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<br />Golden Area, Colorado
<br />d. Soil blowing is a slight hazard. The depth to
<br />ck ranges from 10 to 40 inches. The shrink-s ell
<br />fiat is low to moderate. Rock Iragments mak up 5
<br />percent of the volume.
<br />Th soils in this map unit are used mainly for razing,
<br />'s hab al for wildlife and as recreation areas, nd for
<br />ommu 'ty development. In some places th soils are
<br />excavate and the bedrock is mined as a s urce of clay.
<br />The nati a vegetation is mainly sideoat grama, little
<br />,lueslem, unlainmahogany, and junip .The average
<br />nnual produ lion of air-dry vegetation nges from 300
<br />to 700 pounds er acre. Proper grazin use and a
<br />tanned grazin system are needed maintain the
<br />uglily and quan y of the desirable lams and to
<br />revent erosion. eding speeds a revegetation of
<br />areas depleted by avy grazing cultivation, or other
<br />islurbances. Mecha ical treat ent is not practical
<br />ecause the surface i stony d the slopes are steep.
<br />The main concerns i esta fishing and maintaining
<br />rasses, shrubs, trees a rden plants on these soils
<br />~re slope, depth to rock, d large stones. Planting on
<br />e contour helps to con a moisture and reduce
<br />erosion. A mulch is nec ssa to establish plantings on
<br />teep cut and fill slop . Peb sand cobbles in
<br />~sturbed areas shou be rem ed from the surface for
<br />st results in land aping, parti lady for lawns. Deep
<br />cuts made in land rading should e covered with a
<br />~er of topsoil. S pplemental irriga'on is needed at the
<br />e of planting nd during dry perio
<br />These soils re limited for homesite evelopment by
<br />~pth to rock nd slope. The deep cut needed to
<br />ovide a s ficiently level building site c n expose
<br />Brock. T e hazard of erosion is increas d if the soil is
<br />left expo d during construction. The stee ess of
<br />~opes i a concern in installing septic lank sorption
<br />Ids. bsorption lines should be installed on he
<br />nto r. Effluent from absorption fields can su ce
<br />Bow slope and create a health hazard.
<br />giustolls, loamy, are in capability subclass Vle, in the
<br />allow Foothill range site, and in plant adaptability
<br />oup F-7.
<br />~5-Argiustolls-Rock outcrop complex, 15 to 60
<br />rcent slopes. The areas of this complex are on hill
<br />slopes and escarpments. They are mainly on the
<br />~gback of the Dakota and Morrison Formations and on
<br />e slopes of the mountain front. The average annual
<br />ecipitation is 15 to 17 inches, the average annual air
<br />temperature is 47° F, and the average frost-free season
<br />' 126 to 142 days. Elevation is 5,600 to 6,500 feet.
<br />This complex is 65 percent Argiustolls and 20 percent
<br />Rock outcrop. Argiustolls are on hill slopes, and Rock
<br />tcrop is on ridge crests and shoulders and in eroded
<br />as. The areas of Argiustolls and of Rock outcrop are
<br />intricately intermingled that it was not practical to map
<br />diem separately al the scale used in mapping.
<br />1s
<br />Included in mapping are small areas of Ascalon soils
<br />on hill slopes and tans and small areas of Urban land. In
<br />a few of the mapped areas there is no Rock outcrop.
<br />The included soils and Urban land make up about 15
<br />percent of the total acreage of the complex.
<br />The Argiustolls are shallow to deep and well drained.
<br />They formed in stony, loamy cblluvium derived
<br />dominantly from sedimentary rocks.
<br />The Argiustolls are highly variable in depth, color,
<br />percent of rock fragments; and reaction. However, the
<br />surface layer commonly is dark colored stony sandy
<br />loam or very stony sandy loam. The subsoil commonly is
<br />very gravelly sandy loam or very gravelly sandy clay
<br />loam. ,.. ,:
<br />Permeability of.the Argiustolls is moderately rapid. The
<br />available water capacity is low to high. The effective
<br />rooting depth is 10 to 60 inches or more. Runoff is rapid,
<br />and water erosion is a severe hazard. Soil blowing is a
<br />slight hazard. The depth to soft or hard bedrock ranges
<br />Irom 10 l0 60 inches or more. The shrink-swell potential
<br />commonly is low. Rock fragments make up 10 to 70
<br />percent of the volume.
<br />Rock outcrop consists of areas where sedimentary
<br />rocks are exposed and talus and large boulders are on
<br />the surface. In areas of Rock outcrop, runoff is rapid, but
<br />water erosion is only a slight to moderate hazard.
<br />In most places, the soils in this complex are used
<br />mainly as recreation areas, as habitat for wildlife, as
<br />pasture, and for grazing. In a few places, they are used
<br />for community development.
<br />The native vegetation is mainly Rocky Mountain
<br />juniper, mountainmahogany, Griffith wheatgrass, and big
<br />bluestem. The average annual production of air-dry
<br />vegetation ranges from 900 to 1,500 pounds per acre.
<br />Proper grazing use and a planned grazing system are
<br />needed to maintain the quality and quantity of the
<br />desirable plants and to prevent erosion. Periodic
<br />deferment of grazing during the growing season helps
<br />maintain or improve the range condition. The soils are
<br />difficult to revegetate; therefore, proper grazing use is
<br />needed to prevent depletion. The steepness of slopes
<br />limits access by livestock and promotes overgrazing of
<br />the less sloping areas. Small pastures commonly are
<br />severely overgrazed and eroded. Livestock in small
<br />pastures should be kept in pens. The rest of the pasture
<br />can be used as exercise areas and for very limited
<br />grazing.
<br />Grasses, shrubs, trees, and garden plants are difficult
<br />to establish and maintain on these soils because of
<br />slope, depth to rock, and large stones. A mulch of plant
<br />residue reduces runoff, improves soil tilth, and conserves
<br />moisture. Applications of manure and commercial
<br />fertilizers that contain nitrogen and phosphorus are
<br />needed to maintain fertility. Selecting adapted plants is
<br />necessary in establishing plantings. Planting on the
<br />contour helps to conserve moisture and reduce erosion.
<br />Pebbles and cobbles should be removed from the
<br />
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