LOCATION SANDCREEK IDEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy, mixed, frigid Lithic Haploxerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Sandcreek sand - on an east-facing slope of 1 percent under grass and shrub at 5,010 feet in rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted. When described on June 11, 1981, the soil was moist below 4 inches.)
A--0 to 5 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) sand, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine, fine and medium roots; few very fine tubular pores; 2 percent pebbles; neutral (pH 7.2); clear smooth boundary. (5 to 7 inches thick)
AB--5 to 13 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) sand, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine, fine and medium roots; few very fine tubular pores; 2 percent pebbles; neutral (pH 7.2); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 8 inches thick)
Bw--13 to 18 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) cobbly sand, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure parting to single grain; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine, fine and medium roots; few very fine tubular pores; 10 percent cobbles, 5 percent pebbles; neutral (pH 7.2); abrupt wavy boundary. (3 to 5 inches thick)
2R--18 inches; vesicular basalt bedrock.
TYPE LOCATION: Fremont County, Idaho; about 3 miles north of Parker; 1,275 feet east, 100 feet north of the southwest corner of Sec. 15, T.8N., R.40E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Weighted average of percent clay in the control section - 2 to 8 Average annual soil temperature - 43 to 45 degrees F
Depth to bedrock - 14 to 20 inches
Summer soil temperature - 60 to 63 degrees F.
A horizon
color value, dry - 3 or 4
value, moist - 2 or 3
chroma, dry - 3 or 4
chroma, moist - 2 or 3
reaction - neutral to mildly alkaline
AB horizon
color value, dry - 3 or 4
value, moist - 2 or 3
chroma - 2 through 4, dry or moist
texture - S, FS
coarse fragments - 0 to 5 percent
reaction - neutral to mildly alkaline
Bw horizon
color value, dry - 4 or 5
value, moist - 2 or 3
chroma - 2 through 4, dry or moist
texture - CB-S, LS, S
coarse fragments - 5 to 25 percent
reaction - neutral to mildly alkaline
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in this classification. Closely related soils are the Blacksan and Engett series. These soils are deeper than 20 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Sandcreek soils are on nearly level to undulating basalt plains at elevations of 4,900 to 5,450 feet. Slopes are 1 to 6 percent. The soils formed in sandy eolian material from mixed sources influenced by local alluvium. Average annual precipitation is 14 to 18 inches. Average annual temperature is 41 to 43 degrees F. The frost-free period is 80 to 100 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the similar Blacksan, Eginbench, Engett, Juniperbute, and St. Anthony soils. Blacksan soils are moderately deep and are on convex positions. Eginbench soils are on lower river terraces and have an induced water table. Engett soils are deep or very deep and are found in concavities. Juniperbute soils are adjacent to sand dunes and lack organic carbon to meet mollic criteria. St. Anthony soils are on lower river terraces and are moderately deep to sand and gravel.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Excessively drained; runoff is slow; permeability is very rapid.
USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used principally for rangeland with minor areas of soils cropped to irrigated small grains and potatoes. Native vegetation is mainly Antelope bitterbrush and needleandthread.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: These soils are moderately extensive in southeast Idaho.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Fremont County, Idaho, 1989.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this soil are:
Mollic epipedon - the zone from the surface to 18 inches (A, AB and Bw horizons).
Lithic contact - at a depth of 18 inches (2R horizon).