The Soils of The Regional Municipality of Ottawa=Carleton

The imperfectly drained Rubicon series (Gleyed Humoferric
Podzol subgroup) is found on lower slopes and is subject
to water saturation for short periods during the growing sea
son . Profile characteristics are similar to the Uplands series
except for duller matrix colors and the presence of mottles in
the B horizons and parent material . Colors of the B horizons
tend to be less reddish, and colors ofthe parent materials more
grayish then those found in the excessive to well-drained soils.
Distinct to prominent, strong brown to yellowish brown mottles
also are present in these horizons . A podzolic Bf horizon is
present in these soils .
The imperfectly drained Ramsayville series (Gleyed Sombric
Brunisol subgroup) is also found on lower slopes and is
subject to water saturation for short periods during the grow
ing season . Profile characteristics are similar to the Rubicon
series with two exceptions. First, these soils have Bm or Bfj
horizons rather than podzolic Bf horizons, which place them
in the Brunisolic soil order. And secondly, these soils usually do
not have an eluvial Ae horizon .
The poorly drained St . Samuel series (Orthic Humic Gleysol
subgroup) is found on level to nearly level topography or in
depressions, and is subject to water saturation for much of the
growing season . The surface LFH and/or Ah horizons are
usually slightly thicker, and have a higher organic matter content
than those occurring in the better drained members of the
association . The underlying subsoil is olive brown to brown in
color grading to a dark grayish brown to olive gray parent
material . Occasionally, a discontinuous olive colored eluvial
horizon (Aejg, Aegj) is present which varies in thickness but is
usually quite thin . Prominent yellowish red to strong brown
mottles are common throughout the profile. Structure is single
grain .
Mapped Soil Combinations Approximately 1,000 ha of
Uplands soils were mapped in combination with soils of other
associations . Equal proportions were mapped as both dominant
and significant components, with Uplands-Jockvale and
Kars-Uplands combinations the most extensive. In the latter
combination, the U15 landscape unit comprised the significantcomponent
.
General Land Use Uplands soils are mainly used for hay production,
improved pasture, or grazing . At times, cereal grains
may be grown in rotation with hay or pasture, but the latter
remain the more dominant land uses . Perennial forage crops
are grown for hay or improved pasture, but often uncultivated
native grasses are relied on for grazing purposes . More intensive
agricultural uses, such as continuous corn production, do
occur but their extent is quite limited .
Correlation to Ottawa Urban Fringe Uplands soils mapped
in this survey correlate closely to those found in the Ottawa
Urban Fringe. The majority ofUplands soils mapped occur on
the same landscape, on or adjacent to the glaciofluvial ridge
which extends southward from Gloucester township in Urban
Fringe area into Osgoode township.
Land Type Descriptions
Recent Alluvium (AR)
Land areas of this type are composed of soils which have
developed on recent alluvial deposits . They occur primarily as
flood plains or river bars and are subject to periodic inundation
.
The alluvial deposits occurring in the area vary considerably
in material and profile characteristics which made separation
into well defined map units difficult . Layers of sand, silt,
and clay as well as organic matter constitute many deposits .
Due to this variability, alluvial deposits and representative land
units were identified on the basis of their dominant materials
only. Drainage of most land units ranges from poor to very
poor.
Areas of alluvium were mapped as one of two units based
on the dominantly occurring material . They are described as
follows :
AR1 :Dominantly moderately fine to fine textured material
most often found on floodplains and subject to periodic
inundation . Topography is nearly level with slopes generally
less than 2% .
AR2 : Dominantly moderately coarse to medium textured
material found on floodplains or river bars and subject
to periodic inundation . Topography is nearly level to
very gently sloping or undulating . Slopes are generally
2% or less .
Eroded Channels (ER)
Eroded channel landscapes were shown on the soil maps
as the symbol "ER". These landscapes are the result of erosion
which may have occurred either recently or during past geo
logic times. They primarily consist of steeply to very steeply
sloping, narrow, continuous landforms which occur as gullies,
valley walls, or creekbeds with embankments .
The most prominent eroded channels occur as valleywalls
which parallel rivers and stream courses . Slopes associated
with these landforms are usually steep and short, most often
ranging from 20 to 45% . Less prominent eroded channels
occur as gullies or creekbed embankments which are usually
associated with smaller tributaries . In most cases these smaller
channels occur in areas of level marine plains, and have been
cut into the surface often to a depth of2 to 5m. Embankments
comprising these channels are short and have slopes which are
generally not as steep as those found along valley walls . Slopes
commonly range from 15 to 45 076 .
The downslope movement and slumping of soil materials
is a common occurrence in and along many eroded channels,
especially those cut into thick deposits of marine clay or sand
over clay. When these areas were large enough tomap individually,
they were denoted as aLandslide (LD) unit .
Some areas mapped as eroded channels may have small
areas oflocalized flood plains or recent alluvium within them .
These areas were too small to delineate separately at the map
scale.
Rockland (RK)
Rockland areas consist of landscapes in which more than
25% of the surface consists of either exposed bedrock or areas
having less than 10 cm ofmineral material over bedrock . Rock
landland units which were developed to portray these areas on
the soil maps may occur on Paleozoic sedimentary bedrock
plains, or they may occur in areas where Precambrian igneous
and metamorphic bedrock outcrops at or near the surface .
When found on sedimentary bedrock plains, the most extensive
areas of Rockland land units are associated with limestone
and dolomite bedrock . Less extensive areas are associated with
sandstone bedrock . Both of these occurrences, however,
account for only a small percentage of the total area of all
Rockland units mapped . The largest areas of Rockland land
units are associated with Precambrian igneous and metamorphic
bedrock outcrops . The most extensive areas ofland units
occur on or adjacent to the ridge of granite and gneiss bedrock
which outcrops in a northwest to southeast direction in West
Carleton Township .