LOCATION MILLHOUSE WATentative Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Vitrandic Argixerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Millhouse gravelly ashy loam- rangeland, on a 1 percent slope at an elevation of 1,840 feet. (When described on October 25, l990, the soil was dry throughout. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. All textures are apparent field textures.)
A--0 to 4 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) gravelly ashy loam; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak medium platy structure parting to weak fine platy; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and few medium and coarse roots; common very fine irregular pores; 25 percent gravel; NaF pH 8.5; neutral (pH 7.0); clear smooth boundary. (3 to 6 inches thick)
AB--4 to 14 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) very gravelly ashy loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, very friable, slightly plastic and slightly sticky; common very fine and few medium and coarse roots; few very fine irregular pores; 35 percent gravel and 5 percent cobbles; NaF pH 8.5; neutral (pH 7.0); clear wavy boundary. (8 to 12 inches thick)
Bt--14 to 28 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) extremely gravelly sandy clay loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and few medium and coarse roots; pockets of dark brown (10YR 3/3) loamy sand, common distinct patchy dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay films lining pores and on faces of peds; 55 percent gravel and 10 percent cobbles; NaF pH 8.0; neutral (pH 7.0); clear wavy boundary. (9 to 22 inches thick)
2C1--28 to 32 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) extremely gravelly loamy sand, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; single grain; loose, loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and few medium and coarse roots; 65 percent gravel and 15 percent cobbles; NaF pH 8.0; neutral (pH 7.0); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 12 inches thick)
2C2--32 to 60 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) extremely gravelly loamy sand, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; single grain; loose, loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine and few medium and coarse roots; 70 percent gravel and 15 percent cobbles; NaF pH 8.0; neutral (pH 7.0).
TYPE LOCATION: Kittitas County, Washington; about 2,870 feet west and 1,360 feet south of the northeast corner of section 12, T. 17 N., R. 17 E.; USGS Manastash Creek, Washington topographic quadrangle; Latitude - 46 degrees, 58 minutes, 53 seconds N. and Longitude 120 degrees, 39 minutes, 24 seconds W. (NAD83).
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The average annual soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches is 47 to 52 degrees F. These soils are usually moist but are dry in the moisture control section for 90 to 100 consecutive days following the summer solstice. The upper 11 to 18 inches has an estimated bulk density of 1.15 to 1.40 grams per cubic centimeter, volcanic glass content of 15 to 25 percent, acid oxalate extractable aluminum plus one-half iron is 0.25 to 0.6 percent, and 15-bar water retention of 5 to 10 percent for air-dried samples. The particle-size control section has 20 to 25 percent clay and averages 15 percent fine sand or coarser. Rock fragments range from 55 to 70 percent by volume. Organic matter is estimated to range from 2 to 4 percent in the A and AB horizons. Depth to a 2C horizon is between 20 and 40 inches. Depth to the Bt horizon is 11 to 18 inches.
The A horizon has value of 3 or 4 dry, 2 or 3 moist and chroma of 2 or 3, dry or moist. Texture is ashy loam, gravelly ashy loam, cobbly ashy loam or very cobbly ashy loam[SW1]. Reaction is slightly acid or neutral.[SW2]
The AB horizon has value of 3 or 4 dry, 2 or 3 moist and chroma of 2 or 3, dry or moist. Texture is gravelly ashy loam, very gravelly ashy loam, extremely gravelly ashy loam, very gravelly ashy sandy clay loam or very gravelly ashy sandy loam.. [SW3]Reaction is slightly acid or neutral.[SW4]
The Bt horizon has value of 3 or 4 dry and 2 or 3 moist. Texture is very gravelly loam, extremely gravelly sandy clay loam, very gravelly sandy clay loam or very cobbly sandy clay loam. It has 20 to 25 percent clay.
The 2C horizon has value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist and chroma of 2 or 3, dry or moist. Texture is extremely gravelly loamy sand, extremely cobbly loamy sand or extremely gravelly sand. It has 0 to 10 percent clay.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the
Ackna (T),
Blint,
Brysill (T),
Bunselmeier,
Cubhill,
Hehe,
Lainand,
Leidl,
McDaniel,
Nint (T),
Norod, and
Skooker soils.
Ackna soils less than 15 percent rock fragments in the upper part of the argillic horizon; have 25 to 32 percent clay in the particle-size control section ; are 40 to 60 inches to an extremely gravelly loamy sand 4C horizon.
Blint soils are 20 to 40 inches to a lithic contact (basalt)
Brysill soils 25 to 30 percent clay in the particle-size control section; an aridic soil moisture regime
Bunselmeier soils 40 to 60 inches to cinders with 5 percent fines filling interstices
Cubhill soils an argillic horizon and solum depth extending to a depth of 60 inches or more; a particle-size control section dominated with rock fragments of glacial till origin
Hehe soils 20 to 40 inches to paralithic contact (andesite); dry 60 to 90 consecutive days following the summer solstice
Lainand soils 30 to 35 percent clay in the particle-size control section; 21 to 32 inches to the argillic horizon; lacks extremely gravelly sand or loamy sand or extremely cobbly loamy sand within 20 to 40 inches
Leidl soils 20 to 40 inches to a lithic contact (basalt); dry 75 to 90 consecutive days following the summer solstice
McDaniel soils argillic horizons extending to a depth of 60 inches or more; dry for 60 to 90 consecutive days following the summer solstice
Nint soils 20 to 40 inches to a lithic contact (basalt); dry 75 to 90 consecutive days following the summer solstice
Norod soils 20 to 40 inches to a lithic contact (basalt); dry 100 to 120 consecutive days following the summer solstice
Skooker soils 40 to 60 inches to a paralithic contact (sandstone); dry 60 to 90 consecutive days following the summer solstice
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Millhouse soils are on alluvial fans and terraces and have slopes of 0 to 10 percent. These soils formed in alluvium over flood deposits. Elevations are 1,700 to 3,100 feet. These soils are in a semiarid climate with warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 12 to 15 inches. The average January temperature is about 69 degrees F. and the average July temperature is about 69 degrees F. The mean annual air temperature is 46 to 50 degrees F. The frost-free season is 130 to 150 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Umtanum, Pachneum, Metser and Shushuskin series. Umtanum and Metser soils are on terraces, are non-skeletal and have more than 35 percent clay in the fine earth fraction. Pachneum and Shushuskin soils are on hillslopes, are non-skeletal and lack 2C horizons.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, slow runoff; moderate permeability with rapid permeability below 28 inches.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for livestock grazing, limited crop production and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is bluebunch wheatgrass, Sandberg bluegrass, and Wyoming sagebrush. When irrigated, hay, oats, wheat and corn are among the crops grown.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Kittitas County, Washington, MLRA 8. Series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES PROPOSED: Kittitas County, Washington, l990. Name is coined.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon (pachic) - the zone from 0 to 28 inches (A, AB and Bt horizons)
Argillic horizon - the zone from 14 to 28 inches (Bt horizon)
Particle-size control section - the zone from 14 to 28 inches (Bt horizon)
Vitrandic feature - the zone from 0 to 14 inches (A and AB horizons)
Soil moisture - xeric