Slope gradients are less than 2 percent. They formed in as much as 20 feet of loess of Wisconsin Age. On benches, stratified loamy or sandy material is as shallow as 4 feet in places. Mean annual temperature ranges from about 47 to 54 degrees F, and mean annual precipitation ranges from about 31 to 34 inches. These are the competing Walford soils and the Fayette and Stronghurst soils.
Walford soils are on similar landscape positions.
Fayette soils are better drained and are on convex, more sloping areas downslope. Stronghurst soils are not as poorly drained as the Traer soils and commonly surround areas of Traer soils. The Fayette and Stronghurst soils form a drainage sequence with the Traer soils. Poorly or very poorly drained. Permeability is slow.