2002-12-30_PERMIT FILE - M2002122

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11-Feltonia-Coutis sandy loams, 6 to 15 percent slopes. This complex is on fans and terraces. Elevation is between 7,800 to 8.500 feet. The average annual precipitation is 14 to 17 inches, the average annual air temperature is 40 to 44 degrees F, and frost -free season is 55 to 75 days. The Feltonia soil makes up 50 percent of this complex, and the Coutis soil makes up 35 percent. The Feltonia soil is on the tops of rolling terraces, and the Coutis soil is on foot slopes along drainageways. Included with this complex in mapping are areas of Silvercliff cobbly sandy loam along terraces edges. They make up about 15 percent of the complex. The Feltonia soil is deep and well drained. It formed in alluvium. Typically, the surface layer is grayish brown sandy loam 8 inches thick. The subsoil is dark grayish brown gravelly sandy loam 11 inches thick. The substratum is light brownish gray gravelly sandy loam in the upper 13 inches and is white very gravelly sandy loam to a depth of 60 inches or more. The soil is mildly alkaline to a depth of 19 inches and moderately alkaline and calcareous below that depth. Permeability of this Feltonia soil as moderate, and the available water capacity as low. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more. Root growth is somewhat restricted by the high content of calcium carbonate at a depth of more than 32 inches. Surface is medium, and the hazard of erosion is high to very high. The Coutis soil is deep and well drained. It formed in alluvium and colluvium. Typically, the surface layer is dark brown sandy loam 11 inches thick. The underlying material is dark brown sandy loam 37 inches thick. The substratum is brown gravelly loam to a depth of 60 inches or more. The soil is slightly acid to a depth of 11 inches and neutral below that depth. Permeability of the Coutis soil is moderately rapid, and the available water capacity is moderate. The effective rooting depth is 60 inches or more. Surface runoff is medium, and the hazard of erosion is high. Most of the acreage of this complex is rangeland. The potential native vegetation is mainly needleandthread, western wheatgrass, Arizona fescue, and mountain muhly. As the range deteriorates, blue grama, gray horsebrush, sleepygrass, slimstem muhly, rabbitbrush, and snakeweed increase. Renovating and using a planned grazing system and cross fencing help to prevent range deterioration and promote the production of the more desirable plant species. In renovating, seed should be drilled into awell-prepared, firm, weed-free seedbed. The main limitation for homesites is slope. Designs need to be modified for septic tank absorption fields. Good ground cover should be maintained during construction to limit the risk of erosion. The Coutis soil is a good source of topsoil.