LOCATION REDCLIFF                OR

Established Series
Rev. JSC/TDT/RWL
05/2011

REDCLIFF SERIES

The Redcliff series consists of moderately deep well drained soils that formed in colluvium weathered from volcanic or metavolcanic rock with minor amounts of ash and loess influence. Redcliff soils are on hills. Slopes are 0 to 75 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 11 inches and the mean annual temperature is about 48 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Aridic Haploxerolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Redcliff gravelly loam - rangeland, on a 60 percent north facing slope. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)

A1--0 to 4 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) gravelly loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate very fine and fine granular structure; loose; very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine roots; common very fine irregular pores; 25 percent gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); gradual wavy boundary.

A2--4 to 8 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) gravelly loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine granular; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots; common very fine irregular pores; 15 percent gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); gradual wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the A horizon is 4 to 16 inches).

Bw1--8 to 14 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) gravelly sandy clay loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; 25 percent gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); gradual wavy boundary.

Bw2--14 to 22 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) very gravelly sandy clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few medium roots; many very fine and fine tubular pores; 30 percent gravel and 10 percent cobbles; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); gradual wavy boundary.

Bw3--22 to 31 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) very gravelly sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; 30 percent gravel and 15 percent cobbles; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); abrupt wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bw horizon is 6 to 30 inches)

R--31 inches; fractured bedrock

TYPE LOCATION: Baker County, Oregon; about 200 feet above railroad tracks along the Burnt River, 0.25 miles west of the Snake River, in the SE 1/4 SE 1/4 of section 8, T. 14 S., R. 45 E.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Soils are moist in winter and spring. They are warmer than 41 degrees F. from April 1 to November 1, and they are dry within this period after June 15. The mean annual soil temperature is 47 to 52 degrees F. Depth to bedrock is 20 to 40 inches. The particle-size control section is 15 to 35 percent clay and averages more than 18 percent clay. It has 35 to 70 percent gravel and cobbles. The mollic epipedon is 7 to 16 inches thick and may include the upper part of the Bw horizon. The solum is neutral or slightly alkaline in the upper part and neutral to moderately alkaline in the lower part.

The A horizon has value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist and chroma of 2 or 3 dry and moist. It is gravelly loam, cobbly sandy loam, very gravelly loam, or very cobbly sandy loam with 10 to 55 percent gravel, 0 to 25 percent cobbles and 0 to 5 percent stones. In some pedons, the A1 horizon may have a dry value ranging to 6 but when mixed with the A2 horizon, a dry value of 4 or 5 results.

The Bw horizon has value of 4 to 6 dry, 3 to 5 moist and chroma of 2 to 6 dry and moist. The fine-earth texture is loam, clay loam, sandy clay loam or sandy loam. It has 15 to 75 percent gravel and 0 to 40 percent cobbles. It has 10 to 35 percent clay.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Chevoit, Pait, Schwalbe and Whichman series. All of these soils except Schwalbe and Whichman are deeper than 60 inches. Whichman soils are deep to bedrock. Schwalbe soils have 6 to 18 percent clay in the particle-size control section.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Redcliff soils are on hills. Elevations are 2,000 to 5,500 feet. Slopes are 0 to 75 percent. The soils formed in colluvium weathered mainly from volcanic or metavolcanic rock with minor ash and loess influence. The climate is characterized by hot dry summers and cool moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 8 to 12 inches. The mean annual temperature is 46 to 52 degrees F. The frost-free period is 80 to 140 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Lickskillet, Ruckles, and Ruclick soils. Lickskillet soils are shallow to bedrock. Ruckles soils are shallow to bedrock and are clayey-skeletal with an argillic horizon. Ruclick soils are clayey-skeletal and have an argillic horizon.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderate permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Redcliff soils are used for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Potential native vegetation is Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, Sandberg bluegrass, basin big sagebrush, and Wyoming big sagebrush.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central and Eastern Oregon; MLRA 10 and 23. The series is of small extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Baker County Area, Oregon; 1988.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon include:

Mollic epipedon - from the surface to 14 inches (A1, A2, and Bw1 horizons)

Cambic horizon - from 14 to 31 inches (Bw2 and Bw3 horizons)

Lithic contact at 31 inches

Particle-size control section - from 10 to 31 inches with 41 percent (weighted average) rock fragments

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.