LOCATION GLACEWASH               CA

Established Series
Rev. EWB-AMB-JBF-TM
03/2017

GLACEWASH SERIES

The Glacewash series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils that formed in alluvium derived from mixed rocks. Glacewash soils are on stream terraces. Slopes are 0 to 4 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 350 mm and the mean annual temperature is about 6 degrees C.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, frigid Aquic Cumulic Haploxerolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Glacewash very gravelly sandy loam--riparian forestland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)The soil surface is covered with 20 percent gravels, 25 percent cobbles, 5 percent stones and 2 percent boulders.

A1--0 to 15 cm; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) very gravelly sandy loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine through very coarse roots; common very fine interstitial and tubular pores; 10 percent cobbles and 25 percent gravel; neutral, (pH 7.1); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 20 cm thick)

A2--15 to 38 cm; brown (7.5YR 5/2) very cobbly sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine through very coarse roots; common fine interstitial and common very fine tubular and many very fine interstitial pores; 20 percent cobbles and 30 percent gravel; neutral, (pH 7.0); clear wavy boundary. (13 to 38 cm thick)

A3--38 to 66 cm; 30 percent brown (10YR 5/3) and 60 percent brown (7.5YR 5/3) extremely cobbly coarse sandy loam, 30 percent dark brown (10YR 3/3) and 60 percent dark brown (7.5YR 3/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine through coarse roots; common very fine interstitial and tubular pores; 10 percent stones, 30 percent cobbles and 35 percent gravel; neutral, (pH 6.6); clear wavy boundary. (15 to 30 cm thick)

A4--66 to 102 cm; brown (7.5YR 5/2) extremely cobbly coarse sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few fine through coarse roots; common very fine tubular and interstitial pores; 30 percent irregular strong brown (7.5YR 4/6), moist, masses of oxidized iron in matrix; 10 percent stones, 30 percent cobbles, 35 percent gravel; neutral, (pH 6.6); clear wavy boundary. (25 to 38 cm thick)

A5--102 to 127 cm; brown (7.5YR 5/2) sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few fine roots and common very fine roots; few very fine tubular and interstitial pores; 20 percent irregular dark gray (10YR 4/1), moist, iron depletions in matrix and 30 percent irregular strong brown (7.5YR 4/6), moist, masses of oxidized iron in matrix; 10 percent gravel; neutral, (pH 6.6); clear wavy boundary. (15 to 30 cm thick)

C--127 to 152 cm; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) extremely cobbly coarse sandy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; many very fine and fine interstitial pores; 20 percent irregular dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4), moist, masses of oxidized iron in matrix; 5 percent stones, 30 percent cobbles, 30 percent gravel; neutral, (pH 6.6).

TYPE LOCATION: Mono County, California; in the Bridgeport Valley; about 2,200 feet south and 2,000 feet west of the northeast corner of section 3, T. 4 N., R 24 E.; Twin Lakes USGS 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle; latitude 38 degrees 14 minutes 12.0 seconds N and longitude 119 degrees 18 minutes 43.3 seconds W; WGS84 Decimal Degrees 38.2366667 latitude, -119.3120278 longitude.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture: Usually dry in the moisture control section; moist winter and spring; usually dry summer and fall; xeric moisture regime that borders on aridic. Saturated within 50 to 75 cm during the late winter and early spring in most years.
Mean annual soil temperature: 7 to 8 degrees C.
Mollic epipedon thickness: 76 to 127 cm.
Irregular decrease in organic matter content is present below 25 cm.

Particle-size control section - Clay content: Averages 10 to 18 percent.
Rock fragments: Averages 60 to 85 percent, mainly well rounded gravel, cobbles and stones. Lithology of rock fragments is mixed igneous and metamorphic rock.

A1 and A2 horizons
Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR.
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist.
Chroma: 1 through 3, dry or moist.
Organic matter content: 2 to 4 percent.
Reaction: Slightly acid or neutral.

A3, A4 and A5 horizons
Hue: 10YR 7.5YR or 2.5Y.
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist.
Chroma: 1 through 3, dry or moist.
Texture: Stratified extremely cobble coarse sand to fine sandy loam.
Clay content: Averages 10 to 18 percent.
Rock fragments: Averages 60 to 85 percent.
Organic matter content: Averages 2 to 4 percent.
Redoximorphic features: Redox concentrations occur as masses of iron or manganese accumulation in the matrix in the lower part.
Reaction: Slightly acid or neutral.

C horizon
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y or 5Y.
Value: 5 through 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist.
Chroma: 1 or 2 dry or moist.
Texture: Stratified extremely cobbly coarse sand to fine sandy loam. Clay content: Averages 10 to 18 percent.
Rock fragments: Averages 60 to 85 percent.
Redoximorphic features: Redox concentrations occur as masses of iron or manganese accumulation in the matrix, and coating the undersides of rock fragments.
Reaction: Neutral or slightly acid.

COMPETING SERIES: There are currently no other series in this family.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Glacewash soils are on stream terraces. They formed in alluvium derived from mixed rock sources. Slopes are 0 to 4 percent. Elevations range from 1,950 to 2,055 meters. The climate is semi-arid with cool, moist winters and warm, dry summers. The mean annual precipitation is 300 to 400 mm, mean annual temperature is 6 to 7 degrees C., and the frost-free period is 30 to 60 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: This is the Lonecabin series. Lonecabin soils have a mollic epipedon greater than 50 cm thick.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat poorly drained; low surface runoff; rapid permeability; moderately high saturated hydraulic conductivity. Endosaturation is present with an apparent seasonal high water table between 50 and 75 cm (moderately deep free water occurrence class) between January and June. Cumulative annual duration class is common. These soils are susceptible to occasional flooding for brief periods between December and June.

USE AND VEGETATION: Glacewash soils are used for riparian forestland, recreation, watershed and wildlife habitat. The native vegetation is mainly sedges, wheatgrass, aspen and other perennial forbs.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Eastern California, east of the Sierra Nevada Range. These soils are not extensive. MLRA 26.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California.

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Mono County (Coleville-Bridgeport Area), California, 2010.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - The zone from surface to 127 cm (A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 horizons).
Aquic conditions - The conditions of endosaturation and reduction in horizons between 50 and 152 cm (lower part of A3, A4, A5 and C horizons).
Particle-size control section - The zone from 25 to 100 cm (lower part of A2, A3 and part of A4 horizons).

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.