LOCATION MILLERLAKE              WY+CO MT UT

Established Series
Rev. PSD/EMM/KLS
12/2022

MILLERLAKE SERIES

The Millerlake series consists of deep, well drained soils that formed in slope alluvium and other sediments derived from sedimentary rock. These soils are on fan aprons, terraces, structural benches, and lower mountain slopes. Slopes are 2 to 35 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 457 mm, and the mean annual temperature is about 3 degrees C.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive Pachic Argicryolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Millerlake loam-rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)

Oe--0 to 3 cm; partially decomposed leaves, grass, and other organic materials.

A--3 to 13 cm; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; strong fine granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and medium roots; neutral (pH 6.8); clear smooth boundary. (8 to 25 cm thick)

BA--13 to 21 cm; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure parting to strong medium granular; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and medium and few coarse roots; few thin clay films on faces of peds and lining pores; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 20 cm thick)

Bt--21 to 54 cm; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure parting to strong medium angular blocky; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; many fine and few coarse roots; many moderately thick clay films on faces of peds, and lining pores; neutral (pH 7.2); gradual wavy boundary. (25 to 76 cm thick)

Btk--54 to 74 cm; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; strong coarse subangular blocky structure; very hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine and coarse roots; few thin clay films on faces of peds and lining pores; strongly effervescent, lime as common soft masses and as filaments and in seams; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 25 cm thick)

Bk--74 to 155 cm; light gray (10YR 7/2) loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) moist; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; violently effervescent, lime as common soft masses, filaments, and seams; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4).

TYPE LOCATION: Carbon County, Wyoming; West quarter corner, sec. 11, T. 18 N., R. 89 W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to base of argillic horizon--50 cm or more
Depth to any contrasting material--more than 100 cm
Mean annual soil temperature--3 to 6 degrees C
Mean summer soil temperature--10 to 13 degrees C
Total rock fragment content--0 to 15 percent throughout

A horizon
Hue--5Y to 7.5YR
Value--3 to 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma--1 to 3
Reaction--pH 6.1 to 7.4

Bt horizon
Hue--5Y to 7.5YR
Value--4 to 6 dry, 2 to 4 moist
Chroma--1 to 4
Texture--clay loam or loam
Clay content--18 to 35 percent
Sand content--15 to 35 percent fine or coarser sand
Reaction--pH 6.3 to 7.6

Btk horizon
Hue--5Y to 7.5YR
Value--5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma--2 to 4
Texture--loam or clay loam
Calcium carbonate equivalent--4 to 14 percent
Reaction--pH 7.8 to 8.6

Bk horizon
Hue--5Y to 7.5YR
Value--5 to 7 dry, 4 to 6 moist
Chroma--2 to 4
Texture--loam or clay loam
Calcium carbonate equivalent--8 to 14 percent
Reaction--pH 7.8 to 8.6

COMPETING SERIES:
Bachus (WY) - are moderately deep to lithic contact
Bavdark (MT) - do not have a horizon of secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Benteen (MT) - are moderately deep to lithic contact
Brushtop (ID) - have a xeric moisture regime
Clayburn (UT) - have a udic moisture regime
Croydon (UT) - are deep to lithic contact
Crystalbutte (ID) - have a xeric moisture regime
Davtone (CO) - have hues of 5YR or redder in the Bt horizon
Dehana (ID) - have a lithologic discontinuity
Demast (ID) - are moderately deep to lithic contact
Dranyon (ID) - have a udic soil moisture regime
Echemoor (WY) - are moderately deep to paralithic contact
Hagenbarth (ID) - have a xeric soil moisture regime
Hoopgobel (ID) - are moderately deep to paralithic contact
Longway (ID) - do not have a horizon of secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Lostminer (UT) - are moderately deep to lithic contact
Odark (MT) - do not have horizons of secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Senchert (UT) - are moderately deep to lithic contact
Southmount (ID) - have redox concentrations at 45 to 100 cm
Poodle (NV) - are moderately deep to paralithic contact
Stubbs (WY) - are moderately deep to paralithic contact
Thulepah (NV) - have a lithologic discontinuity
Vadnais (ID) - are moderately deep to lithic contact
Winu (NV) - are moderately deep to lithic contact

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform--fan aprons, terraces, structural benches, and lower mountain footslopes and toeslopes
Elevation--1975 to 2900 meters
Parent Material--slope alluvium and other sediments derived from sedimentary rock
Slope--2 to 35 percent
Mean annual precipitation--380 to 610 mm
Mean annual temperature--1 to 4 degrees C
Frost-free season--less than 60 days

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; permeability is moderately slow

USE AND VEGETATION: Rangeland and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation consists of Idaho fescue, Columbia needlegrass, thickspike wheatgrass, and big sagebrush. Some areas support relatively thick stands of aspen.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The Millerlake series is of moderate extent in western and southcentral Wyoming, western Colorado and southcentral Montana and central Utah. MLRAs 43B, 46, and 48A.

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Aspen-Gypsum Area, Colorado; 1982

REMARKS: Converted to metric, updated formatting, and O horizons were updated to start at zero. 7/2022

Millerlake soils have a cryic soil temperature regime and an ustic soil moisture regime.

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.