LOCATION SASKA WAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Ashy over loamy-skeletal, glassy over isotic, frigid Typic Vitrixerands
TYPICAL PEDON: Saska sandy loam - under coniferous forest on a 25 percent north-facing lower back slope at an elevation of 2,500 feet. The soil was moist to a depth of 5 inches when described. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. All textures are apparent field textures.)
Oi and Oe--2 inches to 0; undecomposed and partially decomposed forest litter. (1 to 3 inches thick)
E--0 to l/2 inch; light gray (10YR 7/l) loamy sand, dark gray (10YR 4/1) moist; single grain; loose; nonsticky and nonplastic; 5 percent pebbles, stones scattered on surface; abrupt broken boundary. (0 to 1 inch thick)
Bs1--1/2 to 6 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and fine, common medium, and few coarse roots; common very fine tubular pores; 5 percent pebbles; slightly acid (pH 6.3); clear wavy boundary.
Bs2--6 to 16 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine, medium and few coarse roots; common very fine tubular pores; 5 percent pebbles; slightly acid (pH 6.5); abrupt wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bs horizon is 14 to 24 inches)
2C1--16 to 36 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) very stony sandy loam, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist, massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few fine, medium and coarse roots; common very fine tubular pores; 15 percent pebbles, 15 percent cobbles, 15 percent stones and 5 percent boulders; moderately acid (pH 5.8); gradual wavy boundary. (16 to 24 inches thick)
2C2--36 to 60 inches; light gray (2.5Y 7/2) very stony sandy loam, grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) moist; massive; hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few coarse roots; few very fine tubular pores; 15 percent pebbles, 10 percent cobbles, 15 percent stones, and 5 percent boulders; moderately acid (pH 5.8).
TYPE LOCATION: Chelan County, Washington; about 4 miles southeast of Merritt; 1,600 feet south and 2,300 feet east of northwest corner of sec. 13, T. 26 N., R. 16 E., W.M.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS" Average annual soil temperature ranges from 43 to 46 degrees F. The upper part of the 0 to 40 inch particle-size control section has an estimated moist bulk density of 0.60 to 1.0, volcanic glass content of 30 to 60 percent, acid-oxalate extractable aluminum plus one-half of the acid-oxalate extractable iron of 1.0 to 2.0 percent and 15-bar water retention of 5 to 12 percent for air dried samples. Depth to the 2C horizon ranges from 14 to 24 inches. Soil reaction is moderately acid or slightly acid throughout.
The E horizon, where present, has value of 6 or 7 dry, 3 through 5 moist, and chroma of 1 or 2 dry or moist. It is stony, bouldery, or very bouldery.
The Bs horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 5 or 6 dry, 3 to 5 moist, and chroma of 2 to 4 dry or moist. It is sandy loam, gravelly sandy loam, loamy sand or cindery fine sandy loam.
The 2C horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 through 7 dry, 4 to 6 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4 dry or moist. It is very cobbly sandy loam, very stony sandy loam, extremely cobbly sandy loam, extremely stony sandy loam or extremely gravelly sandy loam. It is 40 to 75 percent rock fragments.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Saska soils are on mountainsides and terraces at elevations of 2,000 to 4,200 feet. Slopes are 3 to 65 percent. These soils formed in volcanic ash underlain by glacial till and local colluvium. They are in a climate with warm dry summers and cool moist winters. The average annual precipitation is 35 to 65 inches. Average January temperature is about 23 degrees F; average July temperature is about 66 degrees F; and average annual temperature is about 42 degrees F. The growing season, at 28 degrees F, is 120 to 170 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Tillicum, Chiwaukum, Wedge, and Zeb soils. Tillicum soils lack a spodic horizon and are medial over loamy. Chiwaukum and Wedge soils are Cryic. Zeb soils are loamy-skeletal.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, slow to rapid runoff, moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Woodland, watershed, wildlife habitat, and recreation. Native vegetation is Douglas-fir, grand fir, lodgepole pine, western white pine and ponderosa pine with an understory of Cascade Oregon-grape, pachystima, huckleberry, and lupine.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: East slopes of the Cascade Mountains in Central Chelan County. Series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Chelan County (Entiat\Area), Washington, l971.