LOCATION ENDLICH CO
Established Series
Rev. RFB/GB/TWH
01/2023
ENDLICH SERIES
The Endlich series consists of moderately deep, well drained soils that formed in slope alluvium or colluvium from granite, breccia, rhyolite, andesite, or tuff. Endlich soils are on hills, ridges, and mountain slopes. Slopes range from 0 to 70 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 47 inches and mean annual temperature is about 34 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, isotic Typic Dystrocryepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Endlich very stony loam - forest. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
Oi--0 to 1 inch; undecomposed organic material, principally needles, bark, twigs, and leaves.
Oe--1 to 2 inches; partially decomposed organic material like that of the horizon above.
E--2 to 9 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) very stony loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; moderate thick platy structure parting to moderate medium granular; soft, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; 10 percent gravel, 40 percent stones; extremely acid; clear smooth boundary. (4 to 10 inches thick)
Bw--9 to 24 inches; reddish brown (5YR 5/4) very stony loam, reddish brown (5YR 4/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; extremely hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; 10 percent gravel, 40 percent stones; very strongly acid; abrupt wavy boundary. (10 to 36 inches thick)
R--24 inches; granite bedrock.
TYPE LOCATION: Hinsdale County, Colorado; about 20 miles northwest of Pagosa Springs; SE1/4 of Sec. 20, T. 38 N., R. 4 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: (Depths are measured from the mineral surface)
Mean annual soil temperature: 35 to 39 degrees F.
Mean summer soil temperature: 39 degrees F.
Soil moisture regime: udic
Base saturation: 20 to 60 percent throughout
Depth to lithic contact: 20 to 40 inches
Particle size control section (weighted averages):
Clay content: 8 to 20 percent
Rock fragments content: 35 to 85 percent, mainly 10 to 24 inches in diameter, but includes gravel and cobbles which may be dominant in some soils.
Thin A horizons are present in some pedons.
E horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 5 to 8 dry, 4 to 7 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4, dry or moist
Reaction: extremely acid to strongly acid.
Bw horizon:
Hue: 5YR or 7.5YR
Value: 4 to 7 dry, 3 to 6 moist
Chroma: 2 to 6, dry or moist
Texture (fine earth): loam or sandy loam
Reaction: very strongly acid or strongly acid.
Thin C horizons are present in some pedons.
COMPETING SERIES:
Bensley (OR) - do not have a lithic contact above 40 inches.
Grenadier (CO) - do not have a lithic contact above 40 inches.
Henson (CO) - do not have a lithic contact above 40 inches.
Heterwa (CO) - have more than 20 percent clay in the particle-size control section
Ivywild (CO) - have a paralithic contact
Jeru (ID) - do not have a lithic contact above 40 inches.
Klutch (ID) - have volcanic ash at the surface, are less acid that strongly acid
Leighcan (WY) - do not have a lithic contact above 40 inches.
Marsell (UT) - do not have a lithic contact above 40 inches.
Nambe (NM) - do not have a lithic contact above 40 inches.
Oatman (OR) - do not have a lithic contact above 40 inches.
Snotown (NV) - have base saturation less than 15 percent and are bordering a xeric moisture regime (dry from late August through October).
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Endlich soils are on hills, ridges, and mountain slopes. Slopes range from 0 to 70 percent. The soils formed in slope alluvium and colluvium from granite, breccia, tuff, andesite, or rhyolite. Mean annual temperature is 30 to 34 degrees F., and the mean summer temperature is about 50 degrees F. Mean annual precipitation is 33 to 50 inches. Elevation is 10,000 to 12,000 feet. Frost-free season is 50 days or less.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the competing
Grenadier and the
Leal soils. Grenadier soils do not have bedrock above a depth of 40 inches. Leal soils are coarser textured and do not have bedrock above a depth of 40 inches.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow to medium runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used principally for summer wildlife habitat, limited forestry, and recreation. Native vegetation consists of Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir with understory of common snowberry, dwarf blueberry, elk sedge, Myrtle boxleaf, and kinnikinnick.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southwestern Colorado. MLRA 48A. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Hinsdale County (Piedra Area), Colorado; 1974.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon:
Ochric epipedon: from 2 to 9 inches (E horizon).
Cambic horizon: from 9 to 24 inches (Bw horizon).
Particle-size control section: the zone from 12 to 24 inches (part of the Bw horizon).
Lithic contact: at 22 inches (R layer).
Keys to Soil Taxonomy: Series classified according to Seventh Edition, 1996
The superactive CEC activity class is presumed for this series based on the general trend indicated by lab data throughout this region.
ADDITIONAL DATA:
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.