CANADA-MANITOBA Soil Survey Soils of the Swan River Townsite Area Report D-37 ' i, Government Gouvernement Government Gouvernement I + of Canada du Canada of Manitoba du Manitoba SOILS REPORT No . D37 1987 Soils of the Swan River Townsite Area by G .F . Mills and 1 . G . Podolsky CANADA-MANITOBA SOIL SURVEY AGRICULTURE CANADA MANITOBA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT OF SOIL SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PREFACE This report and map of the detailed field and laboratory study of the soils of the Swan River Townsite study area is one in an ongoing series of such soil survey reports covering special interest areas in southern Manitoba . These reports are in response to a growing awareness by various government agencies that support the Canada-Manitoba Soil Survey, that a knowledge of the-develop- ment and distribution of the soils of Manitoba is the key to understanding their properties, behaviour and response to management . This awareness requires that soils be described both in terms of their basic properties and the nature of the environmental setting in which they are found . Thus, in the rural community of Swan River, development for agriculture, recreation and related uses requires delineation of land of high or low suitability for such uses which in turn depends on an accurate and reliable soil map as a basic reference document . The land resource information included in this resurvey covers approximate- ly 7 937 hectares of land surrounding the Town of Swan River . The projected intensive use of the soils of this area has created a need for more up-to- date, more accurate and more detailed soil information . Increased examination of soils in the field, the use of current aerial photography, the use of improved methods of studying soils in the laboratory, and the accumulated knowledge of the properties and uses of soils over the years, have all con- tributed to the additional information contained in this new series of reports and maps . During the course of the resurvey, a large volume of site specific data for the soils mapped in the Swan River area was generated that, for practical rea- sons, cannot be included in this report . These data are archived in the Cana- da Soil Information System (CanSIS) data bank . This computerized system of data management permits automated manipulation and statistical evaluation of large volumes of data for soil characterization and interpretations . These data are available on request . In addition, the Cartographic File of CanSis provides a capability to produce derived maps of various kinds quickly and inexpensively . The types of derived maps that can be generated from the basic soil map include the sixteen interpretations that are provided in tabular form in this report as well as a number of single feature maps such as drainage, texture of surface deposits, slope, and stoniness . A package of interpretive maps and single feature derivative maps can be made available on request from the Canada-Manitoba Soil Survey, Ellis Building, University of Manitoba, Win- nipeg Manitoba, R3T 2N2 . The Canada-Manitoba Soil Survey trusts that this report and accompanying map will be of value to all individuals and agencies involved with the use of land within the map area . ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This soils study was conducted as a joint project of the Canada Department of Agriculture, Manitoba Department of Agriculture and the Soil Science Department of the University of Manitoba . The soils were mapped by G.F . Mills, and I .G . Podolsky . The field assistants were D. Peristy and G. Smith . Laboratory analysis were provided by R . Mirza, K .C . Yeung and J . Madden under the direction of P . Haluschak . Cartographic Services Mapping bases were provided by the Land Resources Research Centre, Ottawa . Map compilation and digitization in preparation for publication and addition to the CanSIS cartographic file were provided by J . Griffiths, R. DePape, and M. Black . Manuscript review and soil correlation were provided by R.E . Smith . Final typing of report manuscript provided by D . Sandberg . SUMMY The Swan River Townsite Soil Study encompasses an area of 7 937 hectares of land immediately surrounding the Town of Swan River . Swan River is a rural agricultural service center in western Manitoba . It is located approximately 400 kilometers northwest of Winnipeg at the junction of Highways 10 north and 83 north . The study area consists of dominantly level to very gently sloping sandy and loamy moderately to strongly calcareous lacustrine sediments . Local areas of greater relief are associated with outcrops of loamy till and lacustrine beach sands and gravel . Stratified sandy to fine loamy alluvium occur in association with three major drainage channels traversing the area in a north- easterly direction . Natural surface drainage is to the northeast, and is pro- vided by the Swan River, Roaring River and Tamarack Creek . Improved drainage into this river system is accomplished by a network of agricultural drains . Climate for the Swan River area is cool, subhumid continental with distinct seasonal highs of temperature and precipitation during the growing season . The area has an estimated frost-free period of about 110 days and an estimated average of 1430 growing degree-days above 5 degrees C . Sandy, coarse loamy and fine loamy lacustrine sediments (51 .1 percent, 16 .4 percent and 12 .6 percent of the map area respectively) are characterized by dominantly well drained Orthic Black and imperfectly drained Rego Black soils . Minor areas of poorly drained Humic Gleysol soils are found throughout the area . Fluvial (alluvial) deposits constitute 9 .9 percent of the map area . Minor areas of Orthic Black soils occur in association with dominantly imper- fectly drained Regosol and poorly drained Gleysolic soils on the alluvial deposits . Loamy till deposits cover 3 .5 percent of the map area and are char- acterized by well drained Rego Black and Dark Gray soils and imperfectly drained Rego Black soils . Organic soils constitute 0 .2 percent of the area as do Black soils on sandy to gravelly beach ridges . The remainder of the area includes the Swan River townsite, lagoon and water bodies occupying 5 .9 per- cent of the area . The agricultural potential in the study area ranges from Class 1 for Dutton soils to 6W for Novra soils . The majority of the soils in the area are rated in Classes 1, 2 and 3, with only small areas of lower capability Class 4, 5 and 6 soils . Drainage, surface ponding, and erosion are the major soil condi- tions affecting capability and land management in the area . A few minor soils in the area would have a Class 1 irrigation suitability rating . However, the majority of soils in the area have been rated as Classes 3 and 4 for sprinkler irrigation because of low water holding capacity and drainage problems . The dominant soil condition which presents problems for engineering and recreation development is excess wetness . High water tables may occur during - iv - the early spring in about 57 percent of the soils and for longer periods through the summer in about 8 percent of the soils . Seasonally high water tables may influence construction of basements and roads . Wet subsoil condi- tions result in damp basements . Road maintenance costs increase from wetness and associated frost heave . Some recreation development for camping and picnic sites has occurred with- in the town limits . The three rivers in the study area, particularly Swan River offer aesthetically good to excellent settings for outdoor recreational development as well . HOW TO USE THIS SOIL REPORT This soils report contains considerable information about the soils, their origin and formation, their classification and their potential for various uses such as dryland agriculture, irrigation, engineering and recreation . The report is divided into four parts : Part I provides a general description of the area ; Part 2 describes the methodology used in the study ; Part 3 discusses the development, scientific classification and morphological characteristics of the soils in the study area, and Part 4 provides an interpretation of soil properties and associated landscape features as they affect soil capability, or suitability for various uses . The soil map of the study area is compiled on an uncontrolled air photo base which is included in a pocket of the report folder . The map shows the distribution of soil types and associated landscape features that are signifi- cant for potential use as field management units . It provides a linkage from landscapes within the study area to the information contained in the report . To assist the user in retrieving soil information quickly, the following steps are suggested : If project consists of many individual maps, proceed with STEP 1 ., if only single map in pocket, proceed with STEP 2 to 6 . STEP 1 Consult the index to map sheets if the report contains many maps . Locate the areas of interest and note the map-sheet number(s) which identify the township and range on each map . STEP 2 Consult the soil map in pocket of report folder . Locate the area(s) of interest on the map and identify the pertinent map unit symbols . Arabic numerals placed as superscripts following map symbols indi- cate the approximate proportion of each soil type within the map unit . STEP 3 Consult the extended legend accompanying the soil map for an alpha- betical listing of soil symbols giving the soil name, classifica- tion, drainage and related information concerning landforms, nature and depth of materials, and dominant vegetation . STEP 4 For interpretive information about the soils, consult the appropri- ate Table in Part 4 . Criteria utilized as guidelines in making these interpretations are provided in the Appendix . STEP 5 Further information concerning the morphological properties and extent of the soils is presented in Part 3 where the soils are described alphabetically according to soil name .