LOCATION COASTWISE               CA

Established Series
MEB/KP
06/2011

COASTWISE SERIES


The Coastwise series consists of shallow, moderately well drained soils that formed in schist from slope alluvium and residuum. Coastwise soils are on side slopes of interfluves of hills and mountains. Slopes range from 10 to 60 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 355 millimeters (14 inches) and the mean annual temperature is about 21 degrees C (69 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Clayey, smectitic, thermic, shallow Mollic Haploxeralfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Coastwise gravelly sandy loam, on a south west facing 40 percent slope under a cover of grass, sage and lemon berry at an elevation of 374 feet, (114 m). (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).

Oi--0 to 0 inches, (0 to 1 cm); thin platy structure; soft, nonsticky, nonplastic; 20 percent rounded 75 to 250 millimeter and 25 percent rounded 2 to 75 millimeter gravel; abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 4 centimeters thick)

A--0 to 6 inches, (1 to 15 cm); brown (10YR 5/3) broken face gravelly sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) broken face moist; 60 percent sand; 31 percent silt; 9 percent clay; weak fine granular structure; loose, loose, nonsticky, nonplastic; fine interstitial and medium interstitial pores; 20 percent rounded 2 to 75 millimeter gravel; neutral (pH 7.0); clear smooth boundary. (7 to 20 centimeters thick)

Bt1--6 to 15 inches, (15 to 39 cm); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) broken face sandy clay, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) broken face moist; 40 percent clay; strong medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, friable, very sticky, very plastic; fine interstitial and very fine tubular pores; prominent clay films on all faces of peds and distinct clay films between sand grains; neutral (pH 7.2); clear wavy boundary. (10 to 40 centimeters thick)

Bt2--15 to 18 inches, (39 to 45 cm); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) broken face clay, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) broken face moist; 45 percent clay; strong medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, firm, very sticky, very plastic; fine and medium interstitial pores; prominent clay films on all faces of peds; neutral (pH 7.3); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 17 centimeters thick)

Cr--18 to 20 inches, (45 to 50 cm); hard Catalina Schist, fractured less than 10 cm apart, and augerable.

TYPE LOCATION: County Los Angeles County, California, in the Channel Islands Soil Survey Area 33 degrees, 22 minutes, 14 seconds North latitude and 118 degrees, 28 minutes, 27 seconds West longitude, NAD83 - U.S.G.S Quad: Santa Catalina Island East.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is 15 to 22 degrees C. (59 to 71 degrees F.) The soil moisture control section is dry in all parts from about mid-June to mid-November and is usually moist the rest of the time.

The Oi horizon (when present)
Coarse fragments may be 0 to 45 percent small gravel.

The A horizon dry color is 10YR 5/3, 7.5YR 4/4, 4/3, Moist 10YR 3/3, 3/2, 7.5YR 3/2.
Textures are sandy loam, gravely sandy loam, very gravely sandy loam, silt loam.
Coarse fragments may be 0 to 37 percent.

The Bt1 horizon dry color is 10YR 4/2, 7.5YR 4/3, 4/2, 5YR 5/4, Moist 10YR 2/2, 7.5YR 3/3, 3/2, 2/2, 5YR 4/4.
Textures are silty clay loam, clay loam, gravely clay loam, sandy clay, clay.
Coarse fragments may be 0 to 20 percent.

The Bt2 and Bt3 horizon dry color is 10YR 4/4, Moist 10YR 2/2, 7.5YR 4/4.
Textures are sandy clay, clay, gravely clay.
Coarse fragments may be 0 to 20 percent.

The Cr and R horizon ranges from soft and platy to hard rock of Catalina schist, Chlorite-actinolite-talc mlange, quartz-muscovite gneissoid, or green-hornblend gneiss.

COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in this family.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Coastwise soils formed in Catalina schist and associated meta-sedimentary side slopes, shoulders, ridges of interfluves of hills and mountains on islands, generally on convex slope positions. Slopes range from 10 to 75 percent. Elevations are from sea level to 1550 feet (0 to 472 meters). The climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters with potential fog common all year. The mean annual precipitation is 13 to 24 inches (330 to 660 mm), the mean annual temperature is 61 to 73 degrees F. (16 to 23 degrees C.), and the frost free season is 350 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Masthead, Dewpoint. Masthead soils are deep. Dewpoint soils are mesic and generally found on north westerly slopes under dense shrubs and oaks. These soils are found on hills and mountains of islands.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: moderately well drained; high runoff; moderately rapid permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Wildlife habitat, recreation and building site development. Vegetation is predominately Coastal Sage Scrub and Non-native Scrub, Maritime Cactus Scrub and Coastal Bluff Scrub.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Santa Catalina Island, Los Angeles County, California. The soil is not extensive. MLRA 20.

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

SERIES PROPOSED: Santa Catalina Island, Los Angeles County, California, 2006.

REMARKS: The series name is coined. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon:

Ochric Epipedon 0 to 15 cm (0 to 6 in)
Argillic Horizon 15 to 45 cm (6 to 18 in)


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.