8
Soils of the Lake Huron Coastal Zone
8.1
Introduction
Lake Huron is the second largest Great Lake by area and
third largest by volume. It is conjoined with Lake Michigan
and has the same elevation of 176 m. The Lake Huron shore
is composed of Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks
in the north along Georgian Bay; the Niagara Escarpment
links the Bruce Peninsula with Manitoulin, Cockburn, and
Drummond Islands; sandstone and shale are present elsewhere. The floristic tension zone extends across Lake Huron
from Saginaw, MI to Grand Bend, ON, separating the
temperate mixed coniferous-broadleaved forest from the
temperate broadleaved forest. Soils along the Lake Huron
shore occur on geomorphic surfaces from the Algonquin,
Warren, and Nipissing lake stages.
8.2
Soils by Natural Resource Segment
The US Lake Huron coastal zone is mantled dominantly
with Haplorthods and Endoaquods, along with some
Endoaquolls, Haplosaprists, and Eutrudepts (Table 6.1;
Fig. 8.1). Lake Huron can be divided into eight segments
based on MLRAs, parent materials, and dominant soil series.
The first segment extends from Port Huron to Au Gres,
Michigan. Part of MLRA 99, the Erie-Huron Lake Plain.
This segment contains wave-washed till of the Port Huron
Moraine with discontinuous lacustrine silt and clay
(Fig. 8.2). The wave-washed till contains Glossaqualfs
(Londo), Epiaquepts (Parkhill), and Epiaquolls (Tappan).
Glacial lake benches overlain by sandy lacustrine sediments
support Psammaquents (Tobico). Sandy lacustrine sediments
support Endoaquods (Iosco), and Haplorthods (Covert).
Stabilized dunes and beach ridges have Udipsamments
(Eastport and Plainfield soil series). The Iosco soil series is
shown in Fig. 5.7B.
The second segment along the Lake Huron coastal zone
extends from Au Gres to Alpena, Michigan. This segment is
part of MLRA 94A, Northern Michigan and Wisconsin [sic]
Sandy Drift. This segment contains mainly sandy lacustrine
sediments from the Algoma, Nipissing, and Algonquin lake
stages that is draped over the Port Huron moraine further
inland (Fig. 8.3). Beach ridges are common along the shore
and have Haplorthods (Croswell), Endoaquods (Au Gres),
and Psammaquents (Deford) (Figs. 8.4 and 8.5). The Croswell and Au Gres soil series are shown in Fig. 5.6A and the
left panel of Fig. 5.7.
The third segment extends from Alpena to Mackinaw
City (MLRA 94C, Michigan Northern Lower Peninsula
Sandy Drift). The sandy lacustrine materials feature
(Haplorthods (Croswell and East Lake soil series), Endoaquods (Iosco and Au Gres), and Psammaquents (Roscommon). Beach ridges and stabilized dunes contain
Udispamments (Deer Park). Glacial lake benches feature
Hapludolls (Alpena) and Endoaquolls (Ruse). Haplosaprists
(Cathro, Lupton, and Tawas soil series) occupy depressions
of lake plains. The Deer Park soil series is shown in
Fig. 5.17.
The fourth segment in the Lake Huron coastal zone
extends from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, along the north shore
of the Georgian Bay to Blind River. This segment contains
discontinuous sandy loam lacustrine deposits and drift
underlain by Precambrian granite and gneiss rocks of the
Canadian Shield. The dominant great groups are Haplorthods (Monteagle soil series), Hapludalfs-Glossudalfs (Baldwin), Endo-, Epiaquods (Mallard), and Endo-, Epiaquepts
(Kenabeek soil series). Beach ridges and dunes are uncommon along this segment. Areas mapped as marshes are likely
Haplosaprists, Haplohemists, and possibly wet mineral soils.
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
J. G. Bockheim, Soils of the Laurentian Great Lakes, USA and Canada,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52425-8_8
111
Soils of the Lake Huron Coastal Zone
8.1
Introduction
Lake Huron is the second largest Great Lake by area and
third largest by volume. It is conjoined with Lake Michigan
and has the same elevation of 176 m. The Lake Huron shore
is composed of Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks
in the north along Georgian Bay; the Niagara Escarpment
links the Bruce Peninsula with Manitoulin, Cockburn, and
Drummond Islands; sandstone and shale are present elsewhere. The floristic tension zone extends across Lake Huron
from Saginaw, MI to Grand Bend, ON, separating the
temperate mixed coniferous-broadleaved forest from the
temperate broadleaved forest. Soils along the Lake Huron
shore occur on geomorphic surfaces from the Algonquin,
Warren, and Nipissing lake stages.
8.2
Soils by Natural Resource Segment
The US Lake Huron coastal zone is mantled dominantly
with Haplorthods and Endoaquods, along with some
Endoaquolls, Haplosaprists, and Eutrudepts (Table 6.1;
Fig. 8.1). Lake Huron can be divided into eight segments
based on MLRAs, parent materials, and dominant soil series.
The first segment extends from Port Huron to Au Gres,
Michigan. Part of MLRA 99, the Erie-Huron Lake Plain.
This segment contains wave-washed till of the Port Huron
Moraine with discontinuous lacustrine silt and clay
(Fig. 8.2). The wave-washed till contains Glossaqualfs
(Londo), Epiaquepts (Parkhill), and Epiaquolls (Tappan).
Glacial lake benches overlain by sandy lacustrine sediments
support Psammaquents (Tobico). Sandy lacustrine sediments
support Endoaquods (Iosco), and Haplorthods (Covert).
Stabilized dunes and beach ridges have Udipsamments
(Eastport and Plainfield soil series). The Iosco soil series is
shown in Fig. 5.7B.
The second segment along the Lake Huron coastal zone
extends from Au Gres to Alpena, Michigan. This segment is
part of MLRA 94A, Northern Michigan and Wisconsin [sic]
Sandy Drift. This segment contains mainly sandy lacustrine
sediments from the Algoma, Nipissing, and Algonquin lake
stages that is draped over the Port Huron moraine further
inland (Fig. 8.3). Beach ridges are common along the shore
and have Haplorthods (Croswell), Endoaquods (Au Gres),
and Psammaquents (Deford) (Figs. 8.4 and 8.5). The Croswell and Au Gres soil series are shown in Fig. 5.6A and the
left panel of Fig. 5.7.
The third segment extends from Alpena to Mackinaw
City (MLRA 94C, Michigan Northern Lower Peninsula
Sandy Drift). The sandy lacustrine materials feature
(Haplorthods (Croswell and East Lake soil series), Endoaquods (Iosco and Au Gres), and Psammaquents (Roscommon). Beach ridges and stabilized dunes contain
Udispamments (Deer Park). Glacial lake benches feature
Hapludolls (Alpena) and Endoaquolls (Ruse). Haplosaprists
(Cathro, Lupton, and Tawas soil series) occupy depressions
of lake plains. The Deer Park soil series is shown in
Fig. 5.17.
The fourth segment in the Lake Huron coastal zone
extends from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, along the north shore
of the Georgian Bay to Blind River. This segment contains
discontinuous sandy loam lacustrine deposits and drift
underlain by Precambrian granite and gneiss rocks of the
Canadian Shield. The dominant great groups are Haplorthods (Monteagle soil series), Hapludalfs-Glossudalfs (Baldwin), Endo-, Epiaquods (Mallard), and Endo-, Epiaquepts
(Kenabeek soil series). Beach ridges and dunes are uncommon along this segment. Areas mapped as marshes are likely
Haplosaprists, Haplohemists, and possibly wet mineral soils.
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
J. G. Bockheim, Soils of the Laurentian Great Lakes, USA and Canada,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52425-8_8
111