LOCATION DOGTOWN OREstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, frigid Vitrandic Haploxerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Dogtown gravelly loam - on a 51 percent north-facing slope, woodland. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted.)
Oi--0 to 2 inches; partially decomposed fir needles, grass and moss.
A1--2 to 7 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) gravelly loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and fine roots, few medium; many very fine and fine continuous, random tubular pores; 25 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.6); clear smooth boundary.
A2--7 to 13 inches; dark brown (10YR 3/3) gravelly loam, brown (10YR 5/3) dry; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and fine and few medium roots; many very fine and fine continuous random tubular pores; 30 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the A horizon is 9 to 20 inches)
Bw1--13 to 23 inches; dark brown (10YR 3/3) very gravelly sandy loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) dry; moderate medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, firm, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots; common very fine and fine continuous vertical tubular pores; 35 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear smooth boundary.
Bw2--23 to 30 inches; dark brown (10YR 3/3) very gravelly sandy loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) dry; moderate medium subangular blocky structure parting to fine; slightly hard, firm, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots; common very fine and fine continuous vertical tubular pores; 45 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bw horizon is 8 to 27 inches)
BC--30 to 43 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) very gravelly sandy loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) dry; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, firm, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots; few very fine continuous vertical tubular pores; 50 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.2); clear smooth boundary. (5 to 15 inches thick)
C1--43 to 54 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) very gravelly loamy sand, pale brown (10YR 6/3) dry; massive; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few fine and medium roots; few fine continuous vertical tubular pores; 50 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.2); gradual smooth boundary.
C2--54 to 69 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) extremely gravelly loamy sand, very pale brown (10YR 7/3) dry; massive; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; 60 percent gravel; moderately acid (pH 6.0); gradual wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the C horizon is 18 to 35 inches)
Cr--69 inches; highly weathered quartz diorite.
TYPE LOCATION: Baker County, Oregon; located 700 feet east and 800 feet north of the SW corner of sec. 3, T. 8 S., R. 38 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: These soils are usually moist but are dry in the moisture control section for 45 to 60 consecutive days following the summer solstice. The mean annual soil temperature is 43 to 47 degrees F. Depth to bedrock is typically greater than 60 inches but may be 40 to 60 inches in some pedons. The upper 7 to 14 inches has an estimated moist bulk density of 1.00 to 1.20 g/cc, volcanic glass content of 5 to 20 percent, and acid oxalate extractable aluminum plus one-half iron of 0.4 to 1.0 percent. Gravels are typically 2 to 5 mm in size. The thickness of the mollic epipedon is 10 to 20 inches.
The A horizon has value of 2 or 3 moist, 4 or 5 dry and chroma of 1 through 3 moist and dry. It is gravelly loam or very stony loam. It has 10 to 30 percent gravel, 0 to 15 percent cobbles and 0 to 30 percent stones.
The Bw horizon has value of 3 or 4 moist and chroma of 2 or 3 moist and dry. It has 30 to 50 percent gravel, 0 to 10 percent cobbles and 0 to 40 percent stones.
The C horizon has value of 4 or 5 moist, 6 or 7 dry and chroma of 3 or 4 moist and dry. It is loamy sand or sand with 30 to 60 percent gravel, 10 to 20 percent cobbles and 0 to 40 percent stones. The pH ranges from moderately to slightly acid.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Bearspring, Cassal, Egyptcreek, Frint, Hogranch, Midpeak, Mineral, Peahke, Pelican, Scoap, Shalrock, Wellscreek, and Yellcreek series. Bearspring, Hogranch, Scoap, and Wellscreek soils are dry in the moisture control section for more than 60 consecutive days. Cassal, Pelican, and Yellcreek soils have sandy loam C horizons. Egyptcreek, Frint, Midpeak, Mineral, Peahke, and Shalrock soils have a lithic contact at depths of 20 to 40 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Dogtown soils are on moderately steep and steep metastable and active north-facing side slopes of forested mountains. Elevations range from 3,800 to 6,200 feet. Slope is 12 to 80 percent. The soil is formed in colluvium and residuum derived dominantly from quartz diorite, with an influence of volcanic ash in the surface. The mean annual precipitation is 20 to 30 inches. The mean annual temperature is 40 to 45 degrees F. The frost-free period is 30 to 50 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Eaglecap, Kilmerque and Tolo soils. Eaglecap soils are cryic, have a ochric epipedon and are on higher elevation north slopes. Kilmerque soils are moderately deep, coarse-loamy and are on adjacent south slopes. Tolo soils are ashy over loamy and are on toe slopes.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; permeability is moderate in the surface horizons and moderately rapid in the subsoil.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for woodland, watershed and wildlife habitat. The native vegetation is Douglas fir, grand fir, ponderosa pine and western larch with an understory of pinegrass, elk sedge, huckleberry and snowberry.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The Elkhorn and Wallowa Mountains of northeastern Oregon; MLRA 43. The soils are of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Baker County Area, Oregon; 1988.
REMARKS: This draft adds the superactive cation exchange activity class to the classification.
Diagnostic horizons and features in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - the zone from the mineral surface of the soil to a depth of approximately 13 inches (A1, A2 horizons).
Cambic horizon - the zone from 13 to 30 inches (Bw1, Bw2 horizons).