LOCATION AMPAD WATentative Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, isotic, frigid Vitrandic Dystroxerepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Ampad ashy sandy loam - under coniferous forest on a 65 percent concave southwest facing slope at an elevation of 3,100 feet. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. When described the soil was dry. All textures are apparent field textures.)
0iOi--0 to 1 inch; partially decomposed needles and twigs.
A--1 to 5 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) ashy sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots; common very fine pores; slightly acid (pH 6.2); abrupt smooth boundary. (4 to 6 inches thick)
AB--5 to 10 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) ashy sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots; few very fine irregular pores; 5 percent sandstone paragravel; moderately acid (pH 6.0); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 5 inches thick)
Bw1--10 to 16 to 15 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) sandy loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots; few very fine irregular pores; 5 percent sandstone paragravel; moderately acid (pH 5.8); clear wavy boundary. (6 to 9 inches thick)
Bw2--16 to 29 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) sandy loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and few medium and coarse roots; few very fine irregular pores; 5 percent sandstone paragravel; moderately acid (pH 5.8); clear wavy boundary. (7 to 13 inches thick)
BC--29 to 33 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) sandy loam; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; common fine medium roots; few very fine irregular pores; 10 percent sandstone paragravel; moderately acid (pH 5.6) clear wavy boundary. (3 to 7 inches thick)
Cr--33 inches; weathered sandstone.
TYPE LOCATION: Kittitas County, Washington; about 8 miles north of Cle Elum, west 4 miles on the Lick Creek Road; 2,400 feet south and 100 feet west of the northwest corner of section. 14, T. 21 N., R. 15 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature ranges from 45 to 47 degrees F. The soils are usually moist, but are dry in all parts in the moisture control section for 75 to 90 consecutive days during summer and fall. The particle-size control section has 60 to 75 percent fine or coarse sand and 5 to 10 percent clay in the fine earth fraction. Depth to the paralithic contact with sandstone ranges from 20 to 40 inches. The upper 7 to 11 inches has an estimated volcanic glass content of 5 to 20 percent and acid-oxalate extractable aluminum plus iron of 0.4 to 1.0 percent.
The A horizon has a value of 4 or 5 dry and chroma of 2 or 3 moist. It has a moist bulk density of 1.10 to 1.30 grams per cubic centimeter.
The AB horizon, when present, is slightly acid or moderately acid.
The Bw horizon has a hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist and chroma of 3 or 4 moist and dry. The upper part of the Bw horizon contains 0 to 10 percent sandstone paragravel and the lower part 10 to 35 percent.
The BC horizon is sandy loam or loamy sand.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Kiper (T), Micapeak (T), Ojibway, Quinnamose (T), and Switchback series. Kiper soils are more than 60 inches deep to bedrock. Micapeak soils are dry for 60 to 75 consecutive days and contain 10 to 20 percent mica in the particle-size control section. Ojibway soils are dry for 45 to 60 consecutive days and are dominated by rock and pararock fragments of amphibolite origin. Quinnamose soils are 40 to 60 inches deep to a paralithic contact. Switchback soils have 5 to 35 percent gravel and cobbles of granodirorite origin. Soils with a similar classification except for mixed mineralogy are the Cannell, Kriest and Rogue series. All these soils are 40 to 60 inches deep to bedrock.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Ampad soils are on cuestas and backslopes and have slopes of 5 to 75 percent. These soils formed in residuum and colluvium derived from Rosyln and Swauk sandstone with an influence of volcanic ash in the surface. Sandstone parafragments are semi- rounded light gray (10YR 7/2) and very pale brown (10YR 7/3) fresh face. The weathering rind is reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/8). Elevation ranges from 2,100 to 3,600 feet. The soils are in a continental climate with warm dry summers and cool moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 25 to 40 inches. The mean January temperature is about 24 degrees F. and the mean July temperature is about 64 degrees F. The mean annual temperature is 43 to 45 degrees F. The growingseason is 145 to 170 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Kafing, Standup, Nard, Tepping, and Varelum soils. Kafing, Nard, Tepping and Varelum soils are fine- loamy and very deep. Standup soils are loamy-skeletal. Kafing and Varelum soils are on mountain side slopes. Nard and Tepping soils are on foothills and terraces.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium to rapid runoff; permeability is moderately rapid.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for timber production, recreation, wildlife habitat and watershed. Vegetation is ponderosa pine, grand fir, Douglas-fir, elk sedge, pinegrass, Oregon-grape, spirea, oceanspray, lupine, common snowberry, pinemat
manzanita, and hazel.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: North Central Kittitas County, Washington; this series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES PROPOSED: Kittitas County, Washington, 1979.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - the zone from 1 to 10 inches (A and AB horizons)
Cambic horizon - the zone from 10 to 29 inches (2Bw1 and 2Bw2 horizons)
Paralithic contact - the zone beginning at 33 inches
Base saturation at a depth of 10 to 30 inches is estimated to be 50 to 60 percent.
Vitrandic feature - the zone from 1 to 10 inches
All depths to diagnostic horizons and features are measured from the top of the first mineral layer.