LOCATION CLIFFDELL WATentative Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, isotic, frigid Andic Dystroxerepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Cliffdell gravelly sandy loam- under a coniferous forest on 54 percent northwest-facing slope at an elevation of 4,360 feet. The soil was dry when described. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. All textures are apparent field textures).
0e--0 to 1 inch; partially decomposed forest litter; abrupt smooth boundary. (1 to 2 inches thick)
Al--1 to 2 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) gravelly ashy loamy sand, (volcanic ash) very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; 20 percent pebbles; 10 percent cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.4); abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to l inches thick)
A2--2 to 9 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) gravelly ashy sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; common fine and medium roots; 20 percent pebbles, 10 percent cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.2), NaF pH 10.l; abrupt smooth boundary. (6 to 9 inches thick)
2Bwl--9 to 26 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) very cobbly loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; soft, friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; common fine and medium roots; few very fine irregular pores; 30 percent pebbles, 30 percent cobbles; moderately acid (pH 5.8) clear wavy boundary.
2Bw2--26 to 38 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) extremely cobbly loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine, fine and common medium roots; many very fine irregular pores; 40 percent pebbles, 30 percent cobbles, moderately acid (pH 6.0); clear wavy boundary.
2Bw3--38 to 61 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) extremely cobbly loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; few fine roots; common very fine irregular pores; 30 percent pebbles, 50 percent cobbles; moderately acid (pH 6.0) (Combined thickness of the 2Bw horizon is 50 to greater than 60 inches thick.)
TYPE LOCATION: Kittitas County, Washington; about 7 miles south of Cle Elum; 2,000 feet north and 2,000 feet west of the southeast corner Sec. 35, T. l9, N. R. l5 E. W.M.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The control section averages 10 to l8 percent clay and 40 to 50 percent sand in the fine earth fraction and 40 to 80 percent rock fragments. The average annual soil temperature ranges from 44 to 46 degrees F. The soils are usually moist, but are dry in all parts of the moisture control section for 45 to 60 consecutive days during summer and fall. The upper 7 to 10 inches has more than 60 percent volcanic ash in the fine earth fraction. Reaction is neutral to moderately acid throughout.
The A horizon has a value of 4 through 6 dry, 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4 moist and dry.
The 2Bw horizons have hues of 10YR or 7.5YR, values of 3 to 5 dry and moist and chroma of 3 to 6 dry and moist. It is a very cobbly loam, extremely cobbly loam, very gravelly loam or very cobbly sandy loam.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Bertolotti, Deroux, Littlejohn, Mountaineer, Pheeney, Pitcher, Roxer, Scotties and Umpa series Bertolotti soils are dry for 60 to 75 consecutive days and have a solum 23 to 52 inches thick. Deroux soils are 20 to 40 inches deep to sandstone bedrock, and are dry for 60 to 75 consecutive days following the summer solstice. Littlejohn soils are 20 to 40 inches deep to fractured andesite bedrock. Mountaineer soils are 20 to 40 inches deep to fractured schist bedrock, dry 60 to 75 consecutive days following summer solstice, and have an umbric epipedon. Pheeney soils are 20 to 40 inches deep to fractured andesite bedrock and have an umbric epipedon. Pitcher soils have a precipitation range of 55 to 80 inches per year, and the 2Bw horizon has 10 to 20 percent cinders. Roxer soils have 7 to 10 percent clay in the particle-size control section, and are dry for 60 to 75 consecutive days following the summer solstice. Scotties soils are 40 to 60 inches deep to sandstone bedrock and are dry for 60 to 75 consecutive days following the summer solstice. Umpa soils are 40 to 60 inches deep to fractured andesite bedrock.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Cliffdell soils are on mountainsides and broad mountaintops and have slopes of 5 to 75 percent. They formed in residuum and colluvium derived from basalt, andesite, porphyritic basalt and minor amounts of tuff and scoria with a mantle of volcanic ash. Elevations are 3,000 to 5,400 feet. The soils are in a continental climate with warm dry summers and cool moist winters. The average annual precipitation is 25 to 55 inches. The average January temperature is about 26 degrees F and average July temperature is about 64 degrees F. The average annual temperature is 44 to 46 degrees F. The growing season at 28 degrees F. is l45 to l70 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Jumpe, Terence, Longmire, Volperie and Yahne soils. Jumpe soils lack a mantle of volcanic ash. Terence soils are cryic and medial-skeletal. Longmire soils are coarse-loamy and have sandstone within 40 inches. Volperie soils are coarse-loamy. Yahne soils are clayey-skeletal.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, slow to rapid runoff. Permeability is moderate.
USE AND VEGETATION: Grazable woodland, and wildlife habitat. Vegetation is Douglas-fir, grand fir, western larch, lodgepole pine and scattered ponderosa pine, with an understory of elk sedge, pinegrass, and Oregon- grape.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: East slopes of the Cascade Mountains in South Central Washington. This series is of small extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES PROPOSED: Kittitas County, Washington, l98l.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: from 1 to 9 inches that is assumed to be more than 60 percent volcanic ash
Cambic horizon: from 9 to 61 inches
Particle size control section: from 11 to 41 inches