LOCATION BADWATER WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive Pachic Argicryolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Badwater bouldery loam--rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 2 inches; dark brown (10YR 3/3) bouldery loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate medium granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine roots; neutral (pH 6.8); clear wavy boundary. (2 to 5 inches thick)
BA--2 to 6 inches; dark brown (10YR 3/3) bouldery loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine roots; neutral (pH 6.8); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 9 inches thick)
Btl--6 to 24 inches; dark brown (10YR 4/3) very bouldery clay loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; common medium roots; few faint clay films on faces of peds; neutral (pH 6.8); clear irregular boundary. (8 to 20 inches thick)
Bt2--24 to 35 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) extremely bouldery clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; common medium roots in matrix; few faint clay skins on faces of peds and many distinct clay films on faces of boulders; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual irregular boundary. (0 to 15 inches thick)
C--35 to 60 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) extremely bouldery loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; neutral (pH 7.0).
TYPE LOCATION: Natrona County, Wyoming; about 13 miles north of the town of Arminto; 300 feet east and 1,020 feet south of the NW corner of sec. 14, T. 40 N., R. 88 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Thickness of the mollic epipedon ranges from 16 to 30 inches. Base saturation is greater than 80 percent. Depth to the base of the argillic horizon is 20 to 40 inches. The mean annual soil temperature is 37 to 40 degrees F., and the mean summer soil temperature is 48 to 53 degrees F. The soil is slightly acid or neutral.
The A and BA horizons have value of 3 or 4 dry, 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 1 through 3. Commonly, a boulder or parts of boulders occupy 15 to 35 percent of the horizon.
The Bt1 horizon has value of 3 or 4 dry, 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3. It is clay loam with 25 to 35 percent clay and 15 to 35 percent fine sand or coarser. A boulder or boulders occupy 35 to 60 percent of the horizon.
The Bt2 horizon has value of 4 to 5 dry, 3 to 4 moist, and chroma of 3 or 4. It is clay loam or loam with 25 to 35 percent clay and 15 to 35 percent fine sand or coarser. Boulders occupy 60 to 90 percent of this horizon.
Commonly, boulders occupy more than 85 percent of the C horizon.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Bickmore, Bluebell, Buena Vista, Geemore, Kiote, Panin, Parkay, Redbird, Tusel, Woodcock, and Woodhurst series. Bickmore, Bluebell, Buena Vista, Panin, and Woodhurst soils have bedrock at 20 to 40 inches and have smaller rock fragments. Geemore soils have a Bkq horizon. Kiote soils have 45 to 60 percent pebbles in the Bt horizon. Redbird soils have a horizon of secondary carbonate accumulation. Parkay, Tusel, and Woodcock soils have mainly pebbles and cobbles.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Badwater soils are on colluvial valley sides below quartzitic sandstone escarpments and rubble land. Slopes are 8 to 30 percent. Elevation is 7,000 to 8,800 feet. The mean annual precipitation is 15 to 19 inches, and the mean annual temperature is 32 to 35 degrees F. The frost-free season is less than 80 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Bachus, Chittum, and Clayburn soils. Bachus soils are fine-loamy and have bedrock at 20 to 40 inches. Chittum soils have bedrock at less than 20 inches. Clayburn soils are fine-loamy.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; runoff is medium or rapid; permeability is moderate.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for summer livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. The native vegetation is mainly Idaho fescue, Columbia needlegrass, and big sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Mountains of Central Wyoming. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Natrona County, Wyoming; 1985.