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<br />Saguache County Area. Colorado <br />~ 4 r I +0. <br />and that of blue grams, threeawn, snakeweed, and <br />rabbitbrush increases. Undesirable weeds and annual <br />plants invade and become more abundant as the range <br />condition declines. <br />Deferred grazing, cross fencing, and stockwater <br />developments are needed to prevent range deterioration <br />and to promote the growth of more desirable plant <br />species. <br />This complex is limited for use as wildlife habitat <br />because of low vegetative production. On nonirrigated <br />areas, these soils are best suited to habitat for such <br />wildlife as antelope, jackrabbit, cottontail, and coyote. If <br />wildlife use is planned, the value of these soils to wildlife <br />can be improved by livestock water developments and <br />grazing management practices. It the soil is irrigated, <br />crop residue may provide food for ring-necked pheasant <br />and waterfowl. <br />These soils are suited to homesite development. The <br />main limitation is the large content of cobblestones in <br />the Garita soils. The sand and gravel substratum of the <br />Platoro soils can cause seepage and pollution of ground <br />water if these soils are used for sewage lagoons or <br />trench-type landfills. <br />This complex is in capability subclasses IVe, irrigated, <br />and Vlle, nonirrigated. The Garita soils are in the Limy <br />Bench range site, and the Platoro soils are in the <br />Mountain Outwash range site. <br />27-Gelkie loam, 3 to 25 percent slopes. This deep, <br />well drained soil is on toe slopes and mountain side <br />slopes. Gelkie soils formed in colluvium from igneous <br />rock. This soil is at elevations of 8,400 to 9,500 feet. The <br />average annual precipitation is 77 ruches; the average <br />annual air temperature is 36 degrees F; and the frost- <br />tree season is about 60 days <br />InCludetl in This unit are a few Small areas O1 <br />Bushvalley cobbly loam, Decross loam, and Seitz very <br />stony loam. <br />Typically, the surface Layer o! this Gelkie sort is grayish <br />brown loam about 4 inches thick. The next layer is <br />grayish brown clay loam about 9 inches thick. The <br />subsoil is brown gravelly clay loam about 11 inches <br />thick. The substratum to a depth of 60 inches or more is <br />calcareous, pale brown gravelly loam and very gravelly <br />loam. <br />Permeability is moderate. Effective rooting depth is 60 <br />inches or more. The available water capacity is high. <br />Surface runoff is medium, and the erosion hazard is <br />moderate. <br />This soil is used as range and wildlife habitat. <br />The potential natural vegetation on this Gelkie soil is <br />dominated by Arizona fescue, western wheatgrass, and <br />needleandthread, with bottlebrush squirreltail, elk sedge, <br />and junegrass in smaller quantities. II the range condition <br />deteriorates, the proportion of western wheatgrass and <br />Arizona fescue decreases, and that of woody torbs, <br />annuals, and bluegrass increases. <br />