LOCATION ROUTT CO+WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic Pachic Palecryolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Routt loam, cropland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
Ap1--0 to 2 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine granular; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; neutral (pH 6.8); abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 10 inches thick)
Ap2--2 to 11 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine subangular blocky; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; neutral (pH 6.8); abrupt smooth boundary. (7 to 10 inches thick)
A1--11 to 18 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; neutral (pH 6.8); clear smooth boundary. (6 to 10 inches thick)
A2--18 to 25 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; neutral )pH 6.8); gradual smooth boundary. (5 to 10 inches thick)
B/E--25 to 28 inches; 70 percent yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) and 30 percent pale brown (10YR 6/3) clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) and brown (10YR 5/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; neutral (pH 7.0); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 7 inches thick)
Bt1--28 to 35 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clay, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; very hard, firm, very sticky and very plastic; neutral (pH 7.0); gradual smooth boundary. (5 to 15 inches thick)
Bt2--35 to 45 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) clay, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine subangular blocky; very hard, firm, very sticky and very plastic; neutral (pH 7.3); gradual smooth boundary. (5 to 15 inches thick)
Bt3--45 to 60 inches; brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) clay, yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine subangular blocky; very hard, firm, very sticky and very plastic; mildly alkaline (pH 7.4).
TYPE LOCATION: Routt County, Colorado, about 6 miles west of Steamboat Springs; 1,800 feet west and 150 feet south of the northeast corner of Sec. 16, T. 6 N., R. 85 W. Longitude: 106 degrees, 55 minutes, 25 seconds west. Latitude: 40 degrees, 29 minutes, 3 seconds north.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The thickness of the mollic epipedon ranges from 20 to 30 inches. Depth to the base of the argillic horizon ranges from 40 to more than 60 inches. Depth to the top of the argillic horizon is deeper than 24 inches. The particle-size control section is silty clay loam, clay loam, silty clay, or clay and has 35 to 50 percent clay. Either an E, E/B, or B/E horizon is present in all pedons. Reaction ranges from moderately acid through mildly alkaline throughout the profile. Mean annual soil temperature ranges from 55 to 59 degrees F.
The A horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 10YR, value of 3 through 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 1 through 3.
The E, E/B, or B/E horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 10YR, value of 5 through 8 dry, 3 through 6 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. Texture is loam or clay loam.
The Bt horizon has hue of 2.5Y through 7.5YR, value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 3 through 6. It is a silty clay loam, clay loam, silty clay, or clay and has 35 to 50 percent clay. Content of rock fragments is 0 to 5 percent.
COMPETING SERIES: This is the Seth (UT) series. Seth soils lack an E, E/B, or B/E horizon.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Routt soils are on plateaus, benches, and mountain side slopes. Slopes range from 0 to 65 percent. The soils formed in loess and in residuum, alluvium, and colluvium derived from sedimentary rocks. The average annual temperature is 35 to 40 degrees F. Average annual precipitation ranges from about 16 to 25 inches. Frost-free period is 30 to 70 days. Elevation ranges from 7,000 to 9,200 feet.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Cochetopa, Buckskin, and Foidel soils. Cochetopa soils have argillic horizons at depths of less than 24 inches. Foidel soils have fine-loamy particle-size control sections. Buckskin soils have mollic epipedons that are less than 16 inches thick.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium to rapid runoff; slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used principally for rangeland, dry cropland, some irrigated grass hay, wildlife, and recreation. Native vegetation consists of Gambel oak, mountain big sage, bromegrasses, needlegrass, and wheatgrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northwestern and north-central area of 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 features include a mollic epipedon from 0 to 25 inches, and an argillic horizon from 28 to 60 inches. The top of the Bt horizon is below 24 inches. Last updated by the state 12/90.