LOCATION GODFREY WAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, mixed, superactive, nonacid, mesic Fluvaquentic Endoaquepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Godfrey silt loam - brushland. (Colors are for moist conditions unless otherwise noted.)
A--0 to 5 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) silt loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; common fine distinct dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) redox concentrations, yellowish red (5YR 5/8) when dry; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; many fine and medium roots; many fine tubular pores; very strongly acid (pH 5.0); gradual smooth boundary. (4 to 7 inches thick)
Bg--5 to 27 inches; gray (10YR 5/1) silty clay loam, gray (10YR 6/1) dry; many medium distinct yellowish red (5YR 4/6) redox concentrations, yellowish red (5YR 4/8) dry; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocks and weak medium angular blocks; hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; fine roots from 5 to 8 inches, and common fine roots from 8 to 27 inches; many fine and common medium tubular pores; moderately acid (pH 5.8); gradual smooth boundary. (15 to 25 inches thick)
Cg1--27 to 33 inches; dark gray (5Y 4/1) sandy clay, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; few medium distinct redox concentrations; massive; slightly hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; many fine roots; common medium tubular pores; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 9 inches thick)
Cg2--33 to 60 inches; dark gray (5Y 4/1) clay, gray (10YR 5/1) dry; common fine prominent reddish brown (5YR 5/4) dry redox concentrations; massive; very hard, firm, moderately sticky and very plastic; common medium tubular pores; neutral (pH 6.8).
TYPE LOCATION: Cowlitz County, Washington; approximately 5 miles north of Kelso; 90 feet south of Washburn and at a point 520 feet west of the intersection of the Washburn Road with US Highway 99; about 2,150 feet west and 2,000 feet south of the northeast corner of section 2 T. 8 N., R. 2 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is 51 to 54 degrees F. The particle-size control section averages 35 to 50 percent clay. The solum is 20 to 30 inches thick.
The A horizon has value of 3 to 5 moist, 5 to 7 dry, and chroma of 1 or 2 moist and dry. It is very strongly acid to moderately acid.
The Bg horizon has hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 3 to 5 moist, 5 to 7 dry, and chroma of 0 or 1 moist and dry. It is silty clay loam, silty clay, or clay. It is moderately acid to slightly acid.
The Cg horizon has hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 4 to 6 moist, 6 to 8 dry, and chroma of 0 to 2 moist and dry. It is clay loam, silty clay loam, silty clay, sandy clay, or clay. Reaction is slightly acid or neutral.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Caples, Occidental and Wunabuna series. Caples soils have surface colors of value 2 or 3 moist and value dry of 4 or 5. Occidental soils have a mean annual soil temperature of 54 to 59 degrees F. Wunabuna soils have buried organic material at depths of 16 to 40 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Godfrey soils are on flood plains and concave basin-like areas at elevations of 20 to 300 feet. They developed in recent alluvium. The climate is characterized by dry summers and cool wet winters. The average January temperature is 38 degrees F, the average July temperature is 65 degrees F, and the average annual air temperature is 52 degrees F. The frost-free season is 150 to 200 days. The average annual precipitation is 40 to 65 inches.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Clato, Maytown, Newberg and the competing Caples series. Clato soils have a xeric moisture regime and are coarse-silty. Maytown and Newberg soils have a mollic epipedon and Maytown soils are fine-silty and Newberg soils are coarse-loamy.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained, slow to very slow runoff, and very slow permeability. This soil is subject to flooding and has a high water table at 0 to 2 feet during the winter and spring unless drained.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most of these soils are cleared and used for growing hay and pasture. On drained sites, small grains and corn for silage are grown. The native vegetation is black cottonwood, red alder, western redcedar, and bigleaf maple with an understory of vine maple, willow, salmonberry, western swordfern, salal, western brackenfern, rose, Douglas spirea, sedges, and rushes.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Puget lowlands of western Washington. This series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Cowlitz County, Washington, 1981.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are an ochric epipedon and a cambic horizon from 5 to 27 inches.