The water level of many of these lakes fluctuates greatly, leaving them almost dry in some summers. These fluctuations result in a distinctive disjunct flora from the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains along the lake margins. There are also a few small lakes on the moraines. Several of the larger rivers, including the Black, Kalamazoo, Grand, Muskegon, and White, have sand dunes where they meet Lake Michigan, creating small lakes behind the dunes. There are often extensive marshes within these shallow lakes.
Soil textures range from sand to clay.
Along the Muskegon River at the north edge of the sub-subsection, the lacustrine sands are generally excessively drained. A large part of these sands is outwash that contain few lenses of finetextured material to restrict drainage. Low dunes are locally common. Poorly drained sands also characterize a large part of the northern half of the sub-subsection. Cemented B horizons are common.