Natural history

Soils of Volusia County

Within Volusia County there are 77 different naturally occurring soils. They may differ in color, texture, chemical makeup, drainage and permeability. For more information on soils found within Volusia County, contact the University of Florida/Volusia County Extension  at the Volusia County Agricultural Center. Soils found within Volusia County can be grouped into 5 general categories.

1. Soils of the sand ridges and coastal dunes

Palm Beach-Paola-Canaveral: These are long, narrow coastal dune ridges, consisting of excessively drained to somewhat poorly drained, grayish brown, shelly, and sandy soils.

Paola-Orsino: Broad, high ridges of excessively drained and moderately well drained, grayish sandy soils that have a yellowish sandy subsoil. Sinkholes, lakes and depressions can be found in these areas.

Astatula-Tavares: Areas containing broad, rolling ridges of excessively drained and moderately well drained, brownish and grayish sandy soil. Sinkholes, lakes and depressions can be found in these areas.

Daytona-Paola-Astatula: These soils occur on long, narrow sand ridges of moderately well drained, grayish sands that have an organic stained subsoil and excessively drained, grayish and brownish sandy soils. Sinkholes, lakes and depressions can be found in these areas.

Daytona-Satellite-Cassia: These soils occur on low sand ridges which are moderately well drained to somewhat poorly drained, grayish sandy soils, some having an organic stained subsoil.

2. Soils of the flatwoods

Myakka-Smyrna-Immokalee: These are nearly level, poorly drained soils that have a dark, organic stained subsoil underlain by sandy material.

Pomona-Wauchula: Nearly level, poorly drained soils that have a dark, organic stained subsoil underlain by loamy material.

Pineda-Malabar-Wabasso: These are nearly level, poorly drained soils that have a yellowish, iron stained subsoil or a dark organic stained subsoil and are underlain by loamy material.

3. Soils of low-lying hammocks

Tuscawilla-Chobee: Lowlands of poorly drained and very poorly drained soils that have a thin sandy surface layer over a calcareous subsoil.

4. Soils of the St. Johns River flood plain

Bluff-Tequesta-Astor: Low lying, predominantly poorly drained and very poorly drained soils that have a thick, dark surface layer or a thin layer of muck.

5. Soils of the inland and coastal wetlands

Samsula-Terra Ceia-Tomoka: These soils occur in swamps and marshes dominated by organic soils.

Hydraquents-Turnbull: These areas contain mangroves, salt marshes and areas subject to tidal flooding.

This report written by David Griffis
Volusia County Extension Soil Agent

Geology
 

About 30 million years ago, during the Oligocene epoch, dry land appeared in Florida. Most of Florida's prior history had been underwater. Florida was once part of Africa and was separated by continental drift during the formation of the Atlantic Ocean basin. As the continental plate drifted west, most of Florida's bedrock was formed. Eventually the continental plate on which Florida is located slammed into the American Plate and became part of the American continent. Over a period of time the shape of the emergent land changed. At times Florida's land area has been much smaller than at the present; at other times it has reached more than twice its present size. Camels once roamed miles of land east of our current beach.

When the level of the ocean remained stationary for long periods of time, the ocean floor was eroded by waves and currents, forming flat surfaces called terraces. When the level of the ocean dropped, another terrace would emerge with the landward edge becoming an abandoned shoreline and the seaward edge a new shoreline where sand dunes formed. These ancient sand dune systems are called ridges.

Volusia County has four terraces: 

• Penholoway Terrace is in west Volusia County and was formed when the sea level was 70 to 80 feet above its present level. Of the 132 lakes in Volusia County, 92 percent are on the Penholoway Terrace. Here, freshwater percolates through the thin layer of sand to the underlying limestone. Slowly the limestone is dissolved and the consequent collapse of overlying material into these solution cavities forms lakes and sinkholes (Karst topography). Most of the original flat terrace surface has been eroded.
   
• The Talbot Terrace was formed when sea level dropped to 40 feet above the present level. Heading east from DeLand on Highway 92, you will pass through the pine flatwoods located on this terrace. During the formation of the Talbot Terrace, large sand dunes were formed. DeLand sits on one such dune called the DeLand Ridge.
   
• The Pamlico Terrace was formed when the sea level was 20 to 30 feet above its present level. During its formation, the Rima Ridge was built. Approximately 14 miles east of DeLand, on Highway 92, you will pass the Tomoka Correctional Center on the Rima Ridge. Just east of the ridge is the Pamlico Terrace, which is bisected by the Tomoka River.
   
• The Silver Bluff Terrace was formed when the ocean was 4 to 6 feet above present sea level. The Atlantic Coastal Ridge was formed during this time. Going east on Highway 92, you will enter the city of Daytona Beach and pass Halifax Health Medical Center, which is built on this ridge. Just east of the hospital is the Silver Bluff Terrace that runs to the present dune ridge on the beach.

At present, the ocean is building another terrace along the east coast of Volusia County. Dunes are being formed along the eastern edge of the Silver Bluff Terrace and on offshore sandbars.

 Eucheeland - Thanks to Al Evans for permission to publish this page.