2002-04-24_REVISION - M1978283

• Permit No: M1978283
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 4/24/2002
• Doc Name: Conversion Application
• From: Walsenburg Sand & Gravel Inc.
• To: DMG
• Type & Sequence: CN1
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

~uerfano County Area, Colorado
Permeability of this Loberg soil is slow. Available water
capacity is low. Effective rooting depth is 60 inches or
more. Runoff is very rapid, and the hazard of water
erosion is very high.
This unit is used as woodland and for wildlife habitat
and recreation. The value of the unit for livestock grazing
is very limited because of the dense overstory.
The potential plant community is mainly Douglas-fir,
white fir, and some ponderosa pine and an understory of
kinnikinnick, common juniper, nodding bromegrass, and
elk sedge. The potential production of the native
understory vegetation in normal years is about 150
pounds of air-dry vegetation per acre.
The site index for Douglas-fir is about 56. This unit can
produce about 3,100 cubic feet or 13,000 board feet
(International rule) of timber per acre from a fully stocked
stand of even-aged trees 120 years old. This unit is
suited to limited production of Christmas trees. This high
value crop may be a viable economic alternative to the
production of sawtimber.
Conventional methods of harvesting timber can be
used; however, minimizing the risk of erosion is
essential. Proper design of road drainage systems and
care in the placement of culverts help to control erosion.
Spoil from excavations is subject to rill and gully erosion
•and to sloughing.
Roads and landings can be protected from erosion by
constructing water bars and by seeding cuts and fills.
Suitable seeding mixtures can include Manchar smooth
brome, orchardgrass, and intermediate wheatgrass. To
provide an adequate seedbed for reforestation, the
surface should be chiseled or otherwise disturbed.
Seeding late in tall helps to insure that soil moisture will
be adequate for the establishment of seedlings next
spring.
If this unit is used for homesite development, the main
limitations are slope in the steeper areas and shrink-
swell potential. The effects of shrinking and swelling can
be reduced by maintaining a constant moisture content
around the foundation. Backfilling with material that has
low shrink-swell potential can also reduce the effects of
shrinking and swelling.
Septic tank absorption fields of conventional size do
not function adequately because of the slow permeability
of the soil. Other kinds of sewage disposal systems may
be needed.
This map unit is in capability subclass Vle,
nonirrigated. It is in the Douglas-fir woodland site.
36-Louviers-Travessilla complex, 3 to 25 percent
slopes. This map unit is on ridges and side slopes of
dissected plateaus. The native vegetation is mainly
pinyon and juniper. Elevation is 6,300 to 7,500 feet. The
• average annual precipitation is 14 to 16 inches, the
average annual air temperature is 48 to 54 degrees F,
and the average frost-free period is 100 to 130 days.
This unit is about 45 percent Louviers very channery
clay loam and about 35 percent Travessilla channery
33
sandy loam. The Louviers soil is on side slopes, and the
Travessilla soil is on ridgetops. The components of this
unit are so intricately intermingled that it was not
practical to map them separately at the scale used.
Included in this unit is about 15 percent deep Noden
loam in drainageways and on foot slopes. Also included
are small areas of Rock outcrop of sandstone on the
steeper side slopes.
The Louviers soil is shallow and well drained. It formed
in residuum derived dominantly from clayey shale.
Typically, the surface layer is brown very channery clay
loam about 3 inches thick. The next layer is clay loam
about 7 inches thick. The substratum is clay loam about
6 inches thick. Soft shale is at a depth of 16 inches. The
soil is neutral throughout.
Permeability of the Louviers soil is slow. Available
water capacity is very low. Effective rooting depth is 10
to 20 inches. Runoff is very rapid, and the hazard of
water erosion is very high.
The Travessilla soil is shallow and well drained. It
formed in residuum derived dominantly from sandstone.
Typically, the surface layer is light brownish gray
channery sandy loam about 6 inches thick. The .
substratum is channery sandy loam about 9 inches thick.
Sandstone is at a depth of 15 inches. The soil is mildly
alkaline to a depth of 6 inches and moderately alkaline
below that depth.
Permeability of the Travessilla soil is moderately rapid.
Available water capacity is very low. Effective rooting
depth is 6 to 20 inches. Runoff is rapid, and the hazard
of water erosion is high to very high.
This unit is used as woodland and for livestock
grazing.
The potential plant community on this unit is mainly
pinyon and juniper and an understory of Indian ricegrass,
muttongrass, and sideoats grams. The potential
production of the native understory vegetation in normal
years is about 600 pounds of air-dry vegetation per acre.
Livestock grazing should be managed to protect the unit
from excessive erosion.
Woodland products such as firewood, fenceposts,
Christmas trees, and pinyon nuts are available on this
unit. Mature stands of trees can produce 6 to 8 cords of
firewood per acre if all trees are removed. Removing
standing dead trees and harvesting the green overstory
generally enhance reproduction and promote the growth
of grass and younger trees. Leaving high juniper stumps
with several small live branches promotes the. growth of
fencepost crop.
This unit is poorly suited to homesite development.
The main limitations on the side slopes are shallow
depth to shale, shrink-swell potential, and steepness of
slope. The main limitation on the ridgetops is shallow
depth to sandstone.
This map unit is in capability subclass Vlle,
nonirrigated. It is in the Pinyon-Juniper woodland site.
37-Louviers-Travessilla-Rock outcrop complex,
25 to 85 percent slopes. This map unit is on side