WSP08184

• File Number: 8200.765
• Description: White River General
• State: CO
• Basin: Yampa/White
• Water Division: 6
• Date: 11/1/1966
• Author: USFS
• Title: Water and Related Land Resources - White River Basin in Colorado
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Upland soils are calcareous at depths of 15 to 30 inches and have weak
to moderate horizons of lime accumulation.

The following approximate composition of the unit by Great Soil Groups
is estimated. Estimates were not made for Regosols as they are
included within the zonal soils.

Percent

1949 Great Soil Group

1965 Great Group, Subgroup
or Family

Argiustol1s and Haplustol1s

45

Chestnut soils

40

Brown soils

Haplargids and Hap10rthents

10

Alluvial soils

Haplorthents, Hap1ustol1s,
and Hap1aquo11s

5

Lithoso1s

Haplorthents
(Lithic and Thin)
Haplusto1ls
(Lithic)

The dominant soils are deep. Soils near edges of mesas and bordering
scarps and drainageways are often underlaid at depths of 20 to 60
inches by clay shales, sandstones, or cobble and gravel mixtures.

Erosion is extensive in the area around Meeker. About 40 percent of
that delineation is under cultivation. Water erosion is a problem on
sloping fields whether dry farmed or irrigated. There is some gully-
ing along drainageways and deep cutting in irrigation ditches.

Soil Mapping Unit 5: Moderately deep and deep, dark colored soils of
the uplands.

Soils of unit 5 occupy approximately 74l,000 acres or over 30 percent
of the Basin. This unit is second only to unit 3 in extent. For the
most part it lies above unit 3 and below unit 7. The upper reaches
of the main tributaries of the White River extend across the unit
boundaries.

The landscape consists of steep lower mountain slopes of rugged relief
dissected by narrow valleys and streams. The sharp ridges of the
Grand Hogback are representative of portions of this unit. Steep slopes
with gradients between 10 and 60 percent are most common. Gradients
of less than lO percent are generally limited to colluvial slopes,
swales, fans and alluvial bottomlands.

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