LOCATION SPRINGWATER OR

Established Series
Rev. AJG/TDT
06/2011

SPRINGWATER SERIES

The Springwater series consists of moderately deep, well drained soils that formed in colluvium weathered from sandstone. Springwater soils are on uplands and have slopes of 2 to 60 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 55 inches and the mean annual temperature is about 50 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Humic Haploxerepts

TYPICAL PEDON: Springwater loam, on a 45 percent north facing slope in a stand of timber. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

Oi--0 to 2 inches; slightly decomposed needles, leaves, and twigs.

A--2 to 9 inches; dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) loam, brown (10YR 5/3) dry; moderate fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine, fine, and medium roots; many fine irregular pores; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary. (7 to 10 inches thick)

Bw1--9 to 17 inches; dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) clay loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) dry; strong medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine, medium and coarse roots; many very fine tubular pores; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary. (4 to 10 inches thick)

Bw2--17 to 23 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/4) clay loam, light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) dry; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; common fine and medium roots; many very fine tubular pores; moderately acid; gradual smooth boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)

Bw3--23 to 29 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/4) clay loam, light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) dry; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, very firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few very fine roots; many very fine tubular pores; 10 percent sandstone paragravel; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary. (2 to 10 inches thick)

BCt--29 to 39 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/4) paragravelly clay loam, light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) dry; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; very hard, very firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; many very fine tubular pores; few faint reddish brown (5YR 4/4) clay films; 15 percent sandstone paragravel; moderately acid; abrupt smooth boundary. (3 to 12 inches thick)

Cr--39 inches; fractured sandstone.

TYPE LOCATION: Clackamas County, Oregon; about 1 mile west of Wilhoit; in the SW1/4NE1/4NE1/4, section 17, T. 6 S., R. 2 E.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The soil is usually moist but is dry between depths of 4 and 12 inches for 45 to 60 consecutive days during the summer. The mean annual soil temperature is 50 to 52 degrees F. The depth to soft fractured sandstone (paralithic contact) is 20 to 40 inches. The base saturation is 60 to 75 percent.

The A horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 2 or 3 moist, dry, and chroma of 2 or 3 moist and dry. Rock fragments range from 0 to 10 percent gravel.

The Bw horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 3 or 4 moist and chroma of 2 to 4 moist, 3 or 4 moist dry. It is clay loam or loam with 25 to 35 percent clay. Rock fragments range from 0 to 20 percent paragravel and 0 to 5 percent hard gravel.

The BC horizon has hue of 7.5YR, 10YR, or 5YR, value of 3 or 4 moist, 5, 6 or 7 dry, and chroma of 3 or 4 moist and dry. It is clay loam or loam with 25 to 35 percent clay. Rock fragments range from 5 to 20 percent sandstone paragravel and 0 to 5 percent hard gravel.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Bernhill, Colestine, Debenger, Hohmann, Kerby, Presher, and Wamie series. Bernhill, Kerby, Presher, and Wamie soils are deeper than 40 inches to bedrock. Colestine and Hohmann soils have a lithic contact. Debenger soils are dry between depths of 4 and 12 inches for more than 60 consecutive days following the summer solstice.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Springwater soils are on uplands at elevations of 500 to 1800 feet. Slopes range from 2 to 60 percent. The soils formed in colluvium weathered from sandstone. The climate is characterized by cool wet winters and warm dry summers. The mean annual temperature is 48 to 52 degrees F., the mean annual precipitation is 50 to 60 inches, and the frost-free period is 160 to 200 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Gapcot and Hardscrabble soils. Gapcot soils are less than 20 inches deep to sandstone bedrock. Hardsrabble soils are somewhat poorly drained and have a dense clay layer at depths of 12 to 24 inches.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow to rapid runoff; moderate permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Springwater soils are used for pasture, hay, small grains, grass seed, timber production, and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is Douglas-fir, bigleaf maple, western hazel, vine maple, red huckleberry, salal, Oregon grape, and western swordfern.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Western foothills of the Cascade mountains in northwestern Oregon; MLRA 2. The series is inextensive.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Clackamas County, Oregon, 1982.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and other features;
Ochric epipedon
Humic subgroup - color requirements are meet from 2 to 9 inches
Cambic horizon - from 9 to 39 inches

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.