LOCATION BEACHCANYON CO
Established Series
Rev. CRP/JCK
04/2019
BEACHCANYON SERIES
The Beachcanyon series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in colluvium or landslide deposits. These soils are on mountain slopes and landslides. Slopes are 10 to 65 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 559 mm, and mean annual air temperature is about 3.3 degrees C.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Clayey-skeletal, mixed, superactive Pachic Argicryolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Beachcanyon stony loam, on a west facing, 22 percent slope in aspen at an elevation of 2,798 meters. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
Oe--0 to 5 cm; moderately decomposed leaves and twigs; abrupt smooth boundary
A1--5 to 18 cm; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) stony loam, black (10YR 2/1) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine, very fine, medium, and coarse roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 10 percent gravel, 10 percent cobbles, and 10 percent stones; neutral (pH 7.2); clear wavy boundary.
A2--18 to 50 cm; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) stony loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak medium and coarse subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine subangular blocky; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and very fine roots, and common medium and coarse roots; many very fine and fine interstitial pores; 10 percent gravel, 10 percent cobbles, and 10 percent stones; neutral (pH 7.0); clear wavy boundary.(combined thickness of A horizons is 40 to 60 cm)
Bt1--50 to 68 cm; brown (10YR 5/3) very stony clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine and medium subangular blocky; hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common fine and medium, and few coarse roots; common very fine and fine tubular pores; few faint clay films on faces of peds and on surfaces along pores; 5 percent gravel, 15 percent cobbles, and 20 percent stones; neutral (pH 6.6); clear wavy boundary.
Bt2--68 to 109 cm; brown (10YR 5/3) very stony clay, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine and medium subangular blocky; hard, firm, very sticky and very plastic; common fine and medium roots; common fine tubular pores; many distinct clay films on faces of peds and on surfaces along pores; 10 percent gravel, 15 percent cobbles, and 30 percent stones; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual wavy boundary. (combined thickness of Bt horizons is 50 to 90 cm)
BC--109 to 152 cm; brown (10YR 5/3) very stony clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few fine and medium roots; 15 percent gravel, 15 percent cobbles, and 25 percent stones; neutral (pH 6.8).
TYPE LOCATION: Ouray County, Colorado; located about 107 meters north and 8 meters east of the southwest corner of section 30, T. 45 N., R. 9 W. Latitude 38 degrees, 7 minutes 1 second N, longitude 107 degrees, 54 minutes 33.5 seconds W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mean annual soil temperature - 2.7 to 5.4 degrees C
Mollic epipedon thickness - 40 to 60 cm
Particle-size control section (weighted average):
Clay content - 35 to 50 percent clay
Rock fragments - 35 to 60 percent
A horizons
Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 3, 4, or 5 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1, 2, or 3 dry or moist
Texture: loam or clay loam
Clay content: 12 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 15 to 45 percent; 10 to 45 percent gravel, 5 to 35 percent cobbles, 0 to 15 percent stones
Reaction: 6.6 to 7.4
Bt horizons
Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 4, 5, or 6 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2, 3, or 4 dry or moist
Texture: clay loam or clay
Clay content: 35 to 50 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 60 percent; 20 to 45 percent gravel, 10 to 35 percent cobbles, 0 to 15 percent stones, 0 to 10 percent boulders
Reaction: 6.6 to 7.2
BC horizon
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4, 5, or 6 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2, 3, or 4 dry or moist
Texture: sandy clay loam, clay loam or clay
Clay content: 30 to 50 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 65 percent; 20 to 45 percent gravel, 10 to 35 percent cobbles, 0 to 15 percent stones, 0 to 10 percent boulders
Reaction: 6.6 to 7.2
Some pedons have a C horizon in place of a BC.
COMPETING SERIES:
Yata (NM) - have an ustic soil moisture regime
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - mountain slopes and landslides
Elevation - 2,530 to 3,048 meters
Slope - 10 to 65 percent
Parent material - colluvium or landslide deposits
Mean annual precipitation - 508 to 610 mm
Mean annual air temperature - 1.7 to 4.4 C
Frost-free period - 30 to 75 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderately slow to slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Beachcanyon soils are used primarily for rangeland and recreation. Native vegetation is quaking aspen, snowberry, aspen fleabane, slender wheatgrass, elk sedge, mountain brome, Columbia needlegrass, and scattered chokecherry and serviceberry.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Beachcanyon soils are of small extent in western Colorado. MLRA 48A.
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Ouray County, Colorado - Ridgway Area, Colorado, Parts of Delta, Gunnison, Montrose, and Ouray Counties, 2019.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - from 5 to 50 cm (A1 and A2 horizons)
Argillic horizon - from 50 to 100 cm (Bt1 and Bt2 horizons)
Particle-size control section - from 50 to 100 cm (Bt1 and part of Bt2 horizon)
Beachcanyon soils have a cryic temperature regime and a udic moisture regime bordering on ustic.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.