LOCATION ANCHORAGE AK
Inactive Series
Rev. MHC/JPM
02/2022
ANCHORAGE SERIES
The Anchorage series consists of very deep, somewhat excessively drained soils formed in wind-modified sand. Anchorage soils are on stabilized sand dunes and beach ridges bordering rivers. Slopes range from 0 to 45
percent. Mean annual temperature is about 35 degrees F., and the average annual precipitation is about 20 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy, mixed Typic Haplocryods
TYPICAL PEDON: Anchorage silt loam - on a 4 percent south-facing slope under forest vegetation. (All colors are for moist soil)
Oi--2 inches to 0; dark reddish brown (5YR 2/2) mat of decomposing organic material; extremely acid; abrupt wavy boundary. (1 to 3 inches thick)
E--0 to 1 inch; gray (10YR 5/1) silt loam; very weak medium platy structure; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common roots; extremely acid; abrupt irregular boundary. (1 to 2 1/2 inches thick)
Bs1--1 to 2 inches; dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) very fine sandy loam; weak medium granular structure; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; pockets of yellowish red (5YR 4/6); common roots; extremely acid; abrupt irregular boundary. (1/2 to 2 inches thick)
Bs2--2 to 6 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) very fine sandy loam; very weak medium granular structure; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; yellowish brown streaks and patches; very strongly acid; common roots; clear wavy boundary. (3 to 8 inches thick)
2BC--6 to 12 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) fine sand; single grained; loose; few roots; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. (4 to 7 inches thick)
2C--12 to 60 inches; olive (5Y 4/3) sand; single grained; loose; thin 1/8 inch thick yellowish brown weakly cemented undulating bands at 30 inches and 37 inches; very few roots; strongly acid.
TYPE LOCATION: Matanuska Valley Area, Alaska, about 1 1/2 miles east of Lake Beth; SE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of section 34, T.16N., R.3W., Seward Meridian.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The solum ranges from 7 to 12 inches thick. The weighted average control section has less than 50 percent very fine sand. There is less than 1.2 percent organic carbon in the upper spodic horizons. Reaction is extremely acid to strongly acid in the solum and very strongly to moderately acid in the substratum.
The E horizon has moist hue of 7.5YR, 10YR, or 2.5Y; moist value of 4, 5, or 6; moist chroma of 1 or 2. Texture is dominantly silt loam or very fine sandy loam but ranges to include sandy loam or sand.
The Bs horizons have moist hue of 5YR, 7.5YR or 10YR; moist value of 3 or 4; moist chroma of 3, 4, 5, or 6. Texture is dominantly very fine sandy loam but ranges to include fine sandy loam and very fine sand.
The 2BC horizon has moist hue of 10YR or 2.5Y; moist value of 4 or 5; moist chroma of 3 or 4. Texture is fine sand or sand.
The 2C horizons have moist hue of 2.5Y or 5Y; moist value of 4 or 5; moist chroma of 2, 3, or 4. Texture is fine sand, sand, or coarse sand. Coarse fragment content is less than 15 percent and is dominantly gravel.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no known competing series.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Anchorage soils are on stabilized sand dunes and beach ridges bordering rivers and fjords. Elevations range from sea level to 200 feet. The climate is transitional maritime - continental. Average annual air temperature ranges from 33 to 36 degrees F. The average annual precipitation ranges from 15 to 25 inches. Slopes are short, broken, and complex, ranging from 0 to 45 percent.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat excessively drained. Slow to medium runoff. Moderate permeability in the solum and moderately rapid in the substratum.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used primarily for wildlife habitat. Native vegetation consists of white spruce, paper birch, and quaking aspen.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southcentral Alaska. The series is of moderate extent.
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: WASILLA, ALASKA
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Kenai - Kasilof Area, Alaska, 1960.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon include: spodic horizon from 1 to 2 inches; cryic temperature regime; sandy particle size from 6 to 60 inches.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.