LOCATION OPPORTUNITY             WA

Established Series
Rev. EMM/RWL/RJS
12/2022

OPPORTUNITY SERIES

The Opportunity series consists of very deep, well drained soils formed in glacial outwash with a minor component of loess and volcanic ash in the upper part. Opportunity soils are on outwash plains and terrace treads and risers and have slopes of 0 to 30 percent. The average annual precipitation is about 20 inches and the average annual temperature is about 48 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, isotic, mesic Vitrandic Haploxerolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Opportunity very gravelly ashy loam - cultivated on a north-facing slope of 3 percent at 2095 feet elevation. When described on July 7, 1998 the soil was dry from 0 to 7 inches and moist throughout the rest of the profile. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted. All textures are apparent field textures)

Ap--0 to 7 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) very gravelly ashy loam, black (10YR 2/1) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and few fine, medium and coarse roots; common very fine tubular and irregular pores; 50 percent gravel; moderately acid (pH 5.6); abrupt smooth boundary.

A1--7 to 13 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) extremely gravelly ashy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; common very fine irregular and few very fine tubular pores; 60 percent gravel; moderately acid (pH 5.6); clear smooth boundary.

A2--13 to 19 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) extremely gravelly ashy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; common very fine irregular and few very fine tubular pores; 60 percent gravel; moderately acid (pH 5.8); clear smooth boundary. (combined thickness of the A horizons is 10 to 20 inches)

Bw1--19 to 33 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) extremely gravelly loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; common very fine irregular and tubular pores; 55 percent gravel and 5 percent cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.2); clear wavy boundary.

Bw2--33 to 43 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) extremely gravelly loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; few fine, common very fine and medium irregular pores; 50 percent gravel and 15 percent cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.5); clear wavy boundary. (combined thickness of the Bw horizon is 20 to 30 inches)

Bq--43 to 53 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) extremely gravelly loamy coarse sand, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; single grain; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots; common very fine, fine, medium and coarse interstitial pores; 2 percent distinct white (10YR 8/1) moist, silica accumulations on bottom surfaces of rock fragments; 60 percent gravel and 15 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 7.1); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 10 inches thick)

BCk--53 to 60 inches; multi-colored; extremely gravelly coarse sand; single grain; loose, loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; common very fine, fine, medium, and coarse interstitial pores; 3 percent prominent white (10YR 8/1) moist, carbonate coats on bottom surfaces of rock fragments, violently effervescent; 65 percent gravel and 15 percent cobbles; slightly alkaline (pH 7.5).

TYPE LOCATION: Spokane County, Washington; About 3 miles east of Otis Orchards, WA; about 1950 feet north and 1300 feet east of the southwest corner of Section 6, T. 25N., R.46E.; USGS Liberty Lake, Wash. Topographic quadrangle. (Latitude 47 degrees, 41 minutes, 26.63 seconds N. and Longitude 117 degrees, 02 minutes, 30.52 seconds W.) NAD 27.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Average annual soil temperature - 47 to 52 degrees F.
Moisture control section - dry in all parts between depths of 8 and 24 inches for 60 to 90 consecutive days after the summer solstice
Thickness of the mollic epipedon - 10 to 20 inches
Depth to sandy-skeletal horizons - 36 to 60 inches
Depth to secondary carbonates - 44 to more than 60 inches
Volcanic ash influence - 10 to 20 inches thick
Estimated properties of the volcanic ash influence layers:
Volcanic glass content - 5 to 20 percent
Acid-oxalate extractable Al plus 1/2 of the Fe - 0.4 to 1.0 percent
Moist bulk density of 1.15 to 1.35 g/cc
15-bar water retention - 5 to 10 percent for air dried samples
Rock fragments in the particle-size control section average 35 to 70 percent

Ap horizon (when present)
Value - 3 or 4 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma - 2 or 3 dry, 1 or 2 moist
Clay content - 8 to 12 percent
Gravel content - 35 to 60 percent
Cobble content - 0 to 5 percent
Total rock fragment content - 35 to 60 percent
Reaction - moderately acid to neutral

A horizon
Value - 3 to 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma - 2 or 3 dry, 1 or 2 moist
Clay content - 8 to 12 percent
Gravel content - 40 to 65 percent
Cobble content - 0 to 10 percent
Total rock fragment content - 40 to 75 percent
Reaction - moderately acid to neutral

Bw horizon
Value - 5 to 7 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma - 3 or 4, dry or moist
Texture - loam or sandy loam
Clay content - 6 to 8 percent
Gravel content - 40 to 75 percent
Cobble content - 0 to 15 percent
Total rock fragment content - 40 to 80 percent
Reaction - slightly acid or neutral

Bq horizon
Value - 5 to 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma - 3 or 4, dry or moist
Texture - loamy coarse sand or coarse sandy loam
Clay content - 0 to 5 percent
Gravel content - 40 to 75 percent
Cobble content - 0 to 15 percent
Total rock fragment content - 40 to 85 percent
Reaction - slightly acid or neutral

BCk horizon
Hue - 10YR or multicolored
Value - 6 or 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma - 3 or 4, dry or moist
Texture - coarse sand or loamy coarse sand
Clay content - 0 to 5 percent
Gravel content - 55 to 75 percent
Cobble content - 5 to 30 percent
Stone content - 0 to 5 percent
Total rock fragment content - 60 to 90 percent
Reaction - neutral or slightly alkaline
Present in some pedons - 2 to 25 percent carbonate and silica coatings on undersides of rocks

Lower part of some pedons have Bkq or C horizons.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Brickmill, Cookcreek, Eaglespring, Foggydew, Garrison, Metmill, Neviot, Northstar, Peka, Thuso, , and Wagberg series. Brickmill soils are moderately well drained and are saturated above one meter for over 90 consecutive days. Cookcreek soils are 20 to 40 inches deep to a lithic contact. Eaglespring soils average 18 to 25 percent clay in the particle-size control section and are 40 to 60 inches deep to bedrock. Foggydew soils are 40 to 60 inches deep to a lithic contact. Garrison soils have sandy skeletal material at 24 to 36 inches. Metmill soils have a mollic epipedon 30 to 60 inches thick and have 26 to 34 percent clay in the particle size control section. Neviot soils have a mollic epipedon 20 to 35 inches thick and are dry for 100 to 120 days. Northstar soils are 20 to 40 inches deep to a lithic contact. Peka soils are moderately deep to a densic layer. Thuso soils have a mollic epipedon greater than 20 inches thick and do not have silica and carbonate accumulations in the substratum. Wagberg soils have a hue of 2.5Y in the epipedon, do not have silica and carbonate accumulations in the substratum and are dry for 90 to 105 consecutive days.

Similar soils with isotic mineralogy are the Borgeau, Emily, Lenz, Louiecreek, Raisio, Sinlahekin, Speigle, Vanbrunt and Whitestone series. Borgeau, Louiecreek and Speigle soils are more than 60 inches deep to sandy-skeletal material. Emily soils have a mollic epipedon 20 to 36 inches thick. Lenz, Raisio, and Vanbrunt soils are 20 to 40 inches deep to a lithic contact. Sinlahekin soils have a 2Bk horizon within 44 inches and a base saturation of 50 to 75 percent between 10 and 30 inches. Whitestone soils are dominated by rock fragments of granitic origin and have a solum thickness of less than 35 inches.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Opportunity soils are on treads and risers of outwash terraces and outwash plains at elevations of 1,800 to 2,500 feet. Slopes are 0 to 30 percent. The soils formed in outwash of mixed mineralogy with a minor component of loess and volcanic ash in the upper part. The climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The average annual temperature is 46 to 50 degrees F. The average annual precipitation is 18 to 25 inches. The frost-free season is about 100 to 130 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Battleplain, Hardesty, Marble, Phoebe, and Springdale soils. Battleplain soils are sandy and are on outwash terraces. Hardesty soils are formed in alluvium with more than 60 percent volcanic ash and are in drainageways and depressions. Marble soils have lamellae, are sandy and are on dune-like terraces. Phoebe soils are pachic, coarse-loamy and are on outwash terraces. Springdale soils do not have a mollic epipedon, are sandy-skeletal, and are on outwash terrace treads and risers.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderate permeability in the surface and very rapid in the sandy-skeletal substratum.

USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for irrigated cropland, dryland cropland, urban development, grazing, and limited timber production. Cultivated areas are used for the production of alfalfa, grass seed, and small grain. The potential natural vegetation is scattered ponderosa pine with an understory ofSaskatoon serviceberry, arrowleaf balsamroot, common yarrow, common snowberry, Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, prairie junegrass, silky lupine, and baldhip rose.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Eastern Washington; MLRA 43A, 44A. The series is of moderate extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Spokane County, Washington, 2012.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:

Mollic epipedon - the zone from 0 to 19 inches (Ap, A1 and A2 horizons)
Cambic horizon - the zone from 19 to 43 inches (Bw1 and Bw2 horizons)
Vitrandic feature - the zone from 0 to 19 inches (Ap, A1 and A2 horizons)
Particle-size control section - the zone from 10 to 40 inches (part of the A1, A2, Bw1 and part of the Bw2 horizons)

This series may meet criteria for an Ultic subgroup based on lab data from the similar Garrison soil series.

Significant areas of Opportunity soils were previously mapped as the Garrison series in Spokane County.

This soil is named for a nearby community.

---

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.