LOCATION BAMBER WAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Ashy-skeletal, glassy Xeric Vitricryands
TYPICAL PEDON: Bamber ashy loam, forest. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted.)
Oi--0 to 1 inch; grass, leaves, needles, and twigs.
E--1 to 8 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) ashy loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; weak fine granular structure; soft, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine roots; slightly acid (pH 6.3); clear wavy boundary. (6 to 9 inches thick)
Bw1--8 to 12 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) gravelly ashy loam, very pale brown (10YR 7/4) dry; weak medium and fine granular structure; soft, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine roots; peds coated with clear sand grains; 20 percent angular gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.3); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 6 inches thick)
Bw2--12 to 19 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/4) gravelly ashy loam, pink (7.5YR 7/4) dry; weak medium and coarse granular structure; soft, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine roots; 25 percent angular gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.5); clear wavy boundary. (6 to 8 inches thick)
BC--19 to 43 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) very gravelly ashy loam, pink (7.5YR 7/4) dry; weak medium and fine blocky structure; soft, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine roots; 60 percent angular gravel; neutral (pH 6.6); clear wavy boundary. (20 to 32 inches thick)
2R--43 inches; fractured andesite limestone.
TYPE LOCATION: Ferry County, Washington; 50 yards east of forest road, 1/4 mile inside forest boundary going north on Sheridan Road; SW1/4 sec. 30, T.38N., R.32E., W.M.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: These soils are usually moist, but are dry for 45 to 60 consecutive days following summer solstice. The mean annual soil temperature at 20 inches is 39 degrees to 44 degrees F., and the mean summer temperature is less than 47 degrees F. The upper part of the control section contains more than 60 percent volcanic ash. The fine earth fraction of the entire control section contains more than 60 percent volcanic ash. The control section averages more than 35 percent coarse fragments. The soil is moderately acid to neutral becoming less acid with depth. Depth to andesite bedrock is 40 to 60 inches.
The E horizon has value of 4 or 5 moist, 5 or 6 dry, and chroma of 1 or 2 moist or dry.
The Bw horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR; value of 4 or 5 moist, 6 or 7 dry, and chroma of 3 or 4 moist or dry.
The BC or C horizons have hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 or 5 moist, 6 or 7 dry, and chroma of 4 through 6 moist or dry. They are very gravelly or very cobbly, have weak structure or are massive.
COMPETING SERIES: These ae the Azwell, Burpeak, Chewack, Fears, Hallihan, Madrak, Tiptop, and Wuksi series. The Azwell and Madrak soils are moderately deep to bedrock. The Burpeak soils contain 30 to 60 percent volcanic glass. The Chewack, Fears, Hallihan, Tiptop, and Wuksi soils are very deep.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Bamber soils are on sloping to steep mountain slopes at elevations of 3,500 to 6,000 feet. These soils formed in volcanic ash with a high percentage of volcanic rock coarse fragments. Bamber soils occur in a climate with 25 to 35 inches annual precipitation; mean annual temperature of 39 degrees to 41 degrees F.; and a frost-free period of 90 to 110 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the competing Togo soils.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well-drained; medium to rapid runoff; moderately permeable.
USE AND VEGETATION: Woodland. Native vegetation is Western larch, Douglas-fir, snowberry, pinegrass, pipsissewa, yarrow, and buckwheat.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northeastern Washington. Series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Ferry County (North Ferry Area), Washington, 1971.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are an albic horizon from 1 to 8 inches (volcanic ash), a cambic horizon from 8 to 43 inches, and a lithic contact at 43 inches.