Soil Management Group 32 



Coastal beach Dune sand 



This group of soils includes the coastal heach sands found along the 

 State coastline from Maine to Massachusetts and the areas of sand dunes 

 that are found adjacent to the beaches. They are coarse, very sandy soils 

 and have no particular value for agricultural purposes. The dune sand is 

 constantly shifting about, due to wind action, and is a hazard to adjacent 

 areas that might become covered with deposits of sterile sandy material. 

 For recreation, these soils rank verv high. 



Soil Management Group 33 



Fresh water marsh Tidal marsh 



There are two types of marshland recognized in the soil surveys of the 

 State — tidal marsh and fresh water marsh. Tidal marsh occurs in low 

 areas along the seacoast and is covered with water at high tide. The soils 

 usually have a high content of various salts, and the vegetation consists of 

 sedges, reeds, and grasses, some of which are cut for "salt hay". The areas 

 usually will not support tree growth. 



Freshwater marsh occurs around the edges of fresh water oonds and 

 lakes where the water covers them to a depth of a foot or two for all or 

 part of the year. Vegetation consists of grasses, reeds, sedges, and some brush. 



Both types of marsh are valuable principally for wildlife and recreation. 



Soil Management Group 34 



Balch-Littlefieli) I'EAT Peat 



Balch-Littlefield peat, shallow phase Peat, shallow phase 



Muck Waterboro muck 



Muck, shallow phase Waterboro muck, shallow phase 

 Muck and peat 



Occupying some marshy areas and former pond sites are deposits of 

 organic matter which have accumulated from the growth and death of many 

 generations of plants. Most of the deposits are more than three feet in 

 depth over mineral soil. Muck and peat areas that are designated as shallow 

 are simph' areas that are from twelve inches to three feet in depth. 

 On some areas, the surface layers of muck and peat have developed mostly 

 from woody vegetation, such as trees. Other deposits are mainly from 

 mosses, reeds, and sedges. There may be some mixture with mineral soil 

 material which washed or blew in from surrounding areas during or after 

 the laying-down of the plant remains. The organic material is light in 

 weight, spongy, and porous, and holds several times its own weight in 

 water. 



The surface of these deposits is level. They lie in depressions at the 

 level of the ground water table and are difficult to drain. After heavy rains, 

 the water running into the depressions from surrounding uplands may flood 

 the areas for several days. Furthermore, the depressions are frost pockets, 

 and frost may occur every month in the year. 



65 



