LOCATION NESIKA WAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Medial, mixed, mesic Humic Haploxerands
TYPICAL PEDON: Nesika loam - forested. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 8 inches; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; strong coarse, medium and fine granular and strong fine and very fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky, nonplastic and weakly smeary; many medium, fine, and very fine roots; many very fine and fine tubular and interstitial pores; 5 percent pebbles; moderately acid (pH 5.6); gradual wavy boundary. (6 to 10 inches thick)
AB--8 to 22 inches; dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) loam, brown (10YR 5/3) dry; moderate medium and fine subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky, nonplastic and weakly smeary; many medium, fine, and very fine roots; many very fine roots; many very fine and fine tubular and interstitial pores; 30 percent weathered pebbles; slightly acid (pH 6.2); gradual wavy boundary. (12 to 20 inches thick)
Bw--22 to 60 inches; dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) dry; moderate medium and fine subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky, nonplastic and weakly smeary; common medium fine and very fine roots; many very fine and fine tubular and interstitial pores; 45 percent strongly weathered pebbles; slightly acid (pH 6.2).
TYPE LOCATION: Lewis County, Washington; 650 feet north and 1,700 feet west of southeast corner, sec. 36, T. 15 N., R. 4 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The umbric epipedon is 20 to 30 inches thick. Mean annual soil temperature is estimated to range from 47 to 50 degrees F. The soils are usually moist but they are dry in all parts between depths of 4 and 12 inches for 45 to 60 consecutive days in most years. These soils range from strongly acid to slightly acid. The 10 to 40 inch control section averages 35 to 60 percent strongly weathered rock fragments. It is 0 to 20 percent unweathered or partially weathered rock fragments in the profile.
The A and AB horizons have hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 2 or 3 moist, 4 or 5 dry, and chroma of 2 or 3 moist or dry.
The Bw horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 3 or 4 moist, 5 or 6 dry, and chroma of 3 or 4 moist or dry. It is loam or sandy loam.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Chemawa, Germany, Glen, Nikal, Pinbit, Raught, and Surveyors series. All of these soils have less than 35 percent weathered rock fragments in the particle-size control section. In addition, Chemawa, Glen, Pinbit, Raught, and Surveyors soils have an umbric epipedon less than 20 inches thick. Nikal soils are 20 to 40 inches deep to a lithic contact.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Nesika soils are on alluvial fans and outwash plains. Slopes are 2 to 15 percent. Elevations range from 500 to 2,000 feet. The soils formed in mixed alluvium from basic igneous rocks and volcanic ash. The climate is mild, summers are cool and dry, and winters are mild and wet. Mean annual precipitation is 50 to 70 inches. Average January temperature is 35 degrees F, average July temperature is 62 degrees F, and the mean annual temperature is 47 degrees F. Frost-free season is about 125 to 175 days. The average growing season (28 degrees F) is 150 to 200 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Cinebar, Galvin, Klaber, Mossyrock, Newaukum, and Semiahmoo soils. All of these soils have less than 35 percent rock fragments in the particle-size control section. Cinebar, Mossyrock, and Newaukum soils have a bulk density of less than 0.85 g/cc to a depth of 14 inches or more. Galvin soils have an argillic horizon. Klaber soils have a mollic epipedon and an aquic moisture regime. Semiahmoo soils are muck to a depth of more than 51 inches.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow to medium runoff; moderately rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for woodland, pasture, urban development, and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is Douglas-fir, western redcedar, and red alder with an understory of salal, Oregon-grape, and trailing blackberry.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southwestern Washington. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Lewis County, Washington, 1941.
REMARKS: Classification only changed 4/94 because of recent amendments to Soil Taxonomy.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: umbric epipedon from the mineral surface to 22 inches; a cambic horizon, with 45 percent soft weathered rock fragments from 22 to 60 inches.