Soil Survey of McHenry County, Illinois Part I - Soil Data Mart

Name Description Label
Gray spot A spot in which the surface layer is gray in areas where the
subsurface layer of the named soils in the surrounding map unit are
darker. Typically 0.25 acre to 2.0 acres.
Gully A small channel with steep sides cut by running water through which
water ordinarily runs only after a rain or after melting of snow or ice.
It generally is an obstacle to wheeled vehicles and is too deep to be
obliterated by ordinary tillage.
Iron bog An accumulation of iron in the form of nodules, concretions, or soft
masses on the surface or near the surface of soils. Typically 0.2 acre
to 2.0 acres.
Landfill An area of accumulated waste products of human habitation, either
above or below natural ground level. Typically 0.2 acre to 2.0 acres.
Levee An embankment that confines or controls water, especially one built
along the banks of a river to prevent overflow onto lowlands.
Marsh or swamp A water-saturated, very poorly drained area that is intermittently or
permanently covered by water. Sedges, cattails, and rushes are the
dominant vegetation in marshes, and trees or shrubs are the dominant
vegetation in swamps. Typically 0.2 acre to 2.0 acres.
Mine or quarry An open excavation from which soil and underlying material have
been removed and in which bedrock is exposed. Also denotes surface
openings to underground mines. Typically 0.2 acre to 2.0 acres.
Mine subsided area An area that is lower than the soils in the surrounding map unit
because of subsurface coal mining. Typically 0.25 acre to 3.0 acres.
Miscellaneous water A small, constructed body of water that is used for industrial,
sanitary, or mining applications and that contains water most of the
year. Typically 0.2 acre to 2.0 acres.
Muck spot An area that occurs within an area of poorly drained or very poorly
drained soil and that has a histic epipedon or an organic surface
layer. The symbol is used only in map units consisting of mineral
soil. Typically 0.2 acre to 2.0 acres.
Oil brine spot An area of soil that has been severely damaged by the accumulation
of oil brine, with or without liquid oily wastes. The area is typically
barren but may have a vegetative cover of salt-tolerant plants.
Typically 0.2 acre to 2.0 acres.
Perennial water A small, natural or constructed lake, pond, or pit that contains water
most of the year. Typically 0.2 acre to 2.0 acres.
GSP
GUL
BFE
LDF
LVS
MAR
MPI
MSA
MIS
MUC
OBS
WAT