The west edge of the sub-subsection is underlain by Ordovician limestone and dolomite. A relatively flat plain. Major rivers include the Fox and Manitowac. No large inland lakes. Many drainage ditches have been constructed on the flat lake plain and ground moraine to facilitate farming.
Slopes range from level to rolling.
Gullying, from geological and agricultural erosion, occurs on some of these clay soils. Carbonate materials make up about 30 percent of the soils. The dominant vegetation was northern hardwood forest, dominated by beech and sugar maple, with basswood and some oaks, including red, white, and black. Hemlock was present, but much less prevalent than in Sub-subsections VIII.3.1 to the west and VIII.1.3 to the east. There were several areas of wetland, primarily dominated by northern conifers.