1
Introduction to the Soils of the Great Lakes
Coastal Zone
1.1
Concept of Soil
There are many definitions for soil ranging from the utilitarian to a description that focuses on material. Soil has been
recognized as (i) a natural body, (ii) a medium for plant
growth, (iii) an ecosystem component, (iv) a vegetated
water-transmitting mantle and (iv) an archive of past climate
and processes. In this book, the definition given in the Keys
to Soil Taxonomy (Soil Survey Staff 2014, p. 1) is followed,
i.e., that the soil “is a natural body comprised of solids
(minerals and organic matter), liquid, and gases that occurs
on the land surface, occupies space, and is characterized by
one or both of the following: horizons, or layers, that are
distinguishable from the initial material as a result of additions, losses, transfers, and transformations of energy and
matter or the ability to support rooted plants in a natural
environment”.
1.2
History of Soils Investigations
in the Great Lakes Region
Few of the early geologists included soils in their analysis of
Great Lakes landforms (Table 1.1). An exception is Frank
Leverett, who compiled massive tomes elucidating the surficial geology and ancient shorelines of Lakes Erie and
Ontario (Leverett 1902), the southern (Leverett 1912) and
northern (Leverett 1910) Peninsulas of Michigan, Lake
Superior (Leverett 1929), and the Great Lakes as a whole
(Leverett and Taylor 1915). Leverett estimated that he had
walked the equivalent of four times the circumference of the
Earth while doing his fieldwork. He published more than 75
papers that totaled more than 5,000 printed pages! He
cooperated with the newly established (1899) US Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Soils. Leverett (1902)
included a brief section on soils in his discussion of the
surficial geology of Lakes Erie and Ontario, following the
Bureau of Soils in delineating soils on the basis of their
origin and texture.
County soil surveys published between 1901 and 1920
for the US Great Lakes region are listed in Table 1.2. The
early surveys recognized soil series and soil types (textural
subdivisions of soil series), along with one or more land
types, such as beach sand, marsh, peat, muck, and meadow.
For the first two decades of the Bureau of Soils surveys, 14
or fewer soil series per county were recognized, with most
having widespread extents. Some of the earliest soil series
included the Volusia (1901), Saugatuck (1901), Dunkirk
(1901), Alton (1902), Warners (1903), Superior (1904),
Vergennes (1904), Newton (1905), and Allis (1906). Soil
mapping in the US Great Lakes initially focused on Lake
Ontario; counties along Lake Superior generally were
mapped last (Table 1.3).
Examples of early soil surveys in the Great Lakes region
with their more recent counterparts are given in Figs. 1.1
through 1.5. The earliest soil survey on a Great Lakes coast
was of Allegan County (Pippen and Rice 1901) along the
southeastern shore of Lake Michigan (Fig. 1.1). Fifteen map
units were recognized, including six soil series. The Allegan
soil series, which is no longer recognized, was divided into
seven soil types, with textures ranging from sand to clay.
Dune sand occurred along the northeast shore (orange); the
Saugatuck sand (yellow) and Allegan sand (brownish tinge)
along the central coast, and finer-textured versions of the
Allegan series in the south. The 1984 general soil map of the
county shows the Oakville soil series along the north and
central coast and the Capac-Rimer-Pipestone Association in
the south (Knapp 1987). The 2019 Web Soil Survey lists the
Plainfield soil series as being dominant, with the Capac,
Chelsea, and Rimer being common.
The first soil map along Lake Superior was of the
Superior, WI area in 1905 (Maynadier et al. 1912) (Fig. 1.2).
The map has eight units and two soil series. Dune sand (gold
color) is shown on the bay-mouth bar linking Wisconsin
Point and Minnesota Point; the remaining coastline contains
the Superior clay (light green). The prominent moraine to the
south (pink color) features the Miami sandy loam, which is
now recognized as containing loess over loamy till and only
© 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_1
1
Introduction to the Soils of the Great Lakes
Coastal Zone
1.1
Concept of Soil
There are many definitions for soil ranging from the utilitarian to a description that focuses on material. Soil has been
recognized as (i) a natural body, (ii) a medium for plant
growth, (iii) an ecosystem component, (iv) a vegetated
water-transmitting mantle and (iv) an archive of past climate
and processes. In this book, the definition given in the Keys
to Soil Taxonomy (Soil Survey Staff 2014, p. 1) is followed,
i.e., that the soil “is a natural body comprised of solids
(minerals and organic matter), liquid, and gases that occurs
on the land surface, occupies space, and is characterized by
one or both of the following: horizons, or layers, that are
distinguishable from the initial material as a result of additions, losses, transfers, and transformations of energy and
matter or the ability to support rooted plants in a natural
environment”.
1.2
History of Soils Investigations
in the Great Lakes Region
Few of the early geologists included soils in their analysis of
Great Lakes landforms (Table 1.1). An exception is Frank
Leverett, who compiled massive tomes elucidating the surficial geology and ancient shorelines of Lakes Erie and
Ontario (Leverett 1902), the southern (Leverett 1912) and
northern (Leverett 1910) Peninsulas of Michigan, Lake
Superior (Leverett 1929), and the Great Lakes as a whole
(Leverett and Taylor 1915). Leverett estimated that he had
walked the equivalent of four times the circumference of the
Earth while doing his fieldwork. He published more than 75
papers that totaled more than 5,000 printed pages! He
cooperated with the newly established (1899) US Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Soils. Leverett (1902)
included a brief section on soils in his discussion of the
surficial geology of Lakes Erie and Ontario, following the
Bureau of Soils in delineating soils on the basis of their
origin and texture.
County soil surveys published between 1901 and 1920
for the US Great Lakes region are listed in Table 1.2. The
early surveys recognized soil series and soil types (textural
subdivisions of soil series), along with one or more land
types, such as beach sand, marsh, peat, muck, and meadow.
For the first two decades of the Bureau of Soils surveys, 14
or fewer soil series per county were recognized, with most
having widespread extents. Some of the earliest soil series
included the Volusia (1901), Saugatuck (1901), Dunkirk
(1901), Alton (1902), Warners (1903), Superior (1904),
Vergennes (1904), Newton (1905), and Allis (1906). Soil
mapping in the US Great Lakes initially focused on Lake
Ontario; counties along Lake Superior generally were
mapped last (Table 1.3).
Examples of early soil surveys in the Great Lakes region
with their more recent counterparts are given in Figs. 1.1
through 1.5. The earliest soil survey on a Great Lakes coast
was of Allegan County (Pippen and Rice 1901) along the
southeastern shore of Lake Michigan (Fig. 1.1). Fifteen map
units were recognized, including six soil series. The Allegan
soil series, which is no longer recognized, was divided into
seven soil types, with textures ranging from sand to clay.
Dune sand occurred along the northeast shore (orange); the
Saugatuck sand (yellow) and Allegan sand (brownish tinge)
along the central coast, and finer-textured versions of the
Allegan series in the south. The 1984 general soil map of the
county shows the Oakville soil series along the north and
central coast and the Capac-Rimer-Pipestone Association in
the south (Knapp 1987). The 2019 Web Soil Survey lists the
Plainfield soil series as being dominant, with the Capac,
Chelsea, and Rimer being common.
The first soil map along Lake Superior was of the
Superior, WI area in 1905 (Maynadier et al. 1912) (Fig. 1.2).
The map has eight units and two soil series. Dune sand (gold
color) is shown on the bay-mouth bar linking Wisconsin
Point and Minnesota Point; the remaining coastline contains
the Superior clay (light green). The prominent moraine to the
south (pink color) features the Miami sandy loam, which is
now recognized as containing loess over loamy till and only
© 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_1
1