LOCATION BIGELK OR

Established Series
Rev. JLW/RJO/DAL/KMS
11/2018

BIGELK SERIES

Landscape--mountains
Landform--mountain slopes, terraces on mountain valleys, terraces on mountain slopes, stream terraces on mountain slopes
Slope--0 to 90 percent
Parent material--thin mantle of mixed volcanic ash over till or alluvium derived from mixed sources
Mean annual precipitation--about 1070 mm
Mean annual air temperature--about 5 degrees C
Depth class--very deep
Drainage class--well drained
Soil moisture regime--xeric
Soil temperature regime--frigid
Soil moisture subclass--typic

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, isotic, frigid Vitrandic Haploxerolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Bigelk very stony ashy silt loam, forested, on a 55-percent, planar, north-facing slope at an elevation of 1300 m

Oi--0 to 5 cm; slightly decomposed needles and leaves

A--5 to 36 cm; very stony ashy silt loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) dry, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate fine granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine and common medium and coarse roots; many fine irregular pores; 10 percent gravel, 15 percent cobbles, and 15 percent stones; neutral (pH 7.3); clear wavy boundary

AB--36 to 66 cm; extremely stony ashy silt loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) dry, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak medium and fine subangular blocky structure; soft, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine, fine, medium, and coarse roots; few fine tubular pores; 20 percent gravel, 20 percent cobbles, and 20 percent stones; neutral (pH 7.0); clear smooth boundary

2Bwb1--66 to 94 cm; extremely stony silt loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) dry, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak medium and fine subangular blocky structure; soft, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and common medium and coarse roots; few fine tubular pores; 25 percent gravel, 20 percent cobbles, and 20 percent stones; neutral (pH 7.0); gradual smooth boundary

2Bwb2--94 to 127 cm; extremely stony loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) dry, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak medium and fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine, common medium, and few coarse roots; few fine tubular pores; 30 percent gravel, 20 percent cobbles, and 20 percent stones; neutral (pH 7.0)

2BC--127 to 155 cm; extremely stony loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) dry, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common fine and medium roots; 35 percent gravel, 20 percent cobbles, and 20 percent stones; neutral (pH 7.0)

TYPE LOCATION: Baker County, Oregon; in the NE1/4NE1/4SW1/4 of section 3, T. 7 S., R. 45 E.; Jimtown U.S. Geological Survey quadrangle; latitude 44.9858193, longitude -117.1947572, Datum WGS84 (Coordinates estimated from location of hard copy map)

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mean annual soil temperature--4 to 7 degrees C
Soil moisture--dry 45 to 60 consecutive days in summer
Thickness of mollic epipedon--25 to 50 cm
Ultic subgroup feature--base saturation (sum of cations) of 55 to 70 percent in zone from 5 to 66 cm
Thickness of ash-influenced layers--18 to 75 cm

Estimated properties of layers influenced by volcanic ash
*Ammonium oxalate extractable Al + 1/2 Fe--0.4 to 1.0 percent
*0.02- to 2.0-mm fraction--30 to 40 percent
*Volcanic ash content in 0.02- to 2.0-mm fraction--35 to 50 percent
*Phosphate retention--30 to 50 percent

Particle-size control section
*Clay content--7 to 17 percent
*Total rock fragment content--50 to 75 percent

A horizon
Moist color--10YR 2/2, 10YR 3/2, 10YR 3/3
Dry color--10YR 4/3, 10YR 4/4, 10YR 5/2, 10YR 5/3
Fine-earth texture--ashy silt loam
Clay content--5 to 14 percent
Total rock fragment content--40 to 70 percent
Gravel content--10 to 20 percent
Cobble content--10 to 25 percent
Stone content--15 to 25 percent
Reaction--6.1 to 7.3
Base saturation (sum of cations)--55 to 70 percent
Thickness--18 to 36 cm

AB horizon
Moist color--10YR 3/2, 10YR 3/3
Dry color--10YR 4/3, 10YR 4/4, 10YR 4/6, 10YR 5/4
Fine-earth texture--ashy loam, ashy silt loam
Clay content--5 to 17 percent
Total rock fragment content--60 to 75 percent
Gravel content--20 to 25 percent
Cobble content--20 to 25 percent
Stone content--20 to 25 percent
Reaction--6.1 to 7.3
Base saturation (sum of cations)--55 to 70 percent

2Bwb horizons
Moist color--10YR 3/4, 10YR 4/4, 10YR 5/4
Dry color--10YR 5/4, 10YR 5/6, 10YR 6/6
Fine-earth texture--silt loam, loam, sandy loam
Clay content--8 to 17 percent
Total rock fragment content--65 to 80 percent
Gravel content--25 to 30 percent
Cobble content--20 to 25 percent
Stone content--20 to 35 percent
Reaction--5.6 to 7.3

2BC horizon
Moist color--2.5Y 5/4, 10YR 4/4, 10YR 5/4, 10YR 5/6
Dry color--2.5Y 6/4, 10YR 5/4, 10YR 5/6, 10YR 6/4
Fine-earth texture--silt loam, loam, sandy loam
Clay content--5 to 22 percent
Total rock fragment content--65 to 85 percent
Gravel content--25 to 35 percent
Cobble content--20 to 25 percent
Stone content--15 to 25 percent
Reaction--5.6 to 7.3

A 2C horizon may be in areas where the soil is underlain by alluvium.

COMPETING SERIES:
Bearspring--very deep; formed in granitic colluvium; minor volcanic ash influence (glass content 5 to 20 percent); particle-size control section averages 35 to 50 percent rock fragments; angular rock fragments; dry 60 to 75 consecutive days in summer
Cassal--deep (100 to 150 cm) to densic contact (dense till); layer of volcanic ash influence 30 to 45 cm thick (glass content 5 to 20 percent); discontinuity between ashy layer and till layer; distinct redoximorphic features at a depth of 75 to 115 cm; dry 60 to 75 consecutive days in summer
Cherrycreek--deep (100 to 150 cm) to lithic contact (basalt); no organic horizon above mineral soil surface (not forested); mixed mantle of volcanic ash and loess 90 to 125 cm thick (glass content 15 to 30 percent); mollic epipedon 50 to 90 cm thick; dry 60 to 75 consecutive days in summer
Deck--moderately deep (50 to 100 cm) to lithic contact (metavolcanic rock); particle-size control section averages 20 to 34 percent clay; dry 60 to 75 consecutive days in summer
Eastpine--moderately deep (50 to 100 cm) to lithic contact (metasedimentary rock); minor volcanic ash influence (glass content 5 to 15 percent)
Egyptcreek--moderately deep (50 to 100 cm) to lithic contact (welded tuff); mollic epipedon 20 to 35 cm thick; dry 75 to 90 consecutive days in summer
Fredonyer--moderately deep (50 to 100 cm) to lithic contact (andesite, basalt); no organic horizon above mineral soil surface (not forested); mollic epipedon 50 to 100 cm thick; dry more than 90 consecutive days in summer
Golfer--moderately deep (50 to 100 cm) to paralithic contact (weathered granite); minor influence of volcanic ash (glass content 5 to 15 percent); particle-size control section averages 2 to 10 percent clay; dry 60 to 75 consecutive days in summer
Grubcreek--moderately deep (50 to 100 cm) to lithic contact (andesite, andesitic basalt, basalt); minor volcanic ash influence (glass content 5 to 15 percent); particle-size control section averages 18 to 33 percent clay; dry 60 to 75 consecutive days in summer
Kettlecreek--deep (100 to 150 cm) to lithic contact (argillite); minor volcanic ash influence (glass content 5 to 15 percent); dry 60 to 75 consecutive days in summer
Longs--deep (100 to 150 cm) to lithic contact (basalt); mollic epipedon 50 to 115 cm thick; faint clay films on faces of peds in lower part; particle-size control section averages 18 to 27 percent clay; dry 45 to 75 consecutive days in summer
McCrosket--deep (100 to 150 cm) to lithic contact (metasedimentary rock)
Midpeak--moderately deep (50 to 100 cm) to lithic contact (breccia); mixed volcanic ash mantle (glass content 5 to 20 percent); discontinuity between ash mantle and buried cambic horizon; dry 60 to 75 consecutive days in summer
Mineral--moderately deep (50 to 100 cm) to lithic contact (granitic rock); volcanic ash influence (glass content 5 to 20 percent); dry 60 to 75 consecutive days in summer
Peahke--moderately deep (50 to 100 cm) to paralithic contact (metamorphic sedimentary rock); volcanic ash mantle 20 to 35 cm thick (glass content 20 to 30 percent); particle-size control section averages 18 to 30 percent clay and has 60 to 70 percent channers
Piersonte--very deep; formed in colluvium derived from shale; mollic epipedon 50 to 90 cm thick; particle-size control section averages 18 to 30 percent clay; rock fragments dominantly shale channers; dry 60 to 90 consecutive days in summer
Porch--moderately deep (50 to 100 cm) to lithic contact (argillite); angular rock fragments; dry 60 to 75 consecutive days in summer
Scoap--very deep; formed in till or outwash material of mixed lithology; mollic epipedon 50 to 75 cm thick; dry 60 to 75 consecutive days in summer
Shalrock--moderately deep (50 to 100 cm) to lithic contact (sandstone); mixed volcanic ash mantle (glass content 5 to 15 percent); discontinuity between ash mantle and substratum; particle-size control section averages 25 to 50 percent medium and coarse sand; dry 60 to 75 consecutive days in summer
Shilling--very deep; formed in colluvium derived from basalt; particle-size control section averages 18 to 27 percent clay; dry 45 to 75 consecutive days in summer
Umatilla--very deep; formed in colluvium derived from basalt; mollic epipedon 50 to 75 cm thick (mollic colors throughout); discontinuity between ashy layer and subsoil; particle-size control section averages 25 to 35 percent clay; dry 60 to 80 consecutive days in summer
Webbgulch--moderately deep (50 to 100 cm) to lithic contact (andesitic basalt, basalt); subangular rock fragments; dry 60 to 75 consecutive days in summer
Yellcreek--very deep; formed in colluvium of mixed lithology; minor volcanic ash influence (glass content 5 to 20 percent); discontinuity between volcanic ash influence and substratum; mollic epipedon 20 to 40 cm thick; angular rock fragments; dry 60 to 75 consecutive days

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Elevation--890 to 2010 m
Climate--cold, wet winters; cool, dry summers
Mean annual precipitation--460 to 1610 mm
Mean annual air temperature--3 to 7 degrees C
Frost-free period--35 to 120 days

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS:
Gulliford--on channel shelves; sandy-skeletal substratum; oxyaquic conditions within a depth of 50 cm; under moist meadow vegetation
Inkler--on footslopes and north aspects; thin undisturbed volcanic ash mantle; under Douglas-fir, western larch, common snowberry, mallow ninebark, and pinegrass
Lakefork--on gentle slopes and north aspects of moraines; very deep; ash mantle more than 35 cm thick and more than 35 percent rock fragments; under grand fir, western larch, Engelmann spruce, queencup bead lily, Hooker's fairybells, mountain brome, sedges, and pinegrass
Melloe--on flood plains; poorly drained; loamy-skeletal particle-size control section, aquic conditions within a depth of 25 to 45 cm; under wet meadow vegetation
Terlough--on low terraces; somewhat poorly drained; mollic epipedon, loamy-skeletal substratum; oxyaquic conditions within a depth of 40 cm; under fir and spruce forest; udic soil moisture regime
Tertoo--on relict high terraces and fans of toeslopes; well drained; thick ash mantle over loamy-skeletal material; xeric soil moisture regime; under grand fir and ponderosa pine forest
Torchspring--on toeslopes and glaciated valley floors; very deep; ash mantle over an argillic horizon; under grand fir, western larch, birchleaf spirea, big huckleberry, showy aster, pinegrass, and mountain brome
Twocolor--on gentle slopes and south aspects of moraines; very deep; ash mantle more than 35 cm thick and more than 35 percent rock fragments; under grand fir, western larch, big huckleberry, prince's pine, and pinegrass

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY:
Saturation during normal years--none
Flooding--none
Ponding--none
Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat)--moderately high over high

USE AND VEGETATION:
Use--livestock grazing, timber production, watershed, recreation
Potential native vegetation--Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, grand fir, western larch, pinegrass, birchleaf spirea, common snowberry, heartleaf arnica, low Oregon grape, woodland strawberry, elk sedge, showy aster, Saskatoon serviceberry, blue wildrye, fewflower peavine, western fescue, white hawkweed, big huckleberry, largeleaf sandwort, creambush oceanspray, pathfinder, sweetcicely

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Foothills of Central Rocky Mountains and Blue Mountains in northeastern Oregon; MLRA 10; small extent

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Oregon; 2012

REMARKS:
Diagnostic horizons and other features recognized in this pedon
*Mollic epipedon--zone from 5 to 36 cm
*Cambic horizon--zone from 36 to 127 cm
*Volcanic glass--zone from 5 to 66 cm
*Depth to lithologic discontinuity--66 cm
*Particle-size control section--zone from 30 to 107 cm

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.