LOCATION NATAGA AK
Established Series
Rev. JWM-JPM
12/2022
NATAGA SERIES
The Nataga series consists of very deep, somewhat excessively drained soils that formed in very cobbly alluvium and colluvium on alluvial fans and toeslopes. Slopes range from 0 to 40 percent. Mean annual temperature is about 41 degrees F., and the average annual precipitation is about 47 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy-skeletal, mixed Typic Cryorthents
TYPICAL PEDON: Nataga gravelly sandy loam on a NE facing slope of 7 percent at 60 feet elevation under forest vegetation. (All colors are for moist soils unless otherwise stated.)
Oi--3 inches to 0; mat of slightly decomposed leaves, roots, and moss; abrupt smooth boundary. (1 to 5 inches thick)
A--0 to 1 inch; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) gravelly sandy loam; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable; nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine, medium, and coarse roots; 20 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles; strongly acid (pH 5.4); abrupt smooth boundary. (1 to 3 inches thick)
C1--1 to 12 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) very cobbly loamy sand; single grain; loose; nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine, medium, and coarse roots; 35 percent gravel, 20 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 6.6); gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 60 inches thick)
C2--12 to 60 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) extremely cobbly loamy sand; single grain; loose; nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine and medium roots decreasing to few fine roots with depth; 30 percent gravel, 35 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 6.8).
TYPE LOCATION: Haines Area; Alaska. NW 1/4, NE 1/4, Section 13, R.59E., T.32S., Copper River Meridian.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Texture of the control section is loamy sand or sand. Coarse fragment content ranges from 35 to 70 percent. The horizons are often mixed and churned due to treethrow.
The A horizon has hue of 2.5Y, 10YR, or 7.5YR, value from 3 through 5 moist, and chroma from 1 through 4 moist. Texture is silt loam or sandy loam. Coarse fragment content ranges from 0 to 35 percent with 0 to 25 percent gravel, 0 to 10 percent cobble. Reaction ranges from strongly acid to slightly acid.
The C horizons have hue of 5Y, 2.5Y, 10YR, or 7.5YR, value from 3 through 6 moist, and chroma from 2 through 4 moist. Texture is loamy sand or sand. Coarse fragment content ranges from 35 to 70 percent with 15 to 40 percent gravel, 15 to 40 percent cobble. Reaction ranges from slightly acid to neutral. Reaction with HCl is none to slightly effervescent.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the
Chena,
Chenega (T),
Graylock,
Mirror Lake,
Nizina (T),
Obscurity,
Ovando (T),
Polepatch,
Stecum and
Studebaker series. Chena soils contain substantial amounts of mica. Chenega (T) and Mirror Lake soils have pH less than 5.5 in the control section. Graylock and Ovando (T) soils have cambic horizons. Nizina (T) soils have less than 15 percent cobbles in the control section. Obscurity, Polepatch, and Studebaker soils contain volcanic ash in the control section. Stecum soils have bedrock within 40 inches of the surface.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Nataga soils occur on alluvial fans and toeslopes. They formed in alluvium and colluvium. The climate is humid maritime with the average annual precipitation ranging from 21 to 65 inches. Mean annual temperature ranges from 40 to 43 degrees F. Slopes range from 0 to 40 percent. Elevation ranges from 0 to 1700 feet. The frost free season is 90 to 150 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These include the
Chilkoot,
Passage,
Kupreanof,
Lutak and
Tolstoi soils. Chilkoot soils occur on floodplains and are poorly drained. Passage and Tolstoi soils occur on adjacent mountain sideslopes and are moderately deep and shallow over bedrock. Lutak soils occur on alluvial terraces and have spodic horizons. Kupreanof soils have spodic horizons.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat excessively drained. Rapid permeability. Slow to rapid runoff.
USE AND VEGETATION: The Nataga soils are used for wildlife habitat, recreation, and timber production. The native vegetation is dominantly Sitka spruce, western hemlock, and cottonwood, with an understory of Sitka alder, devil's club, horsetail, and mosses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southeastern Alaska. The series is of minor extent.
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: WASILLA, ALASKA
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Haines Area, Alaska. 1985.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this soil are: sandy-skeletal material from 1 to 60 inches.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.