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<br />GRAND COUNTY AREA, COLORADO
<br />steep soil is on mountainsides and ridges at elevations
<br />of 8,500 to 9,500 feet it formed in material weathered
<br />from sandstone. The average annual precipitation is
<br />about 18 to 25 inches, the average annual air tempera-
<br />ture is about 32 to 40 degrees F, and the frost -free
<br />season is about 30 to 50 days.
<br />Included in mapping are small areas of Uinta sandy
<br />loam, Leadville stony loam, and Woodhall loam. Also
<br />included are a few small areas of Rock outcrop.
<br />Typically the Lake Creek soil has a duff layer of nee-
<br />dles and twigs about 1 inch thick. The subsurface layer
<br />is pink loam about 5 inches thick. The subsoil is reddish
<br />yellow, very stony sandy clay loam about 30 inches
<br />thick. Sandstone is at a depth of about 35 inches.
<br />Permeability is moderate. The effective rooting depth
<br />is 20 to 40 inches. The available water capacity is low.
<br />Surface runoff is medium, and the erosion hazard is high.
<br />Most of the acreage is woodland. Part of it is used for
<br />recreation and wildlife. The cold climate and short grow-
<br />ing season limit the production of introduced grasses
<br />and of wood crops.
<br />The potential native vegetation is dominantly lodge -
<br />pole pine, some quaking aspen, and a sparse understory
<br />of grasses, forbs, and shrubs.
<br />This soil is suited to lodgepole pine. It produces about
<br />20 to 35 cubic feet of wood per acre per year. Thinning
<br />the stand provides poles and firewood. Extreme care is
<br />needed to prevent the erosion of skid trails and roads.
<br />Excessive slope limits the types of equipment used in
<br />harvesting. The low water holding capacity limits seed-
<br />ling survival.
<br />Wildlife include deer, elk, blue grouse, snowshoe hare,
<br />and black bear. Clear cut openings in the timber in-
<br />crease the production of shrubs, grasses, and forbs for
<br />deer and elk in summer.
<br />Depth to rock, large stones, and slope are the soil
<br />properties most limiting to community development. Cut
<br />and fill slopes should be kept to a minimum to avoid
<br />hillside slippage. Road design should provide drainage
<br />outlets for surface runoff.
<br />The capability subclass is Vile.
<br />44— Leadville stony loam, 15 to 50 percent slopes.
<br />This deep, well drained, moderately steep to steep soil is
<br />on mountainsides and ridges at elevations of 8,500 to
<br />9,500 feet. It formed in material weathered from sand-
<br />stone. The average annual precipitation is about 18 to
<br />25 inches, the average annual air temperature is about
<br />32 to 40 degrees F, and the frost -free season is about
<br />30 to 50 days.
<br />Included in mapping are small areas of Lake Creek
<br />loam, Uinta sandy loam, and Upson stony sandy foam.
<br />Also included are a few small areas of Rock outcrop.
<br />Typically the Leadville soil has a duff layer about 2
<br />inches thick consisting of needles and twigs. The subsur-
<br />face layer is pink stony loam about 11 inches thick. The
<br />upper 8 inches of the subsoil is reddish brown stony
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<br />loam. The lower 24 inches is red extremely stony clay
<br />loam. The substratum is red extremely stony loam that
<br />extends to 60 inches or more.
<br />Permeability is moderate. The available water capacity
<br />is moderate. Surface runoff is medium, and the erosion
<br />hazard is high.
<br />Most of the acreage is woodland. Part of it is used for
<br />recreation and wildlife. The cold climate and short grow-
<br />ing season limit the production of introduced grasses
<br />and of wood crops.
<br />The potential native vegetation is dominantly iodge-
<br />pole pine and a sparse understory of grasses, shrubs,
<br />and forbs.
<br />Leadville soils are suited to lodgepole pine. It pro-
<br />duces about 25 to 35 cubic feet of wood per acre per
<br />year. Thinning the stand provides poles for fences, cor-
<br />rals, and power lines. Care is needed to prevent erosion
<br />of skid trails and access roads. The low water holding
<br />capacity limits seedling survival.
<br />This soil provides habitat for woodland wildlife, such
<br />as blue grouse, snowshoe hare, and black bear. It also
<br />provides summer range for mule deer and elk. Managing
<br />livestock grazing and timber improves habitat for the big
<br />game summer range.
<br />Large stones and steep slopes are the soil properties
<br />most limiting to community development. Road design
<br />should provide drainage outlets for surface runoff.
<br />The capability subclass is Vile.
<br />45— Leavitt loam, 0 to 6 percent slopes. This deep,
<br />well drained, nearly level to moderately sloping soil is on
<br />fans at elevations of 7,500 to 8,500 feet. It formed in
<br />local alluvium from sedimentary rock. The average
<br />annual precipitation is about 14 to 18 inches, the aver-
<br />age annual air temperature is about 37 to 42 degrees F,
<br />and the frost -free season is about 35 to 75 days.
<br />Small areas of Harsha loam, Roxal loam, Lymanson
<br />loam, and Tine gravelly sandy loam are included in map-
<br />ping.
<br />Typically the Leavitt soil has a grayish brown loam
<br />surface layer about 6 inches thick. The subsoil is brown
<br />clay loam about 28 inches thick. The substratum is pale
<br />brown clay loam that extends to 60 inches or more.
<br />Permeability is moderate. The effective rooting depth
<br />is 60 inches or more. The available water capacity is
<br />high. Surface runoff is slow, and the erosion hazard is
<br />low.
<br />Most of the acreage is rangeland. Part of it is used for
<br />recreation and wildlife. A small acreage is irrigated and
<br />used for hay. The cold climate and short growing season
<br />limit the production of introduced grasses and preclude
<br />the use of this soil as cropland.
<br />Whealgrass, muttongrass, Idaho fescue, and big sage-
<br />brush are dominant in rangeland vegetation.
<br />Grazing no more than 50 percent of the key species,
<br />by weight of the current season production, will maintain
<br />the condition of this site. If shrubs have become domi-
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