LOCATION OWLCAN WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic Eutric Haplocryalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Owlcan loam-forested. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
Oi--0 to 1 inch; forest duff.
A--1 to 2 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate very fine granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; neutral (pH 6.6); abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 5 inches thick)
E--2 to 6 inches; pinkish gray (7.5YR 6/2) loam, brown (7.5YR 4/2) moist; moderate medium and fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; moderately acid (pH 5.6); clear smooth boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)
Bt1--6 to 12 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/2) clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium and fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; neutral (pH 6.6); gradual wavy boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)
Bt2--12 to 17 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/2) clay loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure that parts to moderate medium and fine subangular blocky; hard, firm, very sticky and moderately plastic; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 6 inches thick)
Bt3--17 to 24 inches; pinkish gray (7.5YR 6/2) channery clay loam, brown (7.5YR 4/2) moist; moderate medium and fine subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, very sticky and moderately plastic; 30 channers; neutral (pH 6.6); clear wavy boundary. (7 to 12 inches thick)
Bk--24 to 60 inches; pinkish gray (7.5YR 7/2) very channery clay loam, pinkish gray (7.5YR 6/2) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; 50 percent limestone fragments; calcareous; secondary lime mainly disseminated in the soil mass; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6).
TYPE LOCATION: Teton County, Wyoming, in unsectionized area. Photo 2-17.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to uniformly calcareous material is 15 to 30 inches. Depth to the base of the Bt horizon is 15 to 30 inches. The mean annual soil temperature is 32 to 36 degrees F., and the mean summer temperature is 42 to 48 degrees F.
The E horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 6 or 7 dry, and 3 or 4 moist. It is slightly acid or moderately acid.
The Bt horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. It is clay loam or clay and averages 35 to 50 percent clay. Weakly consolidated plate-like rock fragments range from 0 to 35 percent. This horizon is slightly acid or neutral.
The Bk horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR. Plate-like, weakly consolidated rock fragments range from 35 to 60 percent. This horizon has 1 to 14 percent calcium carbonate equivalent. It is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Foxton, Gateway, and Mikesell. Foxton soils are moderately deep to a lithic contact. Gateway soils are moderately deep to a paralithic contact. Mikesell soils do not have horizons of secondary carbonate accumulation.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Owlcan soils are on gently sloping to steep fans and mountain sides. Slopes are 30 to 70 percent. The soils formed in material weathered from calcareous shale. Elevation is 7,000 to 10,000 feet. Average annual precipitation is 30 to 60 inches. The mean annual temperature is about 30 to 34 degrees F.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Kitchell, Midfork, Spearhead, and Starman soils. All of these soils except Starman have mollic epipedons. Starman soils are shallow.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderate to rapid runoff; moderately slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for recreation and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is Englemann spruce, alpine fir, and columbine.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: In the mountains of Wyoming. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Teton County, Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park Area; 1975.