LOCATION FEAGINRANCH OREstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, isotic Aquandic Cryaquolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Feaginranch ashy silt clay loam - meadow, on a 1/2 percent slope at an elevation of 4,600 feet (When described on October, 1992, the soil was moist to a depth of 37 inches with free water below. Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted.)
Oi--5.5 inches to 0; dense root mat of mostly live roots and some slightly decomposed roots. (3 to 7 inches thick)
A1--0 to 4 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) ashy silty clay loam, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; massive, drying to strong medium prismatic structure; very hard, firm, sticky and very plastic; many medium and coarse, few fine and very fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; few fine prominent dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) dry masses of iron accumulation; neutral (pH 6.6); gradual smooth boundary.
A2--4 to 13 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) ashy silty clay loam, gray (10YR 5/1) dry; massive, drying to moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; very hard, firm, sticky and very plastic; few coarse, fine, and very fine roots; few fine and medium tubular pores; few fine prominent dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) dry masses of iron accumulation; neutral (pH 6.6); abrupt smooth boundary. (The combined thickness of the A horizon is 10 to 20 inches)
2C1--13 to 16 inches; variegated, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2), yellowish brown (10YR 5/4), and dark gray (10YR 4/1) silty clay loam, light gray (10YR 7/1) and gray (10YR 6/1 and 10YR 5/1) dry; massive; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; few coarse, fine and very fine roots; few fine and very fine tubular pores; slightly acid (pH 6.3); abrupt wavy boundary. (0 to 5 inches thick)
2C2--16 to 20 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) silty clay loam, gray (10YR 6/1) dry; massive; hard, friable, sticky and moderately plastic; few coarse, fine and very fine roots; few fine and very fine tubular pores; common medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) dry masses of iron accumulation; neutral (pH 6.6); abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 7 inches thick)
3Ab--20 to 24 inches; black (10YR 2/1) silty clay loam, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; massive drying to weak coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, sticky and plastic; few coarse, fine, and very fine roots; few fine and very fine tubular pores; 5 percent charcoal and dead root fibers; slightly acid (pH 6.4); abrupt wavy boundary. (0 to 6 inches thick)
4C3--24 to 37 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) silty clay, light gray (10YR 7/2) dry; massive; very hard, firm, very sticky and very plastic; few coarse, fine, and very fine roots; few fine irregular pores; many medium prominent reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/8) and red (2.5YR 4/8) dry masses of iron accumulations; 5 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.3); clear smooth boundary. (10 to 20 inches)
5C4--37 to 61 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) gravelly clay loam, variegated light gray (10YR 7/2) and brown (10YR 5/3) dry; massive; hard, firm, sticky and moderately plastic; many medium prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) and red (2.5YR 4/8) masses of iron accumulation; 15 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.3).
TYPE LOCATION: Wallowa County, Oregon, about 9 miles north northwest of Enterprise; 800 feet west and 2,000 feet south of the Northeast corner of section 17, T. 2 N., R. 44 E. (Latitude 45 degrees, 39 minutes N. and longitude 117 degrees, 20 minutes W.; Sled Springs, Oregon USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle).
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is 44 to 47 degrees F. and the mean annual summer soil temperature is less than 43 degrees F. The soils are saturated throughout in the spring and early summer. The mollic epipedon is 10 to 20 inches thick. There is an irregular decrease in organic carbon below the mollic epipedon. The upper 10 to 20 inches is influenced by volcanic ash. The particle-size control section has 35 to 45 percent clay and averages less than 15 percent gravel. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches. The soil reaction is moderately acid to neutral throughout.
The A horizon has value of 2 or 3 moist, 2 to 5 dry, and chroma 0 or 1 moist or dry. It has 0 to 5 percent gravel. It has few to common distinct or prominent redoximorphic concentrations. It is estimated to have a phosphate retention of more than 25 percent, 5 to 15 percent volcanic glass, and acid oxalate extractable aluminum plus 1/2 iron of 0.4 to 1.0 percent.
The 2C horizon has value of 3 to 5 moist, 6 to 8 dry, and chroma of 1 or 2 moist or dry. It is silty clay loam or silty clay with 35 to 45 percent clay.
The 3Ab horizon, when present, has value of 2 to 4 moist, 4 to 7 dry, and chroma of 1 or 2moist or dry. It has 30 to 35 percent clay.
The 3C and 4C horizons have hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 or 5 moist, 5 to 8 dry, and chroma of 2 or 3 moist or dry. It is silty clay, clay, or clay loam with 35 to 45 percent clay. It has 5 to 30 percent gravel.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Feaginranch soils are on flood plains in mountain stream valleys and have slopes of 0 to 2 percent. They are in old stream meander channels or at the confluence of small tributary streams corresponding to a slight reduction in slope. Elevations are 3,400 to 5,400 feet. The soils formed in stratified mixed alluvium derived mainly from basalt with an influence of volcanic ash in the surface horizons. The climate is characterized by cold wet winters and cool dry summers. The mean annual precipitation is 15 to 35 inches. The mean annual temperature is 42 to 45 degrees F. The frost-free period is 40 to 70 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Wilkins, Akerite, Tamara, Tolo, and Klicker soils. The Wilkins soils are on adjacent slightly higher stream terraces, are xeric and frigid, and have an argillic horizon. The Akerite soils are on adjacent higher forested foot slopes, fans, and old stream terraces, are frigid and xeric, and have an ash mantle 14 to 30 inches thick. The Tamara and Tolo soils are on adjacent forested north-facing slopes. The Tolo soils are frigid and xeric, and have an ash mantle 20 to 40 inches thick. The Tamara soils are frigid and udic, and have an ash mantle 20 to 40 inches thick. Klicker soils are on adjacent forested south-facing slopes, are frigid and xeric, and are loamy-skeletal.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Very poorly drained; slow permeability. The soils are occasionally flooded for brief periods following snow melt or in early spring. A water table is as high as 6 inches above the surface to 6 inches below the soil surface from February through July. The permanent water table is above 3 feet throughout the year.
USE AND VEGETATION: The soils are used for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. The native vegetation is mainly Nebraska sedge, tufted hairgrass, and camas lily.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Streams valleys of northeastern Oregon; MLRA 9. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Wallowa County, Oregon, 1998.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - from surface to 13 inches (A1 and A2 horizons)
Particle-size control section - zone from 10 to 40 inches (part of A2, 2C1, 2C2, 3Ab, 4C3, and upper part of 5C4 horizon)
Aquandic feature - from 0 to 13 inches (A1 and A2 horizons) having 5 to 15 percent volcanic glass and 0.4 to 1.0 percent acid oxalate extractable aluminum plus 1/2 iron
Aquic conditions are the result of endosaturation.