LOCATION MILLING WATentative Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive Lithic Haplocryolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Milling extremely cobble fine sandy loam rangeland.
A1--0 to 10 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) extremely cobbly fine sandy loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak medium crumb structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and fine roots; very few very fine tubular pores; 20 percent pebbles, 40 percent cobbles and 5 percent stones; moderately acid (pH 6.0); clear smooth boundary (8 to 12 inches thick)
B2--10 to 18 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) extremely gravelly loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak medium crumb structure, slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine roots; few fine tubular pores; 50 percent pebbles, 20 percent cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.4); abrupt wavy boundary. (6 to 10 inches thick)
R--18 inches; basalt.
TYPE LOCATION: 3 1/2 miles west of Blewett Pass; 300 feet west and 1,600 feet north of the southeast corner of sec. 20, T. 22 N., R. 17 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to a lithic contact is 10 to 20 inches. The particle-size control section averages 50 to 80 percent rock fragments. Base saturation is assumed to be 50 to 75 percent.
The A horizon has value of 4 or 5 when dry, 2 or 3 when moist, and chroma is 1 or 2 when moist and ry. Reaction is moderately acid or slightly acid. The B horizon has value of 4 or 5 when dry, and chroma is 2 or 3 when moist and dry. Texture is extremely gravelly loam or extremely gravelly fine sandy loam. Reaction is moderately acid or slightly acid. Rock fragments range from 60 to 80 percent.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Cheadle, Eyre, Irigul, Labshaft, Rogert, Starley, and Udel series. Cheadle soils have a Cca horizon and are mildly alkaline or moderately alkaline throughout. Eyre soils have a base saturation of 80 to 100 percent and have 35 to 80 percent flagstones in the control section. Irigul soils are mildly alkaline or moderately alkaline sandy clay loam in the particle size control section. Labshaft soils have 25 to 35 percent clay in the fine earth fraction within the particle-size control section. Rogert soils are coarse sandy loam with 50 to 80 percent angular sand in the particle- size control section and have a precipitation pattern of spring and early summer precipitation. Starley soils have 18 to 35 percent clay in the fine earth fraction, and are neutral to moderately alkaline throughout the particle-size control section. Udel soils are less than 10 inches deep and are dry for more than 60 consecutive days in summer and fall.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Milling soils are on mountainsides and ridgetops. Slopes range from 30 to 65 percent. These soils formed in material weathered from basalt, loess, and volcanic ash. Elevations range from 5,000 to 6,500 feet. These soils are in a climate with relatively cool dry summers and cold moist winters with a snowpack from about November to April. The average annual precipitation is 35 to 55 inches. The average January temperature is about 22 degrees F; average July temperature is about 60 degrees F, and the average annual air temperature is 39 to 43 degrees F. The growing season at 28 degrees F. is 100 to 170 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Anatone, Blewett, Scotties, and Shaser series. All of these soils are frigid. In addition, Scotties and Shaser soils are deep.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; rapid and very rapid runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Wildlife habitat and watershed. Native vegetation is ceanothus, pachystima, scattered subalpine fir, elk sedge, and common snowberry.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: East slopes of the Cascade Mountains in southern Chelan and northern Kittitas Counties. The series is of small extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES PROPOSED: Chelan County, Washington, 1980. Series name comes from a nearby mountain.