LOCATION MILLERLAKE WY+COEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive Pachic Argicryolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Millerlake loam-rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
0--1 to 0 inch; partially decomposed leaves, grass, and other organic materials.
A--0 to 4 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; strong fine granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and medium roots; neutral (pH 6.8); clear smooth boundary. (3 to 10 inches thick)
BA--4 to 7 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure parting to strong medium granular; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and medium and few coarse roots; few thin clay films on faces of peds and lining pores; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 5 inches thick)
Bt--7 to 20 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure parting to strong medium angular blocky; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; many fine and few coarse roots; many moderately thick clay films on faces of peds, and lining pores; neutral (pH 7.2); gradual wavy boundary. (10 to 30 inches thick)
Btk--20 to 28 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; strong coarse subangular blocky structure; very hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few fine and coarse roots; few thin clay films on faces of peds and lining pores; strongly effervescent, lime as common soft masses and as filaments and in seams; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); gradual wavy boundary. (4 to 10 inches thick)
Bk--28 to 60 inches; light gray (10YR 7/2) loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) moist; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; violently effervescent, lime as common soft masses, filaments, and seams; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4).
TYPE LOCATION: Carbon County, Wyoming; West quarter corner, sec. 11, T. 18 N., R. 89 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to the base of the argillic horizon is 20 inches or more. Depth to any contrasting material is greater than 40 inches. The mean annual soil temperature ranges from 38 to 42 degrees F., and the mean summer soil temperature ranges from 50 to 56 degrees F. Coarse fragments range from 0 to 15 percent throughout.
The A horizon has hue of 5Y through 7.5YR, value of 3 through 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 1 through 3. It is slightly acid through mildly alkaline.
The Bt horizon has hue of 5Y through 7.5YR, value of 4 through 6 dry, 2 through 4 moist, and chroma of 1 through 4. It is clay loam or loam with 18 to 35 percent clay and more than 15 but less than 35 percent fine or coarser sand. It is slightly acid through mildly alkaline.
The Btk horizon has hue of 5Y through 7.5YR, value of 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. It is loam or clay loam. Carbonates range from 4 to 14 percent. It is moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline.
The Bk horizon has hue of 5Y through 7.5YR, value of 5 through 7 dry, 4 through 6 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. It is loam or clay loam. Carbonates range from 8 to 14 percent. It is moderately or strongly alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Bachus, Benteen, Canburn, Clayburn, Decross, Demast, Dranyon, Echemoor, Gordo, Harmehl, Sanchert, Stubbs, Thulepah, and Winu series. The Bachus, Benteen, Canburn, Echemoor, Harmehl, Sanchert, Stubbs, and Winu soils have a lithic or paralithic contact at 20 to 40 inches. Clayburn, Demast, and Thulepah soils do not have Bk horizons. Decross soils have a calcic horizon. Dranyon soils have 20 to 35 percent coarse fragments in the argillic horizon. Gordo soils have hue of 5YR and 2.5YR in the argillic horizon.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Millerlake soils are on fan aprons, terraces, and lower mountain footslopes and toeslopes. They formed in slope alluvium and other sediments derived from sedimentary rock. Slopes are 2 to 35 percent. Elevations are 7,800 to 9,500 feet. The mean annual precipitation is about 18 inches and ranges from 15 to 24 inches. The mean annual temperature is about 38 degrees F. and ranges from 34 to 40 degrees F. The frost-free season is less than 60 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the competing Bachus, Echemoor, and Decross soils. The Bachus and Echemoor soils occur on upslope positions on fan aprons and footslopes. Decross soils occur intermixed with the Millerlake soils.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Runoff is medium to rapid depending upon slope and surface condition. Permeability is moderately slow.
USE AND VEGETATION: Rangeland and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation consists of Idaho fescue, Columbia needlegrass, thickspike wheatgrass, and scattered big sagebrush. Some areas support relatively thick stands of Aspen.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South central Wyoming and northwestern Colorado. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Lakewood, Colorado
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Aspen-Gypsum Area, Colorado; 1982.