LOCATION LEDEIR WA

Established Series
Rev. CAB/SBC
06/2011

LEDEIR SERIES

The Ledeir series consists of very deep, well drained soils formed in volcanic ash over alluvium on old, stable terraces. Slopes are 0 to 10 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 1,700 millimeters. The mean annual temperature is about 6 degrees C.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Ashy over sandy or sandy-skeletal, amorphic over isotic, frigid Andic Haplorthods

TYPICAL PEDON: Ledeir ashy sandy loam, on a terrace landform with a SW facing slope of 2 percent at 747 meters elevation under coniferous forest vegetation. When described on October 12, 2006 the soil was dry throughout. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted.)

Oi--0 to 2 cm; slightly decomposed plant material; few very fine and fine roots throughout; abrupt smooth boundary.

Oe--2 to 12 cm; moderately decomposed plant material; few very fine and fine roots and common medium and coarse roots throughout; abrupt wavy boundary.

E--12 to 20 cm; dark gray (10YR 4/1) ashy sandy loam, light gray (10YR 7/1) dry; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; common very fine, fine, medium, and coarse roots throughout; 5 percent fine gravel; very strongly acid (pH 4.6); clear irregular boundary.

Bs1--20 to 50 cm; strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) ashy sandy loam, reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/6) dry; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; common very fine, fine, medium, coarse, and very coarse roots throughout; 5 percent fine gravel and 5 percent medium and coarse gravel; strongly acid (pH 5.4); clear wavy boundary.

Bs2--50 to 82 cm; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) ashy fine sandy loam, light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; few very fine, fine, medium, and coarse roots throughout; 5 percent fine gravel; strongly acid (pH 5.5); clear wavy boundary.

2C--82 to 152 cm; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) very gravelly loamy sand, light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) dry; single grain; loose, nonsticky, nonplastic; few very fine roots throughout; 20 percent fine gravel and 15 percent medium and coarse gravel; moderately acid (pH 5.8).

TYPE LOCATION: North Cascades National Park, Chelan County, Washington; 580 meters west and 522 meters north of SE corner of Section 13, T34N, R14E Willamette Meridian; Goode Mountain, Washington USGS quadrangle; 48 degrees, 25 minutes, 52 seconds north latitude, 120 degrees, 55 minute, 29 seconds west longitude; NAD83; UTM 653517 meters E, 5366306 meters N, zone 10N.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mean annual soil temperature: 6 to 8 degrees C. Frigid soil temperature regime.
Soil moisture control section: dry for less than 45 consecutive days from June to October. Udic soil moisture regime.
Thickness of volcanic ash mantle: 25 to 80 centimeters
The particle-size control section in this soil is contrasting. Most characteristics are listed by horizon.

E horizon:
Hue - 7.5YR or 10YR
Value - 4 to 6 moist, 5 to 7 dry
Chroma - 1 or 2 moist or dry
Fine earth texture - ashy FSL or ashy SL
Rock fragments - 0 to 30 percent total
0 to 20 percent gravel
0 to 15 percent cobbles
0 to 5 percent stones
Clay content - 1 to 6 percent
Volcanic glass - 15 to 50 percent
Reaction - extremely acid to strongly acid
Thickness - 1 to 10 centimeters

Bhs horizons are sometimes present with thickness ranging from 1 to 6 centimeters, textures of ashy SL or ashy FSL, reaction of very strongly acid or strongly acid, hue of 7.5YR or 5YR, moist value of 2 to 4, and moist chroma of 3 or 4.

Bs horizons:
Hue - 5YR or 7.5YR in the upper part, 7.5YR or 10YR in the lower part
Value - 3 to 5 moist, 4 to 6 dry
Chroma - 3 to 6 moist or dry
Fine earth texture - ashy FSL or ashy SL
Rock fragments - 0 to 30 percent total
0 to 35 percent gravel
0 to 20 percent cobbles
0 to 5 percent stones
Clay content - 3 to 10 percent
Volcanic glass - 15 to 50 percent
Reaction - strongly acid to moderately acid
Thickness - 30 to 70 centimeters

2BC horizons are sometimes present with thickness ranging up to 30 centimeters, textures of COSL, LCOS, or LS, reaction of strongly acid to slightly acid, hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, moist value of 3 to 5 and, moist chroma of 4 to 6.

2C horizon:
Hue - 2.5Y or variegated
Value - 4 or 5 moist, 5 or 6 dry
Chroma - 3 or 4 moist or dry
Fine earth texture - LS, LCOS, or S
Rock fragments - 30 to 70 percent total
30 to 50 percent gravel
0 to 20 percent cobbles
0 to 10 percent stones
Clay content - 0 to 6 percent
Volcanic glass - 0 to 10 percent
Reaction - strongly acid to slightly acid

COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series in this family. The Easy and Nargar series are in similar families. Easy soils are ashy over loamy-skeletal. Nargar soils have a mesic temperature regime.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Ledeir soils are on old, stable terraces at elevations of 500 to 1000 meters. Slopes are 0 to 10 percent. These soils formed in volcanic ash over alluvium. The climate consists of cool, dry summers and cold, wet winters. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 1,700 to 2,500 millimeters, and mean annual air temperature ranges from 5 to 10 degrees C. Frost-free season is 60 to 90 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: This is the Tricouni (T) series. Tricouni soils form on old, stable terraces, but lack spodic and albic materials.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Well drained; high to very high saturated hydraulic conductivity.

USE AND VEGETATION: Used for watershed, recreation, woodland, and wildlife habitat. Potential natural vegetation consists of western hemlock, Douglas-fir, and western red cedar with an understory of red huckleberry, Alaska huckleberry, Cascade Oregongrape, prince's pine, and rattlesnake plantain.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Western slopes of the North Cascade Mountains, Washington. MLRA 3. Series is of moderate extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon

SERIES ESTABLISHED: North Cascades National Park Service Complex soil survey, 2011.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Particle-size control section: 25 to 100 centimeters from the mineral surface
Ochric epipedon: 0 to 18 centimeters (Oi, Oe, and the upper 6 centimeters of the E horizon)
Albic horizon: 12 to 20 centimeters (E horizon)
Spodic horizon: 20 to 50 centimeters (Bs1 horizon)
Andic soil properties: 12 to 82 centimeters (E, Bs1, and Bs2 horizons)
Lithologic discontinuity: 82 centimeters

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.