Soil is literally the foundation of an ecosystem. The United States Department of Agriculture’s soil conservation service conducts and publishes soil surveys. A local soil survey can be a great way to learn about an area’s past and present natural resources.
Different sections of the survey map are marked with different symbols. These stand for different types of soil, given in a key associated with the map. The soil types are described in the front of the book. This is the 1954 soil survey map for Indian Beach/Sapphire Shores.
Lc – Leon Fine Sand
Leon Fine Sand (also called EauGallie/Myakka fine sands) is the most predominant soil in our neighborhood, and the second most predominant in Sarasota county, ranking only after Immokalee. They are flatwoods soils with dark organic pan at depths between 14 and 30 inches, above which is somewhat poorly drained acidic sand. True to their flatwood designation, the soils form level ground, making runoff slow. They are distinguished from Pomello Fine Sand by the depth of the organic pan. Slash pine is the predominant tree in these soils, and associated ground cover vegetation includes saw-palmetto, gallberry, runner oak, huckleberry, and wiregrass. They have little organic matter and few plant nutrients. Grass roots tend to be restricted to the upper portions of the soils, although some may penetrate the pan. Palmetto roots increase the permeability of the upper layers of sand. The water table fluctuates between 3—4 feet below the surface to right up to the top depending on the season. Since the sandy upper layers are well drained, plants in this soil are susceptible to drought conditions. For commercial pasture use, both fertilizer and rotational grazing are necessary. It does not support citrus trees. The soil surface is fine black sand. Below that is gray fine sand down to the organic pan, which is grayish brown sandy loam. Below that, gray fine sandy loam continues to a depth of 80 inches.
Ra – Rutlege Fine Sand
Rutlege fine sand (also called Holopaw fine sand) occurs in one patch in our neighborhood, and generally tends to occur in patches. It is nearly flat, and occupies small depressions. It is dark, acidic, and poorly drained. The water table is within a foot of the surface for 2-4 months a year with frequent ponding, and the water level remains above 40 inches throughout the year. The organic content of the soil is low. Natural vegetation are water tolerant grasses, including blue maidencane, broomsedge, St. Johnswort, waxmyrtle, panicum, sand cordgrass, white bracted sedge, pipewort, stiff paspalum. These areas tend to be good for wading birds and wetland wildlife in general. A water control system is needed to use the ground for building or crops. The sand is not well suited to citrus trees. Permeability of the sand is moderate.
Pf – Pomello Fine Sand
Pomello Fine Sand is well-drained sandy soil, found on low ridges and knolls within the flatwoods. It is a result of material deposited or accumulated during the rising and falling sea levels of the Pleistocene epoch, and occurs extensively throughout Sarasota county. At the surface it is gray and dark gray, and below the surface it is pale, almost white. The pale layer is underlain (at about 42-60 inches) by a dark brown-black organic pan. Pomello soil is similar to Leon (and Immokalee) soils, but the organic pan occurs at a deeper level for Pomello. It is poor for most commercial cultivation, especially citrus. It is ideal for scrub flatwoods, and supports dry (sub-xeric) prairie species. It does not support pines but it does support xeric oak species, such as sand live oak, which provide habitat for scrub jays, and saw palmettos (Serenoa repens). Gopher tortoises are a keystone species of the scrub habitat, and the burrows they dig support dozens of other animals, including gopher frogs, Florida mice and gopher crickets.
Cb – Coastal Beach Sand
Coastal beach sand is familiar beach sand – light, fine, non-cohesive, with little air space between particles. It is unable to retain much water or nutrients. It occurs along parts of the coast reached by tides, and includes broken shells and other particulate matter that has been affected by wave action. It is often covered with water at high tide. Coastal beach sand is largely devoid of vegetation, but can support salt-tolerant grasses and other plants. Beaches tend to be level or gently sloping.