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<br />CHAFFEE-LAI:E AREA, COLORADO
<br />Peat
<br />Peat (Pe) is a level to nearly level land type that
<br />:- occurs in small areas throughout Challlfg and Lake
<br />Counties. Moat of the acreage is along flat bottoms,
<br />"abut some of it is in swalea on terraces.
<br />This mapping unit ie very poorly drained and hoe a
<br />`- high water table at the surface throughout moat of
<br />". the year. It consists of fibrous matter derived from
<br />rushes, sedges, grasses, and other plants that decayed
<br />•, in place. The thickness of this material ranges from 1
<br />foot to more than 6 feet. The underlying material gen-
<br />+_: erally ie stratified, grayish-green sand and gravel.
<br />Because of excess water on the surface, Peat gen-
<br />''~' erally cannot be grazed in spring and summer but ie
<br />` " grazed in fall when the water table has fallen. Improv-
<br />~' ing drainage generally is not feasible. A few areas are
<br />used ae a source of commercial peat moss. Peat is also
<br />used as wildlife habitat. (Capability unit V1IIw-1,
<br />'I' nonirrigated)
<br />Pierian Series
<br />F The~~eriea consists of excessively drained
<br />.,•~;' soils on high terraces. These soils are very shallow to
<br />,,;;fie shallow over stones, boulders, and cobbles. They formed
<br />_ in stony and cobbly, coarse-textured outwash. Slopes
<br />V range from 3 to 4b percent. Elevation ranges from
<br />I 8,200 to 9,600 feet. The plant cover is cool-season
<br />grasses such as Arizona fescue, needlegrass, and moun-
<br />twin muhly. The average annual precipitation is 16 to
<br />i%fiii? 20 inches. The average annual soil temperature is
<br />38° F., and the average soil temperature in summer
<br />i~' is 63°. The frost-free season is 26 to 60 days.
<br />In a represenL•+tive profile the surface Ixyer is dark-
<br />brown gravelly sandy loam about 5 inches thick. Stones
<br />{ and boulders on the surface range from a few to 2b
<br />percent. The underlying layer is dark-brown gravelly
<br />sandy loam about 4 inches Lhick. Boulders, stones,
<br />cobbles, gravel, and Band are present from a depth of 9
<br />inches to a depth of 60 Inches or more. The soil is
<br />. •;, slightly acid to a depth of 6 inches and neutral below
<br />that depth.
<br />Permeability in these soils is very rapid, and the
<br />,; available water capacity is low. Effective rooting depth
<br />is +i0 inches or more.
<br />Moat of the acreage of these voile is in native range
<br />and is used for grazing and recreation.
<br />Representative profile of Pierian gravelly sandy
<br />', loam, 3 to 9 percent slopes, in native grass, 0,25 mile
<br />west on left hand fork off of Chaffee County Road
<br />ado. 69 in SWt/.~ sea 36, R. 79 W., T. 11 S., Chaffee
<br />Al-0 to 6 inches, dark-brown (7.6YR 4/~) gravelly sandy
<br />loom; dark brown (7.6YR 3/2) moist; very weak,
<br />medium, eubangular blocky structure parting to
<br />moderate, fine, granular; slightly hard, friable,
<br />nonstirky; common tine end medium roots; slightly
<br />acid; clear, smooth boundary.
<br />AC-6 l0 9 incbea, brown 1T.6YR 6/2) gravelly Bandy loam;
<br />dark brown (7.6YR S/2) moist; weak, coarse, sub-
<br />angular blocky structure; wft, very friable, non-
<br />aticky; 60 parcent gravel, atones, and boulders;
<br />neutral; gradual, wavy boundary.
<br />C-6 to 60 inches, mixed igneous atones, boulders, cobbles,
<br />gravel, and sand.
<br />The A horizon ranges from dark brown to very dark gra
<br />Ish brown. Resetion is 8.1 to 7.3. Content of gravel a
<br />cobblers raaeea from 40 to TO percent. Depth to mixed atom
<br />bouklera, co bles, gmvel, and sand ranges from 8 to 16 inch
<br />PlarLa scavelly sandy loam, S to 9 percent slop
<br />(PpD). Th(s Boil is on high terraces in the northern pa
<br />of ~~ County and in the southern part of Lal
<br />Count ',Areas generally are oval shaped. This sr
<br />has t~ profile described as representative of t'
<br />Pierian aeries. Included with it in mapping are am:
<br />areas of Foncha gravelly Bandy loam. Also inclurl~
<br />are area~..of soils that have slopes of less than 3 pta
<br />cent and areas of soils that are slightly deeper thi
<br />this wit.
<br />Surface runoff is slaw, and the hazard of erosion
<br />alight. Most of the acreage of this soil is in range ai
<br />is used for grazing livestock and for recreation. (Cali
<br />bility unit VIe-Il, nonirrigated; Mountain Outwa
<br />range site)
<br />Pleriaq sells, 20 l0 45 percent slopes (PIF1.-The
<br />solle are on glacial moraines in the northern part
<br />Chaffee County and in tl+e southern part of La
<br />County. The areas are long and narrow and general
<br />are more than 160 acres in size. These soils have
<br />profile similar to that described as represeltative
<br />the series, but they have a larger percentage of co
<br />blea, boulders, and atones on the surt'ace and tht
<br />surface layer ie stony sandy loam in places.
<br />Included with these soils in mapping are small are
<br />of Gravelly sltuvial land,
<br />Surface runoR ie medium, and the hazard of areal,
<br />is moderate, All of the acreage of these soils is
<br />grass and ie used as range. The grass cover is us
<br />Por limited grazing, provides food and cover for wii
<br />life, and gives protection to the watershed. (Cap:+bili
<br />unit VIIe-1, nonirrigated; Mountain Outwash ran
<br />Bite)
<br />Placer Diggings and Tailings
<br />Placer diggings and tailings !Pn) is a level to ate,
<br />land type in the northern part oY Chaffee County ai
<br />throughout Lake County. Moat of the mapped arc
<br />are !n the vicinity of Granite Lake and Twin Lake.
<br />The original soil was disturbed, overturned, m
<br />redeposited while miners were waahintl alluvial a
<br />glacial deposits for the recovery of gold. b'icld apcr
<br />tione left a very uneven, rough, scarred surface. Slot;
<br />range from 0 to 66 percent. There is very little l,la
<br />cover. These areas, for the most part, :+re waatelan
<br />(Capability unit V1IIs-1, nonirrigated)
<br />Poncho Series
<br />The Poncho series consists of deep, well-drained so
<br />on alluvial fans and high terraces. These soils are sh:
<br />low over gravel, cobbles, and s:+nd. They formed
<br />calcareous, gravelly, moderately coarse textured all
<br />vium. Slopes range from 1 to 5 percent. Elevati
<br />ranges from 8,200 to 9,600 feet. The plant cover
<br />cool-season grasses. The average annual precipitati~
<br />is 16 to 20 inches. The average annual soil temperattc
<br />is 88° F., and the average soil temperature in summ
<br />is G9°. The froabfree season is 26 to 60 days.
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