These soils formed in 40 to 60 inches of loamy outwash and in the underlying calcareous gravel and sand. Cobbles, stones and a few boulders are evident on eroded risers. Mean annual temperature varies from 50 to 54 degrees F, and mean annual precipitation varies from 35 to 40 inches. These are the somewhat poorly drained Coot and well drained Dakota soils. Coot and Dakota soils are in positions on the landscape upslope from the Mudhen soils.
Surface runoff is very slow or ponded.
Permeability is moderate in the upper and middle parts of the series control section and rapid in the lower part. Flooding from stream overflow is occasional during the spring. Most areas are cultivated. Corn, soybeans and small grains are the principal crops. The original vegetation was tall prairie grasses.