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1`,Z SOIL SURVEY
<br />single grained; loose when dry or moist; 60 percent
<br />cobbles and gravel; neutral.
<br />The A horizon is very dark grayish brown or dark brown.
<br />Content of cobbles and gravel ranges from 5 to 30 percent.
<br />Reaction is 6.1 to 7.3. The B horizon ranges from dark brown
<br />to yellowish broom. It is fine sandy clay loam, cobbly fine
<br />sandy clay loam, or gravelly sandy clay loam. Content of
<br />gravel and cobbles ranges from 10 to 30 percent. Reaction
<br />is 6.6 to 7.3.
<br />Cabin gravelly sandy loam, 9 to 25 percent slopes
<br />(CaE).-This soil is on mountains and terrace edges in
<br />the southern part of Chaffee County. Included with it
<br />in mapping are small areas of Pierian gravelly sandy
<br />loam and other Pierian sails.
<br />Surface runoff is medium, and the hazard of erosion
<br />is moderate. Most of the acreage of this soil is in na-
<br />tive range and is used for grazing and recreation.
<br />(Capability unit VIe-3, nonirrigated;~ntain Out-
<br />wash range site)
<br />Chaffee Series
<br />B2g-i6 to 40 inches, gray (5Y 5/1) fine sandy loam strati-
<br />fied with sandy loam and loamy sand; very dark
<br />gray (6Y 3/1) moist; common, large, distinct, very
<br />dark grayish-brown (2.6Y 3/2) and dark-brown
<br />(7.bYR 4/4) mottles; massive; hard, friable, non-
<br />sticky; common medium and fine roots; mildly
<br />alkaline; clear, wavy boundary.
<br />IICg-40 to 60 inches, sand, gravel, and cobbles.
<br />The A horizon ranges from black to very dark grayish
<br />brown. An organic mat, 1 to 3 inches thick, is on the surface
<br />in places. The B horizon is very dark gray or dark gray. A
<br />IIC horizon of sand, gravel, and cobbles is between depths
<br />of 90 and 60 inches in most places.
<br />Chaffee loam 1 to 3 ercent slopes (ChB).-This soil is
<br />on ong narrow o oms a ong a main rivers and
<br />streams in Chaffee County. Included with it in map-
<br />ping are small areas of Sawatch sandy loam and VVet
<br />alluvial land.
<br />Surface runoff is slow, old the hazard of erosion is
<br />slight. Most of the acreage of this soil is in irrigated
<br />meadow. A few fields are in alfalfa. (Capability unit
<br />IVw-1, irrigated)
<br />The Chaffee series consists of deep, poorly drained
<br />soils on stream bottoms. These soils formed in moder-
<br />ately coarse textured alluvium. Slopes range from 1 to
<br />3 percent. Elevation ranges from 7,000 to 8,500 feet.
<br />The plant cover is grasses, sedges, and rushes. The
<br />average annual precipitation is 11 to 15 inches. The
<br />average annual soil temperature is 4G° F., and the aver-
<br />age soil temperature in summer is 69°. The frost-free
<br />season is 75 to 110 days.
<br />In a representative profile the surface layer is very
<br />dark brown loam and very dark grayish-brown fine
<br />sandy loam, about 16 inches thick, that is mottled in
<br />the lower part. The subsoil is mottled, very dark gray
<br />fine sandy loam that is stratified with sandy loam and
<br />loamy sand and is about 24 inches thick. The substrat-
<br />um is sand, gravel, and cobbles. The soil is neutral in
<br />the surface layer and mildly alkaline below that depth.
<br />Permeability in these soils is moderate, and the avail-
<br />able water capacity is moderate. Effective rooting depth
<br />is 60 inches or more. Seasonal high water table rises to
<br />within a depth of 1 foot.
<br />Most of the acreage of these soils is used for grass
<br />meadows. A few fields are in alfalfa.
<br />Representative profile of Chaffee loam, 1 to 3 per-
<br />cent slopes, 600 feet south and 200 feet east of the
<br />northwest corner of sec. 12, T. 49 N., R. 8 E., Chaffee
<br />County:
<br />All-0 to 9 inches, dark grayish-brown (lOYR 4/2) loam;
<br />eery dark brown (lOTR 2/2) moist; weak, fine,
<br />granular structure; slightly hard, friable, non-
<br />sticky; many fine roots; highly organic; large per-
<br />centage of mica flakes; slightly calcareous; neutral;
<br />clear, smooth boundary.
<br />A12g--4 to 11 inches, dark grayish-brown (lOYR 9/2) loam;
<br />very dark brown (lOYR 2/2} moist; common, fine,
<br />distinct, dark-brown (i.SYR 4/4) mottles; weak,
<br />eery fine, subangular blocky structure; slightly
<br />hard, friable, slightly sticky; many fine roots; many
<br />mica flakes; slightly calcareous in spots; neutral;
<br />gradual, smooth boundary.
<br />A13g-11 to 30 inches, grayish-brown (2.5Y 5/2) fine sandy
<br />loam; very dark grayish brown (2.SYR 3/2) moist;
<br />many, medium, distinct, dark-brown (7.5]'R 4/4)
<br />mottles; weak, medium and fine, subangular blocky
<br />structure; hard, friable, nonsticky; many fine and
<br />medium roots; many mica flakes; neutral; gradual,
<br />wavy boundary.
<br />Collegiate Series
<br />The Collegiate series consists of somewhat poorly
<br />drained soils on broad lo~v terraces. These soils are
<br />moderately deep over gravel and cobbles. They formed
<br />in moderately coarse textured alluvium. Slopes range
<br />from 1 to 3 percent. Elevation ranges from 7,000 to
<br />8,500 feet. The plant cover is water-tolerant grasses
<br />and sedges. The average annual precipitation is I1 to
<br />15 inches. The average annual soil temperature is 46°
<br />F., and the average soil temperature in summer is 64°.
<br />The frost-free season is 75 to 110 days.
<br />In a representative profile the surface layer is cov-
<br />ered by a 2-inch mat of organic material. The surface
<br />layer, about 3G inches thick, is very dark grayish
<br />brown. The upper 4 inches is loam, and the lower 32
<br />inches is sandy clay loam and sandy loam that is mot-
<br />tled' in the lower part. The substratum is gravel and
<br />cobbles; it extends to a depth of 60 inches or more.
<br />The soil is neutral to a depth of about 9 inches and is
<br />mildly alkaline below that depth.
<br />Permeability in these soils is moderate, and the avail-
<br />able water capacity is moderate. Effective rooting
<br />depth is 60 inches or more. A seasonal high water
<br />table is at a depth of 2 to 3 feet.
<br />All the acreage of these soils is irrigated. Most of the
<br />acreage is in plants that are cut for hay but are also
<br />grazed early and late in the growing season. A few
<br />small fields are planted to oats and barley.
<br />Representative profile of Collegiate loam, 1 to 3 per-
<br />cent slopes, in a grass meadow 360 feet east of steel
<br />gate then 220 feet north ill the S~5'1/} sec. 26, T. 15 S.,
<br />R. 78 W.,~ Chaffee County
<br />Ol-2 inches to 0, fibrous organic mat containing more than
<br />30 percent organic matter.
<br />Al]-0 to 4 inches, dark grayish-brown (lOYR 9/2) loam;
<br />eery dark grayish browm (SOYR 3/2) moist; moder-
<br />ate, fine, granular structure; soft, friable, slightly
<br />sticky; many fine roots; neutral; clear, smooth
<br />boundary.
<br />A12-9 to 9 inches, dark grayish-brown (lOYR 4/2) light
<br />sandy clay loam; very dark grayish brown (lOYR
<br />3/2) moist; moderate, fine and very fine, subangu-
<br />lar blocky structure; hard, triable, slightly sticky;
<br />neutral; clear, smooth boundary.
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