LOCATION DESERTER WAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, isotic Haploxerandic Dystrocryepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Deserter extremely gravelly medial sandy loam-forestland, on a 70 percent west-facing slope at an elevation of 3,510 feet in a western hemlock/Pacific rhododendron-salal plant association. (When described on June 29, 1993, the soil was moist throughout. Colors
are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
Oi--0 to 1 inch; slightly decomposed needles, leaves, twigs, and other woody fragments; clear smooth boundary. (1 to 2 inches thick)
A--1 to 7 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) extremely gravelly medial sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) moist; weak very fine and fine subangular blocky and weak very fine and fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; weakly smeary; many very fine and common medium and coarse roots; many very fine and fine irregular pores; 60 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles; moderately acid (pH 6.0); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 8 inches thick)
Bw1--7 to 12 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) extremely gravelly medial sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/6) moist; weak very fine and fine subangular blocky and weak very fine and fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; weakly smeary; many very fine and common fine, medium, and coarse roots; common very fine and fine irregular pores; 55 percent gravel, 10 percent cobbles; moderately acid (pH 6.0); clear wavy boundary.
Bw2--12 to 27 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) extremely gravelly sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/6) moist; weak very fine and fine subangular blocky and weak very fine and fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine, fine, medium, and coarse roots; common very fine and fine irregular pores; 55 percent gravel, 15 percent cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.2); clear wavy boundary.
Bw3--27 to 44 inches; brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) extremely gravelly sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/6) moist; weak very fine and fine subangular blocky and weak very fine and fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine, fine, medium, and coarse roots; common very fine and fine irregular pores; 60 percent gravel, 15 percent cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.2); clear wavy boundary.
Bw4--44 to 61 inches; olive yellow (2.5Y 6/6) extremely gravelly sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/6) moist; weak very fine subangular blocky and weak very fine and fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine, fine, medium, and coarse roots; very few fine irregular pores; 60 percent gravel, 15 percent cobbles; moderately acid (pH 6.0). (Combined thickness of the Bw horizon is 52 to 55 inches.)
TYPE LOCATION: Clallam County, Washington, about 1 mile west of Bon Jon Pass, about 2,245 feet north and 130 feet east of the southwest corner of Section 23, T. 28 N., R. 3 W. (Latitude 47 degrees, 54 minutes, 13 second N., Longitude 123 degrees, 01 minutes, 56 seconds W.)
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Mean annual soil temperature is 43 to 45 degrees F. The mean summer soil temperature is 45 to 47 degrees F. The mean winter soil temperature is 37 to 41 degrees F. These soils are usually dry in all parts of the soil moisture control section for 45 to 60 consecutive days in the 4 months following the summer solstice. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches. The upper 7 to 12 inches of the solum has a moist bulk density of 0.85 to 1.00 g/cc, and an acid-oxalate extractable aluminum plus one-half of the acid-oxalate extractable iron of 1 to 2 percent. The particle-size control section has 60 to 90 percent rock fragments by volume and 8 to 18 percent clay.
The A horizon has chroma of 2 to 4 dry and 3 or 4 moist.
The Bw horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y dry, value of 5 or 6 dry, and chroma of 3, 4, or 6 dry and 4 or 6 moist. It is extremely gravelly sandy loam, extremely cobbly sandy loam, or extremely gravelly loam. Reaction is moderately or slightly acid.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Alfir, Puzzlecreek, Skinwood, Snowcreek and Terence series. Puzzlecreek, Skinwood and Snowcreek soils are 20 to 40 inches to bedrock. Alfir soils have an umbric epipedon. Terence soils have a udic moisture regime.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Deserter soils are on south-facing slopes of mountains. Slopes are 60 to 90 percent. The soils formed in colluvium from marine basalt and associated volcanics. Elevations are 3,100 to 4,400 feet. Average annual precipitation is 40 to 70 inches. Average annual temperature is 42 to 44 degrees F. The frost-free season is 140 to 160 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Bungalow, Mueller, Shanty, Snowcreek, and Tylerpeak soils. Bungalow soils are on mountain slopes and are 4 to 10 inches to bedrock. Mueller soils are on mountain slopes and have a udic moisture regime and are medial-skeletal. Shanty soils are on mountain slopes and are 10 to 20 inches to bedrock. Snowcreek and Tylerpeak soils are on mountain slopes and are 20 to 40 inches to bedrock. Bungalow, Mueller and Tylerpeak soils are on adjacent north slopes and have andic soil properties to a depth of 14 inches or more.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderately rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Wildlife habitat, timber production, recreation, and watershed. Native vegetation is Douglas-fir, western hemlock, subalpine fir, western white pine, lodgepole pine, Pacific rhododendron, salal, Oregon-grape, baldhip rose, and kinnikinnick.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Clallam and Jefferson Counties, Washington; MLRA 3. Series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Clallam County, Washington, 2000; Olympic National Forest.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are the following:
Ochric epipedon
Cambic horizon - 7 to 61 inches (Bw1, Bw2, Bw3, and Bw4 subhorizons)
Andic subgroup properties - 1 to 12 inches
PSCS - 11 to 41 inches (Bw1, Bw2, and Bw3 subhorizons)
Soil moisture regime - xeric
All depths to diagnostic horizons and other features are measured from the top of the first mineral horizon.