3.2 Subregional descriptions 



Subregions 1 and 2 . These subregions include most of New London 

 County and the lower half of Middlesex County. They are in the New England 

 Upland and Seaboard Lowland physiographic provinces. The major drainageways 

 of the area, emptying into the Sound, are the Connecticut and Thames Rivers. 



The subregions consist of soils on glaciated uplands, outwash 

 terraces, alluvial plains, inland organic deposits and tidal marsh deposits. 

 The mineral soils have developed mostly in materials derived from granite, 

 gneiss and schist rocks. The organic soils have developed in materials 

 derived from various herbaceous and woody plants. 



Soil patterns in these two subregions are complex with regard 

 to slope, texture and stoniness, permeability, wetness and depth to bedrock. 

 The soils commonly exhibit highly contrasting features within short distances. 

 The deep upland soils are naturally stony, however, surface stones have been 

 removed in many areas. These soils are friable throughout or they may 

 contain a compact fragipan that is slowly permeable. They range from well 

 drained to very poorly drained. Bedrock outcrops are common in areas of 

 shallow upland soils. Soils of the terraces and alluvial plains have 

 variable drainage, lack stones and are mostly highly permeable. Very poorly 

 drained organic soils occur in scattered depressions throughout the uplands 

 terraces and alluvial plains. Tidal marshes consist of wet organic soils 

 common along the coastline, in estuaries and in tidal embayments. 



Subregion 3 . This subregion includes most of New Haven County. 

 It is in portions of three physiographic provinces: the Seaboard Lowland, 

 the Connecticut Valley Lowland and the New England Upland. The Connecticut 

 Valley Lowland occupies the middle of the subregion. The major drainageways 

 of the area, emptying into the Sound, are the Housatonic and the Quinnipiac 

 Rivers . 



The subregion consists of soils on glaciated uplands, outwash 

 terraces, alluvial plains, inland organic deposits and tidal marsh deposits. 

 The mineral soils of the Connecticut Valley Lowland have developed mostly 

 in materials derived from basalt and reddish-brown sedimentary rocks. The 

 soils of the New England Upland are formed mostly in materials derived from 

 granite, gneiss and schist rocks. Organic soils of the area have developed 

 in materials derived from various herbaceous and woody plants. 



Soil patterns in subregion 3 are complex with regard to slope, 

 texture and stoniness, permeability, wetness, depth to bedrock and kinds of 

 parent material. The soils commonly exhibit highly contrasting features 

 within short distances. The deep upland soils are naturally stony, however, 

 surface stones have been removed in many areas. These soils are friable 

 throughout or they may contain a compact fragipan that is slowly permeable. 

 They range from well drained to very poorly drained. Bedrock outcrops are 

 common in areas of shallow upland soils. This is especially true along the 

 borders of the Connecticut Valley Lowland. Soils of the terraces and alluvial 



