LOCATION SYCREEK WAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, isotic, frigid Vitrandic Argixerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Sycreek ashy loam, on a southeast facing 15 percent slope at 3,600 feet elevation, in a Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine forest. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. All textures are apparent field textures)
Oe--0 to 2 inches; moderately decomposed needles and twigs; abrupts smooth boundary. (1 to 3 inches thick)
A--2 to 8 inches; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) ashy loam, black (10YR 2/1) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine and medium granular; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and fine and common medium and coarse roots; common fine tubular pores; 5 percent pebbles; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 10 inches thick)
AB--8 to 16 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) ashy loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and fine, common medium and few coarse roots; common fine tubular pores; 10 percent pebbles; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 8 inches thick)
2Bt1--16 to 27 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) very gravelly sandy clay loam, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; moderate medium angular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine and few medium roots; few fine irregular pores; few discontinuous faint clay films on faces of peds ; 35 percent pebbles and 3 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 6.8); clear wavy boundary.
2Bt2--27 to 44 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) very gravelly sandy clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate fine and medium angular blocky structure; hard, friable, moderately sticky and slightly plastic; few fine and medium roots; few fine irregular pores; few discontinuous faint clay films on faces of peds; 35 percent pebbles and 5 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 7.0); clear wavy boundary. (combined thickness of 2Bt is 18 to 28 inches thick)
3CBd--44 to 62 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) very gravelly clay loam; brown (10YR 5/3) moist; massive; very hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few very fine roots; few very fine irregular pores; few fine and medium irregular dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) moist stains; 30 percent pebbles and 10 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 7.0).
TYPE LOCATION: Okanogan County, Washington; about 8 miles northwest of Winthrop, Washington; 900 feet west and 400 feet south of the northeast corner of section 30, T. 36 N., R. 21 E. (Latitude 48 degrees 35' 52"N., Longitude 120 degrees 15' 15"W)
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The average annual soil temperature at a depth of 20 inches is 42 to 45 degrees F. These soils are usually moist but are dry in all parts of the moisture control section for 60 to 75 days following the summer solstice. The mollic epipedon is 10 to 15 inches thick. Thickness of the volcanic ash influence is 10 to 15 inches, and has an estimated moist bulk density of 1.10 to 1.30 g/cc, volcanic glass content of 5 to 20 percent, acid-oxalate extractable aluminum plus one-half of the acid-oxalate extractable iron of 0.4 to 1.0 percent, and 15-bar water retention of 5 to 10 percent for air dried samples. The particle-size control section averages 35 to 55 percent rock fragments and 20 to 34 percent clay. Depth to the 2CBd horizon is 35 to 45 inches. Reaction is slightly acid to neutral throughout.
The A horizon has value of 2 or 3 dry, and chroma of 1 or 2 dry or moist.
The AB horizon has value of 3 or 4 dry, 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3 dry or moist. It is ashy loam or gravelly ashy loam. It has 5 to 15 percent pebbles.
The 2Bt horizon has value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 3 or 4 dry or moist. It is very gravelly sandy clay loam or very gravelly clay loam. It has 25 to 35 percent pebbles and 0 to 10 percent cobbles.
The 3CBd horizon has value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3 dry or moist. It is very gravelly clay loam or very gravelly sandy clay loam. It has 25 to 40 percent pebbles and 5 to 10 percent cobbles
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Getaway, Klicker, Klickson, Larabee, Millerflat and Stemilt series. All of these soils lack a densic contact.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Sycreek soils are on gently sloping to steep drainage sideslopes and foot slopes. Slopes are 5 to 35 percent. These soils formed in glacial till from sedimentary and some volcanic rock with a component of volcanic ash in the upper part. Elevation ranges from 2,800 to 4,600 feet. The climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The average annual precipitation is 20 to 24 inches. The mean January temperature is 23 degrees F, the mean July temperature is 65 degrees F, and the mean annual temperatures is 40 to 44 degrees F. The frost-free season is 90 to 120 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Buckrock, Cubhill, and Nicmar soils. The Buckrock soils are on shoulders and ridges and have a mesic temperature regime. The Cubhill soils are on back slopes and foot slopes and have a mesic temperature regime. The Nicmar soils are on back slopes and lack a mollic epipedon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, moderate to rapid runoff; moderate to moderately slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for timber production, wildlife habitat, recreation, watershed and livestock grazing. Native vegetation is Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine and quaking aspen with an understory of common snowberry, pinegrass, heartleaf arnica, common yarrow, and Saskatoon serviceberry.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northcentral Washington. This series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Okanogan National Forest, Okanogan County, Washington, 2005.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features in this pedon are: Mollic epipedon - 2 to 16 inches (A and AB horizon) Argillic horizon - 16 to 44 inches (2Bt horizons) PSCS - zone from 16 to 36 inches (2Bt1 and part of 2Bt2 horizon) Dense till at 44 inches - 3CBd horizon