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LOGAN COUNTY, COLORADO 95
<br /> of desirable rangeland vegetation. Range seeding will In irrigated areas the main concerns of management
<br /> speed the revegetation of areas depleted by heavy graz- are proper use of irrigation water, flooding and fertility
<br /> ing, cultivation or other disturbances. Combinations of maintenance. Special care is required on this soil in apply-
<br /> stockwater development, fencing and deferred grazing ing irrigation water. Irrigation methods that are suitable
<br /> help improve grazing distribution and maintain range con- are furrows, borders or sprinkler. Land leveling is dif-
<br /> dition. Contour furrowing and pitting are practices that ficult because this soil is shallow to sand and gravel.
<br /> improve water infiltration and reduce runoff and are Short irrigation runs and frequent irrigations are needed
<br /> especially effective on rangeland areas in poor and fair to control the fluctuating water table. Drainage ditches
<br /> condition. may also be required. Flood control dikes can be used to
<br /> Windbreak and environmental plantings are suited on protect the soil from damage. Applications of manure and
<br /> this soil. The main concern is limited moisture. Summer commercial fertilizer containing nitrogen and phosphorus
<br /> fallow a year prior to planting, supplemental water during are important to maintain fertility. Incorporating crop
<br /> planting and early stages of growth, and continued cul- residues reduces soil loss and improves soil tilth.
<br /> tivation for weed control are needed to insure establish- Rangeland vegetation consists mainly of alkali sacaton,
<br /> ment and survival of plantings. Trees best suited and inland saltgrass, switchgrass, western wheatgrass, sedge,
<br /> having best survival are Rocky Mountain juniper, eastern and rush. Key forage grasses need to be maintained by
<br /> redcedar, ponderosa pine, Siberian elm, Russian-olive and proper grazing use and grazing management that includes
<br /> hackberry. Shrubs best suited are skunkbush sumac, lilac, deferment during the growing season at well-timed inter-
<br /> Siberian peashrub and American plum. vals. These soils can be seeded to rangeland species or
<br /> Openland wildlife such as pheasant, cottontail rabbit adapted introduced grasses such as tall wheatgrass. Fenc-
<br /> and mourning dove are suited to this soil. In cropland ing and livestock watering developments are effective in
<br /> areas favorable habitat can be developed by establishing obtaining more uniform distribution of grazing.
<br /> areas for nesting and escape cover. For pheasants, Windbreaks and environmental plantings are suited to
<br /> undisturbed nesting cover is vital and should be included this soil. The high fluctuating water table, abundant com-
<br /> in plans for habitat development. Tree and shrub peting vegetation and depth to sand and gravel are the
<br /> plantings along fence lines, irrigation ditches, roadsides principal concerns in establishing tree and shrub
<br /> and streambanks also help encourage wildlife. Rangeland plantings. Summer fallow, continued cultivation for weed
<br /> wildlife, including antelope and jackrabbits, can be en- control and selection of adapted plants are needed to en-
<br /> couraged by water developments and types of fencing to sure establishment and survival of plantings. Trees best
<br /> permit unrestricted antelope movement. suited and having good survival are plains cottonwood,
<br /> High shrink-swell potential and slow permeability are golden willow, Colorado blue spruce, Rocky Mountain ju-
<br /> the primary limiting soil features for homesites and other ni per and eastern redcedar. Shrubs best suited are Amer-
<br /> urban developments. These limitations can be modified by 1
<br /> special engineering design and measures such as lean plum, purple willow, common chokecherry and redosi-
<br /> backfilling with desirable materials. Capability subclass er dogwood.
<br /> IIIe nonirrigated, IIIe irrigated. This is an important soil for wildlife because of its use
<br /> 127—Westplain silty clay loam. This is a deep, for cropland and its proximity to the South Platte River.
<br /> somewhat poorly drained soil on bottomlands and concave Under irrigation, it is important for food production for
<br /> parts of low terraces. It formed in a thin mantle of clayey wildlife such as waterfowl, pheasants and deer utilizing
<br /> alluvium overlying sand and gravel deposited by the crop residues that occur as aftermath following harvest.
<br /> South Platte River. The average annual precipitation Wildlife values can be enhanced on this soil by habitat
<br /> ranges from 13 to 19 inches. Slopes are nearly level. developments such as tree and shrub plantings and an
<br /> Included in this unit are small areas of Alda loam and undisturbed nesting cover consisting of grasses and
<br /> Fluvaquentic Haplaquolls, both having slopes of 0 to 1 legumes. In the presence of a water supply, waterfowl
<br /> percent. The Alda loam soils are in higher lying positions can be attracted to the area by development of shallow
<br /> bordering the concave areas. water areas.
<br /> Typically the surface layer is dark gray, calcareous Frequent flooding, seepage and a water table at 12 to
<br /> heavy silty clay loam about 14 inches thick. The underly- 24 inches limit use of these soils for homesites and other
<br /> ing layer is mottled brown, calcareous very gravelly clay urban developments. Intensive and costly engineering
<br /> loam about 3 inches thick over light gray, mottled sand design and measures are needed in order to overcome
<br /> and gravel extending to 60 inches or more. these conditions. Capability subclass VIw nonirrigated,
<br /> Permeability is slow. Effective rooting depth is 60 IVw irrigated.
<br /> inches or more. Available water capacity is moderate. 128—Westplain-Aida complex. These are nearly level,
<br /> Surface runoff is slow, and the erosion hazard is slight. A somewhat poorly drained soils on low terraces and bot-
<br /> fluctuating water table occurs between 12 and 24 inches tomlands along the South Platte River. The average an-
<br /> during the winter and spring months. This soil is subject nual precipitation ranges from 13 to 19 inches. Westplain
<br /> to frequent flooding in spring. silty clay loam, 0 to i percent slopes, makes up about 55
<br /> This soil is used for irrigated cropland and grazing. Al- percent of the mapping unit and Alda loam, 0 to 1 percent
<br /> falfa and corn are the main crops. slopes, about 35 percent. The Westplain soils are in
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