Soil Survey of Lincoln County, West Virginia - Soil Data Mart - US ...

Soil Survey of Lincoln County, West Virginia
A seasonal high water table restricts the use of logging equipment in some
areas.
The main limitations affecting most urban uses in areas of the major soils are
the flooding and low strength. The limitations affecting most urban uses in areas
of the minor soils include the frequent flooding, a seasonal high water table, slow
permeability, a severe hazard of slippage, the limited depth to bedrock, a high
shrink-swell potential, and low strength.
4. Kaymine-Fiveblock
Very deep, nearly level to very steep, well drained and somewhat excessively drained
soils that have a channery, loamy substratum; on ridges and side slopes of hills and
mountains
This map unit is in the southeast and southwest corners of the county, in areas that
have been mined for coal. The landscape is characterized by very steep and steep
mountains that have been reshaped by coal mining operations. Nearly level to sloping
broad ridge crests and narrow benches created by surface mining are common in
areas of this map unit. Slopes range from 0 to 65 percent but are dominantly 35 to
65 percent. Rock outcrop commonly occurs in this map unit in the form of ledges,
bluffs, and chimney rock at the head of drainageways and along points of ridges. It
consists of interbedded sandstone, siltstone, shale, and coal. Stones and boulders
are also common in areas of the map unit.
This map unit makes up about 2 percent of the survey area. It is about 43 percent
Kaymine and similar soils, 22 percent Fiveblock and similar soils, and 35 percent soils
of minor extent.
Kaymine soils are very deep and well drained. They are on nearly level and gently
sloping benches, strongly sloping to very steep side slopes of hills, and very steep
outslopes in areas that were surface-mined for coal. Slopes range from 0 to
65 percent. These soils formed in nonacid regolith from the surface mining of coal.
Typically, they have a surface layer of channery loam and a substratum of very
channery loam or silt loam. Permeability is moderate or moderately rapid.
Fiveblock soils are very deep and well drained. They are on nearly level and
gently sloping benches, strongly sloping to very steep side slopes of hills, and very
steep outslopes in areas that were surface-mined for coal. Slopes range from 0 to
65 percent. These soils formed in sandstone-dominated, nonacid regolith from the
surface mining of coal. Typically, they have a surface layer of channery loam and a
substratum of very channery sandy loam or loamy sand. Permeability is moderately
rapid or rapid.
Of minor extent in this map unit are the Gilpin, Matewan, Rayne, and Latham soils
on ridges of hills and mountains and Pineville and Guyandotte soils on hillslopes.
The major soils in this map unit are not suited to cultivated crops, hay, or pasture
but are well suited to woodland and habitat for woodland wildlife. Most areas are in
second growth hardwoods. The native trees on side slopes having warm aspects and
on ridgetops are predominantly white oak, black oak, red maple, and hickory. Virginia
pine and shortleaf pine are in a few small areas. Yellow-poplar, white oak, American
beech, black locust, American basswood, and black walnut are in areas with cool
aspects. Productivity is moderate or moderately high on warm aspects and high on
cool aspects. The hazard of erosion, the equipment limitation, the seedling mortality
rate, and plant competition are concerns in managing timber production.
These soils are not suited to most urban uses because of the steepness of slope
and the rock outcrop. In addition, the soils are susceptible to landslides if they are
undercut during the construction of roads or buildings.
13