Soil Map for General Planning

(SOIL SURVEY OF HENDERSON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA)

The general soil map at the back of this publication shows, in color, the soil associations described in this survey. Each soil association is a unique natural landscape unit that has a distinctive pattern of soils and relief and drainage features. It normally consists of one or more soils of major extent and some soils of minor extent, and it is named for the major soils. The kinds of soil in one association may occur in other soil associations, but in a different pattern.

The map provides a broad perspective of the soils and landscapes in the survey area. It provides a basis for comparing the potential of large areas of the county for general kinds of land use. From the map, areas that are generally suitable for certain kinds of farming or other land uses can be identified. Likewise, areas with soil properties distinctly unfavorable for certain land uses can be located.

Because of the small scale of the map, it does not show the kind of soil at a specific site. Thus, this is not a suitable map for planning the management of a farm or field or for selecting the location of a road, building, or similar structure because the kinds of soils in anyone soil association ordinarily differ from place to place in slope, depth, stoniness, drainage, or other characteristics that affect their management.

Major land uses considered are for cultivated farm crops, specialty crops, woodland, urban uses, intensive recreation areas, and extensive recreation areas. Cultivated farm crops include those grown extensively by farmers in the survey area. Specialty crops include vegetables, fruits, and nursery crops grown on limited acreage and generally requiring intensive management. Woodland refers to land that is producing trees native to the area, or introduced species. Urban uses includes residential, commercial, and industrial developments. Intensive recreation areas are campsites, picnic areas, baseball diamonds, and similar areas that are subject to heavy foot traffic. Extensive recreation areas include those for nature study and wilderness uses.

1. Codorus-Toxaway-Rosman Association

Nearly level, well drained to very poorly drained soils that have a loamy and sandy subsoil and underlying layer; on flood plains

This association consists of soils that are in slightly depressional areas on flood plains and in slightly elevated areas generally adjacent to streams on wide flood plains.

This association makes up 8 percent of the county. It is about 40 percent Codorus soils, 15 percent Toxaway soils, and 10 percent Rosman soils. Comus, Delanco, Edneyville, Hatboro, and Kinkora soils make up most of the remaining 35 percent.

Codorus soils are moderately well drained and somewhat poorly drained. The surface layer is brown loam. The subsoil is dark brown loam and grayish brown fine sandy clay loam. The underlying layer is dark gray loamy sand.

Toxaway soils are very poorly drained and poorly drained. The surface layer is very dark gray to black silt loam in the upper part and very dark gray loam in the lower part. The underlying layer is very dark gray sandy loam in the upper part, grayish brown sand in the middle part, and gray sandy clay loam and loamy sand in the lower part.

Rosman soils are well drained and moderately well drained. The surface layer is dark brown loam. The sub- soil is yellowish brown loam and fine sandy loam. The underlying layer is dark yellowish brown and dark grayish brown sandy loam.

Most areas of this association are cleared and used for crops and pasture. A few areas remain wooded.

Flooding and a seasonal high water table are the main limitations for the use and management of the major soils in this association.

2. Evard-Edneyville-Ashe Association

Sloping to very steep, well drained and somewhat excessively drained soils that have a loamy subsoil; on mountain ridgetops and side slopes

This association consists of soils on mountain ridgetops and side slopes. The side slopes are dissected by many drainageways that are in a dendritic pattern.

This association makes up 62 percent of the county. It is 30 percent Evard soils, 22 percent Edneyville soils, and 22 percent Ashe soils. Brevard, Chandler, Clifton, Fannin, Hayesville, Porters, Spivey, Tate, and Tusquitee soils and some areas of rock outcrop make up the remaining 26 percent of this association.

The Evard soils are sloping to very steep and are well drained. The surface layer and subsurface layer are dark brown sandy loam. The subsoil is yellowish red sandy clay loam and sandy loam. The underlying layer is yellowish red saprolite that crushes to sandy loam.

The Edneyville soils are sloping to steep and are well drained. The surface layer is dark grayish brown fine sandy loam. The subsurface layer is brown fine sandy loam. The subsoil is yellowish brown and is fine sandy loam in the upper part, sandy clay loam in the middle part, and fine sandy loam in the lower part. The underlying layer is light yellowish brown and light brownish gray fine sandy loam.

The Ashe soils are moderately steep to very steep and are somewhat excessively drained. The surface layer is stony sandy loam that is dark brown in the upper part and yellowish brown in the lower part. The subsoil is yellowish brown sandy loam. The underlying layer is gray saprolite that crushes to sandy loam.

Some areas of this association have been cleared and are used for cultivation. The remaining areas are used for pasture, woodland, or homesites and farmsteads.

Slope, erosion, and stoniness are the main limitations to the use and management of the major soils in this association.

3. Hayesville-Bradson Association

Gently sloping to moderately steep, well drained soils that have a loamy and clayey subsoil; on ridges and stream terraces

This association consists of soils on broad, smooth ridges and smooth, high stream terraces. It is dissected by many streams that have flood plains that range from 200 feet to about one-half mile in width.

This association makes up 20 percent of the county. It is about 60 percent Hayesville soils and 10 percent Brad- son soils. Brevard, Delanco, Edneyville, and Tate soils make up the remaining 30 percent.

The Hayesville soils are gently 8loping to moderately steep and are well drained. The surface layer is dark brown loam. The subsurface layer is brown loam. The subsoil is yellowish red clay loam in the upper part, yellowish red and red clay loam in the middle part, and red sandy clay loam and sandy loam in the lower part. The upper part of the underlying layer is red saprolite that crushes to sandy loam, and the lower part is gray and light gray soft saprolite that crushes to sandy loam.

The Bradson soils are gently sloping to strongly sloping and are well drained. The surface layer is reddish brown gravelly loam. The subsoil is red clay in the upper part and red clay loam in the lower part. The underlying layer is reddish yellow saprolite that crushes to loam.

Most of the areas of this association have been cleared and are used for crops. The remaining areas are used for pasture or building sites and farmsteads.

Slope and erosion are the main limitations to the use and management of the major soils in this association.

4. Fannin-Talladega Association

Sloping to steep, well drained soils that have a loamy subsoil; on ridgetops and side slopes

This association consists of soils on ridgetops and side slopes. It is dissected by many narrow drainageways.

This association makes up 4 percent of the county. It is about 60 percent Fannin soils and 10 percent Talladega soils. Hayesville, Tate, and Brevard soils make up the remaining 30 percent.

The Fannin soils are sloping to steep and are well drained. The surface layer is dark brown silt loam. The subsoil is yellowish red silty clay loam and silt loam. The underlying layer is yellowish red to strong brown schist saprolite that crushes to loam. Fragmental schist rock is at a depth of 60 inches.

The Talladega soils are steep and are well drained. The surface layer is dark yellowish brown silt loam. The sub- soil is yellowish red silty clay loam. The underlying layer is yellowish red saprolite that crushes to loam. Moderately hard schist is at a depth of 36 inches.

Some areas of this association have been cleared and are used for crops or pasture. The remaining areas are wooded or are used for summer cottages or vacation cabins.

Slope and erosion are the main limitations to the use and management of the major soils in this association.

5. Ashe-Porters Association

Moderately steep to very steep, somewhat excessively drained and well drained soils that have a loamy subsoil, on ridgetops and side slopes

This association consists of soils on narrow ridgetops and uneven side slopes.

This association makes up 6 percent of the county. It is about 40 percent Ashe soils and 30 percent Porters soils. Evard, Edneyville, and Tusquitee soils make up the remaining 30 percent.

The Ashe soils are somewhat excessively drained. The surface layer is stony sandy loam that is dark brown in the upper part and yellowish brown in the lower part. The subsoil is yellowish brown sandy loam. The underlying layer is gray saprolite that crushes to sandy loam. Moderately hard granite gneiss rock is at a depth of 30 inches.

The Porters soils are well drained. The surface layer is very dark grayish brown stony loam. The subsoil is dark brown loam in the upper part, yellowish brown clay loam in the middle part, and yellowish brown loam in the lower part. The underlying layer is brown saprolite that crushes to sandy loam. Hard gneiss is at a depth of 42 inches.

Most areas of this association are wooded or are reverting to woodland. A few areas are used as pasture or as sites for summer cottages or vacation cabins.

Slope and stoniness are the main limitations to the use and management of the major soils in this association.