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The percolation testing protocol found the soils under the proposed effluent disposal area at the 40 <br />inch depth to contain a sandy loam that was compacted in preparation for the construction of the <br />Distillation Area Facility. This issue is discussed in Section IIC and the Conclusions Section. <br />II. SOIL SUITABILITY STUDY FINDINGS <br />A. SUBJECT PROPERTY AND SURROUNDING STUDY AREA INFORMATION <br />SSS§ 1.1. The Google Aerial photo illustrates the subject property. Land use to the immediate <br />north, south, east and west is agricultural production land, primarily wine grape vineyards and <br />almond/walnut orchards. There are surrounding rural residential structures, all on OWTSs and <br />domestic wells. Application for Liquid Waste/Water Well Permits found in the EHD data base <br />pertaining to the subject property and project exclusively were provided in the original SSNL. <br />The area designated for septic tank effluent disposal is level terrain, but has been elevated above <br />surrounding original grade by soil importation. From the elevation of this area, terrain slopes <br />downward to original grade approximately 20 ft to the west of the proposed filter bed. <br />B. SOIL PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND ANALYTICAL TEST RESULTS <br />The UC Davis Soil Web indicates the future effluent disposal area soils consist of Honcut sandy <br />loam (#175), with 4% Chuloak, 4% Tinnin, 4% Delhi, and 3% Veritas soils. <br />SSS§ 5.2, NLS§ 1.1, 1.2. The soil investigation began on April 19, 2022. A shallow percolation <br />test boring was drilled in the proposed effluent disposal area. A soil sample was retrieved from <br />the 36-40 inch depth for chemical and particle size analysis. As noted on the attached A&L <br />Laboratory Soil Analysis Report in Appendix B, chemical analyses of the soil samples quantify <br />several constituents that influence nitrate loading for this specific project. These constituents <br />include the organic matter, clay content, pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), sodium and <br />magnesium concentrations, and the nitrate -nitrogen fractions of the soil. <br />The organic matter in the soil is very low, which is common in San Joaquin Valley soils. The soil <br />at the sampled depth possesses 8.8% clay content. It was observed in a backhoe test pit for the <br />original SSNL that clay content decreases substantially. The pH is very acidic at 5.7. This will <br />have a significant effect on nitrification, since it has been observed that nitrification dramatically <br />slows below pH 6.8. <br />The CEC indicates low calcium, high magnesium and medium sodium concentrations. The high <br />magnesium content most assuredly has an effect on the 74.3% sand content at this depth by <br />binding the sand particles, leading to a restriction of permeability. <br />Page -2- <br />Chesney Consu[tin- <br />