LOCATION WHISKEYLOG CA

Established Series
JBB/CES/JTW
09/2021

WHISKEYLOG SERIES

The Whiskeylog series consists of very deep, well drained soils formed in colluvium and residuum derived from metamorphic rock. The Whiskeylog soils are on mountain slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Slopes range from 30 to 75 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 895 mm and the mean annual air temperature is about 12 degrees C.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, isotic, mesic Ultic Haploxeralfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Whiskeylog sandy loam on a southeast-facing (120 degree), 40 percent slope under mixed oak woodland at an elevation of 1469 meters. (Colors are for dry soils unless otherwise noted. When described on June 2, 2014 the soil was dry to 37 cm.)

Oi--0 to 2 cm; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) slightly decomposed plant material, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; neutral (pH 6.6); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 5 cm thick)

A--2 to 9 cm; brown (7.5YR 5/3) sandy loam, very dark brown (7.5YR 2.5/2) moist; 10 percent clay; weak very fine and fine granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky, nonplastic; many very fine roots throughout; many very fine and fine irregular pores; 10 percent subangular indurated metasedimentary gravel; NaF pH 9.0; neutral (pH 6.8); clear smooth boundary. (5 to 18 cm thick)

Bw1--9 to 37 cm; brown (7.5YR 4/4) loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/3) moist; 16 percent clay; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots throughout; many very fine and common fine irregular pores; 7 percent subangular indurated metasedimentary gravel; NaF pH 9.5; slightly acid (pH 6.4); gradual smooth boundary.

Bw2--37 to 86 cm; brown (7.5YR 4/4) loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) moist; 18 percent clay; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; common very fine, fine, medium, and coarse roots throughout; many very fine and fine irregular, and common medium tubular pores; 2 percent subrounded indurated metasedimentary gravel, 1 percent subrounded indurated metasedimentary cobbles; NaF pH 9.5; slightly acid (pH 6.4); gradual smooth boundary. (combined thickness of Bw horizons is 0 to 75 cm)

Bt--86 to 140 cm; strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) loam, reddish brown (5YR 4/4) moist; 22 percent clay; weak fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; common fine, medium, and coarse roots throughout; many fine irregular and common medium tubular pores; 10 percent faint clay films on all faces of peds; 10 percent subrounded indurated metasedimentary gravel, 3 percent subrounded indurated metasedimentary cobbles; NaF pH 9.0; moderately acid (pH 6.0).

TYPE LOCATION: Tulare County, California, off the Ladybug Trail in the South Fork area of Sequoia National Park; USGS 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle: Moses Mountain, California; WGS84 36.353092 latitude and -118.737902 longitude; UTM zone 11 4024515 meters N 344061 meters E NAD83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature: The mean annual soil temperature at 50 cm is 10 to 15 degrees C and the difference between mean summer and mean winter soil temperature is greater than 6 degrees C. The soils have a mesic temperature regime.

Soil moisture: The soils have a xeric soil moisture regime. The soil moisture control section is dry in all parts from about July to October (about 120 days).

Diagnostic Feature(s):
Ochric epipedon thickness: 10 to 30 cm
Cambic horizon thickness: 0 to 75 cm
Argillic horizon thickness: 60 to 140 cm

Base saturation: 35 to 75 percent in one or more subhorizons of the upper 75 cm of the argillic horizon (by sum of cations)

Particle size control section weighted average:
Rock fragments: 0 to 35 percent, with 0 to 35 percent gravel and 0 to 15 percent cobbles.
Clay content: 18 to 27 percent
NaF pH: 8.5 to 10.0

A horizon(s)
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4, dry or moist
Texture: very fine sandy loam, silt loam, sandy loam, loamy fine sand
Clay content: 6 to 18 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent
0 to 15 percent gravel
0 to 5 percent cobbles
Reaction: slightly acid to neutral

Bw horizon(s) (where present)
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR
Value: 4 to 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 4 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Texture: very fine sandy loam, silt loam, fine sandy loam, sandy loam, loam
Clay content: 8 to 20 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent
0 to 15 percent gravel
0 to 5 percent cobbles
Reaction: slightly acid to neutral

Upper Bt horizon(s)
Hue: 2.5YR, 5YR, 7.5YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 4 or 6 dry, 3 to 6 moist
Texture: very fine sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam, sandy clay loam, clay loam
Clay content: 15 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 35 percent
0 to 35 percent gravel
0 to 15 percent cobbles
Reaction: moderately acid to neutral

Lower Bt horizon(s) (where present)
Hue: 2.5YR, 5YR, 7.5YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 4 to 8 dry, 3 to 6 moist
Texture: very fine sandy loam, loam, sandy clay loam, clay loam
Clay content: 15 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 75 percent
0 to 60 percent gravel
0 to 15 percent cobbles
Reaction: moderately acid to neutral

COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in this family at this time.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Whiskeylog soils are on linear to convex backslopes of mountain slopes. Slopes range from 30 to 75 percent. These soils formed in colluvium and residuum derived from metasedimentary and metavolcanic rock. Elevation is 755 to 1940 meters. The climate is Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 730 to 1030 mm and the mean annual air temperature is 10 to 15 degrees C. The frost free season is 160 to 245 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Colonymill, Kaweah, and Ladybug soils. The Colonymill soils are on linear backslopes of mountain slopes and have a mollic epipedon. The Kaweah soils are on concave to linear drainages on mountain slopes and have greater than 35 percent rock fragments in the particle size control section. The Ladybug soils are on shoulders of mountain slopes and are 100 to 150 cm to a lithic contact.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, moderately high saturated hydraulic conductivity.

USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for recreation, wildlife habitat, and watershed. Vegetation is black oak, canyon live oak, incense cedar, poison oak, alderleaf mountain mahogany, and annual grasses and forbs.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Sierra Nevada Mountains of California; MLRA 22A. These soils are of limited extent.

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California

SERIES PROPOSED: Tulare County, California in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Source of name from the historic Whiskey Log camp on the South Fork of the Kaweah River in Sequoia National Park.

REMARKS:
Particle Size Control Section for this pedon: 86 to 136 cm
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric Epipedon 2 to 20 cm
Cambic Horizon 9 to 86 cm
Argillic Horizon 86 to 150 cm

ADDITIONAL DATA:
NASIS User Pedon ID: 2014CA7921001

Soil classified using the 12th Edition of the Keys to Soil Taxonomy.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.