Soils of Anoka County
Few people who are not in the field of natural resource management, such as foresters, farmers, ranchers and conservationists understand the importance of soils for managing and understanding the capacity and limitation of natural resources on a property or in a region
Physical Characteristics
Physical soil characteristics such as water infiltration rates, compaction, texture, water holding capacity, and shrink/swell reaction to moisture and temperature greatly affect the ability of an area to be used for things like roads, septic systems, home foundations, stormwater ponds, and agriculture. These same characteristics greatly influence how easily exposed soils will erode and what practices should be used to keep the soil in place.
Chemical Characteristics
Chemical soil charateristics such as pH, corrosivity, fertility, cation exchange capacity, and organic matter content influence the ability of a soils to yield profitable crops, treat septic system effluent, assimilate pollution in rain water and runoff, and support concrete and metal structures without causing them to corrode.
What Does This Analysis Indicate?
Analysis of soils also provides information about the hydrology of a site. Accumulations of organic matter and soil mottling are both indicators of sustained high water levels that can severely limit the use of an area for purposes ranging from agriculture and recreation to septic systems and dwellings with basements.
Analysis of soils in a broader context across a region or landscape is needed for watershed management, and can provide insight into issues such as protection of drinking water recharge areas.
Soils information is provided in the Soils Survey of Anoka County, USDA Soils Conservation Service, 1977 including county wide maps showing the location of different soil types and charts and text describing important physical and chemical characteristics and use limitations. Soils surveys are useful for site planning and for broad resource management planning.
