Excavation contractor jobsite in Marathon County, WI

Photo: Bfkenney (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons

Marathon County, WI Contractor directory

Excavation contractors in Marathon County, WI

42 verified excavating and site work contractors serving Marathon County.

View contractors

County excavation guide

Ground conditions and project requirements in Marathon County

Use this local research to understand soil, seasonal constraints, permits, and jobsite logistics before choosing a contractor.

Skip to 42 contractors
Soil Regime ProfileEPA Ecoregion 52, 46 (Northern Glaciated Plains, Western Corn Belt Plains, North Central Hardwood Forests)

Wisconsin Glacial Till Plains & Kettle-Moraine Outwash

Dominant Soil Order: Alfisols / Mollisols / Spodosols
Parent Material: Wisconsinan Glacial Till (Silt Loam and Loam), Glacial Outwash Sand and Gravel, and Dolomite Ridge Bedrock

Wisconsin is glacial ground in every direction: till plains across the south and center, the kettle-moraine outwash belt, and dolomite ridges along the Lake Michigan shore. Digging is moderately easy: silt loam and loam till trenched with a standard backhoe, but the outwash corridors (the Fox Valley, the kettle moraine, the central sands) put clean sand and gravel in the subsoil that cuts fast and stands poorly, making shoring a standard bid item. Dolomite and Silurian limestone run shallow along the Door peninsula and the lake shore: bedrock within 50 inches on 20-60 percent of the lakeshore counties (Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Ozaukee), so rock excavation shows up in utility and foundation work. Hydric soils are moderate (18 percent average) with wet pockets along the Glacial Lake Wisconsin basin and the lowlands of the central sands, and shrink-swell is low (1 percent). Frost depth is 42 inches. Septic systems are conventional on most lots, with mound designs common in the sandy central counties where percolation runs too fast.

Geographic Footprint:Wisconsin's southern and central counties (Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Appleton, the Fox Valley) are glacial till and outwash: diggable loams, sandy trench-stability issues in the moraine belts, shallow dolomite along the lakeshore, and a 42-inch frost line. Mound septic systems are common on the central sands.
Geotechnical Baseline

Physical Ground Conditions & Soil Properties

Shallow Bedrock (<50 in)
40.1%of county land area

High likelihood of bedrock refusal; hammer / ripper required for deep utilities.

High Shrink-Swell Clay
0.0%expansive soil

Low volumetric expansion risk in native subgrade.

Median Water Table Depth
6inches from surface

Shallow water table; active dewatering or sumps needed for deep trenching.

Hydric / Wetland Soils
19.3%hydric coverage

Indicates poor natural drainage and potential jurisdictional wetland pockets.

Steep Terrain (Slope >15%)
2.2%of terrain

Predominantly gentle to rolling slopes suitable for wheeled earthmoving.

Septic Severe Limitations
85.8%severe rate

High rate of conventional drainfield limitations; engineered or drip systems often required.

Dominant Soil Textures:Silt loamSandy loamLoamy sand
Surface Stones / Boulders: 79.0% coverage
Compliance & Permitting

Earthwork Regulations & Permit Thresholds

Stormwater & Erosion Control
WPDES Construction Site Stormwater General Permit WI-S067831-6 (NR 216); land disturbing activity of one acre or more; landowner files NOI

Administers NPDES stormwater discharge coverage for land-disturbing construction activities.

State Threshold:1.00 Acre
Local Threshold:Follows state
Onsite Wastewater & Utilities
Marathon County Sanitary Permit (POWTS)

Jurisdiction over septic tank permits, soil evaluation perk tests, and drainfield sizing.

Housing on Septic:55.0%
Soil Evaluation:Plan review before sanitary permit; soil testing by certified soil tester or registered engineer; county retains test results
811 One-Call Requirements
Diggers Hotline

Mandatory notice window: 72 hours prior to mechanized earthwork (excluding weekends and legal holidays).

Licensing & Clearing Permits
Weather & Ecology

Seasonal Constraints & Clearing Windows

Frozen Ground Days
120days / year

Typical days with sub-freezing soil conditions affecting digging.

Wet Season Months
May, June, July, August, September

Peak precipitation window requiring sediment traps and soil aeration.

Supply Chain & Hazards

Logistics, Aggregate Sources & Geohazards

Aggregate & Material Supply
Marathon County Pits

Nearest active quarry: 6.5 miles haul distance.(16 active crushed stone/sand operations within 50 miles).

Flood & Hazard Overlay
FEMA 100-Yr Flood:9.0%(100% NFHL digital map coverage)
NWI Wetlands:41.1%jurisdictional coverage
Karst Terrain & Sinkhole Risk: Low

0.0% of county underlain by soluble carbonate rock formations.

HUC8 Primary Watersheds:Castle Rock, Wolf, Lake Dubay
Public conservation land: 8.6% (USGS PAD-US).

Area-specific FAQ

Do I need to call before digging in Marathon County?

Yes. You should contact Diggers Hotline (Wisconsin) at least 2 working days before any digging so underground lines can be marked.

How deep do footings need to be in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, footings typically need to extend below the frost line, which is around 60 inches here. A local contractor will confirm the code requirement for your site.

Verified local listings

Excavation contractors serving Marathon County

42 verified listings (showing first 20)

Nearby counties

Cities in this county