LOCATION LIMPY                   OR

Established Series
Rev. DET/TDT
06/2011

LIMPY SERIES

The Limpy series consists of shallow, somewhat excessively drained soils that formed in colluvium weathered from welded tuffs and andesite. Limpy soils are on mountain side slopes. Slopes range from 60 to 100 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 70 inches, and the mean annual temperature is about 43 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, isotic, frigid Lithic Humudepts

TYPICAL PEDON: Limpy extremely cobbly loam-forested, on a southeast-facing slope of 60 percent at an elevation of 3800 feet. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted)

Oi--0 to 0.5 inch; slightly decomposed fir needles and twigs.

A--0.5 to 6 inches; dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) extremely cobbly loam, brown (7.5YR 4/2) dry; weak fine and medium granular structure; soft, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine, medium and coarse roots; many very fine irregular pores; 35 percent gravel, 45 percent cobbles, and 3 percent stones; strongly acid (pH 5.3); gradual wavy boundary. (5 to 7 inches thick)

Bw--6 to 19 inches; dark brown (10YR 3/3) extremely cobbly loam, brown (10YR 5/3) dry; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common medium, and few fine and coarse roots; many very fine irregular pores; 25 percent gravel, 50 percent cobbles, and 3 percent stones; strongly acid (pH 5.1); abrupt wavy boundary. (7 to 13 inches thick)

R--19 inches; fractured welded tuff. Fractures are 8 to 12 inches apart.

TYPE LOCATION: Douglas County, Oregon, about 6.75 miles north of Mace Mountain, 700 feet north and 1200 feet east of the southwest corner of section 27, T 24 S., R 1 W., W.M. (Latitude 43 degrees, 27 minutes, 14 seconds N, Longitude 122 degrees 47 minutes, 41 seconds W)

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness and depth to bedrock is 12 to 20 inches. The mean annual soil temperature is 42 to 47 degrees F. The soil is usually moist but is dry with all parts of the moisture control section for less than 45 consecutive days following the summer solstice. Rock fragments range from 20 to 35 percent gravel, 40 to 50 percent cobbles, and 0 to 3 percent stones throughout the solum. Hue is 10YR or 7.5YR. The umbric epipedon is 12 to 20 inches thick and can include all or part of the Bw horizon. The particle-size control section contains 10 to 20 percent clay and 60 to 85 percent rock fragments.

The A horizon has value of 3 or 4 moist and 4 or 5 dry, and chroma of 2 or 3 moist and dry.

The Bw horizon has value of 3 or 4 moist and 4 or 5 dry, and chroma of 2 to 4 moist and dry. It is extremely cobbly loam or extremely cobbly sandy loam.

COMPETING SERIES: This is the Arcadian series. Arcadian soils have hue of 5YR or 7.5YR in the A horizon and 2.5YR to 7.5YR in the Bw horizon, and are on moraines, till plains and glacial lake shorelines.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Limpy soils are on mountain side slopes. The soils formed in colluvium from welded tuffs and andesite. Slopes are 60 to 100 percent. Elevations are 2500 to 4100 feet. The climate is characterized by cool, wet winters and warm, moist summers. The mean annual temperature is 40 to 45 degrees F, and the mean annual precipitation is 60 to 80 inches. The frost free period is 50 to 100 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Illahee, Scaredman, and Mellowmoon series. Illahee soils are more than 60 inches to bedrock. Mellowmoon soils are more than 60 inches to bedrock and are fine-loamy. Illahee and Mellowmoon soils are on more gently sloping positions. Scaredman soils are 20 to 40 inches to bedrock.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat excessively drained; moderately rapid permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for timber production, wildlife habitat, and watershed. The native vegetation includes Douglasfir, western hemlock, and western white pine. The understory vegetation is mainly western swordfern, cascade Oregongrape, western fescue, american twinflower, mountain brome, western princespine, and salal.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Cascade mountains of western Oregon; MLRA 3. The series is of small extent.

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Douglas County, Oregon, 1994.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:

Umbric epipedon - from the mineral soil surface to 19 inches. (A and Bw horizons)

Lithic-hard rock at 19 inches.

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.