LOCATION WETHEY             WA

WETHEY SERIES

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy, mixed, mesic Aquic Xerofluvents

TYPICAL PEDON: Wethey loamy sand, grassland. (Colors are
for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)

A--0 to 23 inches; stratified light gray (10YR 7/1) dark
gray (10YR 4/1) and yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loamy sand
and sand, light gray (10YR 7/1), black (10YR 2/1) and dark
brown (10YR 4/3) moist; single grain; loose; many very fine
and fine roots; few fine brown stains; neutral (pH 7.0);
abrupt smooth boundary. (20 to 40 inches thick)

C--23 to 45 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) stratified
fine sandy loam to loamy fine sand, very dark brown (10YR
2/2) moist; many very fine dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) mottles,
moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly
hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic;
many very fine and fine roots; neutral (pH 6.8); abrupt
smooth boundary. (10 to 25 inches thick)

2Cg1--45 to 52 inches; gray (10YR 5/1) loam, very dark
gray (10YR 3/1) moist; common fine dark mottles (7.5YR 4/4)
moist; weak medium prismatic structure; hard, friable,
slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and
fine roots; common fine and medium pores; 1 1/2 inch lenses
of sand and loamy sand; neutral (pH 6.7); abrupt smooth
boundary. (0 to 20 inches thick)

2Cg2--52 to 60 inches; gray (10YR 5/1) heavy silt loam,
very dark gray (10YR 3/1) moist; few distinct mottles dark
brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure;
hard, friable, sticky and plastic; few fine roots; many fine
pores; small pockets of sand; neutral (pH 6.6).

TYPE LOCATION: Spokane County, Washington; 200 feet east of
the bridge on old highway 395 in the NW1/4 NW1/4 NW1/4
section 31, T.28N., R.43E., WM.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The soil is usually moist in all
horizons but is dry in all parts between 12 and 35 inches
for 45 to 60 consecutive days following the summer solstice
in most years. The mean annual soil temperature at 20
inches ranges from 47 to 51 degrees F. The soil is slightly
acid or neutral.

The A horizon has value of 4 to 7 dry, 2 to 7 moist, and
chroma of 1 through 4. The surface 10 inches has average
value of 6 or 7 dry and 4 through 7 moist. This horizon has
weak granular or subangular blocky structure or it is single
grained.

The C horizon has value of 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist, and
chroma of 2 through 4. It is mostly loamy sand, and loamy
fine sand, and has strata of sandy loam, or fine sandy loam.
It has subangular blocky structure or it is massive. This
horizon has few fine to many or very fine mottles with hue
of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 3 through 5 moist, and chroma of
3 or 4 moist.

The 2Cg horizon is stratified heavy silt loam to sand and is
at depths of 40 inches or more. It has few medium to common
fine or medium mottles.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Sagouspe and the closely
related Chamokane and Wolfeson series. Sagouspe soils are
calcareous in some or all parts and are mildly to strongly
alkaline below the surface 4 to 8 inches. Chamokane and
Wolfeson soils are coarse- loamy.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Wethey soils are on floodplains,
depressional areas, and alluvial fans at elevations of 1,500
to 2,300 feet. Slopes are smooth or undulating and are 0 to
3 percent. The soils formed in mixed sandy and loamy
alluvium. Wethey soils are in continental climate having
warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The mean annual temperature is about 46 degrees F. The average annual
precipitation ranges from 16 to 22 inches. The frost free
season ranges from 100 to 120 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Colville,
Narcisse, Peone, and the competing Chamokane and Wolfeson
soils. Narcisse soils are coarse-loamy. Colville soils are fine-silty, and Peone soils are medial.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained; slow to
very slow runoff; moderate permeability. These soils are
subject to occasional flooding.

USE AND VEGETATION: Wethey soils are used for pasture,
woodland, wildlife habitat, and some areas are cultivated.
Small grains, alfalfa, and grasses are the principal crops.
Native vegetation includes Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, and
quaking aspen, with an understory of tufted hairgrass,
common snowberry, wild rose, willow, red top and other
grasses.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northeastern Washington, primarily
in northern Spokane County along Wethey and Dragoon Creek,
and in Stevens County. Series is of small extent.

MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Spokane County, Washington, 1961.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in
this pedon are an ochric epipedon from the surface to 23
inches and a particle-size control section from 10 to 40
inches that is assumed to have an irregular decrease in
organic carbon based on texture and soil color.