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RIFLE AREA, COLORADO
<br />
<br />underlain by and formed in material weathered from
<br />'Green River shale and Uinta sandstone. Anrnial precipi-
<br />tation is about 20 Inches. and average annual tempera-
<br />~ture is about 40 degrees F.
<br />This map unit covers about t6 percent of the survey
<br />area, or approximately 100,000 acres. The unit is about
<br />30 percent Parachute soils, 30 percent Rhone soils, 20
<br />~ ercent Irigul sods, 15 percent Northwater soils, and 5
<br />ercent soils of minor extent.
<br />Parachute soils are on ridges and mountainsides. They
<br />~re moderately deep and well drained. The surface laver
<br />loam, and the subsoil is loam that grades to extremely
<br />~hannery loam. Bedrock is sandstone.
<br />Rhone soils are on mountainsides. They are deep and
<br />ell drained. The surface layer is loan? in the upper part
<br />nd sandy clay loam rn the lower part. Ttte substratum is
<br />very channery sandy clay loam.
<br />Irigul soils are on crests and sides of ridges. They are
<br />allow and well drained. The surface layer is channery
<br />am, and the substratum is extremely channery sandy
<br />c ay loam. Bedrock is sandstone.
<br />This unit is used entirely for grazing and wildlife habi-
<br />t. It is poorly suited to other uses. It is grazed mainly
<br />rom early summer to early tall. This unit is well suited to
<br />.v ditto habitat. Deer, elk. mountain lion, grouse, rabbits,
<br />~a squirrels are common.
<br />?. Rock outcrop-Torriorthents
<br />~ck outcrop and moderately deep and sha0ow, well
<br />arned, very steep and extremely sleep sot/s on escarp-
<br />nents and mountains
<br />his map unit is in the northwestern part of the survey
<br />~a below the Roan Plateau from the escarpment
<br />:dges down to the toe slope. Average annua! precipita-
<br />is about 14 inches, and average annual temperature
<br />bout 46 degrees F.
<br />his map unit covers about 5 percent of the survey
<br />rea, or approximately 30,000 acres. This unit is about
<br />',percent Rock outcrop. 40 percent Torriorthents, and
<br />ercent soils of minor extent.
<br />-rock outcrop is on the nearly ver!ical cliffs from the
<br />n of the Roan Plateau to the talus slopes below. tt
<br />~sists o1 exposures oI r,halc of the l,rucn River Fvr-
<br />on. This shale is locally known ns "nil tihalr• "
<br />TomorlhunL•, nro un th.• cnlluvLJ ~.h ,p,~:. h.duw Ili.:
<br />'+ k Outcrop. They arc rnurbrrately deep and shallow
<br />arc well drained. Th~:y am duyry W lomnv anrf
<br />ain vanablc amounts of yravcl, cabbies, and stones.
<br />This Unit is used pnmanly for gm:nul anti wlldldr hahl-
<br />~7tainly on the toe slopes where browse plants and
<br />J~ grasses grow. The deer and elk Iced at the lower
<br />:vations in winter. Sage grouse, mountain lion, rabbits,
<br />t Coyotes also find habnat on this unit There has
<br />limited mining of •'od shale" from Ure Rock outcrop.
<br />mercial development is extremely limted.
<br />X33Bc
<br />3. Arvada-Torritluvents-Heldt
<br />Deep, rveJl drained !o semarvha! pour/y drained nearer
<br />level to geode sloping end-s nn benches, terraces, a!l,:v,,;:
<br />laps. and 1/oo.r plains
<br />This map unit is In the central part of the survey aria.
<br />The soils formed m mixed alluvium. P.verape annum orl~-
<br />ciprtauon is about t3 Inches, and average annu,d ter„-
<br />perature is about 48 deyrees F.
<br />This map unit covers about 6 percent of the su•vc:•
<br />area, or appro~imat~~iy 47.000 acres. This wan Is anon:
<br />40 percent Arvada soils, 20 percent TorrdluvenL. 20
<br />percent Heldt sods, and 20 percent srnls o1 minor pxa ant
<br />Arvada stalls are on benches, terraces, and tan; 'they
<br />are deep. •rrell drained, and alkali aliectc•d. The surface
<br />layer is loam, the subsoil ~s strongly alhahne silty clav
<br />loam, and the substratum Is silty clay foam.
<br />Torritluvents are on flood plains and low terr=.o°=.
<br />They are deep and well drained to somewnat pc~i r~
<br />drained. They are sandy loam or loam stratltied wl;h
<br />sand, gravel, or cobbles.
<br />Heldt soils are on alluvial fans. They are deep and v..:!.
<br />drained. The surface layer and subsoil are clay Iv. ^..
<br />and the substratum is clay
<br />Minor in this unit are Nihill, Kim, and Olney sere.
<br />These soils are deep and well drained.
<br />This unit is used for irrigated crops, grazing, 2nd v.•dv'
<br />fife habitat. Most of the irrigated crops are on the Heldt
<br />soils. The major crops are alfalfa, small grains, and irri-
<br />gated pasture. The suitability of the Arvada soils ter
<br />irrigated crops is poor because of the strongly saline-
<br />alkali condition and slow permeability. The suifabihty of
<br />Torritluvents for Irrigation and most otner uses is poor
<br />because of flooding and a hioh water table. This unit has
<br />poor suitah,!ity for ccn-~muniry dcveiopm~ct b~:,au;e of
<br />flooding, hiGh shrink-swell potential, and salinity and
<br />alkalinity. It has fair suitability for upland wild4fe habitat.
<br />Torritluvents have fair suitability for wetland wildlife habi-
<br />tat.
<br />4. Torriorthents-Rock outcrop-Camborthids
<br />Dominantly shattow 1o deep, n•hl/ dr~lned, staE'p to r'a
<br />fn ~mcly str•cp a,n/s, anJ F;. +;:F <~cr(.~rop, on mnunl.rc-:..
<br />1.'vrs, and ndU, ~~'
<br />I hc. n6il, nett c. Iluvu,lhuul Ilu~ ••wvrv :ur'a Ihr ~. •d•.
<br />formed ui s;lndsuun• aunt i,l.::h• nv, •r;in am w.d In, r Ian
<br />lalnm e, ;ihuul I•f inch,.,,. and uvcrauc ;innusd 1cmUr:c:~
<br />turn is about •1/ dc,tn7os F
<br />I hr.: neap lmd wvr:c: ;d~ind
<br />area. or approwmalcly 7;;0,000 acres. This
<br />50 percent Torriorthents, 20 percent Rock
<br />unit is aC`
<br />OuICrOp.
<br />percent Camborthids. and 70 percent soils o' minor
<br />extent.
<br />Torriorthcnis aru on steep and very steep mountain-
<br />sides and steep fans. They are shallow and moderateh
<br />~U nCrCi n1 of 111•_ >I:roic
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