LOCATION KAWEAH                  CA

Established Series
JBB/CES/JTW
09/2021

KAWEAH SERIES

The Kaweah series consists of very deep, well drained soils formed in colluvium and residuum derived from metasedimentary and granitic rock. The Kaweah soils are on steep mountain slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Slopes range from 30 to 100 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 895 mm and the mean annual air temperature is about 12 degrees C.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, isotic, mesic Pachic Ultic Haploxerolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Kaweah gravelly loam on a south-facing (180 degree), 75 percent slope under mixed oak woodland at an elevation of 1252 meters. (Colors are for dry soils unless otherwise noted. When described on June 2, 2014 the soil was dry throughout.)

Oi--0 to 2 cm; brown (7.5YR 5/4) slightly decomposed plant material, dark brown (7.5YR 3/3) moist; neutral (pH 7.2); abrupt wavy boundary. (2 to 8 cm thick)

A--2 to 17 cm; dark brown (7.5YR 3/3) gravelly loam, very dark brown (7.5YR 2.5/2) moist; 13 percent clay; moderate medium granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky, nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots throughout; common very fine irregular pores; 30 percent subangular indurated metasedimentary gravel, 10 percent subangular indurated metasedimentary cobbles; NaF pH 8.5; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 15 cm thick)

Bw1--17 to 49 cm; dark brown (7.5YR 3/3) very gravelly loam, very dark brown (7.5YR 2.5/2) moist; 15 percent clay; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky, nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots throughout; common fine irregular pores; 30 percent subangular indurated metasedimentary gravel, 10 percent subangular indurated metasedimentary cobbles, 2 percent subangular indurated metasedimentary stones; NaF pH 8.5; neutral (pH 7.0); gradual wavy boundary. (10 to 50 cm thick)

Bw2--49 to 85 cm; reddish brown (5YR 4/3) very stony loam, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) moist; 15 percent clay; weak fine subangular blocky structure; moderately hard, firm, slightly sticky, nonplastic; common fine, medium, and coarse roots throughout; common fine irregular pores; 35 percent subangular indurated metasedimentary gravel, 20 percent subangular indurated metasedimentary cobbles, 1 percent subangular indurated metasedimentary stones; NaF pH 9.0; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual wavy boundary. (20 to 70 cm thick)

C--85 to 150 cm; reddish brown (5YR 4/3) very stony silt loam, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) moist; 14 percent clay; structureless massive; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; common fine, medium, and coarse roots throughout; common fine irregular pores; 20 percent subangular indurated metasedimentary gravel, 20 percent subangular indurated metasedimentary cobbles, 15 percent subangular indurated metasedimentary stones; NaF pH 8.5; slightly acid (pH 6.4).

TYPE LOCATION: Tulare County, California, on the Ladybug Trail from South Fork Rd in Sequoia National Park; USGS 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle: Dennison Peak, California; WGS84 36.348557 latitude and -118.753191 longitude; UTM zone 11 4024037 meters N 342679 meters E NAD83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature: The mean annual soil temperature at 50 cm is 11 to 15 degrees C and the difference between mean summer and mean winter soil temperature is greater than 6 degrees C. The soils have a mesic temperature regime.

Soil moisture: The soils have a xeric soil moisture regime. The soil moisture control section is dry in all parts from about June to October (about 140 days).

Diagnostic Feature(s):
Mollic epipedon thickness: 50 to 100 cm

Organic matter: 1 to 5 percent in the epipedon

Base saturation: greater than 50 percent in the epipedon (by ammonium acetate) and 35 to 75 percent in one or more horizons between 25 and 75 cm from the mineral soil surface (by sum of cations).

Particle size control section weighted average:
Rock fragments: 35 to 70 percent, with 35 to 70 percent gravel, 0 to 20 percent cobbles, and 0 to 15 percent stones.
Clay content: 8 to 18 percent
NaF pH: 8.5 to 10.0

A horizon
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR
Value: 3 or 4 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4 dry, 1 to 3 moist
Texture: loam, fine sandy loam
Clay content: 4 to 14 percent
Rock fragments: 10 to 45 percent
5 to 45 percent gravel
0 to 15 percent cobbles
0 to 5 percent stones
Reaction: slightly acid to slightly alkaline

Bw1 horizon
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR
Value: 3 to 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4, dry or moist
Texture: loam, fine sandy loam
Clay content: 5 to 16 percent
Rock fragments: 15 to 60 percent
15 to 50 percent gravel
0 to 15 percent cobbles
0 to 15 percent stones
Reaction: moderately acid to neutral

Bw2 horizon
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4, dry or moist
Texture: loam, fine sandy loam
Clay content: 7 to 16 percent
Rock fragments: 15 to 70 percent
15 to 70 percent gravel
0 to 20 percent cobbles
0 to 15 percent stones
Reaction: moderately acid to neutral

C horizon
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4, dry or moist
Texture: loam, fine sandy loam, silt loam
Clay content: 8 to 20 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 80 percent
0 to 35 percent gravel
0 to 15 percent cobbles
0 to 15 percent stones
0 to 60 percent flagstones
Reaction: moderately acid to neutral

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

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Kaweah soils are on steep linear to concave backslopes of mountain slopes or drainageways. Slopes range from 30 to 100 percent. These soils formed in colluvium and residuum derived from metasedimentary and granitic rock. Elevation is 745 to 2215 meters. The climate is Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 730 to 1030 mm and the mean annual air temperature is 9 to 15 degrees C. The frost free season is 150 to 255 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Colonymill, Ladybug, and Whiskeylog soils. The Colonymill soils are on broadly convex, less steep backslopes of mountain slopes and have a clay increase that meets the requirements of an argillic horizon. The Ladybug soils are on shoulders of mountain slopes and are less than 50 cm to a lithic contact. The Whiskeylog soils are on convex mountain slopes and lack a mollic epipedon (dark surface).

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, moderately high to high saturated hydraulic conductivity.

USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for recreation, wildlife habitat, and watershed. Vegetation is canyon live oak, black oak, California bay laurel, incense cedar, gooseberry, and poison oak.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Sierra Nevada Mountains of California; MLRA 22A. These soils are of limited extent.

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California

SERIES PROPOSED: Tulare County, California in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Source of name from a major river in Sequoia National Park.

REMARKS:
Particle Size Control Section for this pedon: 27 to 102 cm.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic Epipedon 2 to 85 cm

ADDITIONAL DATA:
NASIS User Pedon ID: 2014CA7925039

Soil classified using the 12th Edition of the Keys to Soil Taxonomy.

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.