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86 SOIL SURVEY tected at all times by utilization of mulches and vegeta- tive cover to keep sail blowing to a minimum. Capability subclass IVe irrigated, VIe nonirrigated. ]]9-Valent sand, 15 to d0 percent slopes. This is a deep, excessively drained soil on upland sandhills. It formed in noncalcareous, eolian sand deposits and is ex- tensive in the sandhill area that parallels the South Platte River on the south. The average annual precipitation ranges from 13 to 19 inches. Slopes are hilly with steep abrupt slopes on the windwazd side. Included are small azeas of blowouts and very sparsely vegetated steep ridges, and azeas of Valent loamy sand, 3 to 15 percent slopes. Typically the surface layer is grayish brown loamy sand about 3 inches thick. The underlying layers aze brown and pale brown loamy sand and fine sand that extends to 60 inches or more. Permeability is rapid. Effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more. Available water capacity is low. Surface runoff is slow, the erosion hazazd is slight, and the soil blowing hazard is very high. All of this soil is used for grazing. It is unsuited for cropLmd because of slope, low available water capacity and very high soil blowing hazard. The rangeland vegetation consists mainly of sand reedgrass, sand bluestem, sand dropseed, needle- andthread, blue grama, sandhill muhly and Indian recegrass. Careful grazing management is essential on this soil to prevent overgrazing because a serious soil blowing problem can result when the protective plant cover is destroyed. Livestock watering places should not be located on these soils because they create destructive con- centrations of animals causing depletion of rangeland cover. Range seeding is not practical on this soil because of the very high soil blowing hazard. Fencing aids in pro- tecting and facilitating grazing management on areas of this soil. Windbreak and environmental plantings aze generally not suited to this soil because of the very high soil blow- ing hazard, low available water capacity and lack of ir- rigation water. Wildlife is limited because of limited food and cover. Habitat can be improved by fencing and controlled graz- ing. Where this soil is used for homesites and other wban developments, the primary limiting soil features are slope and severe soil blowing. Intensive and costly compensat- ing measwes aze needed to minimize these limiting soil featwes. Capability subclass VIIe nonirrigated. 115-Valent loamy sand, 3 to 15 percent slopes. This is a deep, excessively drained soil on upland sandhills. It formed in noncalcareous, eolian sand deposits and is ex- tensive in the sandhill'area that parallels the South Platte River on the south. The average annual precipitation ranges from 13 to 19 inches. Slopes are gently rolling to strongly rolling. Included in this unit are small areas of Dailey loamy sand and Julesburg loamy sand, both having slopes of 3 to 9 percent. Typically the surface layer is grayish brown loamy sand about 3 inches thick. The underlying layers aze brown and pale brown loamy sand and fine sand that extend to 60 inches or more. Permeability is very rapid. Effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more. Available water capacity is low. Sur- face runoff is slow, the soil blowing hazard is high, and the erosion hazazd is slight. This soil is used principally for grazing. Some small iso- lated areas are used for irrigated cropland. Rangeland vegetation on this soil consists mainly of sand bluestem, switchgrass, sand reedgrass, little bluestem, sideoats grama, sedge, needleandthread, sand dropseed and blue grama. These grasses furnish most of the forage. Sand sagebrush is scattered in the vegetation. Grazing management must be aimed at the maintenance or improvement of range condition through proper graz- ing use. Without management of grazing, the plant cover loses the tall productive grasses. Deferred grazing is highly effective in management systems for livestock use. Brush management is needed in azeas where sand sagebrush forms a dense stand because of continued heavy grazing use. Seeding is essential if severely depleted azeas develop. Fencing and livestock watering places aid in obtaining more uniform distribution of graz- ing. Care must be taken not to locate water developments in places where serious soil blowing can result. Windbreak and endvonmental plantings aze generally not suited to this soil because of the low available water capacity, lack of irrigation water and high soil blowing hazard. Rangeland wildlife, such as antelope, cottontail rabbit and coyote, are best adapted on this soil Proper grazing management is necessary if wildlife and livestock share the range. Watering developments aze also important and are utilized by various wildlife species. Where this soil is under irrigation, openland wildlife can be encouraged if food and cover are provided through various means of wildlife development. This soil is well suited far the construction of homesites and other wban developments, with only minor limita- tions that can be easily modified. Where the soil is con- sidered for a sewage lagoon system, special sealing methods will be required to overcome excessive seepage. Special engineering designs will be needed in order to compensate for slopes greater than 7 percent. During con- struction, special caze, such as use of mulches, is needed to protect soil from blowing. Capability subclass VIe nonirrigated, VIe irrigated. 116-Vona loamy sand, 3 to 9 percent slopes. This is a deep, well drained soil on upland ridges and hills. It formed in calcareous, eolian sandy materials. It is exten- sive in the southwestern part of the county. The average annual precipitation ranges from 13 to 15 inches. Slopes are moderately sloping to strongly sloping. Included are small areas of Vona sandy loam and Manter sandy loam, both having slopes of 5 to 9 percent.