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THE COUNTY’S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
PLANNING ISSUE
Soil erosion reduces soil
fertility and adds to stream
sediment pollution.
What’s New
•
The new web-based Montgomery County soil
survey provides a variety of tools to enable a user to
better understand local soil conditions and create
various reports.
•
The Pennsylvania Erosion and Sediment Control
Manual was comprehensively revised in 2012 to
address sediment based pollution control.
•
Development projects between 1 and 5 acres that
were begun after 2010, now must receive an
NPDES permit.
•
Six of the 11 streams in the county that have Total
Maximum Daily Loads established since 2000 are
impaired as a result of siltation.
Geology
Climate
Hydrology
Floodplains
Air Quality
Steep Slopes
Soils
Wetlands
Woodlands
Wildlife
Natural Areas Inventory
Soils
Soils are a natural assortment of organic materials and
mineral fragments which support plant life. The
composition of soils changes slowly over time due to
weathering of rock and the activity of soil organisms. As a
consequence, soils differ in their color, mineral
characteristics, fertility, texture, erodability, and depth to
bedrock and groundwater. Soil scientists have classified
soils found in Montgomery County into several groups
called soil series. Soils listed within the same series have
similar subsurface characteristics. However, the surface
characteristics of soils within a particular series can vary in
slope, degree of erosion, size of stones, and other easily
recognizable features. In addition to these soil-mapping
units, soils can be divided into prime and important
agricultural soils, hydric soils, and alluvial soils.
Prime and Important Agricultural Soils
The agricultural potential of soil is determined by
measuring fertility, depth to bedrock and groundwater,
texture, erodability, and slope. Based on these
characteristics, soils are classified as prime farmland,
farmland of statewide importance, and other land. Prime
farmland soils, which comprise 50,983 acres, are deep, well
-drained, and moderately sloped soils that can support high
yields of crops with little management. Farmland of
statewide importance includes soils that support cultivation
but require careful crop management and includes about
87,089 acres in the county. The remaining soils are more
suitable for pastures and woodlands.
The major areas of prime agricultural soils are in the
Skippack Creek Watershed, especially Worcester
Township. Ironically, some of the best agricultural soils in
the county are within the heavily developed areas along the
Pennsylvania Turnpike. Conversely, the western part of the
county where most of the farms are located has a limited
amount of prime agricultural soils.
Hydric Soils
Hydric soils are periodically wet soils, in an undrained
condition, that often support the growth of wetland
vegetation. Since only some hydric soils are found in
undrained conditions, not all hydric soils support wetland
Fertile soil for farming is located throughout the county.
