Soil Survey of Coosa County, Alabama

Commonly Associated Soils
• Alcovy soils, which are in the lower toeslope positions, are moderately well drained,
and have a fragipan
• Bethlehem soils, which are in similar positions to those of the Wedowee soils but
are moderately deep to bedrock
• Grover soils, which are in the higher ridge positions and have micaceous
mineralogy
• The moderately well drained Hard Labor soils in the lower positions on toeslopes
• The coarse-loamy Louisburg and the fine-loamy Rion soils, which are in the lower
side slope positions
• Pacolet soils, which are in positions similar to those of the Wedowee soils and have
a red solum
Typical Pedon
Wedowee gravelly sandy loam, 3 to 10 percent slopes, moderately eroded; in
Tallapoosa County, Alabama, about 100 feet north of Coley Creek Rd.; 1,000 feet
south and 550 feet west of the northeast corner of section 6, T. 22 N., R. 22 E.; USGS
Goodwater topographic quadrangle; lat. 32 degrees 55 minutes 31 seconds N. and
long. 85 degrees 53 minute 21 seconds W.
Ap—0 to 2 inches; dark brown (10YR 3/3) gravelly sandy loam; weak medium
granular structure; very friable; many fine, medium, and coarse roots; about 15
percent gravel; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary.
BE—2 to 5 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) sandy loam; weak fine granular
structure; friable; common fine, medium, and coarse roots; strongly acid; clear
wavy boundary.
Bt1—5 to 15 inches; yellowish red (5YR 5/8) clay; moderate medium and coarse
subangular blocky structure; firm; common fine and medium roots; common faint
clay films on faces of peds; common feldspars; common fine and medium flakes
of mica; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
Bt2—15 to 28 inches; yellowish red (5YR 5/6) clay; common medium distinct
yellowish brown (10YR 6/6) mottles; moderate coarse subangular blocky
structure; firm; common medium and fine roots; few faint clay films on faces of
peds; common feldspars; common fine and medium flakes of mica; very strongly
acid; clear wavy boundary.
BC—28 to 34 inches; strong brown (7,5YR 5/8) sandy clay loam; common medium
distinct yellowish brown (10YR 6/6) and light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) mottles;
weak coarse subangular blocky structure; very strongly acid; clear irregular
boundary.
C1—34 to 50 inches; variegated red, brown, and yellow sandy loam saprolite
weathered from gneiss granite; rock structure of parent material controls
structure; friable; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
C2—50 to 80 inches; variegated red, brown, and yellow sandy loam saprolite
weathered from diorite gneiss; rock structure of parent material controls structure;
friable; very strongly acid.

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Soil Survey
Range in Characteristics
Thickness of the solum: 20 to more than 40 inches
Depth to bedrock: More than 80 inches
Content of rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent in the solum
Reaction: Very strongly acid to moderately acid throughout, except where lime has
been applied
Ap horizon:
Color—hue of 7.5YR to 2.5Y, value of 3 to 6, and chroma of 2 to 8
Texture—sandy loam, fine sandy loam, or loam
E horizon (where present):
Color—hue of 7.5YR to 2.5Y, value of 4 to 7, and chroma of 3 to 8
Texture—sandy loam, fine sandy loam, or loam
BE horizon (where present):
Color—hue of 5YR to 10YR, value of 4 to 7, and chroma of 3 to 8
Texture—sandy clay loam, clay loam, or loam
Bt horizon:
Color—hue of 5YR to 10YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma 4 to 8
Texture—sandy clay, clay loam, or clay
Mottles—shades of red, yellow, and brown
BC horizon (where present):
Color—hue of 2.5YR to 10YR, value of 5 to 7, and chroma of 4 to 8
Texture—sandy clay loam, clay loam, or loam
Mottles—shades of yellow and brown
C horizon:
Color—variegated in shades of red, brown, and yellow
Texture—loamy saprolite from highly weathered gneiss or schist
Wehadkee Series
Depth class: Very deep
Drainage class: Poorly drained
Slowest saturated hydraulic conductivity: Moderately high (about 0.60 in/hr)
Parent material: Loamy alluvium
Landscape: Piedmont
Landform: Flood plains
Landform position: Smooth to concave slopes in drainageways and backswamps
Slope: 0 to 2 percent
Taxonomic class: Fine-loamy, mixed, active, nonacid, thermic Fluvaquentic
Endoaquepts
Commonly Associated Soils
• The somewhat poorly drained Cartecay and Chewacla soils, which are in the
slightly higher and the more level positions than the Wehadkee soils
• The fine-loamy, well drained Toccoa soils, which are on the higher, natural levees
Typical Pedon
Wehadkee silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, frequently flooded; in Coosa County,
Alabama, about 3.4 miles southeast of Goodwater; 200 feet north and 1,400 feet west
of the southeast corner of section 35, T. 24 N., R. 20 E.; USGS Goodwater

Coosa County, Alabama
137
topographic quadrangle; lat. 33 degrees 04 minutes 01 second N. and long. 86
degrees 01 minute 49 seconds W.
A—0 to 4 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) silt loam; weak fine granular
structure; friable; many fine, medium, and coarse roots; common medium distinct
dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) root stains; strongly acid; clear smooth
boundary.
Bg—4 to 20 inches; gray (10YR 5/1) loam; weak fine subangular blocky structure;
friable; many fine, medium, and coarse roots; many distinct dark yellowish brown
(10YR 4/4) masses of oxidized iron along root channels; strongly acid; abrupt
smooth boundary.
Cg1—20 to 40 inches; gray (10YR 5/1) stratified sandy loam and loam; massive;
friable; common fine, medium, and coarse roots; common medium distinct dark
yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of oxidized iron along root channels; strongly
acid; clear wavy boundary.
Cg2—40 to 80 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) sandy loam; massive; friable; common
medium distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of oxidized iron along
root channels; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary.
Range in Characteristics
Thickness of the solum: 20 to more than 60 inches
Depth to bedrock: More than 60 inches
Content of mica flakes: Few to common
Content of concretions: None to common; generally manganese
Content of rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent
Reaction: Strongly acid to neutral throughout
A or Ap horizon:
Color—hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 3 to 6, and chroma of 0 to 4
Texture—silt loam or fine sandy loam
Bg horizon:
Color—hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma 0 to 2
Texture—silt loam, loam, silty clay loam, sandy clay loam, or clay loam
Redoximorphic features—iron depletions in shades of gray and masses of
oxidized iron in shades of red, brown, and yellow
Cg horizon:
Color—hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 4 to 7, and chroma of 0 to 2
Texture—variable; commonly sandy loam, loam, silt loam, sandy clay loam, or
clay loam
Redoximorphic features—iron depletions in shades of gray and masses of
oxidized iron in shades of red, brown, and yellow
Wickham Series
Depth class: Very deep
Drainage class: Well drained
Slowest saturated hydraulic conductivity: Moderately high (about 0.57 in/hr)
Parent material: Fluvial sediments
Landscape: Piedmont
Landform: Stream terraces
Landform position: Smooth or slightly convex slopes
Slope: 2 to 6 percent
Taxonomic class: Fine-loamy, mixed, semiactive, thermic Typic Hapludults

138
Soil Survey
Commonly Associated Soils
• The somewhat poorly drained Chewacla and Cartecay soils in the lower positions
• Shellbluff soils, which are in the lower flood plain positions and are moderately well
drained
• Toccoa soils, which are along natural levees closer to stream channels
Typical Pedon
Wickham sandy loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes, rarely flooded; in Tallapoosa County,
Alabama, about 1.9 miles south of Daviston; 950 feet south and 1,700 feet east of the
northwest corner of section 11, T. 23 N., R. 24 E.; USGS Wadley South topographic
quadrangle; lat. 33 degrees 00 minutes 08 seconds N. and long. 85 degrees 37
minutes 21 seconds W.
Ap1—0 to 4 inches; dark brown (10YR 4/4) loam; weak medium granular structure;
friable; many fine and medium roots; few fine flakes of mica; strongly acid; abrupt
smooth boundary.
Ap2—4 to 10 inches; dark brown (10YR 4/4) loam; moderate medium granular
structure; friable; many fine and medium roots; few fine flakes of mica; strongly
acid; abrupt smooth boundary.
Bt1—10 to 20 inches; yellowish red (7.5YR 5/6) sandy clay loam; strong medium
subangular blocky structure; friable; common fine and medium roots; common
distinct clay films on faces of peds; few fine flakes of mica; strongly acid; gradual
wavy boundary.
Bt2—20 to 32 inches; yellowish red (5YR 5/6) sandy clay loam; moderate medium
subangular blocky structure; friable; few fine roots; common distinct clay films on
faces of peds; common fine flakes of mica; very strongly acid; gradual wavy
boundary.
Bt3—32 to 43 inches; yellowish red (5YR 5/8) sandy clay loam; moderate medium
subangular blocky structure; friable; few fine roots; common distinct clay films on
faces of peds; common fine flakes of mica; very strongly acid; gradual wavy
boundary.
Bt4—43 to 58 inches; yellowish red (5YR 5/8) sandy loam; weak medium subangular
blocky structure; friable; few fine roots; common distinct clay films on faces of
peds; common fine flakes of mica; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
BC—58 to 74 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) fine sandy loam; weak medium and
fine subangular blocky structure; friable; few fine roots; common fine and medium
flakes of mica; firm; very strongly acid; clear wavy boundary.
C—74 to 80 inches; brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) loamy fine sand; massive; loose;
common fine black iron-manganese concentrations; very strongly acid.
Range in Characteristics
Thickness of the solum: 36 to more than 60 inches
Content of mica flakes: Few to many
Content and size of rock fragments: 0 to 10 percent; mostly rounded gravel
Reaction: Very strongly acid or strongly acid throughout, except where lime has been
applied
Ap or A horizon:
Color—hue of 5YR to 10YR, value of 3 to 5, and chroma of 3 to 8
Texture—fine sandy loam, sandy loam, or loam
BA or BE horizon (where present):
Color—hue of 2.5YR to 7.5YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 6 to 8
Texture—fine sandy loam, sandy loam, or loam

Coosa County, Alabama
139
Figure 12
.—A profile of a Wilkes soil. Wilkes soils formed in residuum weathered from mafic
crystalline rock. These shallow, well drained soils have a dark surface layer, which indicates
the presence of a significant amount of organic material.
Bt horizon:
Color—hue of 2.5YR to 7.5YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 4 to 8
Texture—sandy clay loam, loam, or clay loam
BC horizon:
Color—hue of 2.5YR to 10YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 3 to 8
Texture—sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam, sandy clay loam, loam, or clay loam
Mottles—in shades of brown, yellow, and red
C horizon:
Color—hue of 2.5YR to 10YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 3 to 8
Texture—sandy clay loam to loamy sand and sand
Mottles—in shades of brown, yellow, and red
Wilkes Series
Depth class: Shallow
Drainage class: Well drained
Slowest saturated hydraulic conductivity: Moderately high (about 0.20 in/hr)
Parent material: Residuum weathered from mafic crystalline rock
Landscape: Piedmont
Landform: Ridges and hillslopes
Landform position: Summits and backslopes
Slope: 6 to 30 percent
Taxonomic class: Loamy, mixed, active, thermic, shallow Typic Hapludalfs (
fig. 12
)

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Soil Survey
Commonly Associated Soils
• Mecklenburg soils, which are in the higher and more level positions on ridges and
have a red subsoil
• Winnsboro soils, which are in the lower, more level positions on shoulders and side
slopes and are deep to bedrock
• Wynott soils, which are in positions similar to those of the Wilkes soils and are
moderately deep to bedrock
Typical Pedon
Wilkes gravelly loam, in an area of Wynott-Wilkes complex, 15 to 45 percent slopes,
very stony; in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, about 1.1 miles northeast of Ponders;
1,700 feet south and 1,875 feet west of the northwest corner of section 9, T. 20 N., R.
23 E.; USGS Dadeville topographic quadrangle; lat. 32 degrees 44 minutes 08
seconds N. and long. 85 degrees 45 minutes 22 seconds W.
A—0 to 4 inches; dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) gravelly sandy loam; weak fine
granular structure; very friable; common fine, medium, and coarse roots; 25
percent angular gravel; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary.
BE—4 to 9 inches; olive (5Y 5/3) gravelly sandy loam; weak fine granular structure;
very friable; common fine and medium roots; 20 percent angular gravel;
moderately acid; clear wavy boundary.
Bt—9 to 15 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) clay; moderate medium subangular
blocky structure; firm; common fine and medium and few coarse roots; common
clay films on faces of peds; slightly acid; abrupt irregular boundary.
Cr—15 to 80 inches; fractured, highly weathered mafic rock.
Range in Characteristics
Thickness of the solum: 10 to 20 inches
Depth to bedrock: 10 to 20 inches
Content and size of rock fragments: 0 to 50 percent in the A, E, and BE horizons and
0 to 35 percent in the B horizon; mostly gravel or cobbles
Reaction: Strongly acid to slightly alkaline throughout
Ap horizon:
Color—hue of 7.5YR to 2.5Y, value of 3 to 5, and chroma of 2 to 6
Texture—sandy loam or loam or their gravelly analogues
E or BE horizon (where present):
Color—hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 3 to 8
Texture—gravelly sandy loam
Bt horizon:
Color—hue of 5YR to 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 4 to 8
Texture—loam, sandy clay loam, clay loam, or clay
C horizon (where present):
Color—variegated in shades of black, green, brown, and gray
Texture—loam, fine sandy loam, or sandy loam saprolite
Cr layer:
Type of bedrock—fractured, weathered intermediate or mafic crystalline rock
Winnsboro Series
Depth class: Deep
Drainage class: Well drained

Coosa County, Alabama
141
Slowest saturated hydraulic conductivity: Moderately low (about 0.06 in/hr)
Parent material: Residuum weathered from mafic crystalline rock
Landscape: Piedmont
Landform: Ridges and hillslopes
Landform position: Summits and backslopes
Slope: 6 to 15 percent
Taxonomic class: Fine, mixed, active, thermic Typic Hapludalfs (
fig. 13
)
Commonly Associated Soils
• Mecklenburg soils, which are in the higher, more level positions on ridges and have
a red subsoil
• Wilkes soils, which are in the more convex positions on shoulders and are deep to
bedrock
• Wynott soils, which are in positions similar to those of the Winnsboro soils and are
moderately deep to bedrock
Typical Pedon
Winnsboro very gravelly sandy loam, in an area of Wynott-Winnsboro complex, 6 to
15 percent slopes, very stony; in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, about 2.0 miles
northeast of Alabama Highway 50; 1,200 feet north and 1,600 feet west of the
southeast corner of section 13, T. 20 N., R. 22 E.; USGS Ponders topographic
quadrangle; lat. 32 degrees 42 minutes 53 seconds N. and long. 85 degrees 48
minutes 19 seconds W.
A—0 to 6 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) very gravelly sandy loam; moderate fine granular
structure; very friable; common medium and few coarse roots; about 45 percent
angular gravel and about 5 percent cobbles; moderately acid; clear smooth
boundary.
BE—6 to 12 inches; brown (10YR 5/4) gravelly sandy clay loam; moderate fine
subangular blocky structure; friable; common fine and medium roots; about 15
percent angular gravel; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary.
Bt—12 to 32 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) clay; moderate medium subangular
blocky structure; firm; common fine and few medium roots; common clay films on
faces of peds; slightly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
BC—32 to 40 inches; about 60 percent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) and about 40
percent light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) clay loam; weak medium subangular blocky
structure; firm; few clay films on faces of peds; neutral; clear smooth boundary.
C—40 to 56 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/6) sandy clay loam saprolite; massive;
friable; common medium iron-manganese concentrations; neutral; abrupt irregular
boundary.
Cr—56 to 80 inches; highly weathered mafic rock that crushes to sandy loam.
Range in Characteristics
Thickness of the solum: 40 to 60 inches
Depth to bedrock: Soft bedrock at a depth of 40 to 60 inches and hard bedrock at a
depth of more than 60 inches
Content and size of rock fragments: 15 to 35 percent in the A, E, and BE horizons
and 0 to 35 percent in the B horizon; mostly gravel or cobbles
Reaction: Strongly acid to slightly acid in the A horizon and slightly acid to mildly
alkaline in the B and C horizons
A or Ap horizon:
Color—hue of 7.5YR to 2.5Y, value of 3 to 5, and chroma of 2 to 4
Texture—fine sandy loam or sandy loam or their very gravelly analogues

142
Soil Survey
Figure 13
.—A profile of a Winnsboro soil. Winnsboro soils formed in residuum
weathered from mafic crystalline rock. These deep, well drained soils
have tilted, choritic schist bedrock at a depth of 40 to 60 inches.

Coosa County, Alabama
143
E or BE horizon (where present):
Color—hue of 7.5YR to 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 2 to 8
Texture—loam, silt loam, sandy loam, or sandy clay loam
Bt horizon:
Color—hue of 7.5YR to 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 4 to 8
Texture—clay loam or clay
BC horizon (where present):
Color—hue of 7.5YR to 2.5Y, value of 5 or 6, and chroma of 4 to 8
Texture—sandy clay loam, clay loam, or loam
C horizon:
Color—hue of 7.5YR to 2.5Y, value of 5 to 6, and chroma of 4 to 8; or is
variegated in shades of brown, yellow, black, and white
Texture (fine-earth fraction)—sandy loam, loam, or silt loam saprolite
Cr layer:
Type of bedrock—fractured, weathered intermediate or mafic crystalline rock
Wynott Series
Depth class: Moderately deep
Drainage class: Well drained
Slowest saturated hydraulic conductivity: Moderately low (about 0.06 in/hr)
Parent material: Residuum weathered from mafic crystalline rock
Landscape: Piedmont
Landform: Ridges and hillslopes
Landform position: Summits and backslopes
Slope: 6 to 30 percent
Taxonomic class: Fine, mixed, active, thermic Typic Hapludalfs
Commonly Associated Soils
• Mecklenburg soils, which are in the higher and more level positions on ridges and
have a red subsoil
• Winnsboro soils, which are in positions similar to those of the Wynott soils and are
deep to bedrock
• Wilkes soils, which are in the more convex positions on shoulders and are shallow
to bedrock
Typical Pedon
Wynott gravelly sandy loam, in an area of Enon-Wynott complex, 2 to 6 percent
slopes; in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, about 2.0 miles northeast of Alabama
Highway 50; 1,500 feet north and 1,300 feet west of the southeast corner of section
13, T. 20 N., R. 22 E.; USGS Ponders topographic quadrangle; lat. 32 degrees 42
minutes 53.7 seconds N. and long. 85 degrees 48 minutes 17.4 seconds W.
A—0 to 8 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) gravelly sandy loam; weak fine granular structure;
very friable; common fine, medium, and coarse roots; 25 percent angular gravel
and 5 percent cobbles; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary.
BE—8 to 12 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) gravelly sandy loam; moderate
medium granular structure; very friable; common fine and medium roots; 15
percent angular gravel and 5 percent cobbles; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary.
Bt1—12 to 23 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) clay; strong medium subangular
blocky structure; firm; common fine and medium and few coarse roots; common
clay films on faces of peds; slightly acid; gradual wavy boundary.

144
Bt2—23 to 32 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) clay; moderate medium subangular
blocky structure; firm; common fine and medium and few coarse roots; common
clay films on faces of peds; slightly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
BC—32 to 38 inches; variegated yellowish brown (10YR 5/8), brownish yellow (10YR
6/6), white (10YR 8/1), and strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) clay loam; weak course
subangular blocky structure; friable; few medium roots; pockets of clay and loam;
few clay films on faces of peds; slightly acid; abrupt irregular boundary.
Cr—38 to 80 inches; highly weathered mafic rock.
Range in Characteristics
Thickness of the solum: 20 to 40 inches
Depth to bedrock: Soft bedrock at a depth of 20 to 40 inches and hard bedrock at a
depth of 40 to more than 60 inches
Content and size of rock fragments: 0 to 35 percent in the A, E, and BE horizons and
0 to 35 percent in the B horizon; mostly gravel or cobbles
Reaction: Very strongly acid to slightly acid throughout, except where lime has been
applied
Ap or A horizon:
Color—hue of 7.5YR to 2.5Y, value of 3 to 6, and chroma of 2 to 8
Texture—fine sandy loam or sandy loam or their gravelly analogues
E horizon (where present):
Color—hue of 7.5YR to 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 3 to 6
Texture—loam, silt loam, sandy loam, or fine sandy loam
BE or EB horizon (where present):
Color—hue of 7.5YR to 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 3 to 6
Texture—loam, sandy loam, or sandy clay loam
Bt horizon:
Color—hue of 7.5YR to 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 4 to 8
Texture—clay loam, silty clay, sandy clay, or clay
BC horizon (where present):
Color—hue of 7.5YR to 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 4 to 8; or is
variegated in shades of brown, yellow, and white
Texture—sandy clay, sandy clay loam, clay loam, or loam
C horizon (where present):
Color—variegated in shades of brown, yellow, black, and white
Texture—variable; commonly sandy loam, loam, or silt loam saprolite
Cr layer:
Type of bedrock—weathered intermediate or mafic crystalline rock

145
In this section, the factors of soil formation are related to the soils in Coosa County
and the processes of horizon differentiation are explained.