LOCATION WAFLA CAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Ultic Haploxeralfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Wafla gravelly sandy loam, forested, on a 1 percent slope under Jeffery pine and white fir at 5,120 feet elevation. (When described, September 15, 1983, the soil was dry throughout. Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
Oi--1 inch to 0; fresh and decomposed needles, twigs and bark; abrupt smooth boundary.
A1--0 to 6 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/4) gravelly sandy loam, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/3) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and common fine roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 15 percent pebbles; neutral (pH 6.6); clear smooth boundary.
A2--6 to 13 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) gravelly, sandy loam, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) moist; single grain; loose, nonsticky and slightly plastic; many very fine, fine and medium roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 15 percent pebbles; neutral (pH 6.6); clear smooth boundary. (The combined thickness of the A horizon is 12 to 20 inches)
2AB--13 to 24 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) very cobbly sandy loam, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and common fine and medium roots; many very fine interstitial pores; 30 percent cobbles; 25 percent pebbles; slightly acid (pH 6.5); clear wavy boundary.
3Bt--24 to 35 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) gravelly loam, reddish brown (5YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots; many very fine tubular pores; few thin clay films on peds and in pores; 20 percent pebbles; slightly acid (pH 6.5); clear wavy boundary.
4Bt--35 to 42 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) very cobbly loam, dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine and fine roots; many very fine, few fine, medium and coarse tubular pores; common thin clay films on peds; a stone-line consisting of 30 percent pebbles and 25 percent cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.5); clear smooth boundary.
5Bt--42 to 52 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) loam, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) moist; few medium distinct manganese stains (5YR 2.5/1) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic, few very fine and fine roots; many very fine, few fine and medium tubular pores; common thin clay films on peds; 10 percent pebbles; slightly acid (pH 6.5); clear smooth boundary. (The combined thickness of the Bt horizon is 24 to 40 inches)
5CBt--52 to 62 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/4) saprolite, dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) moist; common medium distinct black manganese stains (5YR 2.5/1) moist; rock structure; crushes and textures to clay loam; slightly hard, firm, sticky and plastic; few very fine and fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; few thin clay films in pores; slightly acid (pH 6.5). (0 to 12 inches thick)
TYPE LOCATION: Lassen County, California, about 1 mile NW of Westwood; on an old log deck, 75 feet W of cull log pile, 175 feet W of forest road 29NO8, 1.2 miles N of its intersection with HWY 36; 600 feet E and 1,500 feet S of the NW corner of section 31, T.29 N., R.9 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature varies from 44 to 46 degrees F. The thickness of the solum and depth to a paralithic contact ranges from 40 to 70 inches. The depth to the contact between the alluvial deposits and the nonconforming residual material is 36 to 60 inches. The soil moisture control section (10 to 30 inches) is dry in all parts from August 1 to November 1 (90 days) and is moist in some or all parts the rest of the time. The soil temperature exceeds 41 degrees F from May 1 to December 1 and exceeds 47 degrees F from June 1 to November 1. The control section has a weighted average content of 20 to 27 percent clay and 25 to 35 percent rock fragments. Reaction is neutral or slightly acid. Base saturation ranges from 35 to 50 percent.
The A horizon dry color is 7.5YR 4/3, 4/4 or 4/6. Moist color is 7.5YR 3/4, 4/4; 5YR 3/3, 3/4 or 4/4. It is loam or sandy loam modified by 5 to 25 percent gravel. Layers with moist chroma of 3 are less that 7 inches thick.
The 3Bt and 4Bt horizons dry colors are 7.5YR 5/6 or 6/6. Moist colors are 7.5YR 3/4, 4/4, 6/6; 5YR 3/4 or 4/4. It is stratified with fine earth textures of loam with 20 to 27 percent clay modified by 15 to 60 percent rock fragments mostly cobbles and gravel.
The 5Bt horizon dry color is 7.5YR 4/4, 4/6, 5/6 or 6/6. Moist color is 7.5YR 3/4, 4/4 or 5YR 3/4. It is loam with 20 to 27 percent clay and 0 to 15 percent gravel.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Bograp(T), Brusher, Cavendish(T), Eaglelake(T), Fugawee, Henneway, Kaiders(T), Ketchly, Kruse, Kyburz, Martis, McEwen, Nahahum(T), Nard, Nardmont(T), Pana(T), Shrubcreek(T), Tahoma and Wintoner. Bograp, Cavendish and Nahahum soils have control sections with 27 to 35 percent clay. Brusher and Henneway soils are dry 45 to 75 consecutive days and have huse of 10YR or yellower. Eaglelake soils lack nonconformities, are dry 107 days and have a base saturation of 50 to 75 percent. Fugawee and Kyburz soils are less than 40 inches deep. Kaiders soils are dry 60 to 75 days and lack stratification. Ketchly soils have control sections that are 20 to 60 percent volcanic ash. Kruse soils have control sections that lack rock fragments and are dry 45 to 70 consecutive days. Martis soils have umbric epipedons; dense, massive Bt horizons and medium to strongly acid control sections. McEwen soils have control sections with 27 to 35 percent clay and lack rock fragments. Nard soils have control sections that have less than 10 percent rock fragments and are 20 to 40 percent pyroclastic material. Nardmont soils have Bt horizons with hue of 2.5Y. Panak soils are dry only 45 to 60 days. Shrubcreek soils have an umbric epipedon. Tahoma soils have control sections with 27 to 35 percent clay and have a base saturation of less than 35 percent in some parts. Wintoner soils have less than 15 percent rock fragment and are dry 60 to 80 days.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Wafla soils are in basins on lava plateaus. Slopes are 0 to 2 percent. These soils formed in alluvium weathered from basalt and andesite with a small amount of volcanic ash that overlies nonconforming basalt. Elevation is 4,950 to 5,300 feet. The mean annual precipitation is about 30 to 40 inches with 60 to 100 inches of snow. The mean annual temperature is about 44 degrees F, mean July temperature is about 60 degrees F and the mean January temperature is about 26 degrees F. Frost free period is 60 to 80 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Inville, Redriver, Swainow and Woodwest soils. All these soils are skeletal. In addition, the Redriver soils are moderately deep and Woodwest soils are shallow.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; ponded to slow runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for timber production and urban land. The vegetation is mainly Jeffery pine, white fir, incense cedar, squawcarpet, whitethorn and manzanita.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northern California, Eastern Plumas and Western Lassen counties. The soils of this series are not extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES PROPOSED: Lassen County, California. Susanville Area, California, Parts of Lassen and Plumas counties, Soil Survey Area; 1988.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon:
Ochric epipedon-Zone from the soil surface to a depth of 13 inches (A1, A2 horizons)
Argillic horizon-Zone from 24 to 52 inches (3BT, 4BT, 5BT horizons)