LOCATION MATQUAW CAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed, active, mesic Pachic Ultic Haploxerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Matquaw gravelly sandy loam on a northwest facing 2 percent slope under a cover of grasses at an elevation of 3325 feet. (Colors are for dry soil unless, otherwise stated. When described September 22, 1981, the soil was dry throughout.)
A1--0 to 4 inches; dark brown (10YR 4/3) gravelly sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; weak very fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; 20 percent gravel; moderately acid (pH 6.0); abrupt smooth boundary. (4 to 5 inches thick)
A2--4 to 10 inches; dark brown (10YR 4/3) sandy loam, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) moist; weak very fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; common fine and few coarse roots, few very fine tubular pores; 10 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.5); abrupt smooth boundary. (5 to 6 inches thick)
A3--10 to 16 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) very fine sandy loam; dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) moist; massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; common fine roots; common fine tubular pores; 5 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.5); clear smooth boundary.
A4--16 to 27 inches; dark brown (10YR 4/3) very fine sandy loam, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) moist; massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; few fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; 5 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.5); abrupt smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the A3 and A4 horizons is 15 to 18 inches)
2AC--27 to 34 inches; dark brown (10YR 4/3) loamy sand, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) moist; massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots; common fine tubular pores; 5 percent gravel; , many medium distinct strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) masses of iron accumulation; slightly acid (pH 6.5); abrupt smooth boundary. (6 to 12 inches thick)
3C--34 to 72 inches; dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) stratified extremely gravelly loamy sand, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/3) moist; massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; 90 percent rounded gravel; common medium faint strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) masses of iron accumulation; moderately acid (pH 6.0).
TYPE LOCATION: Shasta County, California; about 1.3 miles northwest of Dana; 500 feet east and 1,800 feet north of the southwest corner sec. 13, T. 38 N., R. 3 E., Pondosa NE (East of Pondosa) quadrangle (7.5 minute series)
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to loamy sand is 24 to 29 inches. The mean annual soil temperature is 47 to 50 degrees F. The soil temperature exceeds 41 degrees F.
f.om mid March to late December (285 days) and exceeds 47 degrees F. from mid May to early December. The soil moisture control section is dry in all parts from early July to mid October (90-110 days) and is moist in all parts from early November to early June. Rock fragments, mostly gravel on the soil surface, range from 15 to 20 percent. Base saturation by sum of cations ranges from 54 to 68 percent. Organic matter ranges from 4 to 8 percent to a depth of 40 inches. Faint to distinct mottles with chromas of 4 to 6 are present at a depth of 27 to 72 inches.
The A1, A2, A3 and A4 horizons color is 10YR 4/2, 4/3, 5/2, or 5/3. Moist color is 10YR 3/1, 3/2; 7.5YR 3/2, 4/2; 5YR 3/2 or 3/3. Clay content ranges from 10 to 15 percent. Rock fragments, mostly gravel, range from 0 to 20 percent in the A1 horizon.
The 3C horizon color is 10YR 6/2; 7.5YR 4/4 or 5/2. Moist color is 7.5YR 3/2; 5YR 3/2, or 3/3. Texture is stratified extremely or very gravelly loamy sand or sandy loam. Clay content ranges from 5 to 10 percent. Rock fragments, mostly gravel, range from 40 to 90 percent.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other soils in this family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Matquaw soils are on stream terraces. Slopes are 0 to 5 percent. These soils formed in alluvium weathered from extrusive igneous rock. Elevation is 3300 to 3360 feet. The climate is subhumid with warm dry summers and cold moist winters. Mean annual precipitation is 25 to 35 inches. Snowfall is 48 to 60 inches. The mean annual temperature is 45 to 48 degrees F. The mean January temperature is about 27 degrees F. The mean July temperature is about 67 degrees F. Frost-free season is 80 to 100 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Graven (T), Jimmerson (T) and Winnibulli (T) soils. Graven soils are in drainageways, are moderately deep to duripan and are fine-loamy. Jimmerson are on hills, are very deep and are fine-loamy. Winnibulli soils are on mounds or terraces, are very deep, are fine-loamy, have argillic horizons and have a fluctuating water table.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained; ponded to slow runoff; permeability is moderately rapid in the upper part and rapid in the lower part
. These soils are subject to flooding for periods of 1 week during prolonged, high intensity storms from December to March. A water table occurs at depths of 24 to 40 inches from November 15 through February 15.
USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for livestock grazing. Small areas are used as pasture or for hay. The natural vegetation is perennial grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northeastern California. The soils are not extensive. MLRA is 22.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Shasta County, Intermountain Soil Survey Area, California 1994. Source of name is Matquaw Flat.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - 0 to 34 inches (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5).
ADDITIONAL DATA: This pedon was sampled and reference samples were sent to Fall River Mills in 1982.