LOCATION SLICKLOG OREstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Ashy-skeletal, mixed, frigid Humic Vitrixerands
TYPICAL PEDON: Slicklog gravelly ashy loam - woodland, on a 72 percent west-facing slope at an elevation of 4,200 feet. (When described on May 10, 1993, the soil was moist throughout the profile. Colors are moist unless otherwise noted.)
Oi--0 to 1 inch; partially decomposed twigs and needles
A1--1 to 7 inches; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) gravelly ashy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; weak fine and medium granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few medium, few fine, and many very fine roots; few fine and many very fine irregular pores; 20 percent gravel and 10 percent cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.4); gradual wavy boundary.
A2--7 to 17 inches; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) very gravelly ashy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; weak medium granular structure; soft, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine and many very fine roots; few fine and many very fine irregular pores; 30 percent gravel and 10 percent cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.4); abrupt wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of A horizon is 14 to 18 inches.)
Bw1--17 to 23 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) gravelly ashy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine and common very fine roots, few fine and common very fine tubular pores; 25 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.8); clear wavy boundary.
Bw2--23 to 50 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) very gravelly ashy loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine and common very fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; 35 percent gravel and 10 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 6.8); clear wavy boundary.
Bw3--50 to 61 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) extremely stony sandy loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; weak very fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; few very fine tubular pores; 15 percent gravel, 15 percent cobbles, and 40 percent stones; neutral (pH 7.0). (Combined thickness of the Bw horizons is 40 to 48 inches.)
TYPE LOCATION: Wallowa County, Oregon; about 5.5 miles south of the town of Lostine; 700 feet west and 300 feet south of the northeast corner of section 10, T. 2 S., R. 43 E. (Latitude 45 degrees, 22 minutes, 33 seconds N. and Longitude 117 degrees, 25 minutes, 02 seconds W.)
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: These soils are dry in all parts of the moisture control section for 45 to 60 days. The mean annual soil temperature is 41 to 46 degrees F. The acid-oxalate extractable aluminum plus one-half iron is 1.0 to 2.0 percent, volcanic glass content is 10 to 20 percent, and 15-bar water is less than 12 percent (air-dried sample). Base saturation is greater than 50 percent. The mollic epipedon is 20 to 35 inches. The particle-size control section averages 10 to 18 percent clay and 35 to 60 percent rock fragments. Depth to bedrock is more than 60 inches.
The A horizon has value of 2 or 3 moist, 4 or 5 dry. The soil texture is ashy loam with 5 to 15 percent clay. The surface layer has 15 to 25 percent gravel and 0 to 10 percent cobbles. The lower layer has 20 to 40 percent gravel and 10 to 20 percent cobbles. The soil reaction is slightly acid or moderately acid.
The Bw horizon has value of 3 or 4 moist, 5 or 6 dry, and chroma of 2 or 3 moist and dry. The upper part of the Bw horizon is ashy loam or ashy sandy loam with 10 to 18 percent clay and 25 to 40 percent gravel and 0 to 20 percent cobbles. The lower part is sandy loam or loamy sand with 5 to 15 percent clay and 15 to 25 percent gravel, 10 to 20 percent cobbles, and 0 to 40 percent stones. It is slightly acid or neutral.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Leconte (T), Nicabeth (T), and Tumac series. Leconte soils have an umbric epipedon 10 to 20 inches thick and a pscs dominated by 35 to 70 percent rock fragments of basalt origin. Nicabeth soils are 20 to 40 inches to a lithic contact (basalt) and are dry for 60 to 75 consecutive days. Tumac soils have a mollic epipedon of 10 to 15 inches thick and are dry for 60 to 75 consecutive days following the summer solstice.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Slicklog soils are on back slopes, foot slopes and toeslopes of mountains. Elevations are 3,800 to 6,200 feet. Slopes are 15 to 90 percent. These soils formed in volcanic ash and colluvium derived from argillite, shale, and conglomerate. The climate is characterized by cold, wet winters and hot, dry summers. The mean annual precipitation is 25 to 35 inches. The mean annual temperature is 41 to 44 degrees F. The frost free period is 70 to 100 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Analulu, Bluecanyon, Bordengulch, Eastpine, and Vandamine soils. The Analulu soils are moderately deep, have an ochric epipedon, and are found on south slopes. Bluecanyon soils are shallow and are found on shoulders of south slopes. Bordengulch and Vandamine soils are cryic. Bordengulch soils are moderately deep and are on side slopes of mountains. Vandamine soils are very deep. Eastpine soils are moderately deep, have a mollic epipedon 10 to 15 inches thick, and are on side slopes of mountains.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderate permeability
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for timber production, watershed, and recreation. The native vegetation is Douglas fir, grand fir, Ponderosa pine, ninebark, common snowberry, Rocky Mountain maple, elk sedge, and pinegrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Blue Mountains of northeast Oregon; MLRA 43c. The series is not extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Wallowa County, Oregon, 1998.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - from 1 to 23 inches (A1, A2, and Bw1 horizons)
Cambic horizon - from 23 to 61 inches (Bw2 and Bw3 horizons)
Particle-size control section - 1 to 41 inches (A1, A2, Bw1, and upper part of Bw2 horizons)
Classification revised 6/04 based on the range of characteristics statement of the soil having 10 to 20 percent glass. By definition, glassy must have greater than or equal to 30 percent glass. Mineralogy revised from glassy to mixed.