LOCATION RACKER WATentative Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy-skeletal, isotic, mesic Andic Dystroxerepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Racker ashy sandy loam, under a coniferous forest on a flat terrace at an elevation of 1,890 feet. The soil was moist when described. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
0e & 0a--0 to 1 inches; partially and highlydecomposed forest litter. (1 to 2 inches thick).
A--1 to 5 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) ashy [SW1]sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; common very fine irregular pores; 10 percent gravel; NaF pH 9.8; slightly acid (pH 6.2); abrupt smooth boundary. (3 to 6 inches thick)
AB--5 to 12 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) gravelly ashy [SW2]sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few fine roots; common very fine irregular pores; 20 percent gravel and 5 percent cobbles; NaF pH 10.5; slightly acid (pH 6.2); abrupt smooth boundary (6 to 9 inches thick)
2Bw--12 to 31 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) very cobbly loamy sand; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable; few fine and medium roots; few very fine tubular pores; 15 percent gravel and 25 percent cobbles; NaF pH 9.6; slightly acid (pH 6.2); abrupt smooth boundary. (14 to 20 inches thick)
2C--31 to 61 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) very cobbly loamy sand; brown (10YR 4/3) moist; single grain; loose; few fine and medium roots; common fine irregular pores; 15 percent gravel and 25 percent cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.4)
TYPE LOCATION: Kittitas County, Washington; about 3.5 miles west of Cle Elum; 650 feet north and 350 feet west of the southeast corner of section 30, T. 20 N., R. l5 E.; USGS Ronald, Washington topographic quadrangle; Latitude - 47 degrees, 11 minutes, 30 seconds N. and Longitude - 121 degrees, 00 minutes, 27 seconds W. (NAD83).
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The average annual soil temperature ranges from 48 to 50 degrees F. These soils are usually moist, but are dry in all parts in the moisture control section for 75 to 90 consecutive days following summer solstice. Thickness of the solum ranges from 24 to 33 inches. The upper 10 to l3 inches of the soil has an estimated moist bulk density of 0.85 to 1.10 grams per cubic centimeter, volcanic glass of 30 to 60 percent, Alox plus Feox of 1.o to 2.0 percent, and 15-bar water retention of 8 to 12 percent.[SW3]
The A horizon has value of 3 to 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist and chroma of 2 or 3, dry or moist. Texture is ashy sandy loam or gravelly ashy sandy loam.[SW4]
The AB horizon has value of 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist and chroma of 3 or 4, dry or moist.
The 2Bw horizon has value of 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist and chroma of 3 or 4, dry or moist. Textue is very gravelly loamy sand or very cobbly loamy sand[SW5].
The 2C horizon has hue of l0YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist and chroma of 3 or 4, dry or moist. Texture is very cobbly loamy sand or extremely cobbly sand.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series. Soils with a similar classification are the
Barneston and
Everett series.
Barneston soils have a Bs horizon, moderately or strongly acid throughout; dry for 45 to 60 consecutive days following the summer solstice
Everett soils dry for 60 to 75 consecutive days following the summer solstice.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Racker soils are on outwash terraces and have slopes of 0 to 5 percent. These soils formed in glacial outwash with a mantle of volcanic ash and an influence of stream alluvium[SW6]. Elevations are l1,800 to 2,500 feet. These soils are in a climate with warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 30 to 45 inches. The average January temperature is about 26 degrees F., the average July temperature is about 67 degrees F. and the average annual air temperature is 46 to 48 degrees F. The growing season at 28 degrees F. is 150 to 175 days and the frost-free season is 85 to 120 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Roslyn and Teanaway series. Roslyn soils are coarse-loamy, frigid on outwash terraces. Teanaway soils are fine-loamy, have an argillic horizon and are on outwash terraces.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow runoff; rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for grazable woodland, recreation, and wildlife habitat. Vegetation is ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir with an understory of elksedge, pinegrass, Oregon-grape, arrowleaf balsamroot, common snowberry and pinemat manzanita.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Valleys of the East slopes of the Cascade Mountains in Western Kittitas County, Washington, MLRA 6. This series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES PROPOSED: Kittitas County, Washington, l976.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizon and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - the zone from 1 to 5 inches
Cambic horizon - the zone from 5 to 12 inches dominated by volcanic ash
Andic soil properties the zone from 1 to 12 inches
Pscs the zone from 11 to 41 inches
Base saturation (NH4OAc) is estimated to be less than 60 percent between 11 and 31 inches.