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The irrigated area is in portions of the N1/2, Section 21, and the Wti2, Section 16, T5N, • <br />R88W. From 1989 to October 1997, the area in irrigated grass hayland increased in size from <br />14.5 acres to approximately 26 acres. The irrigated area produces about 2.5 tons of greiss hay <br />per-acre-per-year ISmith 19971, and this production is in the middle of the range of production <br />for irrigated grass hayland in Routt County (Davey, 19981. <br />The soils investigation conducted in Hubberson Gulch in 1997 indicates the irrigated <br />bottomland contains three alluvial soils: Menbar clay loam (map unit 52A1, Hunchback clay <br />loam Imap unit 1561, and Silas clay loam (map unit 27A1. Four soil sites were described from <br />backhoe pits and sampled for laboratory characterization IHG1, HG2, HG3, and HG41. <br />The dominant soil is Menbar clay loam Imap unit 52A1 which is a very deep, somewhat poorly <br />drained soil that occupies approximately 76 percent of the irrigated area. Menbar is developing <br />in mixed alluvium on floodplains and is classified as a "fine-loamy, mixed, superactive C:umulic <br />Cryoboroll". <br />Two soil sites (HG1 and HG21 were correlated to Menbar. In addition, a review of the data for <br />two previous soil sites located in Hubberson Gulch (sites 2 and 43, both described and sampled <br />during the initial 1979 Seneca soil surveyl, indicates they were described as somewhat poorly <br />drained and would correlate today to the Menbar series, not the Silas series as originally noted. • <br />Silas is moderately well drained, not somewhat poorly drained. Similar soils thiat are <br />somewhat poorly drained should he correlated to Menbar, not Silas. Sites 2 and 43 meet all <br />criteria for Menbar and have been recorrelated to the Menbar .series. Menbar is a soil that was <br />set up by NRCS in 1990, and although it is not considered a hydric soil (SCS 19931, it does <br />have a fluctuating water table beginning at about 1.5 feet. As such, four soil sites IHG1, HG3, <br />2, and 431 characterize Menbar clay loam Imap unit 52A1 in Hubberson Gulch. <br />Menbar has an 18 to 20 inch very dark grayish brown 110-Yr 3/2, moist) surface layer with <br />loam, clay loam, or clay texture. Organic matter content of the upper 6 inches ranges from 6 <br />to nearly 10 percent, and 2 to 2.5 percent for the depth interval between 6 and about 20 <br />inches. Menbar has no subsoil "B" horizon. The upper substratum "C" horizon extencls from <br />about 18 to 38 inches and has similar textures as the surface layer. The substratum below <br />about 27 to 38 inches is generally gleyed and has heavier textures, dominantly of clay loam, <br />silty clay, or clay. Menbar is nom saline and non-sodic throughout the profile, end has neutral <br />to moderately alkaline reaction IpHI and low calcium carbonate content. At the time of <br />sampling I10-10-97}, free water was observed at approximately 42 inches in HG1 and at 18 <br />inches in HG3. In addition, the soil profile of HG3, below a depth of 59 inches at the time of <br />sampling, tested positive for the presence of ferrous iron as indicated by the field test reagent <br />a,a'-dipyridyl IChilds 19811. This test is used to determine the existence of rt:ducing • <br />lanaerobic) conditions at the depth and time of sampling indicated (Soil Survey Staff 19£i61. <br />18 Revised 9/98 <br />