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Washburn County, WI Contractor directory
Excavation contractors in Washburn County, WI
6 verified excavating and site work contractors serving Washburn County.
County excavation guide
Ground conditions and project requirements in Washburn County
Use this local research to understand soil, seasonal constraints, permits, and jobsite logistics before choosing a contractor.
Skip to 6 contractorsSoil Regime ProfileEPA Ecoregion 50, 51, 46 (Northern Lakes and Forests, North Central Hardwood Forests, Superior Uplands)
Wisconsin Northwoods Sandy Lowlands & Lake Superior Clay Plain
Dominant Soil Order: Spodosols / Alfisols / Histosols / Inceptisols
Parent Material: Glacial Outwash and Lake Superior Lacustrine Clay over Crystalline and Sedimentary Bedrock
Northern Wisconsin is the sand-and-clay lake country: glacial outwash and pitted outwash across the northwoods, heavy red lacustrine clays around Lake Superior, and Precambrian bedrock in the Penokee range. The northwoods profile cuts fast in loamy sand but collapses readily, so trench shoring is routine; hydric soils and wetlands run 20-40 percent of most counties, and the Oneida-Vilas-Florence chain carries shallow crystalline bedrock (within 50 inches on 15-40 percent of land) with stony, bouldery glacial drift that complicates trenching. Around Lake Superior and Green Bay, the red clay plain (Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, Oconto, Marinette) brings the classic lake-clay problems: wet, sticky, slow-draining silty clay with high seasonal water, frost-susceptible subgrade, and shallow seasonal flooding. The Door-area dolomite ridges reach into the northern counties only sparsely. Shrink-swell is negligible statewide; frost is 42 inches.
Geographic Footprint:Wisconsin's northern counties (Rhinelander, Wausau, Eau Claire north, Ashland, Bayfield) are outwash sand, red lake clay, and occasional shallow Precambrian rock: trench shoring in sand, wet sticky clay along the lake plain, and stony drift in the cutover northwoods.
Geotechnical Baseline
Physical Ground Conditions & Soil Properties
Shallow Bedrock (<50 in)
7.3%of county land area
Deep soil mantle; rock refusal rare for standard basement or trench cuts.
High Shrink-Swell Clay
0.0%expansive soil
Low volumetric expansion risk in native subgrade.
Median Water Table Depth
12inches from surface
Shallow water table; active dewatering or sumps needed for deep trenching.
Hydric / Wetland Soils
15.3%hydric coverage
Indicates poor natural drainage and potential jurisdictional wetland pockets.
Steep Terrain (Slope >15%)
18.8%of terrain
Predominantly gentle to rolling slopes suitable for wheeled earthmoving.
Septic Severe Limitations
93.7%severe rate
High rate of conventional drainfield limitations; engineered or drip systems often required.
Dominant Soil Textures:Sandy loamLoamy sandSilt loam
Surface Stones / Boulders: 60.5% 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
Washburn 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
90days / 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
Haugen Pit
Nearest active quarry: 17.1 miles haul distance.(5 active crushed stone/sand operations within 50 miles).
Flood & Hazard Overlay
FEMA 100-Yr Flood:11.6%(100% NFHL digital map coverage)
NWI Wetlands:32.4%jurisdictional coverage
Karst Terrain & Sinkhole Risk: Low
0.0% of county underlain by soluble carbonate rock formations.
HUC8 Primary Watersheds:Namekagon, Red Cedar, Upper St. Croix
Public conservation land: 7.0% (USGS PAD-US).
Area-specific FAQ
Do I need to call before digging in Washburn 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.
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Excavation contractors serving Washburn County
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