Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R048BY296CO
Claypan
Last updated: 9/07/2023
Accessed: 11/21/2024
General information
Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 048B–Southern Rocky Mountain Parks and Valleys
This area is in Colorado (96 percent) and Wyoming (4 percent). It makes up about 2,325 square miles (6,020 square kilometers). The town of Walden, in the northern part of this MLRA, is in a wide valley locally known as North Park. The town of Kremmling is in a valley locally known as Middle Park. The town of Hartsel, in the center of the southern part of the MLRA, is in a broad intermontane basin locally known as South Park. The northern part is bordered by the Medicine Bow, Routt, and Arapaho National Forests, and the southern part is bordered by the San Isabel and Pike National Forests. The Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge is directly south of the town of Walden.
This area is within the Southern Rocky Mountains Province of the Rocky Mountain System. It consists of nearly level to rolling mountain parks and valleys and a few narrow mountain ridges. It occurs as two separate parts in the center of the Southern Rockies. The southern half of the northern part is on the west side of the Continental Divide, and the rest of the MLRA is on the east side of the divide. Elevation ranges from 7,850 to 10,850 feet (2,395 to 3,310 meters). The head waters of North Platte River leaves Colorado and enters Wyoming in the northern half of the northern part of the MLRA (North Park). The headwaters of Colorado River is in the southern half of the northern part of the MLRA (Middle Park). The headwaters of South Platte River is in the southern part of the MLRA (South Park).
The mountain valleys and parks that are characteristic of this MLRA are surrounded by high mountain peaks of the adjacent Southern Rocky Mountains MLRA (48A). Steep slopes give rise to steep-gradient streams that can move cobbles and gravel from the mountain slopes down into the valleys. The coarse textured sediments on the surface of this area were deposited by either glacial meltwater or present-day rivers. Buried deep beneath the sediments is a complex of sedimentary and igneous rocks. Residuum from sedimentary rocks is on the steeper slopes that were not covered by alluvium and glacial outwash.
The average annual precipitation is mainly 10 to 16 inches (255 to 405 millimeters), but it is as high as 28 inches (710 millimeters) at the higher elevations that border the Southern Rocky Mountains MLRA. Precipitation generally increases with elevation. Rainfall occurs as high-intensity, convective thunderstorms during the growing season. About half of the annual precipitation falls as snow. Soil moisture is unevenly distributed within short distances because of snowdrifts. The amount of precipitation is highly influenced by rain shadows. The surrounding peaks receive most of the precipitation as storm systems traverse the area. The average annual temperature is 35 to 42 degrees F (1 to 6 degrees C). The freeze-free period averages 95 days and ranges from 70 to 120 days, decreasing in length with elevation.
The dominant soil order in this MLRA is Mollisols. Alfisols are of lesser extent. The soils are very shallow to deep, generally well drained, and loamy or clayey and have mixed or smectitic mineralogy. The soil temperature regime is dominantly cryic, but it is frigid in some small areas, primarily on south- or west-facing slopes. The soil moisture regime is mainly ustic, but a marginal aridic regime has been identified in areas where the average annual precipitation is less than about 12 inches (305 millimeters). The most extensive great group is Argicryolls (Hodden, Lucky, Parlin, Tiagos, and Cabin series), which commonly formed in outwash and slope alluvium on outwash terraces, fan remnants, hills, and mountain slopes. Haplocryolls (Redcloud and Tealson series) formed in outwash and slope alluvium on outwash terraces, valley side slopes, hills, and ridges. Haplocryalfs (Gebson and Harsha series) formed in slope alluvium and outwash on outwash terraces, fan remnants, hills, ridges, and mountain slopes. Cryaquolls (Dobrow and Randman series) formed in alluvium on stream terraces and flood plains.
Classification relationships
NRCS:
Major Land Resource Area 48B, Southern Rocky Mountain Parks (United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2006).
USFS:
M331I – North Parks and Ranges Section Southern Rocky Mountain Steppe - Open Woodland - Coniferous Forest - Alpine Meadow
EPA:
21i – Sagebrush Parks and 21j – Grassland Parks < 21 Southern Rockies < 6.2 Western Cordillera < 6 Northwestern Forested Mountains North American Deserts (Griffith, 2006).
USGS: Southern Rocky Mountain Province
Ecological site concept
R048BY296CO Claypan occurs on hills, ridges, alluvial fans and terraces. Slopes is between 0 to 15%. Soils are moderately deep to deep (20 to 60 inches). Soils are derived from alluvium from sedimentary rock; colluvium from sandstone and shale; residuum from shale; or slope alluvium from sandstone and shale. Soil surface texture is usually loam or clay with fine textured subsurface. It is a little sagebrush – western wheatgrass – pine needlegrass community. It has an aridic ustic moisture regime. The effective precipitation ranges from 12 to 16 inches.
Associated sites
R048AY247CO |
Deep Clay Loam R048AY247CO Deep Clay Loam occurs on hills, hillsides, mountain-slope, complex landslides, alluvial fans, and structural benches. Slopes is between 0 to 35%. Soils are deep (60+ inches). Soils are derived from colluvium and slide deposits from igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, and/or alluvium, residuum or complex landslide deposits from shale. Soil surface texture is loam, clay loam or silty clay loam with fine-textured subsurface. It is a mountain big sagebrush – western wheatgrass community. It has a typic ustic moisture regime. The effective precipitation ranges from 16 to 20 inches. |
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R048BY241CO |
Mountain Meadow R048BY241CO Mountain Meadow occurs on flood plains, stream terraces, drainageways and alluvial flats. Slopes is between 0 to 5%. Soils are moderately deep to very deep (25 to 100 inches). Soils are derived from alluvium from igneous and metamorphic rock. Soil surface texture is usually loam, fine sandy loam, silty clay loam or sandy clay loam with fine-loamy, fine-loamy over sandy-skeletal or coarse-loamy textured subsurface. It is a tufted hairgrass – Nebraska sedge community. It has a typic ustic moisture regime. The effective precipitation ranges from 16 to 20 inches. |
R048BY237CO |
Stony Loam R048BY237CO Stony Loam occurs on mountain-slopes, ridges, fans and moraines. Slopes is between 20 to 70%. Soils are very deep (60+ inches). Soils are derived from till; colluvium from igneous and metamorphic rock; or residuum from igneous and metamorphic rock. Soil surface texture is usually stony loam, cobbly loam, extremely stony sandy loam, gravelly sandy loam, very gravelly sandy loam, or very cobbly sandy loam with loamy-skeletal textured subsurface. It is a bluebunch wheatgrass – needlegrass community. It has a typic ustic moisture regime. The effective precipitation ranges from 16 to 20 inches. |
R048BY261CO |
Salt Flats R048BY261CO Salt Flats occurs on drainageways and stream terraces in Middle and North Park. Slopes is between 0 to 5%. Soils are very deep (60+ inches). Soils are derived from alluvium from sedimentary rock (Coalmont Formation). Soil surface texture is usually sandy loam with fine textured subsurface. Soils have a natric horizon and are strongly alkali and saline. It is a big sagebrush – greasewood – western wheatgrass – saltgrass community. The effective precipitation ranges from 9 to 12 inches. |
R048BY231CO |
Dry Mountain Loam R048BY231CO Dry Mountain Loam occurs on alluvial fans, valley sides, mountainsides, fans, terraces, and outwash plains. Slopes is between 0 to 30%. Soils are moderately deep to very deep (20 to 60 inches). Soils are derived from alluvium from sedimentary rock; colluvium from basalt or sandstone; or outwash. Soil surface texture is usually loam or with fine-loamy textured subsurface. It is a Wyoming big sagebrush – needlegrass – bluebunch wheatgrass community. |
R048AY292CO |
Deep Loam R048AY292CO Deep Loam occurs alluvial fans, terraces, hills, fan remnants, valley sides, and structural benches. Slopes is between 0 to 25%. Soils are deep (60+ inches) in depth. Soils are derived from alluvium from basalt, or sandstone and shale; colluvium from sandstone and shale; slope alluvium from sandstone and shale or eolian deposits from sandstone and shale. Soil surface texture is loam, sandy clay loam or very channery loam, with a fine-loamy subsurface. It is a mountain big sagebrush – needle and thread community. |
R048BY224CO |
Dry Salt Playa R048BY224CO Dry Salt Playa occurs drainageways, alluvial flats and playas. Slopes is between 0 to 5%. Soils are deep to very deep (40 to 80 inches). Soils are derived from alluvium. Soil surface texture is usually coarse sandy loam with fine textured subsurface. This soil has gypsum and salt accumulations. It is a seepweed – alkali cordgrass – saltgrass community. |
Similar sites
R048BY222CO |
Loamy Park R048BY222CO Loamy Park occurs on flood plains, flood-plain steps, hills, fans and stream terrace. Slopes is between 0 to 15%. Soils are very deep (60+ inches). Soils are derived from alluvium or colluvium. Soil surface texture is usually loam or sandy loam with fine-loamy textured subsurface. It is an Arizona fescue – mountain muhly community. It has a typic ustic moisture regime. The effective precipitation ranges from 16 to 20 inches. |
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R048BY225CO |
Mountain Loam 10-16 PZ South Park R048BY225CO Mountain Loam 10-16” South Park occurs fan remnants, pediments and hills. Slopes is between 1 to 25%. Soils are deep to very deep (40 to 80 inches). Soils are derived from alluvium; slope alluvium from volcanic breccia, limestone, sandstone, and/or shale; and outwash from sedimentary rock or granite and gneiss. Soil surface texture is usually loam, sandy loam, gravelly loam or very gravelly sandy loam with either a fine-loamy or loamy-skeletal textured subsurface. It is an Arizona fescue – western wheatgrass community. It has an aridic ustic moisture regime. The effective precipitation ranges from 10 to 16 inches. |
R048AY247CO |
Deep Clay Loam R048AY247CO Deep Clay Loam occurs on hills, hillsides, mountain-slope, complex landslides, alluvial fans, and structural benches. Slopes is between 0 to 35%. Soils are deep (60+ inches). Soils are derived from colluvium and slide deposits from igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, and/or alluvium, residuum or complex landslide deposits from shale. Soil surface texture is loam, clay loam or silty clay loam with fine-textured subsurface. It is a mountain big sagebrush – western wheatgrass community. It has a typic ustic moisture regime. The effective precipitation ranges from 16 to 20 inches. |
Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
Not specified |
---|---|
Shrub |
(1) Artemisia arbuscula |
Herbaceous |
(1) Pascopyrum smithii |
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