LOCATION NAKNEK                  AK

Inactive Series
Rev. CEF/SR
02/2022

NAKNEK SERIES

These soils have thick mossy 0 horizons, moderately thick dark mottled A horizons and gray C horizons. The permafrost table is very shallow.

TAXONOMIC CLASS:

TYPICAL PEDON: Naknek loam - tundra (Colors are for moist conditions)

011--16 to 9 inches; Dark reddish brown (5YR 3/3) to light reddish brown (5YR 6/3, squeezed dry) moss peat; many roots; extremely acid; abrupt smooth boundary. (5 to 8 inches thick)

012--9 to 0 inches; Dark reddish brown (5YR 2/2 and 5YR 3/2) partially decomposed sedge peat; frozen at 2 inches; many roots; extremely acid; abrupt smooth boundary. (7 to 10 inches thick)

A1f--0 to 16 inches; Dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) loam; many coarse distinct and prominent mottles of dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) and gray (5GY 5/1); moderate very thin platy structure; few roots; extremely acid; abrupt wavy boundary. Frozen in late July. (10 to 20 inches thick)

Cgf--16 to 17 inches; Gray (5GY 5/1) loam; massive; moderately acid; frozen.

TYPE LOCATION: Ring Salmon Area, Alaska. About 2/3 mile northwest of Naknek (NE 1/4 NW 1/4, Sec. 3, T 17 S, R 47 W, Seward Meridian).

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The thickness of the 0 horizon ranges from 14 to 16 inches and usually contains several thin layers of volcanic ash. The organic material is primarily coarse moss and sedge, but in places finely divided peat occurs in the lower layers. Ice lenses usually occur within 4 inches of the mineral surface but may occur in the lower part of the 0 horizon. The A horizon is usually silt loam or loam, but ranges to mucky silt loam and sandy loam. The C horizon is usually loam, but may be sandy loam or sandy clay loam. The A horizons are in hue 5YR or 7.5YR, with values of 2 or 3 and chroma of 2. The C horizons range from 5Y to 5GY with values of 4 or 5 and chromas of 1 or 2.

COMPETING SERIES: These include the Goldstream, Kuskokwim, Medfra, and Owhat series in the same subgroup, and the Lemeta series. These soils are not formed in volcanic ash materials. The Goldstream soils are fairly high in mica and have thin A horizons. The Kuskokwim soils have thin A horizons and mottled C horizons. The Medfra soils have high chromas in the C horizon. The Owhat soils lack mottles in the A horizon and have brown patches in the C horizon. The Lemeta soils are deep peats.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Naknek soils occur on nearly level to gently undulating moraines. The regolith is volcanic ash over glacial till. The climate is cold maritime with long cold winters and cool summers. The average annual precipitation ranges from 16 to 25 inches. The average annual air temperature ranges from 28 degrees to 34 degrees F.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These include the Kvichak and Pustoi series. The Kvichak soils consist of silty ash over firm till. The Pustoi soils are formed in sandy ash.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained. Internal drainage and permeability are restricted by permafrost. Runoff is slow.

USE AND VEGETATION: The native vegetation is tundra, consisting of sphagnum and hypnum mosses, sedges, and low-growing shrubs. The soils are used only by wildlife.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Western Alaska Peninsula, Alaska. The soils are probably moderately extensive.

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: WASILLA, ALASKA

SERIES PROPOSED: King Salmon Area, Alaska, 1968. (Source of name is village of Naknek).

REMARKS: The Andic subgroup is not now recognized, and may be included with the Histic Pergelic Cryaquepts.

OSED scanned by SSQA. Last revised by state on 4/69.

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.