LOCATION LILSNAKE CO+UT WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Lithic Ustic Haplocalcids
TYPICAL PEDON: Lilsnake loam, rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A--0 to 4 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; violently effervescent, moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 4 inches thick)
Bk--4 to 15 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/4) loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; violently effervescent; 45 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); gradual smooth boundary. (6 to 12 inches thick)
C--15 to 19 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/4) gravelly clay loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; 20 percent pebbles; violently effervescent, 10 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); abrupt wavy boundary. (0 to 5 inches thick)
2R--19 inches; hard sandstone.
TYPE LOCATION: Moffat County, Colorado; approximately 15 miles northwest of Maybell, about 500 feet south and 1,500 feet east of the northwest corner of Sec. 2, T. 8 N., R. 97 W. Longitude: 108 degrees, 15 minutes, 21 seconds west; latitude: 40 degrees, 41 minutes, 12 seconds north.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Mean annual soil temperature ranges from 44 to 47 degrees F., and mean summer soil temperature ranges from 60 to 64 degrees F. The lithic contact is at a depth of 10 to 20 inches. The particle-size control section ranges from 15 to 40 percent calcium carbonate. The strongest part of the calcic horizon contains 30 to 50 percent calcium carbonate. The particle-size control section contains 18 to 30 percent clay.
The A horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 10YR, value of 6 or 7 dry, 4 through 6 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4.
The Bk horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 6 or 7 dry, 5 or 6 moist, and chroma of 2 through 6. It is loam or clay loam.
The C horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 10YR, value of 6 or 7 dry, 5 or 6 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. It is gravelly clay loam, gravelly loam, clay loam, or loam. Pebble content ranges from 10 to 35 percent.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Lilsnake soils are on plateaus and hillsides. Slopes range from 2 to 20 percent. The soil formed in residuum derived from sandstone. Elevation ranges from 6,000 to 7,500 feet. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 9 to 11 inches. Mean annual temperature ranges from 40 to 45 degrees F. The frost-free period is about 60 to 95 days. July is the driest month during the growing season.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Langspring, Sandwash, and Vermillion soils. The Langspring soils are deep. The Sandwash and Vermillion soils are moderately deep.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; rapid runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation consists of wheatgrasses, needleandthread, Indian ricegrass, Wyoming big sagebrush, and shadscale.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: These soils occur in northwestern Colorado. The series is of small extent. Total area is about 5,000 acres.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Henry's Fork Soil Survey Area in Utah and Wyoming, 1990.
REMARKS: The diagnostic horizons recognized in this pedon are the ochric epipedon - the zone from 0 to 4 inches, the calcic horizon - the zone from 4 to 15 inches, and the lithic contact at 19 inches. Last updated by the state 12/90.