LOCATION SQUISHY CA
Established Series
Rev. EWB-AMB-JBF-TM
06/2017
SQUISHY SERIES
The Squishy series consists of very deep, very poorly drained soils that formed in alluvium from glacial outwash materials derived from mixed igneous and metamorphic rocks. Squishy soils are on outwash terraces and plains. Slopes are 0 to 4 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 300 mm and the mean annual temperature is about 6 degrees C.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Histic Endoaquolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Squishy mucky peat--pastureland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
Oe--0 to 25 cm; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) mucky peat, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; many very fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; slightly acid, (pH 6.4); clear smooth boundary. (20 to 40 cm thick)
A--25 to 71 cm; dark gray (10YR 4/1) sandy clay loam, black (N 2.5/), moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; 10 percent dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4), moist, masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; 5 percent gravel; slightly acid, (pH 6.4); clear wavy boundary. (40 to 75 cm thick)
Cg1--71 to 119 cm; greenish gray (5GY 6/1) stratified sandy loam to gravelly loamy sand, dark greenish gray (5GY 4/1) moist; massive; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; 10 percent brown (7.5YR 4/4), moist, masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; 10 percent gravel; neutral, (pH 6.6); clear wavy boundary. (30 to 75 cm thick)
2Cg2--119 to 152 cm; greenish gray (5GY 6/1) very gravelly loamy sand, dark greenish gray (5GY 4/1) moist; massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 5 percent olive brown (2.5Y 4/4), moist, masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; 40 percent gravel; neutral, (pH 6.6);
TYPE LOCATION: Mono County, California; in the Bridgeport Valley; about 1,360 feet south and 530 feet east of the northwest corner, section 17, T. 4 N., R. 25 E.; Big Alkali USGS 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle; latitude 38 degrees 12 minutes 34.7 seconds N and longitude 119 degrees 14 minutes 53.3 seconds W; WGS84 Decimal Degrees 38.2096472 latitude, -119.2481361 longitude.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil moisture: Usually saturated to the surface throughout most of the year in most years; aquic soil moisture regime.
Mean annual soil temperature: 7 to 8 degrees C.
Histic epipedon thickness: 20 to 40 cm.
Depth to unconformable very gravelly material: 100 to 150 cm.
Particle-size control section - Clay content: Averages 18 to 27 percent.
Rock fragments: Averages less than 15 percent, mainly gravel. Lithology of rock fragments is igneous and metamorphic rock.
Oe horizon
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist.
Chroma: 2 or 3 dry or moist.
Organic matter content: 50 to 75 percent.
Fiber content: 50 to 75 percent unrubbed, 30 to 50 percent rubbed.
Reaction: Slightly acid or neutral.
A horizon
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y dry, 10YR, 2.5Y or neutral moist.
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist.
Chroma: 1 or 2 dry, 0 through 2 moist.
Organic matter content: 2 to 5 percent.
Reaction: Slightly acid or neutral.
Cg1 Horizon
Hue: 2.5Y or 5Y dry, 2.5Y, 5Y or neutral moist.
Value: 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist.
Chroma: 1 or 2 dry, 0 through moist.
Texture: Stratified loam to gravelly loamy sand.
Clay content: Averages 18 to 25 percent.
Rock fragments: Averages less than 15 percent.
Reaction: Slightly acid or neutral.
2Cg2 Horizon
Hue: 2.5Y or 5Y dry, 2.5Y, 5Y or neutral moist.
Value: 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist.
Chroma: 1 or 2 dry, 0 through 2 moist.
Texture: Stratified very gravelly coarse sand to fine sandy loam.
Clay content: Averages 5 to 10 percent.
Rock fragments: Averages 35 to 50 percent, dominantly gravel.
Reaction: Slightly acid or neutral.
COMPETING SERIES: There are currently no other series recognized in this family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Squishy soils are on outwash terraces and plains. They typically occur on shoulder and concave positions. They formed in alluvium from glacial outwash materials derived from mixed igneous and metamorphic rocks. Slopes are 0 to 4 percent. Elevations range from 1,955 to 2,015 meters. The climate is semi-arid with cool, moist winters and warm, dry summers. The mean annual precipitation is 250 to 350 mm, mean annual temperature is 6 to 7 degrees C., and the frost-free period is 30 to 60 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Floatybog and
Goodbye series.
Floatybog soils have a histic epipedon greater than 40 cm thick.
Goodbye soils do not have a histic epipedon or an aquic moisture regime.
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Very poorly drained; very high surface runoff; moderate permeability; moderately low saturated hydraulic conductivity. Endosaturation is present with an apparent seasonal high water table at the surface (very shallow free water occurrence classes), throughout most years. Cumulative annual duration class is Persistent. Frequent ponding at a depth of 3 to 10 cm is present for very long duration during most years. These soils are susceptible to flooding for brief periods from December to September.
USE AND VEGETATION: Squishy soils are used for pastureland, recreation, watershed and wildlife habitat. The native vegetation is mainly sedges and rushes.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Eastern California, east of the Sierra Nevada Range. These soils are not extensive. MLRA 26.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Mono County (Coleville-Bridgeport Area), California, 2010.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Histic epipedon - The zone from the surface to 25 cm (Oe horizon).
Aquic conditions - The conditions of endosaturation and reduction in horizons between the soil surface and 150 cm at certain times in normal years (Oe, A, Cg1 and 2Cg2 horizons
Particle-size control section - The zone from 25 to 100 cm (A and upper Cg1 horizons).
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.