This data table defines a subset of soil interpretations available for the Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) database for the State of Connecticut, which is a digital soil survey and generally is the most detailed level of soil geographic data developed by the National Cooperative Soil Survey. This table provides Connecticut users some of the most commonly used local soil interpretations, but is not the complete dataset available for this survey area. The NRCS, Connecticut State office has developed several new local soil interpretations for the Soil Survey including interpretations for identifying Storm Water Runnoff Management, Potential for Subsurface Sewage Disposal, and Soil Parent Material. Other examples of soil interpretations included in this table are Connecticut Inland Wetland Soils, hydric soils, and prime and important famland soils. Information in this data table originated from the National Soil Information System relational database (NASIS) and the Connecticut State Office of the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The digital soil survey map units are linked to attributes in the National Soil Information System relational database, which gives the proportionate extent of the component soils and their properties. The complete dataset is available from Soil Data Mart http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov.
Digital versions of hydrography, cultural features, and other associated layers that are not part of the SSURGO data set may be available from the primary organization listed in the Point of Contact. Link the various soil interpretations defined in this data table to the soil geometry by joining the data table to the Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) database map unit boundary polygon features. Use the MUSYM attribute to link this table to the digital soil survey map units.
publication date
A data table that defines soil interpretations for the SSURGO database for the State of Connecticut. (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)
Map Unit Symbol. Unique identifier used to label map units. (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Map Unit Name. Name of soil map unit. (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Connecticut Inland Wetland Soils are those soils that include "any of the soil types designated as poorly drained, very poorly drained, alluvial, and floodplain" by the National Cooperative Soil Survey. (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
| Value | Definition |
|---|---|
| Alluvial and Floodplain Soils | Alluvial and Floodplain soils occur along watercourses occupying nearly all level areas subject to periodic flooding. Soils range from excessively drained to very poorly drained. |
| Poorly Drained and Very Poorly Drained Soils | Poorly drained soils occur where the water table is at or just below the ground surface, usually from late fall to early spring. The land where poorly drained soils occur is nearly level or gently sloping. Many of our red maple swamps are on these soils. Very poorly drained soils generally occur on level land or in depressions. In these areas, the water table lies at or above the surface during most of the growing season. Most of our marshes and bogs are on these soils. |
| Other | Soils which are not dominated by poorly drained, very poorly drained, floodplain and alluvial. Some inclusions of Connecticut Inland Wetland soils may be present. |
| Water | [not provided] |
Hydric Soils are formed under conditions of saturation, flooding, or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part. Under natural conditions, these soils are either saturated or inundated long enough during the growing season to support the growth and reproduction of hydrophytic vegetation. (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
| Value | Definition |
|---|---|
| Hydric | Hydric soils are those soils that formed under conditions of saturation, flooding, or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part. Under natural conditions, these soils are either saturated or inundated long enough during the growing season to support the growth and reproduction of hydrophytic vegetation. |
| Not Rated | Not Rated soils have characteristics that show extreme variability from one location to another. Often these areas are urban land complexes or miscellaneous areas. An on-site investigation is required to determine soil conditions present at the site. |
| Other | Soils other than Hydric dominated soils. |
| Water | [not provided] |
Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems consist of a house sewer, a septic tank followed by a leaching system, any necessary pumps and siphons, and groundwater control system on which the operation of the leaching system is dependent. This soil potential rating focuses mainly on the septic tank leaching field and groundwater control system. (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
| Value | Definition |
|---|---|
| High Potential | These soils have the best combination of characteristics or may have limitations that can be easily overcome using standard installation practices. |
| Medium Potential | These soils have significant limitations, such as low percolation rate, that are generally overcome using commonly applied designs. |
| Low Potential | These soils have one or more limitations, such as low percolation rate and depth to seasonal high water table, that require extensive design and site preparation to overcome. |
| Very Low Potential | These soils have to overcome major soil limitations, such as depth to bedrock, that require extensive design and site preparation. A permit for a Subsurface Disposal System (SSDS) may not be issued unless the naturally occurring soils meet the minimal requirements outlined in the state health code. It is unlikely these soils can be improved sufficiently to meet state health code regulations. |
| Extremely Low Potential | These soils have multiple major limitations, such as flooding and depth to seasonal high water table, which are extremely difficult to overcome. A permit for a SSDS may not be issued unless the naturally occurring soils meet the minimal requirements outlined in the state health code. It is unlikely these soils can be improved sufficiently to meet state health code regulations. |
| Not Rated | Not Rated soils have characteristics that show extreme variability from one location to another. The work needed to overcome adverse soil properties cannot be estimated. Often these areas are urban land complexes or miscellaneous areas. |
| Water | [not provided] |
Soil Parent Materials are the general physical, chemical, and mineralogical composition of the unconsolidated material, mineral or organic, in which the soil forms. (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
| Value | Definition |
|---|---|
| Moderate to Bedrock | The soil depth to bedrock ranges from 20 to 40 inches. |
| Moderate - Shallow to Bedrock | The soil depth to bedrock ranges from 0 to 40 inches. |
| Shallow to Bedrock | The soil depth to bedrock is less than 20 inches. |
| Glacialfluvial - Shallow to Bedrock | Glaciofluvial material has been transported by moving water from melting ice. The material is usually rounded, well sorted sands and gravels. It has very high air and water movement throughout, but very low available water making it very droughty. These materials are important for ground water and aquifer recharge. The soil depth is less than 20 inches. |
| Glaciofluvial | Glaciofluvial material has been transported by moving water from melting ice. The material is usually rounded, well sorted sands and gravels. It has very high air and water movement throughout, but very low available water making it very droughty. These materials are important for ground water and aquifer recharge. |
| Melt-out Till | Melt-out till is material deposited, as the ice beneath the glacier slowly melts away. It is less consolidated and friable than lodgement till. |
| Melt-out Till - Moderate to Bedrock | Melt-out till is material deposited as the ice beneath the glacier slowly melts away. It is less consolidated and friable than lodgement till. The soil depth to bedrock ranges from 20 to 40 inches. |
| Melt-out Till - Shallow to Bedrock | Melt-out till is material deposited, as the ice beneath the glacier slowly melts away. It is less consolidated and friable than lodgement till. The soil depth to bedrock is less than 20 inches. |
| Deep Organic - Inland | Organics are materials deposited from decaying vegetation and microorganisms. These materials have a very high water holding capacity and buffering capability. The depth of the organic materials is greater than 51 inches. |
| Shallow Organic - Shallow | Organics are materials deposited from decaying vegetation and microorganisms. These materials have a very high water holding capacity and buffering capability. The depth of the organic materials is 16 to 51 inches. |
| Deep Organic - Tidal | Organics are materials deposited from decaying vegetation and microorganisms. Organic materials found along coastal and tidal areas are often saline and support distinctively separate habitats from the non-saline organic materials commonly found inland. The depth of the organic materials greater than 51 inches. |
| Shallow Organic - Tidal | Organics are materials deposited from decaying vegetation and microorganisms. Organic materials found along coastal and tidal areas are often saline and support distinctively separate habitats from the non-saline organic materials commonly found inland. The depth of the organic materials is 16 to 51 inches. |
| Alluvial/Floodplain | Alluvial or floodplain deposits are transported by streams overflowing their banks. |
| Glaciolacustrine | Glaciolacustrine material is deposited during placid waters in large lake systems, such as Glacial Lake Hitchcock which formed in the Connecticut River Valley. These materials have layer upon layer of well sorted very fine sands, fine silts, and clays, collectively called varves. |
| Lodgement Till | Lodgement till is material deposited directly beneath the glacier under enormous pressure. It is compact and contains a greater amount of fine-grained sediment. The compact or dense layer reduces the flow of air and water movement, producing a slowly permeable zone which supports perched water tables. |
| Urban Influenced | Urban influenced refers to materials that show extreme variability from one location to another due to disturbance. |
| Water | [not provided] |
Simple classification of Soil Parent Materials - Soil Parent Materials are the general physical, chemical, and mineralogical composition of the unconsolidated material, mineral or organic, in which the soil forms. (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
| Value | Definition |
|---|---|
| Bedrock Controlled | The soil depth to bedrock ranges from 0 to 40 inches. |
| Glaciofluvial | Glaciofluvial material has been transported by moving water from melting ice. The material is usually rounded, well sorted sands and gravels. It has very high air and water movement throughout, but very low available water making it very droughty. These materials are important for ground water and aquifer recharge. |
| Melt-out Till | Melt-out till is material deposited as the ice beneath the glacier slowly melts away. It is less consolidated and friable than lodgement till. |
| Organic - Inland | Organics are materials deposited from decaying vegetation and microorganisms. These materials have a very high water holding capacity and buffering capability. |
| Organic - Tidal | Organics are materials deposited from decaying vegetation and microorganisms. Organic materials found along coastal and tidal areas are often saline and support distinctively separate habitats from the non-saline organic materials commonly found inland. |
| Alluvial Floodplain | Alluvial or floodplain deposits are transported by streams overflowing their banks. |
| Glaciolacustrine | Glaciolacustrine material is deposited during placid waters in large lake systems, such as Glacial Lake Hitchcock which formed in the Connecticut River Valley. These materials have layer upon layer of well sorted very fine sands, fine silts, and clays, collectively called varves. |
| Lodgement Till | Lodgement till is material deposited directly beneath the glacier under enormous pressure. It is compact and contains a greater amount of fine-grained sediment. The compact or dense layer reduces the flow of air and water movement, producing a slowly permeable zone which supports perched water tables. |
| Urban Influence | Urban influenced refers to materials that show extreme variability from one location to another due to disturbance. |
| Water | [not provided] |
This field is reserved for future use. It is currently empty and does not contain any valid values. (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Stormwater Runoff Management - Dry Detention Ponds, also known as dry ponds or detention basins, are designed to capture, temporarily hold, and gradually release a volume of storm water runoff. (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
| Value | Definition |
|---|---|
| Most Suitable | A most suitable rating indicates that the soil has features that are very favorable for the practice. Good performance and relatively low installation and maintenance costs can be expected. |
| Somewhat Suitable | A soil rated somewhat suitable has features that are moderately favorable. The limitations can be overcome or minimized by special planning, design, installation, and maintenance. Increased installation costs and maintenance will be required to sustain performance. |
| Least Suitable | A least suitable rating indicates that at least one soil feature is unfavorable for infiltration systems. The limitation generally cannot be overcome. Sometimes expensive design, installation, and maintenance can be employed, but performance may still be poor. |
| Not Rated | Not Rated soils have characteristics that show extreme variability from one location to another. Often these areas are urban land complexes or miscellaneous areas. |
| Water | [not provided] |
Stormwater Runoff Management - Infiltration Systems are underground, stone filled trenches with no outlet in which storm water is collected and infiltrated into the soil. (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
| Value | Definition |
|---|---|
| Most Suitable | A most suitable rating indicates that the soil has features that are very favorable for the practice. Good performance and relatively low installation and maintenance costs can be expected. |
| Somewhat Suitable | A soil rated somewhat suitable has features that are moderately favorable. The limitations can be overcome or minimized by special planning, design, installation, and maintenance. Increased installation costs and maintenance will be required to sustain performance. |
| Least Suitable | A least suitable rating indicates that at least one soil feature is unfavorable for infiltration systems. The limitation generally cannot be overcome. Sometimes expensive design, installation, and maintenance can be employed, but performance may still be poor. |
| Not Rated | Not Rated soils have characteristics that show extreme variability from one location to another. Often these areas are urban land complexes or miscellaneous areas. |
| Water | [not provided] |
Stormwater Runoff Management - Pervious Paving is any paving material that allows storm water to seep through into the soil. Examples of those materials are pervious asphalt or concrete, grid pavers, and other materials. (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
| Value | Definition |
|---|---|
| Most Suitable | A most suitable rating indicates that the soil has features that are very favorable for the practice. Good performance and relatively low installation and maintenance costs can be expected. |
| Somewhat Suitable | A soil rated somewhat suitable has features that are moderately favorable. The limitations can be overcome or minimized by special planning, design, installation, and maintenance. Increased installation costs and maintenance will be required to sustain performance. |
| Least Suitable | A least suitable rating indicates that at least one soil feature is unfavorable for infiltration systems. The limitation generally cannot be overcome. Sometimes expensive design, installation, and maintenance can be employed, but performance may still be poor. |
| Not Rated | Not Rated soils have characteristics that show extreme variability from one location to another. Often these areas are urban land complexes or miscellaneous areas. |
| Water | [not provided] |
Stormwater Runoff Management - Wet Extended Detention Basins are vegetated ponds that retain a permanent pool of water and are constructed to provide both storage and treatment of storm water flows. (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
| Value | Definition |
|---|---|
| Most Suitable | A most suitable rating indicates that the soil has features that are very favorable for the practice. Good performance and relatively low installation and maintenance costs can be expected. |
| Somewhat Suitable | A soil rated somewhat suitable has features that are moderately favorable. The limitations can be overcome or minimized by special planning, design, installation, and maintenance. Increased installation costs and maintenance will be required to sustain performance. |
| Least Suitable | A least suitable rating indicates that at least one soil feature is unfavorable for infiltration systems. The limitation generally cannot be overcome. Sometimes expensive design, installation, and maintenance can be employed, but performance may still be poor. |
| Not Rated | Not Rated soils have characteristics that show extreme variability from one location to another. Often these areas are urban land complexes or miscellaneous areas. |
| Water | [not provided] |
This field is reserved for future use. It is currently empty and does not contain any valid values. (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
This field is reserved for future use. It is currently empty and does not contain any valid values. (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Soil Drainage Class (natural) - Refers to the frequency and duration of wet periods under conditions similar to those under which the soil formed. Alterations of the water regime by human activities, either through drainage or irrigation, are not a consideration unless they have significantly changed the morphology of the soil. (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
| Value | Definition |
|---|---|
| Excessively drained | Water is removed very rapidly. The occurrence of internal free water commonly is very rare or very deep. The soils are commonly coarse-textured and have very high hydraulic conductivity or are very shallow. |
| Somewhat excessively drained | Water is removed from the soil rapidly. Internal free water occurrence commonly is very rare or very deep. The soils are commonly coarse-textured and have high saturated hydraulic conductivity or are very shallow. |
| Well drained | Water is removed from the soil readily but not rapidly. Internal free water occurrence commonly is deep or very deep; annual duration is not specified. Water is available to plants throughout most of the growing season in humid regions. Wetness does not inhibit growth of roots for significant periods during most growing seasons. The soils are mainly free of features that are related to wetness. |
| Moderately well drained | Water is removed from the soil somewhat slowly during some periods of the year. Internal free water occurrence commonly is moderately deep and transitory through permanent. The soils are wet for only a short time within the rooting depth during the growing season, but long enough that most mesophytic crops are affected. They commonly have a moderately low or lower saturated hydraulic conductivity in a layer within the upper 1 m, periodically receive high rainfall, or both. |
| Somewhat poorly drained | Water is removed slowly so that the soil is wet at a shallow depth for significant periods during the growing season. The occurrence of internal free water commonly is shallow to moderately deep and transitory to permanent. Wetness markedly restricts the growth of mesophytic crops, unless artificial drainage is provided. The soils commonly have one or more of the following characteristics: low or very low saturated hydraulic conductivity, a high water table, additional water from seepage, or nearly continuous rainfall. |
| Poorly drained | Water is removed so slowly that the soil is wet at shallow depths periodically during the growing season or remains wet for long periods. The occurrence of internal free water is shallow or very shallow and common or persistent. Free water is commonly at or near the surface long enough during the growing season so that most mesophytic crops cannot be grown, unless the soil is artificially drained. The soil, however, is not continuously wet directly below plow-depth. Free water at shallow depth is usually present. This water table is commonly the result of low or very low saturated hydraulic conductivity of nearly continuous rainfall, or of a combination of these. |
| Very poorly drained | Water is removed from the soil so slowly that free water remains at or very near the ground surface during much of the growing season. The occurrence of internal free water is very shallow and persistent or permanent. Unless the soil is artificially drained, most mesophytic crops cannot be grown. The soils are commonly level or depressed and frequently ponded. If rainfall is high or nearly continuous, slope gradients may be greater. |
| Not rated | Soils have characteristics that show extreme variability from one location to another. Often these areas are urban land complexes or miscellaneous areas. An on-site investigation is required to determine soil conditions present at the site. |
| Water | [not provided] |
This field is reserved for future use. It is currently empty and does not contain any valid values. (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
This field is reserved for future use. It is currently empty and does not contain any valid values. (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Soil Flooding Class - Soil susceptibility to flooding is the temporary inundation of an area caused by overflowing streams, by runoff from adjacent slopes, or by tides. Water standing for short periods after rainfall or snowmelt is not considered flooding, and water standing in swamps and marshes is considered ponding, rather than flooding. (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
| Value | Definition |
|---|---|
| Very frequent | Very Frequent means that flooding is likely to occur very often under normal weather conditions. The chance of flooding is more than 50 percent in all months of any year. |
| Frequent | Frequent means that flooding is likely to occur often under normal weather conditions. The chance of flooding is more than 50 percent in any year but is less than 50 percent in all months in any year. |
| Occasional | Occasional means that flooding occurs infrequently under normal weather conditions. The chance of flooding is 5 to 50 percent in any year or 5 to 50 times in 100 years. |
| Rare | Rare means that flooding is unlikely but possible under unusual weather conditions. The chance of flooding is 1 to 5 percent in any year or nearly 1 to 5 times in 100 years. |
| Not Rated | Soils having characteristics that show extreme variability from one location to another. Often these areas are urban land complexes or miscellaneous areas. An on-site investigation is required to determine soil conditions present at the site. |
| Water | [not provided] |
This field is reserved for future use. It is currently empty and does not contain any valid values. (Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service)
The map unit symbol attribute (MUSYM) is present in the map unit polygon feature data and in this lookup table. MUSYM uniquely identifies each soil map unit and should be used to join this lookup table to the map unit polygon features. The MUNAME attribute provides the name of the map unit. Attributes such as CTWET, PARMAT, and HYDRIC encode various soil interpretations and are used to classify and cartograhically symbolize the respective soil interpretation. For example, the HYDRIC attribute is populated with the following four values: Hydric, Not Rated, Other, and Water. This classification is used to distinguish soils that meet the definition of Hydric from those that do not as well as identify polygon features that represent waterbodies.
Soil Taxonomy: A basic system of soil classification for making and interpreting soil surveys. Agricultural Handbook 436, 1999, USDA, SCS. Keys to Soil Taxonomy (current issue), USDA, SCS. National Soil Survey Handbook, Title 430-VI, part 647 (current issue), USDA, NRCS. Agricultural Handbook 18, Soil Survey Manual, 1993, USDA, SCS.
USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service
344 Merrow Road, Suite A
SSURGO depicts information about the kinds and distribution of soils on the landscape. The soil map and data used in the SSURGO product were prepared by soil scientists as part of the National Cooperative Soil Survey.
Attribute accuracy is tested by manual comparison of the source with hard copy plots and/or symbolized display of the map data on an interactive computer graphic system. Selected attributes that cannot be visually verified on plots or on screen are interactively queried and verified on screen. In addition, the attributes are tested against a master set of valid attributes. All attribute data conform to the attribute codes in the signed classification and correlation document and amendment(s).
The Soil Interpretation Lookup Table accounts for all soil map units included in the SSURGO database for the State of Connecticut. When joined to the map unit boundary polygons by the MUSYM attribute, this lookup can be used to associate soil interpretation information for all map units.
The following attributes are populated with valid values - MUSYM, MUNAME, CTWET, HYDRIC, SEPT_POT, PAR_MAT, PAR_MATSIM, SRM_DETENT, SRM_INFILT, SRM_PAVE, and SRM_RETENT. Only these fields are available for use. The following attributes are not valid and will be populated with information in subsequent editions of this data table - SRM_BASIN, SRM_WET, HYDROLGRP, DRAINCLASS, KW, KF, FLOODCLS, DEPTH2WATR. These fields are not ready for use.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, should be acknowledged as the data source in products derived from these data. This data set is not designed for use as a primary regulatory tool in permitting or citing decisions, but may be used as a reference source. This is public information and may be interpreted by organizations, agencies, units of government, or others based on needs; however, they are responsible for the appropriate application. Federal, State, or local regulatory bodies are not to reassign to the Natural Resources Conservation Service any authority for the decisions that they make. The Natural Resources Conservation Service will not perform any evaluations of these maps for purposes related solely to State or local regulatory programs. Photographic or digital enlargement of these maps to scales greater than at which they were originally mapped can cause misinterpretation of the data. If enlarged, maps do not show the small areas of contrasting soils that could have been shown at a larger scale. The depicted soil boundaries, interpretations, and analysis derived from them do not eliminate the need for onsite sampling, testing, and detailed study of specific sites for intensive uses. Thus, these data and their interpretations are intended for planning purposes only. Digital data files are periodically updated. Files are dated, and users are responsible for obtaining the latest version of the data.
USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service
344 Merrow Rd., Suite A
Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, no warranty expressed or implied is made by the Agency regarding the utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will warrant the delivery of this product in computer readable format, and will offer appropriate adjustment of credit when the product is determined unreadable by correctly adjusted computer input peripherals, or when the physical medium is delivered in damaged condition. Request for adjustment of credit must be made within 90 days from the date of this shipment from the ordering site. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, nor any of its agencies are liable for misuse of the data, for damage, for transmission of viruses, or for computer contamination through the distribution of these data sets. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
| Data format: | in format FileGeodatabase data table or dBASE table (version ArcGIS) |
|---|---|
| Network links: | http://www.ct.nrcs.usda.gov/soils.html http://www.ct.gov/deep |
These data are available by downloading the information from the Connecticut NRCS website or the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection website.
USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service
344 Merrow Road, Suite A