LOCATION DALECREEK WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Aquic Cumulic Haplustolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Dalecreek sandy loam, on a concave north-facing slope of 2 percent; utilized as rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 2 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) sandy loam, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) moist; weak fine platy structure parting to weak fine granular; loose, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine and few medium roots; neutral (pH 7.2); abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 9 inches thick)
AB--2 to 8 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) sandy loam, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) moist; weak medium prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine and few medium roots; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); clear smooth boundary.
Bw1--8 to 21 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine and medium roots; slightly effervescent; 5 percent fine gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.5); gradual smooth boundary.
Bw2--21 to 32 inches; gray (10YR 5/1) loam, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) moist with few fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) high chroma mottles; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine roots; noneffervescent;slightly alkaline (pH 7.5); abrupt smooth boundary . (Combined thickness of the Bw horizons is 15 to 33 inches)
Cg--32 to 60 inches; gray (10YR 5/1) dry and moist; sandy clay loam stratified with thin lenses of loamy coarse sand, common medium distinct greenish gray (5GY 5/1), few fine faint olive (5Y 4/3) and few fine distinct very dark gray (5Y 3/1) mottles; massive; slightly hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; very few fine roots; noneffervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4).
TYPE LOCATION: Albany County, Wyoming; about 20 miles north of Laramie; 1,200 feet west and 1,700 feet north of the southeast corner of sec. 36, T. 19 N., R. 73 W. 41 degrees 36 minutes 29 seconds north latitude and 105 degrees 31 minutes 42 seconds west longitude.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mollic epipedon is 24 inches or more thick and organic carbon decreases irregularly with depth. Depth to the seasonal high water table ranges from 30 to 60 inches. The mean annual soil temperature ranges from 40 to 47 degrees F., and the mean summer soil temperature ranges from 60 to 67 degrees F. Reaction is neutral through moderately alkaline. EC ranges from 0 to 4 mmhos. Clay content of the particle-size control section ranges from 18 to 35 percent but is usually 20 to 25 percent. Content of coarse fragments in the particle-size control section averages 0 to 30 percent. Coarse fragments are dominantly fine angular granitic pebbles with 0 to 5 percent cobbles.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 3 or 4 dry, 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 1 through 3. Texture typically is loam, sandy loam, or very fine sandy loam modified with 5 to 15 percent fine angular gravel.
The Bw horizon ,when present, has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 3 through 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 1 through 3. Texture typically is loam, very fine sandy loam, fine sandy loam, or sandy clay loam with 18 to 25 percent clay. Texture is modified with 0 to 30 percent fine angular gravel.
The Cg horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 3 through 6 dry, 2 through 4 moist, and chroma of 1 through 4. Texture is typically sandy clay loam or loam modified with 0 to 30 percent fine angular gravel and stratified with thin lenses of fine sandy loam, sandy loam, and loamy coarse sand.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in this family.
GEOGRAPHICAL SETTING: Dalecreek soils are on nearly level to sloping flood plains, valley fills, and alluvial terraces in mountainous areas. Slopes are 0 to 9 percent. These soils formed in alluvium derived dominantly from granite. Elevation is 6,000 to 8500 feet. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 13 to 20 inches. The mean annual temperature ranges from 40 to 45 degrees F. The frost-free season is approximately 85 to 110 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These soils are the Kovich and Lininger soils. Kovich soils are poorly drained. Lininger soils are 20 to 40 inches deep over granite.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained; slow to medium runoff; moderate permeability. Very brief, rare flooding occurs during spring and early summer.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used as rangeland, irrigated hayland, and for wildlife habitat. Vegetation is mostly basin wildrye, tufted hairgrass, and western wheatgrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The mountains of southeastern Wyoming. MLRA 48A, 49. The series is of small extent, about 5,000 acres.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Albany County (Albany County Area), Wyoming; 1991.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon--0 to 32 inches (A,AB,Bw1,Bw2);
Redox features--21-32 inches (Bw2) 10YR 5/6 redox concentrations. 32-60 inches (Cg) 10YR 5/1, 5GY 5/1 redox depletion.
SIR- WY0572