LOCATION BLUENOSE CAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, active, mesic Ultic Argixerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Bluenose very gravelly sandy loam on a northwest facing convex slope of 35 percent under Douglas-fir canopy at 3,850 feet elevation. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. When described on August 28, 1979 the soil was dry throughout.)
A1--0 to 3 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) very gravelly sandy loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine, fine and medium roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 50 percent 2 to 50 mm pebbles; neutral (pH 7.0); abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 4 inches thick)
A2--3 to 15 inches; dark brown (10YR 3/3) very gravelly sandy loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak fine angular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine and common medium roots; common very fine tubular pores; 50 percent 2 to 75 mm pebbles; slightly acid (pH 6.5); clear wavy boundary. (11 to 15 inches thick)
Bt--15 to 36 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) very gravelly sandy clay loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine, common medium and few coarse roots; common very fine tubular pores; few thin clay films bridging sand grains in pores; 40 percent 2 to 75 mm pebbles and 15 percent 75 to 150 mm cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.2); clear wavy boundary. (20 to 23 inches thick)
BC--36 to 62 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) very gravelly sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; massive; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; common fine, medium, coarse and very coarse roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 40 percent 2 to 75 mm pebbles and 15 percent 75 to 150 mm cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.2). (23 to 28 inches thick)
TYPE LOCATION: Mendocino County, California; approximately 12 miles due north of Covelo, California; 0.6 mile north of the cattle gate with "No travel by any means" sign on it, 0.5 mile south of Hulls Creek crossing on the Louisiana Pacific main logging road and 100 feet east of that road towards tributary of Hulls Creek; 4,800 feet east and 200 feet north of SW corner of sec. 11, T. 24 N., R. 12 W., MDB&M, Bluenose Ridge Quadrangle.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Thickness of the solum and the depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches. The soil is dry between a depth of 14 to 38 inches from June to October in most years, and usually is moist in all parts from December to May. The mean annual soil temperature varies from 47 degrees to 54 degrees F. In January and February the soil temperature is about 40 degrees F. Organic matter to a depth of 10 inches is greater than 1 percent.
The A horizon is 10YR 3/3, 4/1, 4/2, 5/2, 5/3; or 7.5YR 4/2. Moist colors are 10YR 2/1, 2/2, 3/1, 3/2, 3/3; or 7.5YR 3/2. It is very gravelly sandy loam or very gravelly loam with 35 to 55 percent gravel and 0 to 5 percent cobbles. It has 10 to 20 percent clay. Base saturation ranges from 50 to 100 percent. It is neutral or slightly acid.
The Bt horizon is 10YR 5/3, 5/4, 6/3, 6/4; or 7.5YR 4/4. Moist colors are 10YR 3/3, 3/4, 4/3, 4/4, 5/4; or 7.5YR 3/4. It is very gravelly loam, very gravelly sandy loam or very gravelly sandy clay loam with 30 to 55 percent gravel and 10 to 15 percent cobbles. The ratio of gravel to cobbles is greater than 2 and the total volume of rock fragments is 35 to 60 percent. It has 15 to 27 percent clay. It is slightly acid through strongly acid. Base saturation is 50 to 75 percent.
The BC horizon is similar in color and total rock fragment content to the Bt. It is very gravelly sandy loam and very gravelly loam. It has 10 to 20 percent clay. Base saturation ranges from 50 to 60 percent. It is slightly acid through strongly acid.
COMPETING SERIES: These are Bluesprin, Bobbitt, Fordice, Gavel, Hunsinger, Jellico, Keuterville, Nashmead, Sallyann, Sawtell, Tekoa, and Vilot soils. Bluesprin, Bobbitt, Gavel, Jellico, and Sallyann soils have bedrock at a depth of 20 to 40 inches. Fordice soils are formed on old alluvial terraces, have 25 to 35 percent clay in the argillic horizon and have moisture control sections that are dry for only 60 to 80 days. Hunsinger soils have a lithologic discontinuity within the control section. Keuterville soils are dry for less than 60 days and have bedrock at a depth of 40 to 60 inches. Nashmead soils have mean annual soil temperatures greater than 54 degrees F and are 40 to 60 inches to bedrock. Tekoa and Vilot soils have a paralithic contact at a depth of 20 to 40 inches. Sawtell soils have a lithologic discontinuity at depths of 15 to 25 inches. In addition Sawtell soils are dry for only 45 to 60 consecutive days in the summer.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Bluenose soils are on mountains and have slopes of 8 to 75 percent. They formed in material weathered from sandstone, schist or shale. Elevations are 2,500 to 5,000 feet. The climate is subhumid with hot dry summers and cool moist winters. Mean annual precipitation varies from 40 to 60 inches. Mean January temperature is 40 degrees F; mean July temperature is 70 degrees F; mean annual temperature is 47 degrees to 54 degrees F. Seasonal snowfall is about 10 inches. Frost-free season ranges from 125 to 175 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Gudgrey, Neuns, and Tyson soils. Gudgrey soils have fine-loamy control sections. Neuns and Tyson soils are 20 to 40 inches deep, and the Tyson soils lack an argillic horizon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium to very rapid runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for timber production, watershed and wildlife habitat. Vegetation is Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine, California black oak and Pacific madrone. At higher elevations, white fir may be present.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northern California in the Coast Range. The soils are not extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Mendocino County, California, Eastern Part 1985.
REMARKS: The activity class was added to the classification in January of 2003. Competing series were not checked at that time. - ET