LOCATION DREDGE             ID
Established Series
Rev. CJH/GHL
9/97

DREDGE SERIES


The Dredge series consists of deep, well drained soils that formed in material weathered from mixed alluvium dominantly of quartzite, rhyolite, sedimentary rocks and loess. Dredge soils are on alluvial fans and have slopes of 1 to 5 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 12 inches and the mean annual temperature is about 41 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Haploxerolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Dredge loam, rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)

A1--0 to 8 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak very fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; many very fine, fine, medium and common coarse roots; many very fine interstitial pores; moderately alkaline (pH 8.1); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 10 inches thick)

A2--8 to 12 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak very fine and fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; many very fine, common medium and coarse roots; many very fine tubular pores; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear wavy boundary. (2 to 6 inches thick)

Bw1--12 to 20 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loam, brown (7.5YR 4/3) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate very fine subangular blocky; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine, fine and coarse roots; many very fine and fine tubular pores; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); gradual wavy boundary. (4 to 10 inches thick)

Bw2--20 to 31 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loam, brown (7.5YR 4/3) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate very fine and fine subangular blocky; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine, fine, medium and coarse roots; many very fine and common fine tubular pores; about 2 percent angular gravels; moderately alkaline (pH 8.1); clear irregular boundary. (8 to 12 inches thick)

Bw3--31 to 46 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate very fine and fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; few very fine and fine roots; many very fine and fine tubular pores; about 10 percent angular gravels; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); gradual wavy boundary. (10 to 15 inches thick)

BC--46 to 60 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak very fine and fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; few fine roots; many very fine and fine tubular pores; about 10 percent angular gravels; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4).

TYPE LOCATION: Butte County, Idaho; in a road cut 1,100 feet north of the Champagne Creek road turnoff; 650 feet south and 450 feet east of the southwest corner of the SE1/4 NE1/4 Sec. 30, T. 3 S., R. 24 E.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is 41 to 44 degrees F., and the mean summer soil temperature is 59 to 64 degrees F. The mollic epipedon is 10 to 15 inches thick. Base saturation is 90 to 100 percent throughout. It has 0 to 15 percent gravel.

The A horizon has value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3.

The Bw horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 through 6 dry, 3 through 5 moist, and chroma of 3 or 4. It has weak or moderate subangular blocky structure.

COMPETING SERIES: This is the Crume series. Crume soils are significantly influenced by volcanic ash in the surface and are probably a Vitrandic intergrade.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Dredge soils are on alluvial fans and have slopes of 1 to 5 percent. They formed from mixed alluvium dominantly of quartzite, rhyolite, sedimentary rocks and loess. Elevations are 5,300 to 6,500 feet. Mean annual precipitation is 12 to 14 inches. Mean annual temperature is 40 to 43 degrees F. Frost-free season is 60 to 80 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Justeson and Swanner soils. Justeson soils have an argillic horizon. Swanner soils have a lithic contact between 10 and 20 inches.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow to medium runoff; moderate permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly for range and wildlife habitat. Some cultivated areas are used for irrigated alfalfa hay and pasture. Native vegetation consists mainly of bluebunch wheatgrass, big sagebrush and bitterbrush.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The series occurs in mountainous areas of southeastern Idaho. It is moderately extensive.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Butte County Area, Idaho, 1997.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and other features:

Mollic epipedon - from 0 to 12 inches

Cambic horizon - from 12 to 46 inches


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.