The previously discussed Axis-Lafitte (6) and Dorovan-Johnston-Levy associa- 

 tions (12) are also found along the coast of southern Mobile^County and just 

 inland in the Grand Bay Swamp, respectively. 



The Fripp-Leon association (9) soils are deep soils along the coast and 

 include beach soils, sand dunes, and low, wet areas between dunes. Fripp 

 soils are deep, excessively drained sands. Leon soils are also composed of 

 sand, but are poorly drained and have a subsurface layer cemented together 

 with organic material. These soils have limited agricultural value and are 

 used mainly for recreation. 



The Bayou-Escambia-Harleston association (15) soils have loamy surface 

 layers and subsoils and are formed in marine and fluvial sediments on uplands 

 and terraces. Bayou soils occupy large flat areas that have poorly defined 

 drainage ways. Escambia and Harleston soils occupy slightly higher 

 elevations on gently undulating ridges. Bayou soils have a dark-gray sandy 

 loam surface with light-gray sandy loam or sandy clay loam subsoil. Escambia 

 and Harleston soils both have dark gray to olive fine sandy loam or loam 

 surface layers underlain by yellow, brown, gray, and red loam subsoils. 

 These areas are fair for woodland use. Although some of the area is used for 

 urban development it is poorly suited for it due to excessive wetness. 



The Urban Land-Smithton-Benndale association (16) soils occupy the area 

 around the city of Mobile. These are level to gently rolling urban areas 

 interspersed with natural soils having loamy subsoils formed in loamy marine 

 and fluvial sediments on uplands. Urban land has such disturbed soil 

 profiles due to the construction of buildings, roads, and other structures 

 that identification of soils is usually impossible. Smithton soils are 

 poorly drained loamy soils on broad flat areas and along streams; these soils 

 have grayish-brown and brownish-gray fine sandy loam surface overlying 

 brownish-gray fine sandy loam subsoils. Benndale soils are on ridgetops and 

 upper side slopes and are well drained. Benndale soils have dark grayish- 

 brown fine sandy loam topsoil underlain by yellowish-brown or brownish-yellow 

 loam or fine sandy loam subsoils. These areas are mostly urbanized or 

 committed to future urban use, and potential for other uses is poor. 



The Southern Pine Hills is a southward sloping plain, moderately 

 dissected by streams, with subdued topography in the study area, although 

 there are sharp bluffs along the northeast shore of Mobile Bay. Along the 

 seaward margin, the escarpment lies parallel to the gulf and Mississippi 

 Sound from which it turns northward and extends inland, forming subparallel 

 facing escarpments that follow the streams (Alabama Coastal Area Board 1978). 

 The Southern Pine Hills subdivision of the Lower Coastal Plain within Baldwin 

 County is underlain by four basic types of shallow subsurface deposits: 

 marine terraces, and the Citronelle, Mobile Clay, and Ecor Rouge Formations 

 (Isphording 1977). 



Along the coast, in a strip about 24 km (15 mi) wide, are the marine 

 terraces of sand and clay deposited during Pleistocene times. They meet the 

 Recent coastal sand deposits to the south at elevations of 3 to 7 m (10 to 20 

 ft), and overlie the older Citronelle formation. 



85 



