C. Soils

STATSGO Soils

The Darby Creek Watershed is entirely within the Eastern Corn Belt Ecoregion of Ohio.  The soils in the region can also be divided into more detailed units referred to as STATSGO (State Soils Geographic Database) soils.   The glacially created soils in the Darby Watershed can be generalized into ten soil associations (See Figure 4).  The name of the soil association defines the predominate soil types within the region.  The table below defines the soil associations and their frequency within the watershed.  The Map 4 illustrates where the soil associations are found within the watershed. 

In the STATSGO soil associations there are five dominant soils, Crosby, Brookston, Miamian, Blount, and Kokomo , making up 70 percent of the watershed.  The most extensive soil unit of the Darby Plains is the Kokomo silty clay loam; a very poorly drained soil with nearly level topography.  It has moderately slow permeability and has very slow to ponded runoff.  Kokomo soils were the primary “prairie soil” that supported most wet prairies in the Darby Plains during early settlement (Gordon and Simpson, 1994).  The Crosby is a somewhat poorly drained silt loam with nearly level to gently sloping topography.  It has slow permeability and slow to medium runoff.  Crosby soils, second most extensive in the Darby Plains, supported the mixed oak forests at the time of early settlement (Gordon and Simpson, 1994).  Brookston is a very poorly drained silty clay loam with level to nearly level topography and slow permeability.  Miamian soils are a well drained silt loam on gently sloping to very steep topography.  They have moderately slow permeability and medium to very rapid runoff.  Blount is a somewhat poorly drained silt loam on nearly level to gently sloping topography with slow to moderate permeability and runoff.  Fieldwork is delayed in spring due to wetness for many of the soil types.  To counteract this, much of the landscape has been drained by ditches and tiles.  Other soils found in the watershed include Celina, Eldean, Glynwood, Morley, Nappanee, Ockley, Patton, Paulding, Pewamo, Sleeth, St. Clair, and Westland .

 Kokomo-Crosby-Miamian

The most abundant soil association in the watershed is Kokomo-Crosby-Miamian with more than 99,000 acres covering nearly 28 percent of the watershed.  These soils are found on ground moraines with little slope.  Kokomo soils are on broad flats, are very poorly drained, and have a high water table.  Crosby soils are on the slopes of knolls and ridges, are somewhat poorly drained, and are prone to seasonal wetness.  Crosby soils generally require artificial drainage to render them suitable for agriculture.  Miamian soils are well drained soils on gently sloping to moderately steep soils found on knolls and hills. 

Miamian-Celina-Crosby

The next most abundant association is Miamian-Celina-Crosby with over 72,000 acres, just over 20 percent of the Darby Creek Watershed.  Celina soils are found on nearly level to gently sloping topography and are moderately well drained.  Crosby soils can be found interspersed in low areas of Celina soils and Miamian soils are found on knolls in this association.

 Brookston-Crosby-Celina  

The Brookston-Crosby-Celina association covers nearly 58,000 acres or 16 percent of the watershed.  Brookston are naturally wet soils found on uplands in the Darby Plains.  The topography is typically level to nearly level with very poor drainage.  Crosby and Celina soils are somewhat poorly drained and moderately well drained, respectively, and found on small, low knolls.  If properly drained, soils within this association are well-suited for agriculture. 

Crosby-Miamian-Brookston

Crosby-Miamian-Brookston soil association makes up the fourth most abundant soil association in the watershed.  This association makes up nearly 12 percent of the watershed and covers 42,000 acres.  These soils are located in the Darby Plains of the watershed. 

 Blount-Glynwood-Morley

The fifth most abundant soils association is Blount-Glynwood-Morley association in the watershed.  This association makes up 10 percent of the watershed and covers more than 36,000 acres.  These soils are found on topography characterized by hills, slopes along streams, and gently sloping areas.  Blount soils are somewhat poorly drained and gently sloping whereas Glynwood soils are moderately well drained and sloping.  Morley soils are moderately well drained and are gently sloping to very steep.

Back to Table of Contents

All information found on this website is for informational purposes only by the Darby Joint Board of Supervisors. All text, images, logos and information contained on this website are property of the Joint Board and they may not be used or reproduced without permission of the Joint Board. 
For problems or questions regarding this website please contact the Darby Watershed Coordinator.
Last updated: August 18, 2008.