LOCATION GOODHARBOR MITentative Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mesic, uncoated Typic Quartzipsamments
TYPICAL PEDON: Goodharbor sand - on a 6 percent southeast-facing slope on a grassed beach ridge with sparsely scattered jack pine at an elevation of 622 feet above mean sea level. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 1 inch; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) sand, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; weak fine granular structure; very friable; many fine and common medium roots; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. (0 to 3inches thick)
E--1 to 3 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) sand and gray (10YR 6/1) dry; single grain; loose; common fine and medium roots; slightly acid; gradual wavy boundary. (2 to 4 inches thick)
Bw1--3 to 23 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) sand; single grain; loose; few fine roots; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary.
Bw2--23 to 40 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sand; single grain; loose; very few very fine roots; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; diffuse wavy boundary. (The combined thickness of the Bw horizons are 20 to 37 inches)
C--40 to 80 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) sand; single grain; loose; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Benzie County, Michigan; about 6 miles south of Empire; 1700 feet south and 1000 feet west of the northeast corner, of sec. 22, T. 27 N., R. 15W. USGS Beulah, Michigan 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle, lat. 44 degrees 43 minutes 44.83 seconds N. and long. 86 degrees 06 minutes 13.53 seconds W., NAD 83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Thickness of the solum ranges from 26 to 40 inches. Depth to carbonates ranges from 3 to 15 inches. Gravel content ranges from 0 to 15 percent throughout.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 3, and chroma of 1. It is sand or fine sand. The reaction ranges from strongly acid to neutral.
The E horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 5, and chroma of 2. It is sand or fine sand. The reaction ranges from strongly acid to neutral.
The Bw horizons has hue of 10YR, value of 5 or 6, and chroma of 3 or 4. It is sand or fine sand. The reaction is slightly or moderately alkaline.
The C horizon has value of 6 or 7, and chroma of 3 or 4. It is sand or fine sand. The reaction is slightly or moderately alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Boone, Carver, Eastcrop, Evesboro, Gosil, Hooksan, Plymouth, Rockbluff, Runclint, Schaffenaker, Tarr and Tint. These soils do not have carbonates within the control section.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Goodharbor soils are on vegetated beach ridges, beach plains and stabilized sand dunes adjacent to protected harbors along Lake Michigan. Slope gradients usually are between 4 and 12 percent and range from 1 to 12 percent. The soils formed in sandy deposits. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 30 to 32 inches, the mean annual temperature ranges from 46 to 48 degrees F and the elevation ranges from 600 to 1000 feet above sea level.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Nordhouse, Platteriver, Covert, and Dair soils. Nordhouse are on larger associated dunes. The moderately well drained Covert and the somewhat poorly drained Platteriver are on low dunes and long-shore bars. The very poorly drained Dair soils are in lower landscape positions.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Excessively drained. Potential surface runoff is very low or negligible. Permeability is rapid.
USE AND VEGETATION: The greater part is sparsely forested to northern red oak, jack pine, aspen, red maple, blackcherry, paper birch, northern white-cedar, juniper and balsam fir. Recreation is a major use.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRA 96, Northwestern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The series is of small extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana
SERIES PROPOSED: Benzie County, Michigan, 2001.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: Ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface to 3 inches, (A and E horizons); Albic horizon - the zone from 1 to 3 inches (E horizon).