LOCATION WHITERIVER WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, mixed, superactive, frigid Ustic Haplargids
TYPICAL PEDON: Whiteriver loam--rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A1--0 to 2 inches; dark brown (10YR 4/3) loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; strong very fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; many very fine roots; neutral (pH 6.6); clear smooth boundary.
A2--2 to 5 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; neutral (pH 6.8); clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the A horizon is 2 to 6 inches.)
Bt1--5 to 8 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) clay loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium angular blocky; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and plastic; common very fine roots; common distinct clay skins on faces of peds; neutral (pH 6.8); clear smooth boundary.
Bt2--8 to 19 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) clay loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to strong medium angular blocky; hard, firm, sticky and very plastic; many prominent clay skins on faces of peds; neutral (pH 7.2); clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bt horizon is 12 to 20 inches.)
Btk--19 to 23 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) clay loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, sticky and plastic; common distinct clay skins on faces of peds; strongly effervescent, carbonates disseminated and as few distinct coatings on faces of peds; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); gradual irregular boundary. (0 to 8 inches thick)
2Bk--23 to 60 inches; light gray (10YR 7/2) clay loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) moist; massive; hard, firm, sticky and plastic; strongly effervescent, carbonates disseminated and as few medium seams and soft, rounded masses; common silt and sand-sized glass shards; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2).
TYPE LOCATION: Natrona County, Wyoming; Bear Spring Quadrangle; 100 feet north and 500 feet east of the SW corner of sec. 36, T. 29 N., R. 82 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature is 42 to 46 degrees F., and the mean summer soil temperature is 59 to 63 degrees F. Rock fragments commonly are less than 5 percent but range to 15 percent in parts of some pedons.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 through 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3.
The Bt horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 3 or 4. It is clay loam or clay averaging 35 to 45 percent clay with 15 to 35 percent fine sand or coarser. It is neutral or mildly alkaline.
The 2Bk horizon, or 2C horizon in some pedons, has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 7 or 8 dry, 6 or 7 moist and chroma of 2 through 4. It is composed of tuffaceous materials and is clay loam or loam with 23 to 35 percent clay. It has less than 15 percent fine sand or coarser excluding rock fragments. Carbonates are mainly autogenetic. However, some movement is evident in most pedons.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in this family. The Boettcher, Kather, Mulstay, and Pinelli soils are similar but have montmorillonitic mineralogy. Also, these soils do not have tuffaceous materials in the Bk and C horizon.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Whiteriver soils are on broad plateaus. Slopes range from 0 to 8 percent. They formed in alluvium or water-reworked eolian deposits overlying material derived from tuffaceous siltstone. Elevation is 6,400 to 7,600 feet. The mean annual precipitation is 10 to 14 inches, and the mean annual temperature is 37 to 42 degrees F. The average frost-free season is 90 to 110 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Bateson, Diamondville, Forelle, and Ulric soils. Bateson, Diamondville, and Forelle soils are fine-loamy. Ulric soils have a mollic epipedon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; runoff is medium or rapid; slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Whiteriver soils are used mainly for livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is mainly western wheatgrass, prairie junegrass, mutton bluegrass, and big sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South-central Wyoming. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Natrona County, Wyoming; 1985.