 3 - Soil Potential Rating Class ................................................................................ 17 Table 4 – Soil Potential Index Values and Rating Classes for Soil Survey Project 619 (See additional note number 5 on page 17 concerning outwash soils.)............................ 21 Table 5 – Soil Potential Index Values and Rating Classes for Soil Survey Projects 620 and 621 (See additional note number 5 on page 17 concerning outwash soils.) .............. 32 Table 6 - Soil Potential Index Values