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<br />17-Breece loam, 1 to 6 percent slopes. This is a
<br />deep, well drained soil. It formed in alluvial material and
<br />is on alluvial fans, flood plains, and terraces. Elevation
<br />ranges from 6,000 to 7,500 feet. Average annual precipi-
<br />tation is about 20 inches, average annual air temperature
<br />is about 40 degrees F, and the average frost-tree
<br />season is about 90 days. ,
<br />Typically the surface layer is dark brown loam about
<br />19 inches thick. The upper part of the underlying materi-
<br />al is pale brown sandy loam about 11 inches thick. The
<br />lower part, to a depth of 60 inches, is pale brown sandy
<br />loam that has a few fine, faint, yellowish brown mottles.
<br />Permeability is rapid, and available water capacity is
<br />moderate. Effective rooting depth is about 55 inches.
<br />Surface runoff is medium. The hazard of erosion from
<br />wind is slight and from water is moderate. The water
<br />table is at a depth of 3 to 6 feet.
<br />Included with this soil in mapping are a few small
<br />areas of Fughes and Curecanti soils. Also included are
<br />some areas of wet alluvial land. In some areas the sur-
<br />face layer is sandy loam or light clay loam. Also included
<br />are areas of extremely gravelly and cobbly soils.
<br />The native vegetation on this soil consists mainly of
<br />western wheatgrass, brome, sedges, big sagebrush, ser-
<br />viceberry, and cottonwood trees.
<br />Mos: areas of this soil are used for irrigated crops,
<br />mainly hay and pasture.
<br />This soil is suited to all of the crops commonly grown
<br />in the survey area. Shortness of the growing season may
<br />limit yields and the choice of croos. Care is necessary to
<br />prevent wind and water erosion. Maintaining the content
<br />of organic matter is important. The soil can be used for
<br />continuous row craps, or it can be planted to close-
<br />growing crops about one-fourth of the time. Because this
<br />soil is coarse textured, frequent application of irrigation
<br />water is necessary. Using green manure crops, returning
<br />crop residue to the soil, good management of irrigation
<br />water, using grasses and legumes in rotation, land level-
<br />ing, and minimum tillage help to maintain organic matter
<br />content and control erosion.
<br />This soil can be used for irrigated pasture and hay
<br />crops. It is well suited to alfalfa, smooth brome, orchard-
<br />grass, and clover. Irrigation can be done by contour
<br />ditch, corrugation, and furrow methods.
<br />Because annual precipitation is low and has poor sea-
<br />sonal distribution, this soil is not suited to nonirrigated
<br />crops. However, nonirrigated pasture grasses can be
<br />planted late in summer and in fall to protect the soil from
<br />erosion and to provide grazing for livestock, if proper
<br />pasture management is practiced. Crested wheatgrass,
<br />intermediate wheatgrass, and smooth brome are adapt-
<br />ed species.
<br />The potential plant community on this soil consists
<br />mainly of western wheatgrass and basin wildrye. As
<br />range condition deteriorates, western wheatgrass de-
<br />creases, fortis and woody shrubs increase, and undesira-
<br />ble weeds and annual plants invade and become more
<br />abundant.
<br />Seeding is advisable it range is in poor condition.
<br />Western wheatgrass, basin wildrye, and slender wheat-
<br />grass are suitable for seeding. Grasses that meet the
<br />seasonal requirements of livestock should be selected.
<br />Preparing a seedbed and drilling the seed help to obtain
<br />the best results. On some sites control of competing
<br />shrubs is required to improve range condition. Fencing of
<br />seeded areas is required, because this soil is more pro-
<br />ductive and is in a lower position than adjacent soils and
<br />generally has the stockwater supply for adjacent soils.
<br />stockwater developments may be required.
<br />This soil is in productive, low-lying areas that receive
<br />additional moisture from adjacent soils on uplands. It is
<br />used for winter range by mule deer and has potential for
<br />development of shrub plantings and food plots.
<br />If this soil is used for urban development, the main
<br />limitation is depth to the water table. This limitation can
<br />be overcome by the use of proper design and constru;,-
<br />tion methods.
<br />This soil is in capability subclasses IVe, irrigated, and
<br />Vle, nonirrigated.
<br />29-Cryoborolls, very stony. The steep soils in this
<br />broadly detined unit are on uplands in the Muddy Creek
<br />and Anthracite Creek drainageways. The soils vary in
<br />texture but generally are stony. The mapped areas com-
<br />monly are dissected by intermittent drainageways. Areas
<br />of deep soils are interspersed with areas where the soil
<br />material is shallow to bedrock. Outcrops of sandstone or
<br />shale bedrock are common. Slopes are more than 40
<br />percent.
<br />Included with these soils in mapping are small areas of
<br />Fughes, Curecanti, and Cochetopa soils. Small slips or
<br />landslides are common on steeper slopes.
<br />Surface runoff is rapid, and the hazard of erosion is
<br />high.
<br />The native vegetation consists mainly of conifer
<br />timber, aspen, Gambel oak, serviceberry, and adapted
<br />grasses. Colorado blue spruce, Douglas-fir, and ponder-
<br />osa pine are the most common conifers. These soils are
<br />used far wildlife habitat, recreational purposes, timber,
<br />and limited grazing.
<br />It these soils are used for urban development, the
<br />main limitations are slope and stoniness. These limita-
<br />tions are difficult or impractical to overcome.
<br />These soils are in capability subclass Vlle, nonirrigat-
<br />ed.
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