LOCATION SHASER WAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Ashy over loamy-skeletal, glassy over isotic, frigid Alfic Vitrixerands
TYPICAL PEDON: Shaser ashy fine sandy loam-under coniferous forest on a 50 percent east facing slope at an elevation of 3,400 feet. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. All textures are apparent field textures.)
Oi--0 to 1 inch; slightly decomposed needles and twigs. (1/2 to 1 1/2 inches thick)
E--1 to 1.5 inch; gray (10YR 6/1) ashy fine sandy loam, dark gray (10YR 4/1) moist; weak fine crumb structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few fine roots; few fine tubular pores; 5 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.2); abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 1 inch thick)
Bw1--1.5 to 9 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) ashy fine sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine crumb structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many medium and fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; 5 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.2); gradual wavy boundary. (6 to 10 inches thick)
Bw2--9 to 18 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) gravelly ashy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common medium roots; common fine and very fine tubular pores; 15 percent gravel and 5 percent cobbles with 5 percent weathered paragravel; slightly acid (pH 6.4); gradual wavy boundary. (8 to 14 inches thick)
2Bt1--18 to 30 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) very gravelly clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; hard, very firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few medium roots; many fine and medium tubular pores; 30 percent gravel and 5 percent cobbles, 10 percent weathered paragravel; slightly acid (pH 6.4); gradual wavy boundary. (10 to 14 inches thick)
2BC2--30 to 46 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) extremely gravelly clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, very firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; very few medium roots; few fine and medium tubular pores; 50 percent gravel and 10 percent cobbles, 10 percent weathered paragravel; slightly acid (pH 6.4) gradual wavy boundary. (14 to 20 inches thick)
2C--46 to 60 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) and brown (7.5YR 5/4) very gravelly clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) and brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; massive; very hard, very firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; very few medium roots; few fine and medium tubular pores; 20 percent gravel, 10 percent cobbles, 5 percent stones, 10 percent weathered pebbles; slightly acid (pH 6.4).
TYPE LOCATION: Chelan County, Washington; about 14 miles south of Peshastin, Washington; 1,600 feet west and 2,150 feet north of southeast corner of sec. 15 T. 22N., R. 17 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: These soils are usually moist but are dry in the moisture control section for 60 to 75 consecutive days following the summer solstice. The average annual soil temperature ranges from 43 to 47 degrees F. The upper 14 to 24 inches of the 0 to 40 inch particle-size control section has an estimated moist bulk density of 0.75 to 1.0 g/cc, volcanic glass content of 30 to 60 percent, acid-oxalate extractable aluminum plus one-half of the acid-oxalate extractable iron of 1.0 to 2.0 percent, 15-bar water retention of 5 to 10 percent for air dried samples, and 5 to 35 percent rock fragments. The lower part of the particle-size control section has 35 to 60 percent rock fragments.
The E horizon has value of 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 1 or 2 dry or moist. Reaction is slightly to moderately acid.
The Bw horizon has value of 5, 6, or 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 3 or 4 dry, 3, 4, or 5 moist. Texture of the lower part is ashy fine sandy loam, gravelly ashy loam or very gravelly ashy loam. Structure is weak fine or moderate. Reaction is slightly acid or neutral.
The 2Bt horizon has value of 5, 6, or 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma is 3 through 8 moist and dry. Texture is extremely gravelly clay loam and very gravelly clay loam or very gravelly sandy clay loam. Structure is weak or moderate medium subangular blocky or moderate medium prismatic. Reaction is slightly acid or neutral.
The 2BC and 2C horizon have hues of 10YR or 7.5YR; value of 4, 5, or 6 dry or moist, and chroma of 3 or 4 dry or moist. Texture is very gravelly clay loam, very gravelly sandy clay loam, or extremely gravelly clay loam. Reaction is slightly acid or neutral.
COMPETING SERIES: There are the Crosswhite and Windego series. Windego soils contain basalt rock fragments. Crosswhite soils are moderately deep to bedrock.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Shaser soils are on mountains at elevations of 2,000 to 4,900 feet. Slopes are 30 to 65 percent. These soils formed in volcanic ash over residuum and colluvium from sandstone of the Swauk formation. They are in a climate with warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The average annual precipitation is 22 to 40 inches. The average January temperature is about 24 degrees F, the average July temperature is bout 67 degrees F, and the average annual air temperature is 42 to 46 degrees F. The growing season at 28 degrees F is 145 to 180 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Blewett, Brisky, and Scotties series. Blewett and Brisky soils are less than 20 inches deep to bedrock. Scotties soils lack an argillic horizon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium to very rapid runoff; permeability is moderately slow.
USE AND VEGETATION: Woodland, wildlife habitat and watershed. Native vegetation is Douglas-fir, and scattered ponderosa pine and grand fir, and an understory of rose, spirea and, pinegrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: East slopes of the Cascade Mountains in southern Chelan County. The series is moderately extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Chelan County, Washington, 1995.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are an albic horizon from 0 to 1/2 inch (volcanic ash Mt. St. Helens W or T), a cambic horizon from 1/2 inch to 18 inches, and an argillic horizon from 18 to 46 inches formed from sandstone. The 0 to 18 inches meet andic soil properties. This draft reflects a change in classification due to Andisol order from loamy-skeletal, mixed, frigid Ultic Haploxeralfs to ashy over loamy-skeletal, mixed, frigid Alfic Vitrixerands.