Anoka Soil Associations:
Rifle-Isanti Association
This soil association is a series of large level bogs dominated by organic soils and small sandy islandlike features that rise several feet above the general level of the surrounding bogs. The natural water table is high.
This association makes up about 17 percent of the county, It is about 60 percent Rifle soils, 20 percent Isanti soils, and 20 percent soils of minor extent.
Rifle soils occur in large bogs and are very poorly drained. They have a surface layer of very dark brown mucky peat about 8 inches thick. The next layer and the underlying material are dark yellowish-brown and very dark grayish-brown mucky peat.
Isanti soils occur as slight rises and narrow rims around islandlike features and are very poorly drained. They have a surface layer typically of black loamy fine sand or fine sandy loam about 10 inches thick. The subsoil is gray and dark-gray fine sand. The underlying material to a depth of about 31 inches is light brownish-gray fine sand.
Of minor extent is this association are Markey, Soderville, and Zimmerman soils.
Organic soil areas, moderately deep to sandy materials, are occupied by Markey soils. Intermediate lying sandy areas are occupied by Soderville soils. Higher, excessively drained sandy areas are occupied by Zimmerman soils.
Most of this association is poorly suited to urban, farm, and recreational uses. Natural fertility is moderate to low. Available water capacity is low to very high. The chief management needs are controlling the level of the water table and improving and maintaining fertility.
A large part of this association is a game refuge. Small parts are farmed and urbanized. If drained, the organic soils are suited to specialty crops. The largest acreage is in cultured sod. Smaller accretes are in carrots, potatoes, and radishes.
Urban development is limited to the better drained areas. Special precautions are needed against conditions created by the high water table.
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