LOCATION CARIBOUCREEK CA

Established Series
PBF/RLR/JTW
01/2020

CARIBOUCREEK SERIES

The Cariboucreek series consists of deep, well-drained soils that formed in alluvium from mixed sources. The Cariboucreek soils are on alluvial flats. Slopes range from 0 to 4 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 546 millimeters (22 inches) and the mean annual air temperature is about 8 degrees C. (47 degrees F.)

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Haploxerepts

TYPICAL PEDON: Cariboucreek loam, on a north facing, linear, 2 percent slope under scattered Jeffrey pine, juniper, and sagebrush at an elevation of 2,057 meters (6,750 feet). The surface is bare.

A -- 0 to 25 centimeters, (0 to 10 inches); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky, slightly plastic; common fine roots throughout; noneffervescent; 3 percent gravel; clear smooth boundary. (10 to 25 centimeters)

Bw1 -- 25 to 56 centimeters, (10 to 22 inches); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; moderately hard, friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; common fine and medium roots throughout; noneffervescent; clear smooth boundary.

Bw2 -- 56 to 101 centimeters, (22 to 40 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky, moderately plastic; common fine and medium roots throughout; noneffervescent; clear smooth boundary.

Bw3 -- 101 to 127 centimeters, (40 to 50 inches); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) clay loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky, moderately plastic; common fine and medium roots throughout; noneffervescent; 5 percent gravel. (Combined thickness of the Bw horizon is more than 80 centimeters)

TYPE LOCATION: San Bernardino County, California; 610 meters (2,000 feet) east and 244 meters (800 feet) south of the NW corner of section 13, T. 2 N., R. 1 E.; 34 degrees, 15 minutes and 44.7 seconds north latitude and 116 degrees, 49 minutes and 57.5 seconds west longitude; Big Bear City 7.5 minute quadrangle; UTM 11S 0515416e 37912660n (DTM: NAD83).

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Soil moisture control section: Usually dry in all parts from late May or early June until late November or early December, and usually moist in some or all parts the rest of the year. The soils have a xeric moisture regime.

Soil temperature: 8 to 11 degrees C. (47 to 51 degrees F.)
Organic matter: 1 to 3 percent
Surface rock fragments: 0 to 5 percent gravel

Control section -
Rock fragments: 0 to 5 percent gravel
Clay content: average is between 25 and 40 percent

A horizon
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3, dry or moist
Texture of the fine earth: loam or clay loam
Clay content: 15 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 5 percent gravel
Reaction: slightly acid or neutral

Bw horizon
Value: 4 to 6, dry or moist
Chroma: 2 to 4, dry or moist
Texture of the fine earth: loam or clay loam
Clay content: 20 to 40 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 10 percent gravel
Reaction: moderately acid to neutral

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Debenger, Kerby, Offenbacher, Presher and Springwater series. Debenger soils are moderately deep to sedimentary bedrock and have mean annual precipitation of 737 millimeters (29 inches). Kerby soils have mean annual air temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees C. (50 to 54 degrees C.) and have mean annual precipitation of 760 millimeters (30 inches). Offenbacher soils are moderately deep to a lithic contact and have mean annual precipitation of 813 millimeters (32 inches). Presher soils have hues of 7.5YR or 5YR, more than 10 percent rock fragments in the control section and have mean annual precipitation of 686 millimeters (27 inches). Springwater soils are moderately deep to a paralithic contact with fractured sandstone and have mean annual precipitation of 1,397 millimeters (55 inches).

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Cariboucreek soils are on mountain side slopes. Slopes range from 0 to 4 percent. These soils formed in alluvium and lacustrine sediments. Elevations range from 1,465 to 1,980 meters (4,800 to 6,500 feet). The climate is subhumid mesothermal with warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters with some snow. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 483 to 635 millimeters (19 to 25 inches) and the mean annual air temperature ranges from 7 to 9 degrees C. (45 to 49 degrees F.) The frost-free season is 35 to 142 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Moonridge (T) and Shayroad (T) soils. Moonridge and Shayroad soils have mollic epipedons more than 50 centimeters thick. In addition, Shayroad soils have coarse-loamy particle-size control sections and are on alluvial fans.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well-drained; slow runoff; moderately slow permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Cariboucreek soils are used for recreation, watershed and wildlife habitat. Significant areas are used locally for homesites and commercial development. The present vegetation is mainly scattered Jeffrey pine, juniper and sagebrush.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Alluvial flats adjacent to lacustrine areas on mountain valley floors of inland mountain ranges of San Bernardino and Riverside counties in southern California. MLRA 20. These soils are of small extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California.

SERIES PROPOSED: San Bernardino County, California, San Bernardino National Forest, Private Land Soil Survey Update Project, 2004. The name is from a creek in the soil survey area.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in the profile are:

1. Ochric epipedon: 0 to 25 centimeters (A horizon)
2. Cambic horizon: 25 to 127 centimeters (Bw1, Bw2 and Bw3 horizons)
3. Particle-size control section: 25 to 100 centimeters (Bw1 and Bw2 horizons)

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.