LOCATION WHISKEYCREEK            ID

Established Series
Rev. BLR-BDG-EMM
07/2013

WHISKEYCREEK SERIES

The Whiskeycreek series consists of shallow, somewhat excessively drained soils that formed in residuum weathered from granite or gneiss. Whiskeycreek soils are on canyon sides of plateaus and have slopes of 20 to 75 percent. They have moderately rapid permeability. The average annual precipitation is about 25 inches and the average annual temperature is about 50 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy, mixed, mesic Lithic Ultic Haploxerolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Whiskeycreek coarse sandy loam, forested, on a 50 percent slope on a southerly aspect at an elevation of 1,200 feet. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted) When described September 1982, the profile was moist in the upper 8 inches.

A--0 to 4 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) coarse sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; slightly hard; very friable; nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; 5 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.2); clear smooth boundary. (3 to 10 inches thick).

Bw--4 to 9 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) coarse sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist, weak fine subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine granular; slightly hard, friable; nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots; common very fine irregular pores; 10 percent gravel; moderately acid (pH 6.0); clear smooth boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick).

C--9 to 15 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) gravelly loamy coarse sand, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable; nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and common fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; 15 percent gravel; moderately acid (pH 6.0); abrupt wavy boundary. (5 to 7 inches thick).

R--15 inches; granite.

TYPE LOCATION: Clearwater County, Idaho; about 0.5 miles south of Ahsahka, Idaho; about 600 feet north and 1,800 feet west of the southeast corner of sec. 34, T.37N, R1E.; Latitude - 46 degrees, 30 minutes, 10 seconds North; Longitude - 116 degrees, 18 minutes; 45 seconds West. USGS Ahsahka quadrangle.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Average annual soil temperature - 47 to 54 degrees F.
Mesic soil temperature regime
Depth to bedrock - 9 to 20 inches
Base saturation - 50 to 75 percent

A horizon:
Value - 3 to 5 dry, 1 to 3 moist
Chroma - 1 to 3, dry or moist
Texture - loam, sandy loam or coarse sandy loam
Clay content - 4 to 15 percent
Rock fragments - 0 to 25 percent gravel
Reaction - moderately acid to neutral

Bw horizon:
Value - 4 to 6 dry, 3 to 5 moist
Chroma - 3 or 4 dry, 2 to 4 moist
Texture - coarse sandy loam, sandy loam, or loamy coarse sand
Clay content - 2 to 10 percent
Rock fragments - 5 to 20 percent gravel, 0 to 10 percent cobbles, total rock fragments 5 to 20 percent
Reaction - moderately acid to neutral

C horizon:
Value - 5 to 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma - 3 or 4 dry, 2 to 4 moist
Texture - loamy sand or loamy coarse sand
Clay content - 2 to 5 percent
Coarse fragments - 5 to 30 percent gravel, 0 to 25 percent cobbles, total rock fragments 10 to 30 percent
Reaction - moderately acid to neutral

COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Whiskeycreek soils are on canyon sides of plateaus at elevations of 1,000 to 4,300 feet and have slopes of 20 to 75 percent. These soils formed in residuum weathered from granite or gneiss. The average annual temperature varies from about 45 degrees to about 52 degrees F. The average annual precipitation is 24 to 35 inches and the frost-free period is about 90 to 180 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are Ahsahka, Fordcreek, and Texascreek series. Ahsahka soils have clayey subsoils, are very deep and are on benches. Fordcreek soils have a fine-loamy argillic horizon, are deep to granitic rock, and occupy concave positions on canyon sides. Texascreek soils are more than 20 inches to bedrock and are on canyon sides.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat excessively drained; medium to very rapid runoff; moderately rapid permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used primarily for livestock grazing, wildlife habitat, and recreation. Some areas are used for timber production. The natural vegetation is mainly Ponderosa pine, Idaho fescue, and bluebunch wheatgrass.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: North-central Idaho; soils are not extensive. MLRA 43A.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Clearwater County, Idaho, 2003.

REMARKS:
Diagnostic horizons and other features recognized in this pedon:

Mollic epipedon - the zone from the 0 to 9 inches (A and Bw horizons).

Lithic contact at 15 inches.

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.