LOCATION METMILL WATentative Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Vitrandic Haploxerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Metmill ashy loam- pasture, on a 3 percent south-facing slope at an elevation of 2,000 feet. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 6 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) ashy loam; black (10YR 2/1) moist; moderate fine and medium granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine roots; common very fine tubular and few very fine irregular pores; 5 percent gravel; NaF pH 8.6; neutral (pH 7.2); abrupt smooth boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)
AB--6 to 14 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) ashy loam, black (10YR 2/1) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and medium roots; common very fine irregular and tubular pores; 5 percent gravel; NaF pH 8.6; neutral (pH 7.2); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 10 inches thick)
Bw1--14 to 22 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) very gravelly clay loam, black (10YR 2/1) moist; strong fine and medium subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common very fine and medium roots; common very fine tubular and few very fine irregular pores; 30 percent gravel and 10 percent cobbles; NaF pH 8.6; neutral (pH 7.2); clear wavy boundary.(5 to 12 inches thick)
Bw2--22 to 34 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) extremely gravelly sandy clay loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; strong fine and medium subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common very fine and medium roots; common very fine tubular and irregular pores; few fine faint dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) iron stains on faces of peds and in pores; 50 percent gravel and 15 percent cobbles; NaF pH 8.6; neutral (pH 7.2); clear wavy boundary.
Bw3--34 to 60 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) extremely gravelly sandy clay loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; strong fine and medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few very fine roots; common fine distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) iron stains on faces of peds and in pores; 50 percent gravel and 10 percent cobbles; NaF pH 8.6; neutral (pH 7.2).
TYPE LOCATION: : Kittitas County, Washington; about 6 miles north of Ellensburg, about 2,330 feet east and 1,020 feet south of the northwest corner of section 35, T. 19 N., R. 18 E.; USGS Ellensburg North topographic quadrangle; Latitude - 47 degrees, 06 minutes, 00 seconds N. and Longitude - 120 degrees, 33 minutes 04 seconds W. (NAD83).
Kittitas County, Washington; about 6 miles north of Ellensburg, about 2,300 feet east and 1,000 feet south of the northwest corner of section 35, T. 19 N., R. 18 E.; USGS Ellensburg North topographic quadrangle; Latitude 47 degrees 06 minutes 00 seconds N. and Longitude 120 degrees 33 minutes 00 seconds W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Average annual soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches is 47 to 54 degrees F. These soils are usually moist but are dry in the moisture control section for 60 to 75 consecutive days following the summer solstice. Depth to the irrigation-induced water table and aquic conditions is 20 to 30 inches. Thickness of the mollic epipedon is 30 to 60 inches. The upper 7 to 18 inches has estimated bulk density of 1.15 to 1.40 g/cc, volcanic glass content of 10 to 20 percent and acid oxalate extractable aluminum plus one-half extractable iron of 0.3 to 0.5 percent. Base saturation throughout the upper 30 inches is greater than 75 percent. The particle-size control section has 26 to 34 percent clay and averages 15 percent fine sand or coarser. Rock fragments by weighted average range from 35 to 60 percent by volume. Organic matter is estimated to range from 2 to 4 percent in the Ap and AB hoizons.
The Ap horizon has value of 3 or 4 dry, 2 or 3 moist, chroma of 1 or 2 dry or moist. Texture is ashy loam or very gravelly ashy loam. Reaction is slightly acid or neutral.
The AB and Bw1 horizons have value of 3 or 4 dry, 2 or 3 moist and chroma of 1 or 2 dry or moist. The AB horizon is ashy loam or gravelly ashy loam.
The Bw2 and Bw3 horizons have value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist. Texture is extremely gravelly sandy clay loam, very gravelly clay loam or very gravelly sandy clay loam.
COMPETING SERIES: This is the
Brickmill (T),
Eaglespring,
Foggydew,
Garrison,
Neviot (T),
Northstar,
Opportunity (T),
Peka,
Thuso, and
Wagberg soils.
Brickmill soils redox features at 30 to 40 inches (oxyaquic); mollic epipedon 10 to 20 inches thick; pscs with 5 to 15 percent clay and 45 to 70 percent sand
Eaglespring soils 40 to 60 inches to lithic contact (sediments); lack redox features
Foggydew soils 40 to 60 inches to lithic contact (andesite); dry 90 to 105 consecutive days following summer solstice; lack redox features
Garrison soils dry 60 to 90 consecutive days following summer solstice; mollic epipedon 12 to 20 inches thick; 44 to more than 60 inches to secondary CaCO3
Neviot soils - dry 100 to 120 consecutive days following summer solstice; 44 to 60 inches to secondary CaCO3; pscs has 15 to 25 percent clay
Northstar soils 20 to 40 inches to lithic contact (rhyodacite); dry 75 to 90 consecutive days following summer solstice
Opportunity soils - dry 60 to 90 consecutive days following summer solstice; mollic epipedon 10 to 20 inches thick; 36 to 60 inches to sandy-skeletal material
Peka soils 40 to 60 inches to densic contact (Cd); dry 75 to 90 consecutive days following summer solstice; mollic epipedon 10 to 18 inches thick
Thuso soils - dry 90 to 105 consecutive days following summer solstice; mollic epipedon 10 to 25 inches thick; pscs has 8 to 18 percent clay
Wagberg soils - dry 90 to 105 consecutive days following summer solstice; mollic epipedon 10 to 18 inches thick; 40 to more than 60 inches to bedrock
Soils with a similar isotic mineralogy classification include: Borgeau, Emily, Lenz, Louiecreek, Raiso, Sinlahekin, Speigle, Vanbrunt, and Whitestone series.
Borgeau soils - dry 75 to 90 consecutive days following summer solstice; mollic epipedon 10 to 17 inches thick; pscs has 10 to 18 percent clay
Emily soils 40 to more than 60 inches to bedrock; base saturation estimated at less than 75 percent in some part between 10 and 30 inches
Lenz soils 20 to 40 inches to lithic contact (granite)
Louiecreek soils - dry 75 to 90 consecutive days following summer solstice; mollic epipedon 7 to 15 inches thick; pscs has 8 to 15 percent clay
Raiso soils - dry 75 to 90 consecutive days following summer solstice; pscs dominated by channer and flagstone shaped rock fragments of shale origin
Sinlahekin soils - dry 75 to 90 consecutive days following summer solstice; mollic epipedon 10 to 18 inches thick; pscs has 3 to 8 percent clay and rock fragments of glacial outwash origin
Speigle soils - dry 60 to 90 consecutive days following summer solstice; mollic epipedon 10 to 20 inches thick; pscs has 10 to 20 percent clay; base saturation estimated at less than 75 percent in some part between 10 and 30 inches
Vanbrunt soils 20 to 40 inches to lithic contact (quartz monzonite); dry 75 to 90 consecutive days following summer solstice; mollic epipedon 7 to 13 inches thick; pscs has 3 to 8 percent clay
Whitestone soils - dry 75 to 90 consecutive days following summer solstice; mollic epipedon 10 to 19 inches thick; pscs has 3 to 8 percent clay
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Metmill soils are on alluvial fans and inset fans and have slopes of 0 to 5 percent. These soils formed in alluvium mixed with volcanic ash in the surface. Elevation is 1,700 to 3,100 feet. Climate is semiarid with warm dry summers and cool moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 12 to 15 inches. The average January temperature is about 25 degrees F. and the average July temperature is about 69 degrees F. The mean annual temperature is 46 to 49 degrees F. Frost-free season is 130 to 150 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Modsel, Reelow, Sketter and Varodale series. Modsel soils are alluvial fans and have 35 to 40 percent clay in the particle size control section. Reelow soils are on uplifted fan remnants and fane terraces and are 10 to 20 inches to hardpan. Sketter soils are on uplifted fan remnants and terraces and are 20 to 40 inches to a hardpan. Varodale soils are on terraces and alluvial fans and have 45 to 65 percent clay in the particle-size control section.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained, slow runoff; moderately slow permeability. This soil is irrigated and drained. This soil has an irrigated-induced water table at 20 to 30 inches during the mid-May to mid-October growing season.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for limited crop production, livestock grazing and wildlife habitat.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Kittitas County, Washington; MLRA 8, 44. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES PROPOSED: Kittitas County, Washington, 1999. Name is coined.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon include:
Mollic epipedon (pachic) - 0 to 60 inches (Ap, AB, and Bw horizons)
Vitrandic feature - 0 to 14 inches (Ap and AB horizons)
PSCS - the zone from 10 to 40 inches (part of the AB and Bw horizon)