LOCATION PRICECREEK COEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, frigid Sodic Ustic Haplocambids
TYPICAL PEDON: Pricecreek clay loam-rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A--0 to 4 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) clay loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; moderate fine granular structure; soft, friable, sticky and plastic; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear smooth boundary. (3 to 6 inches thick)
AB--4 to 8 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) clay loam, grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine platy; soft, friable, sticky and plastic; strongly effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 7 inches thick)
Bw1--8 to 14 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) clay loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/3) moist; moderate medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; strongly effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 13 inches thick)
Bw2--14 to 21 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) clay loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/3) moist; moderate medium and coarse angular blocky structure; very hard, firm, very sticky and very plastic; strongly effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.8); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 15 inches thick)
Bn1--21 to 25 inches; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/3) clay loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) moist; weak coarse angular blocky structure; very hard, firm, very sticky and very plastic; slightly effervescent; 2 percent thin white (N8) threads of salts; very strongly alkaline (pH 9.4); gradual wavy boundary. (4 to 13 inches thick)
Bn2--25 to 35 inches; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/3) clay loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) moist; weak coarse angular blocky structure parting to weak medium platy; very hard, firm, very sticky and very plastic; strongly effervescent; 2 percent thin white (N8) threads of salts; very strongly alkaline (pH 9.6); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 14 inches thick)
C1--35 to 45 inches; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/3) clay loam, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure and weak medium platy rock structure; very hard, firm, very sticky and very plastic; strongly effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 9.0); gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 15 inches thick)
C2--45 to 60 inches; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/3) clay loam, light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) moist; weak fine and coarse platy rock structure; very hard, firm, sticky and very plastic; strongly effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 9.0).
TYPE LOCATION; Moffat County, Colorado; about 20 miles southwest of Maybell, Colorado; about 2,200 feet east and 4,200 feet north of the southwest corner of Sec. 12, T. 3 N., R. 97 W. (Latitude: 40 degrees, 14 minutes, 52 seconds; longitude: 108 degrees, 13 minutes, 39 seconds)
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS; Mean annual soil temperature ranges from 43 to 47 degrees F, and mean summer soil temperature ranges from 64 to 66 degrees F. The moisture control section is usually dry in all parts in July and moist in some parts in June and for 45 cumulative days in the period August 1 through October 30. The particle-size control section has 35 to 50 percent clay with 15 to 30 percent fine sand and coarser. Depth to the base of the cambic horizon is 12 to 30 inches. A horizon with a concentration of salts and a sodium adsorption ratio of 8 to 16 occurs at a depth of 20 to 40 inches.
The A horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 10YR, value of 5 through 7 dry, 4 through 6 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3. Reaction is moderately alkaline (pH 8.0 to 8.4).
The Bw horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 10YR, value of 5 through 7 dry, 4 through 6 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. Reaction is strongly alkaline (pH 8.4 to 8.8). Electrical conductivity is 0.1 to 0.5 mmhos/cm. Sodium adsorption ratio is 2 to 8. It is clay, clay loam or silty clay loam.
The Bn horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 10YR, value of 5 through 7 dry, 4 through 6 moist and chroma of 2 through 4. Reaction is strongly alkaline and very strongly alkaline (pH 8.8 to 9.6) with at least one subhorizon having a pH above 9.0. Electrical conductivity is 0.3 to 1.5. Sodium adsorption ratio is 8 to 16. It is clay, clay loam or silty clay loam.
The C horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 10YR, value of 6 or 7 dry, 4 through 6 moist and chroma of 2 through 4. Reaction is moderately alkaline and strongly alkaline (pH 8.4 to 9.0). Electrical conductivity is 0.1 to 0.5 mmhos/cm. Sodium Adsorption Ratio is 2 to 8. Texture is clay, clay loam or silty clay loam. A Cn horizon occurs in some pedons.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Bundyman (CO), Glassner (T)(WY), Kemmerer (T)(WY), Kobar (MT), Megonot (T)(MT), Nunemaker (MT), Teigen (T)(MT), and Welter (T)(MT). Bundyman, Kemmerer, Megonot, and Welter soils have a paralithic contact above a depth of 40 inches. Glassner soils have less than 15 percent fine and coarser sand and have hue of 7.5YR or more. Kobar and Nunemaker soils have SAR of less than 8 below 20 inches and have gypsum accumulations in the Bk or C horizons. Teigen soils are noncalcareous throughout the profile.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Pricecreek soils are on toe slopes and incised terraces. Slopes range from 0 to 4 percent. The soils formed in alluvium derived from sedimentary rocks. Elevation ranges from 5,800 to 6,300 feet. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 11 to 13 inches. Mean annual temperature ranges from 42 to 45 degrees F. The frost-free period is 75 to 95 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Abor, Bulkley, Forelle, Grieves, Moyerson, Pinelli, and Yamo soils. Abor and Bulkley are in the Vertisol order. Forelle and Pinelli have noncalcareous argillic horizons. Grieves is in a coarse-loamy family. Moyerson is shallow to a paralithic contact. Yamo is in the fine-loamy family.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow runoff; very slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation consists of western wheatgrass, muttongrass, and Wyoming big sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northwestern Colorado. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Moffat County (Moffat County Area), Colorado, 1991.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: the ochric epipedon - the zone from 0 to 8 inches; the cambic horizon - the zone from 8 to 21 inches; borollic feature - the organic carbon content and the soil regime meets the requirements for Borollic. Last updated by the state 12/90.