LOCATION ORTELLCREEK WAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, isotic Andic Glossocryalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Ortellcreek gravelly ashy sandy loam, on a northeast facing 22 percent slope at 4,750 feet elevation in a subalpine fir, Engelmann spruce and Douglas-fir forest. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. All textures are apparent field textures.)
Oe--0 to 2 inches; moderately decomposed needles, leaves and twigs; abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 4 inches thick)
A--2 to 7 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) gravelly ashy sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic and weakly smeary; many very fine and fine and few medium and coarse roots; common fine tubular pores; 15 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear smooth boundary. (3 to 5 inches thick)
Bw--7 to 15 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) gravelly ashy sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic and moderately smeary; many very fine and fine and few medium and coarse roots; common fine tubular pores; 15 percent gravel and 3 percent cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear wavy boundary. (9 to 12 inches thick)
2E/Bt--15 to 21 inches; E part (60 percent) light gray (10YR 7/2) gravelly sandy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist, Bt part (40 percent) grayish brown (10YR 5/2) gravelly sandy clay loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; texture mixed is gravelly sandy loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; common very fine and fine and few medium and coarse roots; common fine and very fine irregular pores; few discontinuous faint clay films on faces of peds; 20 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.5); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 8 inches thick)
2Bt--21 to 37 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) very gravelly sandy clay loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; moderate medium angular blocky structure; hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common very fine and fine roots; common fine and very fine irregular pores; few discontinuous faint clay films on faces of peds; 25 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles and 10 percent stones; slightly acid (pH 6.5); gradual wavy boundary. (15 to 20 inches thick)
3Btd--37 to 62 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) very gravelly clay loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; moderate medium angular blocky structure; very hard, firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few very fine roots; few fine irregular pores; few discontinuous faint clay films on faces of peds; 30 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles, and 10 percent stones; slightly acid (pH 6.4).
TYPE LOCATION: Okanogan County, Washington; about 14 miles north of Winthrop, Washington; 1,100 feet east and 250 feet south of the southwest corner of section 24, T. 37 N., R. 20 E. (Latitude 48 degrees, 40 minutes, 59 seconds N., Longitude 120 degrees, 17 minutes, 11 seconds W.)
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is 39 to 43 degrees F. Mean summer soil temperature ranges from 42 to 46 degrees F. These soils are usually moist but are dry in all parts of the moisture control section for 45 to 60 consecutive days following the summer solstice. The upper 7 to 14 inches of the volcanic ash influence has an estimated moist bulk density of 0.75 to 0.90 g/cc, volcanic glass content of 30 to 60 percent, acid-oxalate extractable aluminum plus one-half of the acid-oxalate extractable iron of 1.0 to 2.0 percent, and 15-bar water retention of 8 to 12 percent for air dried samples. Depth to the 2Bt is 15 to 24 inches. Depth to densic material is from 35 to 45 inches. The particle-size control section averages 35 to 60 percent rock fragments and 20 to 34 percent clay. Reaction is slightly acid to moderately acid throughout.
The A horizon has values of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3 dry or moist.
The Bw horizon has chroma of 3 or 4 dry or moist. It is gravelly ashy sandy loam or ashy sandy loam. It has 10 to 20 percent gravel and 0 to 5 percent cobbles.
The 2E/Bt horizon has values of (E part) 6 or 7 dry, 5 or 6 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3 dry or moist. The (Bt part) 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3 dry or moist. It is gravelly sandy loam or gravelly sandy clay loam. It has 15 to 25 percent gravel and 0 to 5 percent cobbles.
The 2Bt horizon has values of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3 dry or moist. It is very gravelly clay loam or very gravelly sandy clay loam. It has 25 to 35 percent gravel, 0 to 10 percent cobbles and 0 to 10 percent stones.
The 3Btd horizon has values of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3 dry or moist. It is very gravelly clay loam or very gravelly sandy clay loam. It has 25 to 40 percent gravel, 0 to 10 percent cobbles, and 0 to 10 percent stones.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Ortellcreek soils are on back slopes and foot slopes of mountains. Elevation ranges from 4,200 to 5,800 feet. Slopes are 15 to 65 percent. These soils formed in glacial till from sedimentary and some volcanic rock with a mantle of volcanic ash. The climate is characterized by cool, dry summers and cold, wet winters. The average January temperature ranges from 18 to 22 degrees F., and the average July temperature ranges from 52 to 58 degrees F. The mean annual temperature is 37 to 41 degrees F. The mean annual precipitation is 25 to 35 inches. Frost-free season is 70 to 90 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Rendovy and Nicmar soils. The Nicmar soils are on back slopes of mountains, have a frigid temperature regime, and a more mixed ash mantle. The Rendovy soils are on back slopes of mountains and have a frigid temperature regime.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, moderate to very rapid runoff; moderate over slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for timber production, wildlife habitat, recreation, watershed and livestock grazing. Native vegetation is subalpine fir, Engelmann spruce and Douglas-fir with an understory of black mountain huckleberry, myrtle blueberry, longtube twinflower, pinegrass, western princes pine, silky lupine, and pachystima.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northcentral Washington. This soil is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Okanogan National Forest, Okanogan County, Washington; 2005.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon
Cambic horizon - 7 to 15 inches
Argillic horizon - 21 to 37 inches
Glossic horizon - 15 to 21 inches
PSCS - zone from 21 to 37 inches