Breunig & Company
Consulting Firm
Residential Site Suitability Report Prepared for:
Frank Jefferson
February 2009
Soils 661
Consultant Report 1
Mark Breunig
Introduction
The Jefferson Property is located in eastern Adams County, Wisconsin. Frank Jefferson recently
inherited this land from his grandfather, Lloyd Jefferson, and has requested a residential site suitability
report. Mr. Jefferson has hired the Breunig & Company Consulting Firm because Lloyd had warned him
that certain parts of his land were not good home sites. Mr. Jefferson is interested in building a home
that is near a pre-existing road to save on driveway construction costs. He also would prefer a site that
is not adjacent to a pre-existing home, and is hoping his home can have a basement.
The current land uses on the Jefferson property vary, and can be found in Figure 1. Table 1
provides a summary of the acreage and percent area of each land use. The mixed forest area accounts
for majority, 83.6% - 320.1 acres, of the 383 plot of land. The thinly forested areas within the mixed
forest land have recently been converted from cultivated land to forest. The next largest proportion of
land, 41.8 acres or 10.9% of the total land, is currently rented out to a local pine plantation operation
that extends south of the Jefferson property. Three small patches of cultivated land, accounting for 18.8
acres or 4.9% of the total area, are currently leased out to local farmers. County Highway G runs
through the center of the property, accounting for 2.1 acres or 0.5% of the total property.
Figure 1. Current land use as of February 2009 on the Jefferson property.
Table 1. Summary of land use areas on the Jefferson Property.
Land Use
Acres
Percent of Total
Forest - Mixed
Pine Plantation
Cultivated Land
Transportation
Total
320.1
41.8
18.8
2.1
383
83.6%
10.9%
4.9%
0.5%
Residential Site Suitability Data
This 383 acre plot of land contains 13 different soil map units. A soil map unit represents an
area that is predominantly composed of one or more dominant soil type. Although they appear as
specific areas on the map in Figure 2, they actual soil composition and distribution is more variable and
complex. However, the soil map unit serves as a very useful tool to land managers because the
dominant soil type within a contiguous area will have the most impact on the behavior and properties of
the soil.
Figure 2. Soil map unit symbols within the Jefferson property (Soil Survey Staff 2006).
Most of the Jefferson property is composed of one of three soil map units. The acres of each
soil map unit and percent area can be found in Table 2. 108.4 acres or 28.4% of the area is Boone sand
(BnD), 6 to 12% slopes. 93.7 or 24.6% of the area is Boone sand (BnC) 6 to 12% slopes. 54.3 acres or
14.2% of the area is Plainfield sand (PfB), 2-6% slopes. The other ten soil map units each compose less
than 9% of the total Jefferson property.
The suitability for dwellings with basements rating is a good starting point when deciding on a
residential site. Figure 3 provides a map of these ratings, Table 3 describes the ratings by soil map unit,
and Table 4 summarizes the total areas for each ranking. According to Table 4, 101.5 acres or 26.5% of
the Jefferson property is ranked as “not limited”, meaning it is very well suited for a dwelling with a
basement. The rest of the land is either somewhat limited (37.7%) or very limited (35.8%)for dwellings
with basements.
The erosion hazard for unsurfaced roads and trails is also important to consider, since a
driveway will need to be constructed prior to building the home in order to accommodate construction
equipment. Figure 4 displays these rankings as a map, Table 5 describes the ratings by soil map unit,
and Table 6 summarizes the over areas for each ranking. According to Table 6, 26.5% of the Jefferson
property has a slight erosion hazard for unsurfaced roads and trails.
Table 2. Soil map unit symbols, names, acres, and percent of total area within the Jefferson property (Web Soil Survey 2009).
Figure 3. Suitability for dwelling with basements. Red = very limited, yellow = somewhat limited, green = not limited. Map
scale is 1:20,000 (Web Soil Survey 2009).
Table 3. Suitability for dwelling with basements by map unit for the Jefferson property (Web Soil Survey 2009).
Map
Component
Rating reasons
unit
name
(numeric
in
symbol
(percent)
values)
AOI
BnC
Map unit name
Rating
Boone sand, 6 to 12
Somewhat Boone (100%) Slope (0.04)
percent slopes
limited
Acres Percent
of AOI
93.0
24.3%
3.6
1.0%
108.6
28.4%
29.3
7.6%
Slope (0.04)
34.1
8.9%
Slope (1.00)
14.7
3.8%
5.0
1.3%
Slope (0.04)
17.0
4.4%
Slope (1.00)
9.5
2.5%
10.4
2.7%
55.0
14.4%
1.9
0.5%
Depth to soft
bedrock (0.01)
BnD
Boone sand, 12 to 25
Very
percent slopes
limited
Boone (100%) Slope (1.00)
Depth to soft
bedrock (0.01)
BpF
Boone-Rock outcrop
Very
complex, 25 to 45 percent
limited
Boone (60%)
Depth to soft
slopes
CoB
CoC
CoD
OkB
OkC
OkD
PfA
PfB
WyB
Slope (1.00)
bedrock (0.01)
Coloma sand, 2 to 6
Not
Coloma
percent slopes
limited
(100%)
Coloma sand, 6 to 12
Somewhat Coloma
percent slopes
limited
(100%)
Coloma sand, 12 to 25
Very
Coloma
percent slopes
limited
(100%)
Okee loamy sand, 2 to 6
Not
Okee (100%)
percent slopes
limited
Okee loamy sand, 6 to 12
Somewhat Okee (100%)
percent slopes
limited
Okee loamy sand, 12 to 25 Very
Okee (100%)
percent slopes
limited
Plainfield sand, 0 to 2
Not
Plainfield
percent slopes
limited
(100%)
Plainfield sand, 2 to 6
Not
Plainfield
percent slopes
limited
(100%)
Wyocena loamy sand, 2 to
Not
Wyocena
6 percent slopes
limited
(100%)
Table 3. Suitability for dwelling with basements by map unit for the Jefferson property (Web Soil Survey 2009).
Map
Component
Rating reasons
unit
name
(numeric
in
symbol
(percent)
values)
AOI
WyD
Map unit name
Rating
Wyocena loamy sand, 12 to Very
25 percent slopes
limited
Wyocena
Acres Percent
Slope (1.00)
0.4
of AOI
0.1%
(100%)
Totals for Area of Interest
382.5 100.0%
Table 4. Summary of suitability for dwelling with basements for the Jefferson property (Web Soil Survey 2009).
Rating
Acres in AOI
Percent of AOI
Somewhat limited
144.2
37.7%
Very limited
136.8
35.8%
Not limited
101.5
26.5
Figure 4. Erosion hazard for unsurfaced roads and trails. Orange = severe, light green = moderate, green = slight. Map scale
is 1:20,000 (Web Soil Survey 2009).
Table 5. Erosion hazard for unsurfaced roads and trails by soil map unit (Web Soil Survey 2009).
Map
unit
symbol
Map unit
name
Rating
Component
name
(percent)
Rating reasons
(numeric values)
Acres
in
AOI
Percent
of AOI
BnC
Boone
sand, 6 to
12 percent
slopes
Moderate
Boone
(100%)
Slope/erodibility
(0.50)
93
24.30%
BnD
Boone
sand, 12 to
25 percent
slopes
Severe
Boone
(100%)
Slope/erodibility
(0.95)
3.6
1.00%
BpF
Boone-Rock
outcrop
complex,
25 to 45
percent
slopes
Severe
Boone
(60%)
Slope/erodibility
(0.95)
108.6
28.40%
Rock
outcrop
(40%)
Slope/erodibility
(0.95)
29.3
7.60%
Slope/erodibility
(0.95)
CoB
Coloma
sand, 2 to
6 percent
slopes
Slight
Coloma
(100%)
CoC
Coloma
sand, 6 to
12 percent
slopes
Moderate
Coloma
(100%)
Slope/erodibility
(0.50)
34.1
8.90%
CoD
Coloma
sand, 12 to
25 percent
slopes
Severe
Coloma
(100%)
Slope/erodibility
(0.95)
14.7
3.80%
OkB
Okee loamy
sand, 2 to
6 percent
slopes
Slight
Okee
(100%)
5
1.30%
Table 6. Erosion hazard for unsurfaced roads and trails by soil map unit (Web Soil Survey 2009).
Map
unit
symbol
Map unit
name
Rating
Component
name
(percent)
Rating reasons
(numeric values)
OkC
Okee loamy
sand, 6 to
12 percent
slopes
Moderate
Okee
(100%)
Slope/erodibility
(0.50)
17
4.40%
OkD
Okee loamy
sand, 12 to
25 percent
slopes
Plainfield
sand, 0 to
2 percent
slopes
Severe
Okee
(100%)
Slope/erodibility
(0.95)
9.5
2.50%
Slight
Plainfield
(100%)
10.4
2.70%
PfB
Plainfield
sand, 2 to
6 percent
slopes
Slight
Plainfield
(100%)
55
14.40%
WyB
Wyocena
loamy
sand, 2 to
6 percent
slopes
Slight
Wyocena
(100%)
1.9
0.50%
WyD
Wyocena
loamy
sand, 12 to
25 percent
slopes
Severe
Wyocena
(100%)
0.4
0.10%
382.5
100.00%
PfA
Slope/erodibility
(0.95)
Totals for Area of Interest
Acres
in
AOI
Percent
of AOI
Table 7. Summary of erosion hazards for unsurfaced roads and trails for the Jefferson property. (Web Soil Survey 2009).
Rating
Acres in AOI
Percent of AOI
Moderate
144.2
37.7%
Severe
136.8
35.8%
Slight
101.5
26.5%
Totals for Area of Interest
382.5
100.0%
Recommended Site
The Breunig and Company Consulting Firm recommends the new home be built anywhere in the
10 acre zone in the northwest corner of the property shown in Figure 5. The selection criteria consisted
of: close proximity to pre-existing road, not adjacent to other dwelling, soils suitable for dwellings with
basement, and a low erosion hazard associated with unsurfaced roads. The recommended area
represents an area that has the best combination of all these factors. It is near a pre-existing road, and
is not adjacent to another home. As can be seen on Figure 2, the recommended area consists of
Plainfield sand (PfA), 0-2% slopes. This soil’s suitability is “not limited” for residential dwellings with
basements (Figure 3, Table 1), meaning it is a prime location for such a use. In addition, the erosion
hazard for unsurfaced roads is ranked as slight, meaning there should be limited impacts from the
construction equipment (Table 5, Figure 4). Also, the option of having an unsurfaced road will save Mr.
Jefferson money. The gentle slope itself (0-2%) is another benefit of this area, as construction
equipment can more easily navigate and will have less impact.
Figure 5. Recommended site for Frank Jefferson’s new home designated by the orange polygon in the northwest
corner of the property.
It is also recommended that the original forest type, white pine, be re-established on the zone
indicated in Figure 1Figure 5. This will certainly make the home a more ascetically pleasing environment,
and restore the land back to its natural state. Contact a local tree company for more specific planting
strategies or tips.
As can be seen in Figure 3, there are other areas within the property that are well suited for
dwelling with basements. However, each of these areas lacks some other criteria. For example, the PfB
map unit (Plainfield sand, 2-6% slopes) just west of County Highway G is well suited for a home with a
basement. However, it is near another home, and the 2-6% slopes are less ideal than the 0-2% slopes
found in the PfA map unit.
Certain areas within the property should definitely not be built on. These include any of the red
areas in Figure 3. The BpF CoD soil map units have much too steep slopes for home construction, and
are a far distance from any roads. Comparing Figure 3 and Figure 4, the same areas that have poor
suitabilities for homes with basements have high unsurface road erosion potentials. It is strongly
recommended to avoid these areas.
Thank You!
We know you have a choice when selecting an environmental consulting firm. Thank you for
choosing Breunig & Company! We can assure you we provide the most for your dollar.
Works Cited
Soil Survey Staff. 2006. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) database for Adams County, Wisconsin. U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Soil Web Survey. Accessed Feb 2009. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation
Service. http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx