Soils, capability and land use in the OTTAWA URBAN FRINGE Report No. 47 " Ontario Soil Survey " 1979 Ministry of ' Agriculture Agriculture Canada and Food Research Direction Ontario Branch de la recherche N.nn" th L.ntz MM . LOme C. H.M.r.on Deputy Mlnl .t .r MI-pt Soils, capability and land use in the OTTAWA URBAN FRINGE I. B. Marshall, J. Dumanski, E. C. Huffman, and P . G. Lajoie Land Resource Research Institute Research Branch Agriculture Canada 1979 Prepared jointly by The Research Branch, Agriculture Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food Preface A field study comprising soil survey and land use of the The beginning sections of the report outline the Ottawa urban fringe was initiated in 1973 and completed in geomorphological and environmental character of the 1975. Excluding the National Capital Commission (NCC) area. The section on techniques of soil mapping includes a Greenbelt, most of the area is subject to the pressures of discussion on how to interpret the soil map. urban expansion. Results of the study are presented in this In the report, soils are described on the basis of soil report and in a series of maps located in the back pocket. associations and soil landscape units . Each association is These constitute an information package describing the described in terms of the material on which it occurs, the physical land resources of the Ottawa area. landform and topography on which it is found, and the Three major subject areas are discussed in the report. drainage characteristics and texture of its soils. Each land- The first and most detailed one is a description of the soils, scape unit is defined in relation to topography, drainage their geomorphological setting and properties. This is and soils . followed by a section on soil capability and its application The capability section describes the capability to land planning. In a separate bulletin, and located in the classification developed for this survey and how it differs package, is a description of land use current to 1975. from the traditional approach used for the Canada Land Three maps at scales of 1 :25 000 included with the Inventory. It also discusses in detail the application of the report supplement each of the major subject areas. The system for biologically and non-biologically oriented uses. soil map shows the location, shape, extent, surface texture In a separate bulletin, but included as an integral part and main topographic features of individual soil areas. An of the report, the land use section describes the various expanded legend, showing all basic soil data, accompanies land uses observed at the time of mapping. A section on the map . The soil map has been interpreted to produce the land ownership comments on several land use problems capability map, to show the kinds and severity of limita- observed . Unlike soils and capability which are basic data tions to use in each soil area. The land use map depicts the sources remaining unchanged over long periods, land use character and extent of land use activities in the area . and ownership must be continually updated to remain rele- vant. Technical soil data and definition of terms used in the report can be found in the appendixes. CONTENTS PREFACE 2 MISCELLANEOUS LAND UNITS 47 HOW TO USE THE REPORT 5 Eroded channels 47 Escarpment 48 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 5 Landslide 48 Marshland 48 INTRODUCTION 6 Recent alluvium 48 Rock outcrop 49 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT 6 SOIL CAPABILITY FORAGRICULTURAL USE 49 A. Climate 6 B. Vegetation 7 Capability classification scheme 49 C. Relief and drainage 7 D. Geology and surficial materials 9 Capability classes 49 Capability subclasses 50 SURVEY METHODS 20 Rating soils for agricultural use in Nepean and Gloucester Townships 50 Field procedures and access 20 Relationships between the national and the Problems associated with mapping 21 regional (Central St. Lawrence Lowlands) Mapping system used in the survey 21 soil rating systems 52 Conventions used in mapping 21 Guidelines used in the rating of agricultural Explanatory notes on the soil map and legend 23 capability in Nepean and Gloucester townships 52 DESCRIPTION OF SOIL ASSOCIATIONS 24 Downgrading land factors 52 Upgrading land factors 53 Anstruther 24 Bearbrook 24 The capability map and its use in agricultural Castor 25 planning 53 Chateauguay 26 The capability map and its use for Dalhousie 27 nonagricultural purposes 58 Ellwood 28 Farmington 29 Grenville 30 REFERENCES 59 Huntley 31 Ironside 32 APPENDIXES Jockvale 33 (Presented on microfilm in pocket on inside back Kars 34 cover of this report) Leitrim 35 Manotick 36 A. Definition of terms Mer Bleue 37 B. Glossary Mille Isle 38 C. Soil profile and classification Nepean 39 D. Soil profile descriptions, chemical and North Gower 40 physical analysis Oka 41 E. Area of soil landscape units and soil Piperville 42 landscape unit combinations Queensway 43 Rideau 44 Uplands 45 CONTENTS (cont' d) TABLES FIGURES 1 . Monthly temperature and precipitation data: 1. Air and soil temperatures at Ottawa 8 1941-1970 6 2. Soil moisture regime at Ottawa 8 2. Probability of frost occurrence: 1941-1970 7 3. Structural geology map of the Ottawa - 3. Surficial materials of Nepean and St. Lawrence Lowland showing faults Gloucester Townships 15 affecting the Paleozoic formations 11 4. Correlation between surficial materials, 4. Bedrock geology map of Nepean and soil associations and land types 15 Gloucester Townships 12 5. Land factor limitations (subclasses) defined 5. Drainage map of Nepean and Gloucester by three degrees of severity 51 Townships 12 6. Agricultural capability ratings for the soils 6. Physiographic subdivisions map of Nepean of Nepean and Gloucester Townships 54 and Gloucester Townships 13 7. Definition of soil horizon symbols 7. Surficial materials map of Nepean and pertinent to Gloucester and Nepean on Gloucester Townships 17 Townships microfilm 8. Stratigraphic cross sections of surficial 8. Classification of soils in Nepean and materials 18 Gloucester Townships, Carleton County, 9. Trend surface analysis map of the thickness into subgroups, great groups and orders of surficial materials 19 according to the Canadian System on 10. Categories and elements of the soil mapping of Soil Classification, 1978 microfilm system employed in the survey 19 11. Diagram of soil profile showing various horizons on microfilm How to Use the Report Acknowledgments This report is a basic information document prepared for The soil survey of the Ottawa urban fringe was carried out many users . It is not intended that it be read from cover to by the Land Resource Research Institute, Agriculture cover, but used as a reference text in relation to problems Canada, with funding support from the National Capital encountered or decisions to be made on the land areas of Commission . Between 1974 and 1976 the primary author the region. was employed by the Surveys and Mapping Branch, In general terms the maps and reports can be used to Energy, Mines and Resources, and later by the Lands answer many queries, but most of these fall into two Directorate, Fisheries and Environment Canada. The sup- general categories : (a) What are the nature and properties port and cooperation received from these ministries were of the soils at a given location?, and (b) What is the invaluable in completing the project. suitability of a given location for a particular use? Pro- Laboratory analyses were conducted by the Service cedures for each situation are outlined below. Laboratory, Land Resource Research Institute, and the (a) What are the soils at this location? Soil Survey Laboratory, University of Guelph . Engineer (1) Find the location on the soil map. ing analyses were done by the Ontario Ministry of (2) Write the map notation(s) on a separate sheet of Transportation and Communications . Data on ground- paper. water levels and soil water relationships were obtained (3) Refer to the map legend to determine the meaning of from the research of Dr. G.C . Topp. The Geological each symbol in the notation(s). Survey of Canada provided data on the surficial geology of the area, many (4) Using each symbol, refer to the expanded map legend and of the required base maps . for a summary of the soil and land characteristics The soils, capability and land use maps were drafted present in the area. and digitized by the Cartography Section, Land Resource Consult the table of contents in the report and find Research Institute. The maps were printed at Energy, the section(s) describing the notation soil associa- Mines and Resources. tion(s) noted in 2 above. Read these sections for more Technical assistance for the project was provided by detailed information. J.M . Cossette, R.A. MacMillan, and D.G. Berry. Dr. B. (6) If information on capability and/or land use is re- Kloosterman assisted in the computer compilation of the quired at that location, repeat the pertinent parts of I data and with the field mapping. The manuscript and to 5 above. maps were reviewed by J.H. Day and J.L. Nowland . Mrs. J. Lendvay-Zwickl assisted in the final preparation of the What is the suitability of this location for this manuscript . use? The authors acknowledge the cooperation and counsel Study the use in question to determine the physical received from Dr. C.J . Acton and Mr. B. van den Broek, land properties essential for its proper or optimal in- University of Guelph . stallation and operation. For example septic disposal fields require, among other things, more than 2 m of medium-textured, well-drained soils with a water table or impermeable layer greater than 2 m below the surface . (2) Determine the soils present at the site by proceeding through points 1 to 6 in the first example.