LOCATION WALCOTT WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive Typic Humicryepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Walcott gravelly sandy loam, rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 8 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) gravelly sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate fine crumb structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky; 20 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles; very strongly acid (pH 4.9); clear smooth boundary. (6 to 15 inches thick)
Bw--8 to 60 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) very gravelly sandy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; moderate fine crumb structure; soft, very friable; 35 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles; strongly acid (pH 5.3).
TYPE LOCATION: Teton County, Wyoming; in unsectionized area. Photo 1-130. Northeast facing slope of Doane peak.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is 32 degrees to 36 degrees F. The control section has 35 to 50 percent gravel, cobbles, and stones. The matrix material is sandy loam.
The A horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 10YR. It is gravelly loam or gravelly sandy loam. Base saturation ranges from 35 to 50 percent.
The Bw horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 10YR.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the
Buell,
Causewa,
Hossick,
Inpendence,
Meredith,
Mirror,
Moran, and
Shakan series. Buell soils have an umbric epipedon more than 20 inches thick. Causewa, Hossick, Mirror, and Shakan soils have a lithic contact at 20 to 40 inches. Inpendence soils have an umbric epipedon 17 to 35 inches thick. Merredith soils have a fragmental substratum at a depth of 20 to 40 inches. Moran soils have stones and boulders throughout the profile.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Walcott soils are on gently sloping to very steep mountain tops and mountain sides. Slopes are 3 to 70 percent. The soils formed in alluvium, glacial till, and colluvium from granites. Elevation is 7,000 to 11,000 feet. The mean annual precipitation is about 30 to 60 inches. The mean annual temperature is about 30 degrees to 34 degrees F.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Leighcan and the competing Moran soils. Leighcan soils have an ochric epipedon, and Moran soils have a cambic horizon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderate to rapid runoff; moderately rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for range, recreation, and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is wild geranium, columbine, carex, and slender wheatgrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: In the mountains of Wyoming. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Teton County, Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park Area, 1975.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features:
Umbric epipedon - from 0 to 8 inches (A horizon);
Cambic horizon - from 8 to 60 inches (Bw horizon);
Particle-size control section: the zone from 10 to 40 inches (part of the Bw horizon);
Udic soil moisture regime;
Cryic temperature regime.
The 3/2008 description reflects a change in classification from Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive Humic Dystrocryepts to Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive Typic Humicryepts due to revision of the cryepts great groups and subgroups. The competing series section was not updated and should be reviewed after all the cryepts have been re-classified.
In review of this description, further investigation is needed to determine dominant thickness of the epipedon to classify as Humicryepts (umbric vs. ochric).