LOCATION SCHOOLHOUSE IDEstablished Series
The Schoolhouse series consists of shallow over bedrock, excessively
drained soils on mountain sideslopes and ridges. They formed in
material weathered from intermediate intrusive rocks. Permeability is
very rapid. Slopes are 10 to 90 percent. The average annual
precipitation is about 19 inches and the average annual air temperature
is about 46 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy-skeletal, mixed, mesic Lithic Xerorthents
TYPICAL PEDON: Schoolhouse gravelly loamy sand - on a 70 percent
northwest slope under rangeland vegetation at 4,500 feet elevation.
A1--0 to 1 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) gravelly loamy sand,
dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; weak very fine granular structure;
soft, very friable, common very fine and fine roots; common very fine
interstitial pores; 20 percent pebbles; slightly acid (pH 6.5); abrupt
wavy boundary. (1 to 6 inches thick)
A2--1 to 5 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) gravelly loamy sand, dark brown
(10YR 3/3) moist; weak very fine granular structure; soft, very
friable, common very fine and fine roots; common very fine interstitial
pores; 25 percent pebbles; slightly acid (pH 6.5); abrupt irregular
boundary. (4 to 7 inches thick)
C1--5 to 17 inches; pinkish white (7.5YR 8/2) extremely gravelly
loamy sand, pinkish gray (7.5YR 6/2) moist; single grain; loose; 90
percent pebbles; slightly acid (pH 6.5); abrupt irregular boundary. (5
to 14 inches thick)
R--17 inches; granodiorite.
TYPE LOCATION: Elmore County, Idaho; about 3 miles south of
Featherville; about 600 feet north and 1,000 feet west of the center of
the northeast 1/4, section 28, T.3N., R.10E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Average annual soil temperature - 47 to 50 degrees F
Depth to bedrock - 12 to 20 inches
Soil Reaction - slightly to strongly acid
Average annual January soil temperature - 35 degrees F
A1 horizons
Value- 4 to 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma- 1 to 4
C1 horizon
Hue- 10YR or 7.5YR
Value- 7 or 8 dry, 5 through 7 moist
Chroma- 2 or 3
Texture - GRV-LS, GRX-LS, GRV-S, GRX-S
Rock fragments - 40 to 90 percent
COMPETING SERIES: The Waterman series. Waterman soils have an average
annual temperature of about 56 degrees F and an average January
temperature of about 42 degrees F.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Schoolhouse soils are on mountain sideslopes and
ridges at elevations of 3,300 to 6,400 feet. Slopes are 10 to 90
percent. These soils formed in material weathered from intermediate
intrusive and metamorphic rocks. The average annual precipitation is
15 to 22 inches. The average annual air temperature is 45 to 48
degrees F, with an average January temperature of about 20 degrees F.
The average January soil temperature is 34 to 37 degrees F. The (32
degrees F) frost-free period is 85 to 120 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are Bauscher, Oland, Rainey,
Roanhide, and Van Dusen soils. Bauscher, Oland, and Van Dusen soils
are deep, have a mollic epipedon, and are on north-facing slopes or
toeslopes. Rainey and Roanhide soils are moderately deep over bedrock,
have a mollic epipedon, and are on landscape positions similar to
Schoolhouse soils.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Excessively drained, medium or rapid
runoff; very rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Schoolhouse soils are used for rangeland,
wildlife, and watershed. The potential vegetation in the natural plant
community is bluebunch wheatgrass, Idaho fescue, mountain big
sagebrush, and antelope bitterbrush. At higher elevations, there may
be scattered Ponderosa pine, chokecherry, and serviceberry.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southern part of the Idaho Batholith.
Moderately extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Elmore County Area, Idaho, 1986.
National Cooperative Soil Survey