LOCATION LITTLEBAUGH             CA

Established Series
JBB/CES
09/2021

LITTLEBAUGH SERIES

The Littlebaugh series consists of moderately deep, somewhat excessively drained soils formed in colluvium over residuum derived from granite. The Littlebaugh soils are on structural benches, glacial-valley walls, and mountain slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Slopes range from 15 to 90 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 1070 mm and the mean annual air temperature is about 9 degrees C.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy-skeletal, isotic, mesic Vitrandic Humixerepts

TYPICAL PEDON: Littlebaugh gravelly sandy loam on a southwest facing (225 degree), 18 percent slope under incense cedar and white fir at an elevation of 2055 meters. (Colors are for dry soils unless otherwise noted. When described on May 19, 2015 the soil was moist throughout.)

A--0 to 9 cm; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) gravelly sandy loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; 6 percent clay; weak thick platy parts to weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky, nonplastic; common very fine roots throughout; many very fine irregular pores; 30 percent subrounded indurated granite gravel; NaF pH 12.0; moderately acid (pH 5.8); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 18 cm thick)

AB--9 to 20 cm; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) gravelly sandy loam, black (10YR 2/1) moist; 7 percent clay; weak fine subangular blocky parts to weak medium granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky, nonplastic; common very fine, fine, and medium roots throughout; common very fine irregular and common fine tubular pores; 15 percent subrounded indurated granite gravel, 5 percent subrounded indurated granite cobbles; NaF pH 12.0; moderately acid (pH 6.0); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 25 cm thick)

Bw--20 to 46 cm; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) very cobbly loamy sand, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; 5 percent clay; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; common very fine, fine, and coarse roots throughout; common fine irregular and common fine tubular pores; 30 percent subrounded strongly cemented granite gravel, 20 percent subrounded strongly cemented granite cobbles; NaF pH 11.5; moderately acid (pH 5.6); clear wavy boundary. (15 to 50 cm thick)

C--46 to 80 cm; brown (10YR 5/3) extremely stony sand, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; 3 percent clay; structureless massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; common fine roots throughout and common medium roots throughout; many very fine interstitial pores; 20 percent subrounded strongly cemented granite gravel, 20 percent subrounded strongly cemented granite cobbles, 20 percent subrounded strongly cemented granite stones; NaF pH 11.0; moderately acid (pH 5.8); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 40 cm thick)

Cr--80 to 92 cm; Moderately cemented granite bedrock, fractured at intervals of 45 to <100 cm; common fine roots in cracks and common medium roots in cracks; clear wavy boundary. (0 to 15 cm thick)

R--92 cm; Very strongly cemented granite bedrock, fractured at intervals of 45 to <100 cm; common fine roots in cracks.

TYPE LOCATION: Tulare County, California, near Suwanee Creek; USGS 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle: Giant Forest, California; WGS84 36.602830 latitude and -118.796771 longitude; UTM zone 11 4052317 meters N 339295 meters E NAD83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature: The mean annual soil temperature at 50 cm is 6 to 14 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 July to October (about 120 days).

Diagnostic Feature(s):
Umbric epipedon thickness: 25 to 50 cm
Depth to lithic contact: 50 to 100 cm

Organic matter: 1 to 5 percent in the epipedon

Reaction: strongly to slightly acid

Base saturation: less than 50 percent (by ammonium acetate)

Acid-oxalate extractable Al plus 1/2 Fe: 0.4 to 1.0 percent (by weight) to a depth of 100 cm or to bedrock.

Volcanic glass: 5 to 30 percent in the 0.02 to 2.0 mm fraction in an 18 cm thick layer within a depth of 75 cm from the mineral soil surface

Particle size control section weighted average:
Rock fragments: 35 to 75 percent, with 15 to 35 percent gravel, 15 to 35 percent cobbles, 0 to 20 percent stones.
Clay content: 2 to 8 percent

A horizon (and AB horizon, where present)
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR
Value: 3 to 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3 dry, 1 or 2 moist
Texture: sandy loam, loamy sand, sand
Clay content: 2 to 10 percent
Rock fragments: 5 to 50 percent
0 to 35 percent gravel
0 to 35 percent cobbles
0 to 5 percent stones

Bw horizon
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR
Value: 4 to 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Texture: loamy sand, sand
Clay content: 2 to 10 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 80 percent
15 to 35 percent gravel
15 to 35 percent cobbles
0 to 15 percent stones

C horizon
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y
Value: 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4, dry or moist
Texture: loamy sand, sand, coarse sand
Clay content: 1 to 8 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 80 percent
15 to 60 percent gravel
10 to 35 percent cobbles
0 to 20 percent stones

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Canyonview and Grandmound (MLRA 2) soils. The Canyonview soils are on convex backslopes of mountain slopes and do not contain a lithic contact. The Grandmound soils formed in glacial outwash, do not contain fragments larger than cobbles, and are dry for less than 90 consecutive days in the control section.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Littlebaugh soils are on convex backslopes and footslopes of mountain slopes, glacial valley walls, and structural benches. Slopes range from 15 to 90 percent. These soils formed in colluvium over residuum derived from granite. Elevation is 1210 to 2590 meters. The climate is Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 660 to 1170 mm and the mean annual air temperature is 7 to 13 degrees C. The frost-free season is 105 to 200 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Canyonview, Gratwell, and Skellog soils. The Canyonview soils are on convex backslopes of mountain slopes and do not have a lithic contact. The Gratwell soils are on broadly concave backslopes of mountain slopes and are coarse-loamy. The Skellog soils are on linear backslopes of mountain slopes and do not have a lithic contact.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat excessively drained, high saturated hydraulic conductivity.

USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for recreation, wildlife habitat, and watershed. Vegetation is canyon live oak, black oak, whiteleaf manzanita, incense cedar, white fir, and mountain misery.

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 is coined.

REMARKS:
Particle Size Control Section for this pedon: 25 to 80 cm
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Umbric Epipedon 0 to 46 cm
Paralithic Contact 80 to 92 cm
Lithic Contact 92 cm

ADDITIONAL DATA:
NASIS User Pedon ID: 2015CA7925024

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

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.