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J -Water I 4lildlife Information Soils Vegetation Informati 24-Illx-Altvan complex, 9 l0 25 percent slopes. These strongly sloping to moderately steep soils are on gravelly uplands in the northern part of the county. The average annual precipitation ranges Cram 17 to 19 inches. Uix gravelly sandy loam, 16 to 26 percent slopes, makes up about 50 percent of the mapping unit, and Altvan Bandy loam, 9 to 25 percent slopes, about 80 percent. The Uix soils are on the steeper crests and ridges. The Altvan evil is at midslope. About 20 percent of this unit is Chappell sandy loam, 3 to 6 percent slopes, Eckley sandy bam, 16 to 25 percent elopes, and Wages loam, 5 to 9 percent slopes. The Chap- pell soils are on narrow elongated drainageways and fans, Eckley soils are on ridge crests, and the Wages soils are on foot slope positions. The Dix soil is a deep, somewhat excessively drained soil. It formed in very gravelly alluvial deposits o[ the Ogallala Formation. Typically the surface layer is a dark grayish brown gravelly sandy loam about 4 inches thick. 7'he subsoil is a dark grayish brown gravelly coarse sanrl,y loam about 14 inches thick. The substratum is a reddish yellow coarse Band and gravel to a depth vt fi0 inches or more. Permeability is rapid. Effective rooting depth is f,0 inches or more. Available water capacity is low. Surface runoff is rapid, and the erosion hazard is high. The Altvan soil is a deep, well drained soil. It formed in calcareous, loamy alluvial and eolian deposits underlain by Band and gravel. Typically the surface layer is a dark grayish brown sandy loam about 6 inches thick. The subsoil is a dark grayish brown heavy sandy loam and sandy clay loam about 18 inches thick. The substratum is light hrownish gray, calcareous sandy clay loam about IS inches thick over light brawn coarse sand and gravel that extends to 60 inches or more. Permeability is moderate. Effective rooting depth is fi0 inches or more. Available water capacity is moderate. Surface runoff ie medium, and the erosion hazard is moderate. These soils are used almost entirely for grazing. They are not euited to cropland because of the low available water capacity of the Uix soil, the slope, and the erosion hazard. Small isolated areas are used [or nonirrigated cropland, but are best seeded back to grass. Rangeland vegetation of the Uix soil consists mainly of blue grams, aide-oats grams, little bluestem, and sedge. Rangeland vegetation of the Altvan soil consists mainly of blue grams, buffalograss, western wheatgrass, and sedge. Proper grazing use and planned grazing systems ere the most important management practices to maintain quantity and quality of desirable vegetation. Combina- tions o[ stockwater development, fencing and deterred grazing during the grazing season help improve and main- tain range condition. Range seeding will speed the revegetation of areas depleted by heavy grazing, cultiva- tion or other disturbances. Contour furrowing end pitting ere practices that improve water infiltration and reduce runoff and are especially effective on rangeland areas in poor and fa'v condition of the Altvan soil. Windbreaks and environmental plantings are difficult to establish on these soils. Limited available water capaci- ty, depth to sand and gravel, and slope are the principal concerns in establishing tree and shrub plantings. Special care consisting of summer fallow a year in advance of plantings, planting nn the contour, continued cultivation for weed control, and supplemental water is needed to in- sure establishment and survival of plantings. Trees best euited end having good survival are Rocky Mountain ju- niper, eastern redcedar, ponderosa pine and Siberian elm. Shrubs beat adapted are skunkbuah sumac and lilac. Rangeland wildlife such as antebpe, cottontail and coyote are best adapted nn these soils. The relief, naGrral springs and native vegetation provide food and cover. Areas of these soils provide sites that can be readily developed end managed for wildlife. Proper livestock grazing management is necessary if livestock and wildlife afiare the range. Watering facilities are also important and are utilized by various wildlife species. The position of these soils in relationship to cropland makes it valuable as escape cover areas for openland wildlife, especially pheasants. Slope is the primary limiting soil feature where these soils are used for homesites or other urban developments. Tntensive engineering designs and measures are needed to minimize the slope limitations. Where the soils are con- sidered tar a sewage lagoon system, special sealing methods are required to overcome excessive seepage. Capability subclass Vle nonirrigated. EX4IBITS G, H, I, J