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<br />SOILS <br /> <br />0. <br />a <br />N <br />No <br /> <br />The Greater Sagers Wash Watershed includes a wide variety and complex combination of soils <br />due to wide variation of geologic, topographic, climatic, and vegetation features. Soils within <br />the watershed have been grouped into the following six generalized groups; for providing a <br />general description of soils within the area and for broad interpretive purposes. <br /> <br />1. Soils on Flood Plains and Alluvial Valleys - There are deep, well drained, loamy, and <br />clay loam soils on nearly level and gently sloping floodplains along narrow interminent <br />drainage ways, and alluvial valleys that are dissected by drainage ways, some of which <br />are deeply incised. Slope is mainly 0 to 5 percent. These soils formed in mixed <br />alluvium are derived dominantly from sandstone and shale. They are subject to a slight <br />to moderate erosion hazard and affected by a moderate to strongly saline and alkaline <br />condition. A large part of the Sagers Flat area consists of this unit. <br /> <br />2. Soils on Shale Plains and Pediment - These are very shallow to moderately deep, well <br />drained loamy, and mainly clayey soils on: (I) shale pediments dissected by drainage <br />ways; (2) broad sloping plains; and (3) strongly sloping to steep badlands. These soils <br />formed in alluvium and residuum are derived mainly from shale of the Mancos <br />Formation. The average precipitation of this soil area is about 5 to 8 inches. The <br />vegetation consists mainly of sparse stands of mat saltbush, nunal saltbush and galleta. <br />These soils are moderate to severely eroded and subject to a moderately strong to strong <br />saline and alkaline condition, The badland areas consist of barren areas of actively <br />eroding shale, shale interbedded with gypsum and thin layers of sandstone. This is one <br />of the major areas of concern regarding sediment source and salt loading. <br /> <br />3. Soils on Alluvial Fans and Dissected Shale Pediments - These are shallow and deep, <br />loamy, and clayey soils including cobble and stone soils on gently sloping to strongly <br />sloping alluvial fans and alluvial fan pediments below the Book Cliffs. Slope is 1 to 15 <br />percent, average annual precipitation is about 8 to 12 inches. These soils are forming <br />in alluvium derived dominantly from shale and interbedded sandstone and conglomerate. <br />Vegetation consists of Utah juniper, and pinyon with interspersed sagebrush parks, <br /> <br />4. Soils on Structural Benches, Mesas, Cuestas, and Canyon Escarpments - These are <br />shallow, moderately deep and deep, well drained sandy loam and loamy soils on slopes <br />ranging from 3 to 70 percent. Soils on cuestas, mesas and benches are mainly shallow <br />and are forming in residuum and alluvium derived form sandstone. Soils on the canyon <br />escarpments include sandy loam, loamy and clay loam soils forming in colluvium and <br />residuum derived from Mancos shale and interbedded sandstone on slopes of 50 to 80 <br />percent. About 20 to 80 percent of the surlace is covered with cobbles, stones, and <br />boulders, Vegetation is mainly salina wildrye, shadsca1e, nuna\ saltbush, Utah juniper, <br />pinyon, and sage brush parks. The steep canyon escarpment consist of sandstone ledges. <br />Exposures of Mancos shale occur within this area on the very steep escarpments with <br />large amounts of sediment and salt loading, Due to the very and extremely sloping <br /> <br />10 <br />