Soil Survey of Jackson County, Texas Page: 53
This book is part of the collection entitled: Texas Soil Surveys and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.
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Jackson County, Texas
or to a cemented pan, large stones, and flooding affect
the ease of excavation and construction. Landscaping
and grading that require cuts and fills of more than 5 or
6 feet are not considered.
Local roads and streets have an all-weather surface
and carry automobile and light truck traffic all year.
They have a subgrade of cut or fill soil material; a base
of gravel, crushed rock, or stabilized soil material; and a
flexible or rigid surface. Cuts and fills are generally
limited to less than 6 feet. The ratings are based on soil
properties, site features, and observed performance of
the soils. Depth to bedrock or to a cemented pan, depth
to a high water table, flooding, large stones, and slope
affect the ease of excavating and grading. Soil strength
(as inferred from the engineering classification of the
soil), shrink-swell potential, frost action potential, and
depth to a high water table affect the traffic-supporting
capacity.
Lawns and landscaping require soils on which turf
and ornamental trees and shrubs can be established
and maintained. The ratings are based on soil
properties, site features, and observed performance of
the soils. Soil reaction, depth to a high water table,
depth to bedrock or to a cemented pan, the available
water capacity in the upper 40 inches, and the content
of salts, sodium, and sulfidic materials affect plant
growth. Flooding, wetness, slope, stoniness, and the
amount of sand, clay, or organic matter in the surface
layer affect trafficability after vegetation is established.
Sanitary Facilities
Table 10 shows the degree and the kind of soil
limitations that affect septic tank absorption fields,
sewage lagoons, and sanitary landfills. The limitations
are considered slight if soil properties and site features
are generally favorable for the indicated use and
limitations are minor and easily overcome; moderate if
soil properties or site features are not favorable for the
indicated use and special planning, design, or
maintenance is needed to overcome or minimize the
limitations; and severe if soil properties or site features
are so unfavorable or so difficult to overcome that
special design, significant increases in construction
costs, and possibly increased maintenance are
required.
Table 10 also shows the suitability of the soils for
use as daily cover for landfill. A rating of good indicates
that soil properties and site features are favorable for
the use and that good performance and low
maintenance can be expected; fair indicates that soil
properties and site features are moderately favorable
for the use and one or more soil properties or site
features make the soil less desirable than the soils
rated good; and poor indicates that one or more soilproperties or site features are unfavorable for the use
and overcoming the unfavorable properties requires
special design, extra maintenance, or costly alteration.
Septic tank absorption fields are areas in which
effluent from a septic tank is distributed into the soil
through subsurface tiles or perforated pipe. Only that
part of the soil between depths of 24 and 72 inches is
evaluated. The ratings are based on soil properties, site
features, and observed performance of the soils.
Permeability, depth to a high water table, depth to
bedrock or to a cemented pan, and flooding affect
absorption of the effluent. Large stones and bedrock or
a cemented pan interfere with installation.
Unsatisfactory performance of septic tank absorption
fields, including excessively slow absorption of effluent,
surfacing of effluent, and hillside seepage, can affect
public health. Ground water can be polluted if highly
permeable sand and gravel or fractured bedrock is less
than 4 feet below the base of the absorption field, if
slope is excessive, or if the water table is near the
surface. There must be unsaturated soil material
beneath the absorption field to filter the effluent
effectively. Many local ordinances require that this
material be of a certain thickness.
Sewage lagoons are shallow ponds constructed to
hold sewage while aerobic bacteria decompose the
solid and liquid wastes. Lagoons should have a nearly
level floor surrounded by cut slopes or embankments of
compacted soil. Lagoons generally are designed to hold
the sewage within a depth of 2 to 5 feet. Nearly
impervious soil material for the lagoon floor and sides is
required to minimize seepage and contamination of
ground water.
Table 10 gives ratings for the natural soil that makes
up the lagoon floor. The surface layer and, generally, 1
or 2 feet of soil material below the surface layer are
excavated to provide material for the embankments.
The ratings are based on soil properties, site features,
and observed performance of the soils. Considered in
the ratings are slope, permeability, depth to a high
water table, depth to bedrock or to a cemented pan,
flooding, large stones, and content of organic matter.
Excessive seepage resulting from rapid permeability
in the soil or a water table that is high enough to raise
the level of sewage in the lagoon causes a lagoon to
function unsatisfactorily. Pollution results if seepage is
excessive or if floodwater overtops the lagoon. A high
content of organic matter is detrimental to proper
functioning of the lagoon because it inhibits aerobic
activity. Slope, bedrock, and cemented pans can cause
construction problems, and large stones can hinder
compaction of the lagoon floor.
Sanitary landfills are areas where solid waste is
disposed of by burying it in soil. There are two types of53
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Miller, Wesley L. Soil Survey of Jackson County, Texas, book, May 1997; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth224539/m1/63/: accessed April 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.