LOCATION EDGEWATER COEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed, mesic Cumulic Haplaquolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Edgewater sandy loam - rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A11--0 to 18 inches, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure that parts to moderate fine granules; slightly hard, very friable; a moderate amount of mica; 5 percent fine gravel; neutral; gradual wavy boundary. (12 to 20 inches thick)
A12g--18 to 30 inches, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) sandy clay loam stratified with lenses of sandy loam and clay loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) moist mottles; massive or single grained; slightly hard, very friable; moderate amount of mica; 5 percent gravel; neutral; gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 10 inches thick)
B2g--30 to 36 inches, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) sandy clay loam stratified with thin lenses of sandy loam and clay loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; many medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) moist mottles; massive or single grained; slightly hard, very friable; moderate amount of mica; 5 percent gravel; neutral; gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 10 inches thick)
IIC--36 to 60 inches; loose sand and gravel; noncalcareous. (Several feet thick)
TYPE LOCATION: Arapahoe County, Colorado; 200 feet west and 200 feet south of the northeast corner of Sec. 31, T. 5 S., R. 68 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Thickness of the mollic epipedon ranges from 24 to 40 inches, thickness of solum ranges from 24 to 40 inches. Substratums of sand and gravel occur a depths of 24 to 40 inches. Organic carbon in the mollic epipedon ranges from .7 to 2 percent and decreases uniformly with increasing depth in the upper solum but may become erratic in lower horizon. The soil is 90 to 100 percent base saturated. The upper part of the control section ranges in clay from 18 to 35 percent, in silt from 5 to 30 percent, and in sand from 40 to 75 percent. Rock fragments, predominantly of gravel size, range from 0 to 15 percent above the contrasting substratum.
The A horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 10YR, value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 1 through 3. Mottling is typically distinct or prominent. Usually, the horizon has granular to subangular blocky structure in its upper part, and is subangular blocky in the lower portions. It is soft or slightly hard. Reaction ranges from pH 6.5 to 7.6.
The B2g or Cg horizons have hue of 5Y through 10YR and chroma of 2 or less. Distinct to prominent mottling occurs throughout these horizons. Structure is subangular blocky or the horizons are massive. Reaction ranges from pH 6.8 to 8.0, and there is no consistent accumulation of secondary carbonate.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Neander and Volga series. Neander and Volga soils are calcareous and have frigid temperature.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Edgewater soils are on nearly level to slightly concave portions of alluvial terraces and very gently sloping alluvial fans. Slope gradients range from 0 to 4 percent. They formed in stratified alluvial parent materials derived from mixed sources. At the type location the average annual precipitation is 15 inches, most of which falls during the spring and early summer. The average annual temperature is 48 degrees F., and the average summer temperature is 69 degrees F.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Heldt and Nunn soils, both of which are well drained.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly to poorly drained; very slow runoff; medium permeability. These soils have fluctuating groundwater tables at or near the surface of the ground in some part of most years.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used principally as rangeland or for hay meadows in dry season. They are also important sources of commercial gravel in some localities. Native vegetation consists principally of water-tolerant grasses and sedges.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central Colorado. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Arapahoe County, Colorado, 1975.
REMARKS: Last updated by the state 1/75.