LOCATION RADERCREEK              WA

Established Series
Rev. DWG/TDT
01/2011

RADERCREEK SERIES


The Radercreek series consists of deep, well drained soils formed in colluvium and residuum from sedimentary and volcanic rock with a minor amount of volcanic ash in the upper part. These soils are on northerly backslopes. Slopes are 35 to 65 percent. Average annual precipitation is about 22 inches and average annual temperature is about 43 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, isotic, frigid Vitrandic Haploxerepts

TYPICAL PEDON: Radercreek gravelly ashy sandy loam, on a north-facing 54 percent slope in a Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine forest. (Colors are for dry soils unless otherwise stated. All textures are apparent field textures.)

Oe--0 to 1 inch; moderately decomposed needles, twigs, and leaves; abrupt smooth boundary. (1 to 3 inches thick)

A--1 to 6 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) gravelly ashy sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and fine and few medium and coarse roots; many fine irregular pores; 15 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.8); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 6 inches thick)

Bw1--6 to 13 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) gravelly ashy sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine irregular pores; 20 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.8); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 11 inches thick)

Bw2--13 to 18 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) very gravelly ashy sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine, and few medium and coarse roots; common fine irregular pores; 35 percent gravel and 3 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 7.0); clear wavy boundary. (2 to 7 inches thick)

2C1--18 to 25 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) very cobbly sandy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; massive; soft, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine and few medium roots; few fine irregular pores; 30 percent gravel and 20 percent cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.4); gradual wavy boundary.

2C2--25 to 44 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) very cobbly sandy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; massive; soft, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine, fine and medium roots; few fine irregular pores; 35 percent gravel and 20 percent cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.4); adrupt irregular boundary. (Combined thickness of the 2C horizon is 25 to 36 inches.)

2R--44 inches; sandstone.

TYPE LOCATION: Okanogan County, Washington; about 15 miles southwest of Twisp, Washington; about 1700 feet west and 1900 feet south of the northeast corner of section 18, T. 33 N., R. 21 E. (Latitude 48 degrees, 21 minutes, 31 seconds N., Longitude 120 degrees, 15 minutes, 50 seconds W.)

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is 42 to 46 degrees F. These soils are usually moist but are dry in all parts of the moisture control section for 60 to 75 days following the summer solstice. Thickness of the volcanic ash influence is 7 to 24 inches and has a moist bulk density of 1.10 to 1.30 g/cc, volcanic ash content of 5 to 20 percent, acid-oxalate extractable aluminum plus one-half of the acid-oxalate extractable iron of 0.4 to 1 percent, and 15-bar water retention of 5 to 10 percent for air dried samples. The particle-size control section averages 35 to 60 percent rock fragments. Depth to bedrock (lithic) is 40 to 60 inches.

The A horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, and value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3 dry or moist.

The Bw horizon has value of 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3 dry or moist. It is gravelly ashy sandy loam or gravelly ashy loam. It has 15 to 30 percent gravel and 0 to 15 percent cobbles.

The 2C horizon has value of 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3 dry or moist. It is very cobbly sandy loam or very gravelly sandy loam. It has 25 to 50 percent gravel, 10 to 30 percent cobbles, and 0 to 5 percent stones.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Brevco, Coxit, Highhorn, Huntrock, Jumpe, Jimbluff, Lekrem, Longort, Ontrail, Redpeak, Santop, Seeburg and Thout series. Brevco, Huntrock, Kamela, Redpeak, Santop, and Thout soils are 20 to 40 inches to a lithic contact. Coxit, Jimbluff, and Ontrail soils are very deep. Highhorn soils have 27 to 35 percent clay in the particle-size control section. Longort soils are moderately deep to densic material. Jumpe soils are very deep. Seeburg soils are very deep. Lekrem soils are similar but have developed in granitic rock parent material.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Radercreek soils are on upper backslopes of mountains at elevations of 3,350 to 4,900 feet. These soils formed in colluvium and residuum from sedimentary and volcanic rock, with a component of volcanic ash in the upper part. Slopes are 35 to 65 percent. The climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The average annual precipitation ranges from 20 to 24 inches. The average January temperature ranges from 22 to 26 degrees F; the average July temperature ranges from 62 to 67 degrees F; and the average air temperature ranges from 39 to 45 degrees F. The frost-free season is 90 to 120 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Buckrock, Midpeak, Santop, and Shalrock soils. Buckrock, Midpeak, Santop, and Shalrock soils are found on shoulders and ridges. Buckrock soils are 10 to 20 inches to bedrock. Midpeak, Santop, and Shalrock soils are 20 to 40 inches to bedrock.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, rapid runoff; and moderately rapid permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for timber production, livestock grazing, wildlife habitat, recreation, and watershed. Native vegetation is Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine with an understory of pinegrass, pachystima, silky lupine, snowbrush ceanothus, and Saskatoon serviceberry.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northcentral Washington. This series 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 recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon
Vitrandic properties - 1 to 18 inches
Cambic horizon - 6 to 18 inches
PSCS - zone from 11 to 41 inches
Lithic contact - 44 inches

All depths to diagnostic horizons and other features are measured from the top of the first mineral horizon.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.