LOCATION MCGEE                   CA

Established Series
JBB/CES/JTW
09/2021

MCGEE SERIES

The McGee series consists of moderately deep, somewhat poorly or moderately well drained soils formed in till and colluvium derived from granitic rocks. McGee soils are on lateral and ground moraines in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Slopes range from 1 to 30 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 1030 mm and the mean annual air temperature is about 3 degrees C.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, isotic Vitrixerandic Dystrocryepts

TYPICAL PEDON: Mcgee very stony loamy sand on a north-facing (46 degree), 10 percent slope under a canopy of lodgepole pine at an elevation of 3181 meters. (Colors are for dry soils unless otherwise noted. When described on July 22, 2016 the soil was moist throughout.)

Oi--0 to 15 cm; slightly decomposed plant material, very dark brown (7.5YR 2.5/2) moist; common fine and medium roots throughout; 5 percent subrounded indurated granite boulders; abrupt wavy boundary. (1 to 15 cm thick)

E--15 to 24 cm; light gray (10YR 7/2) very stony loamy sand, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist; 2 percent clay; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; common very fine, fine, medium, coarse, and very coarse roots throughout; common very fine and fine irregular pores; 10 percent subrounded indurated granite gravel, 35 percent subrounded indurated granite stones, 5 percent subrounded indurated granite boulders; NaF pH 8.0; very strongly acid (pH 5.0); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 25 cm thick)

EB--24 to 31 cm; light gray (10YR 7/2) very stony fine sandy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist; 4 percent clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky, nonplastic; common very fine, fine, medium, and coarse roots throughout; many very fine irregular pores; 10 percent subrounded indurated granite gravel, 30 percent subrounded indurated granite stones, 5 percent subrounded indurated granite boulders; NaF pH 9.5; very strongly acid (pH 5.0); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 10 cm thick)

Bw1--31 to 55 cm; very pale brown (10YR 8/4) very cobbly fine sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; 5 percent clay; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky, nonplastic; few fine and common medium and coarse roots throughout; common very fine and fine irregular pores; 20 percent subrounded indurated granite gravel, 20 percent subrounded indurated granite cobbles, 5 percent subrounded indurated granite stones; NaF pH 9.5; very strongly acid (pH 5.0); gradual wavy boundary.

Bw2--55 to 80 cm; yellow (10YR 7/6) very cobbly sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; 5 percent clay; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky, nonplastic; few medium roots throughout; common very fine irregular pores; 10 percent coarse distinct irregular strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) moist, masses of oxidized iron in matrix; 25 percent subrounded indurated granite gravel, 15 percent subrounded indurated granite cobbles; NaF pH 9.5; very strongly acid (pH 5.0); abrupt smooth boundary.(Combined thickness of Bw horizons is 30 to 50 cm thick)

Cdg--80 to 150 cm; light gray (2.5Y 7/1) gravelly fine sandy loam, olive gray (5Y 5/2) moist; 4 percent clay; massive; hard, firm, slightly sticky, nonplastic; 95 percent olive gray (5Y 5/2) moist, reduced matrix; 15 percent subrounded indurated granite gravel; NaF pH 9.0; strongly acid (pH 5.2).

TYPE LOCATION: Tulare County, California, Forester Lake Basin in Sequoia National Park; USGS 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle: ; WGS84 36.395622 latitude and -118.509997 longitude; UTM zone 11 4028888 meters N 364587 meters E NAD83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil Temperature: The mean annual soil temperature at 50 centimeters is 0 to 6 degrees C, and the difference between mean summer and mean winter soil temperatures is more than 6 degrees C. The soils have a cryic soil temperature regime.

Soil Moisture: The soils have a xeric soil moisture regime. The soil moisture control section is dry in all parts from about August to October (about 60 days).

Diagnostic Feature(s):
Ochric epipedon thickness: 18 cm
Albic horizon thickness: 0 to 25 cm
Cambic horizon thickness: 35 to 55 cm
Depth to densic contact: 50 to 100 cm

Reaction: strongly acid to very strongly acid

Base saturation: less than 50 percent in the zone between 25 and 75 cm below the mineral soil surface (By ammonium acetate)

Depth to redoximorphic features: 20 to 100 cm

Acid-oxalate extractable Al plus 1/2 Fe: 0.4 to 2.0 percent (by weight) in an 18 cm thick layer within a depth of 75 cm from the mineral soil surface

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 75cm from the mineral soil surface

Particle size control section weighted average:
Rock fragments: 35 to 60 percent, with 15 to 40 percent gravel, 5 to 35 percent cobbles, 0 to 35 percent stones and 0 to 30 percent boulders.
Clay content: 4 to 15 percent
NaF pH: 9.0 to 11.0


E and EB horizons:
Hue: 2.5Y to 7.5YR
Value: 5 to 7 dry, 3 to 5 moist
Chroma: 1 to 4 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Texture: loamy sand, sandy loam, fine sandy loam
Clay content: 2 to 10 percent
Rock fragments: 10 to 60 percent
10 to 25 percent gravel
0 to 15 percent cobbles
0 to 35 percent stones
0 to 5 percent boulders

Bw horizons:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 5 to 8 dry, 3 to 5 moist
Chroma: 2 to 6 dry, 2 to 4 moist
Texture: sandy loam, fine sandy loam
Clay content: 4 to 15 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 60 percent
20 to 40 percent gravel
15 to 20 percent cobbles
0 to 5 percent stones
0 to 5 percent boulders
Redoximorphic Features:
Oxidized iron and iron-manganese masses in matrix
Quantity: none to common
Size: fine, medium, and coarse

Cd or Cdg horizon:
Hue: 2.5Y or 10YR
Value: 5 to 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 1 to 4 dry, 2 to 4 moist
Texture: sandy loam, fine sandy loam
Clay content: 4 to 15 percent
Rock fragments: 10 to 65 percent
10 to 40 percent gravel
0 to 20 percent cobbles
0 to 20 percent stones
0 to 20 percent boulders
Redoximorphic Features:
Oxidized iron and iron-manganese masses in matrix
Quantity: few to many
Size: fine, medium, and coarse
Iron depletions in matrix
Quantity: few to many
Size: fine, medium, and coarse

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Stehekin soils. Stehekin soils are well-drained, lack redoximorphic features, and do not have a densic contact.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The McGee soils are on swales of ground and lateral moraines on glacial valley floors, basin floors, mountain slopes, cirques, and glacial valley walls. Slopes range from 3 to 30 percent. These soils formed in till and colluvium derived from granitic rocks. Elevation is 2260 to 3900 meters. The climate is Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 550 to 1620 mm and the mean annual air temperature is -1 to 5 degrees C. The frost free season is 50 to 95 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Evolution and Siberian soils. The Evolution soils are on ground moraines and occupy slightly higher, less concave positions than do McGee soils. Evolution soils are also sandy-skeletal, and have a densic contact between 100 and 150 cm of the mineral soil surface. The Siberian soils are on backslopes and footslopes of moraines, are sandy-skeletal, and do not have redoximorphic features in the series control section.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well or somewhat poorly drained, moderately high to high saturated hydraulic conductivity. Saturated hydraulic conductivity of the densic material is low to moderately low in the densic layer; frequent ponding for brief duration beginning in May. Seasonal high water table at 20 to 100 cm.

USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for recreation, wildlife habitat, and watershed. Vegetation is lodgepole pine with an understory of mountain heather and dwarf bilberry.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Sierra Nevada Mountains of California; MLRA 22A. The series is not extensive.

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

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

REMARKS:
Particle Size Control Section for this pedon: 40 to 115 cm.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric Epipedon 0 to 18 cm
Albic Horizon 15 to 31 cm
Cambic Horizon 31 to 80 cm
Densic Contact 80 cm

ADDITIONAL DATA:
NASIS User Pedon ID: 2016CA7921006

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

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.