LOCATION CLAM GULCH AK

Established Series
Rev. SR/DM
10/2001

CLAM GULCH SERIES

The Clam Gulch series consists of very deep poorly drained soils formed in colluvial or alluvial material derived from till or glacial drift. Clam Gulch soils are in valley bottoms, depressions on till plains, or on the borders of lakes and bogs. Slopes range from 0 to 30 percent. The mean annual temperature is about 35 degrees F., and the average annual precipitation is about 20 inches.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, nonacid Humic Cryaquepts

TYPICAL PEDON: Clam Gulch silt loam - forest. (All colors are for moist soil)

Oi--0 to 3 inches; dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) slightly decomposed organic matter; extremely acid (pH 3.7); abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 4 inches thick)

A1--3 to 7 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 2/2) silt loam; weak fine subangular blocky structure; nonsticky; many roots; thin layer of volcanic ash; very strongly acid (pH 4.7); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 5 inches thick)

A2--7 to 15 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) silt loam; massive; nonsticky; few roots; few small pebbles; patches and streaks of brown (10YR 4/3) at bottom of horizon; strongly acid (pH 5.3); abrupt smooth boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)

2Cg--15 to 60 inches; olive (5Y 5/3) silty clay loam; massive; firm; sticky; few roots; many small irregular vesicles with smooth shiny sides; common small pebbles; moderately acid (pH 5.8). (43 to 50 inches thick)

TYPE LOCATION: Kenai-Kasilof Area, Alaska. SW 1/4, NE 1/4, section 23, T.4N., R.11W., Seward Meridian.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to till or glacial drift ranges from 15 to 25 inches thick. Depth to highest water table is about 1 to 1/2 feet from mid April to mid June. Depth to water table is about 1 to 6 feet throughout rest the year.

The A horizon has hue of 5YR to N, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 0 to 2. Reaction is extremely acid to strongly acid.

The Bg horizon (where present) has value of 4 or 5. The texture is silty clay loam or silt loam.

The 2Cg horizon has hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1 to 3. The texture is silty clay loam, silt loam, or clay loam. It may contain lenses and pockets of fine sand. A coarse gravelly layer may occur below depths of 40 inches. Reaction is moderately acid or slightly acid

COMPETING SERIES: This is the Hoxie series. Hoxie soils do not have gleyed colors

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Clam Gulch soils occur in valley bottoms, depressions on till plains, or on the borders of lakes and bogs in areas of fine grained glacial till or glacial drift. The mean annual air temperature is 20 to 43 degrees F., and the mean annual precipitation is 14 to 22 inches.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These include the Coal Creek series, and the Kenai and Salamatof series. The Kenai soils have spodic horizons formed in shallow loess over firm till in uplands. The Salamatof soils are deep peats of bogs.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained. Slow or moderately permeability. Slow runoff.

USE AND VEGETATION: The native vegetation is a forest of black spruce, paper birch, and alder, with a ground cover of grasses, horsetail, and moss.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Cook Inlet-Susitna Lowlands. The series is of small extent.

MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Anchorage, Alaska

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Kenai-Kasilof Area, Alaska, 1960.

REMARKS: Diagnostic features and horizons recognized in this profile include: Umbric epipedons from 3 to 15 inches; weighted average particle size of fine-silty from 10 to 40 inches; aquic moisture regime; cryic temperature regime.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.

Contact: Mike Gracz Kenai Watershed Forum  PO Box 15301 Fritz Creek, AK  99603 907-235-2218

04 May 2007 10:19