AG 2002 12 16 (Regular) - Laserfiche WebLink

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NATURAL FEATURES AND SOILS The northeastern region consists primarily of four types of soils: Enon-Mecklenburg-Poinexter, Badin-Tatum-Georgeville, Goldston-Badin, and Kirksey -Misenheimer-Badin. Each of these four soils share similar characteristics that support the vast farm and cropland usage in the area. These characteristics include grades that range from gently sloping to very steep; compositions that allow the soils to be well drained; and each has a clayey subsoil. Each of these soils also have their own limitations, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), such as slow permeability rates, high shrink-swell potential, erosion, and depth of bedrock. The slow peri~eability rate indicates that water travels slowly as it moves through saturated soils, this means that the land percolates slowly which is important information for properties using septic systems. The shrink-swell potential means that the soils tend to contract and expand over the course of time. This is an important factor when considering the building of roads, building foundations, and/or other structures that could suffer from cracks due to the movement of the soil. Erosion refers to the wearing away of the soil and is caused by many natural and man-made factors. The effects of erosion are most apparent along river and streambeds where the root base of trees are exposed because the soil has been stripped away by water. The depth of bedrock is important when considering how far down one must drill in order to install a well system or deep footings. The USDA Soil Survey of Cabarrus County indicates that the soil types that can support urban development best are those included in the Cecil and Hiwassee series which are subsets of the four soils mentioned previously, each of which can be found throughout the northeast region. This region of Cabarrus County is dotted with many creeks and floodplains. The primary water features in the Rockwell area are the Second and Jennie Wolf Creeks. The Rimer and Watts Crossing areas include Dutch Buffalo, Jennie Wolf, Saw Mill, Black Run, and Little Buffalo Creeks. The Town of Mount Pleasant also includes Saw Mill, Dutch Buffalo, Little Buffalo Creeks as well as Adams, Little Bear and MeAllister Creeks and Butcher Branch as it significant water features. Each of these creeks and branches create floodplains that should be protected from any developmental disturbances. Fortunately, Cabarrus County has adopted the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance that will regulate development along these floodplains. The Town of Mount Pleasant has also increased its developmental restrictions when it adopted the Unified Development Ordinance. It is important to protect these waterways and floodplains for water quality and environmental reasons and most importantly for storm water management.