LOCATION MEADOWPEAK MTEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-silty, mixed, superactive, nonacid, frigid Aeric Fluvaquents
TYPICAL PEDON: Meadowpeak silt loam, forested (colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted).
A--0 to 4 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) loam, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine granular; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine, very fine, medium, and coarse roots; slightly acid (ph 6.2); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 5 inches thick)
AC--4 to 9 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) silt loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine, fine, medium, and coarse roots; slightly acid (ph 6.2); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 5 inches thick)
C1--9 to 16 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) silt loam, gray (10YR 5/1) dry; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine, fine, medium, and coarse roots; slightly acid (ph 6.4); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 10 inches thick)
C2--16 to 25 inches; olive gray (5Y 5/2) silt loam, light gray (5Y 7/2) dry; massive; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine, fine, medium, and coarse roots; neutral (ph 6.8); gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 12 inches thick)
C3--25 to 34 inches; olive gray (5Y 5/2) and very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) silt loam consisting of thin layers of silt loam and loam, light gray (5Y 7/2) and grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; massive; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine, medium, and coarse roots; neutral (ph 7.0); gradual wavy boundary. (6 to 12 inches thick)
C4--34 to 60 inches; white (5Y 8/1) silt loam, light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) dry; massive; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine, medium, and coarse roots; few fine distinct olive yellow (5Y 6/6) redox concentrations; neutral (ph 6.8).
TYPE LOCATION: Lincoln County, Montana; 2,400 feet south and 1,800 feet east of the NW corner of sec. 23, T. 27 N., R. 28 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature - 44 to 47 degrees F.
Moisture control section - between 4 and 12 inches.
Depth to water table - 12 to 24 inches.
A horizon
Value: 3 or 4 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Clay content: 12 to 18 percent
Reaction: pH 5.6 to 6.5
AC horizon
Clay content: 12 to 18 percent
Reaction: pH 5.6 to 7.3
C1 and C2 horizons
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y, or 5Y
Value: 5, 6, or 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 1 or 2
Clay content: 12 to 18 percent
Reaction: pH 5.6 to 7.3
C3 horizon
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y, or 5Y
Value: 5, 6, or 7 dry, 3, 4, or 5 moist
Chroma: 1 or 2
Clay content: 10 to 18 percent
Reaction: pH 5.6 to 7.3
C4 horizon
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y, or 5Y
Value: 5, 6, or 7 dry; 3, 4, or 5 moist
Chroma: 1 or 2
Clay content: 10 to 16 percent
Reaction: pH 5.6 to 7.3
COMPETING SERIES:
Charles (ME) - has redox concentrations above a depth of 35 inches, is at elevations of 10 to 1,750 feet; is strongly or moderately acid above a depth of 40 inches.
Ermatinger (MI) - has redox concentrations above a depth of 30 inches; is slightly or moderately alkaline in the C horizon.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform- flood plains and closed depressions.
Elevation - 2,200 to 4,100 feet.
Slope - 0 to 2 percent.
Parent material - alluvium.
Climate - long, cold winters; moist springs; warm, dry summers.
Mean annual precipitation - 18 to 34 inches, much of which falls as snow and spring rain.
Mean annual air temperature - 40 to 45 degrees F.
Frost-free period - 70 to 95 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS:
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained, moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Meadowpeak soils are used for woodland, understory grazing, and wildlife habitat. Potential native vegetation is mainly Engelmann spruce, water birch, alder, black hawthorn, and black cottonwood. Understory vegetation is mainly sedges, rushes, willow, and other perennial grasses and forbs.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Meadowpeak soils are of limited extent in the valleys of northwestern Montana. MLRA 43A and 44A.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Lincoln County, Montana, 1997.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - 0 to 7 inches mixed (A, AC horizons);
Particle-size control section - 10 to 40 inches (C1, C2, C3, C4 horizons).
Meadowpeak soils have a frigid temperature regime and an aquic moisture regime.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Soil interpretation record: MT1362; Laboratory data S92MT-053-009.