Major Land Resource Area 049X
Southern Rocky Mountain Foothills
Accessed: 03/31/2023
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Description
MLRA 49 represents the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Traditionally it has covered portions of the lower elevation Rocky Mountains consisting of the hog back and strike valley and the highest elevations of the Great Plains such as the Palmer divide. .
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Key Characteristics
- Soil depth moderately deep to deep (>20”) without root restricting layer that inhibits the productivity potential
- Sites with a high volume of coarse fragments in top 20” (>35% by volume) Site occurs in a variety of upland positions, boulders found in abundance on surface, Columbia needlegrass, Idaho fescue, spike fescue, bitterbrush, and big sage, productivity less than others in group
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i
Key Characteristics
- Soil depth very shallow (<10”), shallow (10-20”) OR moderately deep to deep (>20”) reacting like shallow soils due to root restrictive layer or on south and west facing slopes (LOW productivity potential)
- Soils very shallow (<10”), but may include areas of exposed bedrock and pockets of deep soil, often on steep (up to 55%) south and west facing slopes with VERY LOW productivity potential
- Bedrock igneous or volcanic, three-tip sagebrush, antelope bitterbrush, and black sage common shrubs
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i
Key Characteristics
- Soil depth moderately deep to deep (>20”) without root restricting layer that inhibits the productivity potential
- Sites without high volume of coarse fragments
- Soils very fine sandy loams to clay loams, a good variety and even mix of grass species, mountain big sagebrush dominant shrub
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i
Key Characteristics
- Site in a lowland position that receives significant additional moisture from runoff of adjacent slopes or from intermittent/perennial streams or a water table (HIGH Productivity Potential)
- Site not as above
- Site receives periodic overflow from adjacent slopes, but without a water table within rooting depth of woody plants, and soil textures are loamy, serviceberry, silver sagebrush, slender wheatgrass, and basin wildrye common
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i
Key Characteristics
- Soil depth very shallow (<10”), shallow (10-20”) OR moderately deep to deep (>20”) reacting like shallow soils due to root restrictive layer or on south and west facing slopes (LOW productivity potential)
- Soils shallow (10-20” (25-50cm)), but may include moderately deep to deep (>20” (>50cm)) skeletal soils on south and west aspects, >15% slopes, productivity potential is LOW
- Site with a highly calcareous subsoil (<10” (25cm)), often gravelly or skeletal subsoil OR underlain by soft calcareous materials and slopes 15%
- Shallow sandy and loamy soils (10-20” (25-50cm)), often cobbly or channery with slopes >35%, underlain by soft calcareous materials with many outcrops of sedimentary rock (often associated with Lime Stone parent material) , mountain mahogany, bluebunch wheatgrass, Indian ricegrass common
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Soil depth very shallow (<10”), shallow (10-20”) OR moderately deep to deep (>20”) reacting like shallow soils due to root restrictive layer or on south and west facing slopes (LOW productivity potential)
- Soils shallow (10-20” (25-50cm)), but may include moderately deep to deep (>20” (>50cm)) skeletal soils on south and west aspects, >15% slopes, productivity potential is LOW
- Soils not as above
- Medium to moderately coarse textured soils over igneous or volcanic bedrock, bitterbrush, black sage and three-tip sagebrush common
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Soil depth very shallow (<10”), shallow (10-20”) OR moderately deep to deep (>20”) reacting like shallow soils due to root restrictive layer or on south and west facing slopes (LOW productivity potential)
- Soils shallow (10-20” (25-50cm)), but may include moderately deep to deep (>20” (>50cm)) skeletal soils on south and west aspects, >15% slopes, productivity potential is LOW
- Soils not as above
- Very fine sandy loam to clay loam textured soils over various bedrock types (commonly limestone, siltstone, or shale), black sagebrush or mountain mahogany intermixed with big sage
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Site in a lowland position that receives significant additional moisture from runoff of adjacent slopes or from intermittent/perennial streams or a water table (HIGH Productivity Potential)
- Site not as above
- Water table within rooting depth of herbaceous species (typically above 20”) during part of the growing season, tufted hairgrass, Nebraska sedge, shrubby cinquefoil, sedges, rushes, and willow common
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Soil depth very shallow (<10”), shallow (10-20”) OR moderately deep to deep (>20”) reacting like shallow soils due to root restrictive layer or on south and west facing slopes (LOW productivity potential)
- Soils very shallow (<10”), but may include areas of exposed bedrock and pockets of deep soil, often on steep (up to 55%) south and west facing slopes with VERY LOW productivity potential
- Fractured bedrock of various types except igneous or volcanic, commonly on windswept ridges, bluebunch wheatgrass, Columbia needlegrass and a variety of shrub species dominate
-
i
Key Characteristics
- Site in a lowland position that receives significant additional moisture from runoff of adjacent slopes or from intermittent/perennial streams or a water table (HIGH Productivity Potential)
- Site poorly drained with water table above surface part of growing season, Nebraska sedge, northern reedgrass, tufted hairgrass, and willows common species
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i
Key Characteristics
- LRU C - Frigid (MAAT 45-47 degrees F), Typic Ustic, (MAP 16-20 inches), Freeze Free days 90-150, elevation 5,400-7,500 feet); Black Forest Area (Douglas County) Dawson and White River formation; West of Colorado Spring including Monument Hill and Palmer Divide (El Paso County) Pierre Shale, Laramie and Fox Hill Sandstone, and Denver Formation.
- Site receives no extra water beyond normal precipitation
- Site not as above
- Site not as above
- Site not as above
- Site not as above
- Site has surface texture of loam
-
i
Key Characteristics
- LRU D - Frigid (MAAT 40-46 degrees F), Ustic Aridic (MAP 11-14 inches), Freeze Free days 90-150, elevation 5,500-7,200 FT; Gardner Area (northern Huerfano County) & Huerfano & Farisita Formations; West of Canon City & Howard (Southwestern Pueblo county) & metamorphic quartz, monzonite, gneiss & schist with lesser amounts of igneous granite & diorite; Southwestern El Paso (Fountain, Morrison & Dakota Formations); & Arkansas River Canyon-West of Pueblo to near Salida
- Site not as above
- Site not as above
- Site not as above
- Site not as above
- Site not as above
- Site not as above
- Site have surface texture of loam
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Zoom in to display soil survey map units for an area of interest, and zoom out to display MLRAs. Select a map unit polygon to view ecological sites correlated to that map unit. View a brief description of an ecological site by clicking on its name in the map popup. Soil survey correlations may not be accurate, and ecological site classification of a location should always be verified in the field. Each selection may require the transfer of several hundred KB of data.
Ecological site keys
ESD Key MLRA 49X Wyoming
I.
Site in a lowland position that receives significant additional moisture from runoff of adjacent slopes or from intermittent/perennial streams or a water table (HIGH Productivity Potential)
A.
Site poorly drained with water table above surface part of growing season, Nebraska sedge, northern reedgrass, tufted hairgrass, and willows common species
... R049XA178WY – Wetland (Foothills and Mountains Southeast)
B.
Site not as above
1
Water table within rooting depth of herbaceous species (typically above 20”) during part of the growing season, tufted hairgrass, Nebraska sedge, shrubby cinquefoil, sedges, rushes, and willow common
... R049XA174WY – Subirrigated (Foothills and Mountains Southeast)
2
Site receives periodic overflow from adjacent slopes, but without a water table within rooting depth of woody plants, and soil textures are loamy, serviceberry, silver sagebrush, slender wheatgrass, and basin wildrye common
... R049XA126WY – Loamy Overflow (Foothills and Mountains Southeast)
II.
Soil depth very shallow (<10”), shallow (10-20”) OR moderately deep to deep (>20”) reacting like shallow soils due to root restrictive layer or on south and west facing slopes (LOW productivity potential)
A.
Soils very shallow (<10”), but may include areas of exposed bedrock and pockets of deep soil, often on steep (up to 55%) south and west facing slopes with VERY LOW productivity potential
1
Bedrock igneous or volcanic, three-tip sagebrush, antelope bitterbrush, and black sage common shrubs
... R049XA116WY – Igneous (Foothills and Mountains Southeast)
2
Fractured bedrock of various types except igneous or volcanic, commonly on windswept ridges, bluebunch wheatgrass, Columbia needlegrass and a variety of shrub species dominate
... R049XA176WY – Very Shallow (Foothills and Mountains Southeast)
B.
Soils shallow (10-20” (25-50cm)), but may include moderately deep to deep (>20” (>50cm)) skeletal soils on south and west aspects, >15% slopes, productivity potential is LOW
1
Site with a highly calcareous subsoil (<10” (25cm)), often gravelly or skeletal subsoil OR underlain by soft calcareous materials and slopes 15%
i.
Shallow sandy and loamy soils (10-20” (25-50cm)), often cobbly or channery with slopes >35%, underlain by soft calcareous materials with many outcrops of sedimentary rock (often associated with Lime Stone parent material) , mountain mahogany, bluebunch wheatgrass, Indian ricegrass common
... R049XA134WY – Rocky Hills (Foothills and Mountains Southeast)
2
Soils not as above
i.
Medium to moderately coarse textured soils over igneous or volcanic bedrock, bitterbrush, black sage and three-tip sagebrush common
... R049XA160WY – Shallow Igneous (Foothills and Mountains Southeast)
ii.
Very fine sandy loam to clay loam textured soils over various bedrock types (commonly limestone, siltstone, or shale), black sagebrush or mountain mahogany intermixed with big sage
... R049XA162WY – Shallow Loamy (Foothills and Mountains Southeast)
III.
Soil depth moderately deep to deep (>20”) without root restricting layer that inhibits the productivity potential
A.
Sites with a high volume of coarse fragments in top 20” (>35% by volume) Site occurs in a variety of upland positions, boulders found in abundance on surface, Columbia needlegrass, Idaho fescue, spike fescue, bitterbrush, and big sage, productivity less than others in group
... R049XA108WY – Coarse Upland (Foothills and Mountains Southeast)
B.
Sites without high volume of coarse fragments
1
Soils very fine sandy loams to clay loams, a good variety and even mix of grass species, mountain big sagebrush dominant shrub
... R049XA122WY – Loamy (Foothills and Mountains Southeast)
MLRA 49 Key - Colorado
Note
:Colorado MLRA 49 Key to Ecological Sites and Zones (i.e. LRU’s) Ecological site ID numbers with XB and XY sites at this time (2020) are generic sites and used across MLRA 49 in Colorado.
B.
LRU B – Mesic and Frigid (MAAT42-50 degrees F), Aridic Ustic and Typic Ustic (MAP 13-19 inches); Freeze Free days 75-155; Elevation 5, 200-7,00 feet; Narrow hogback bands from WY/CO state line to Fort Collins (Larimer, Boulder and Jefferson counties) on Pierre Shale, Dakota, Morrison, Lykins and Fountain Formations; and western Elbert and northeastern El Paso on Dawson and White River Formation.
1a.
Site receives no extra water beyond normal precipitation
4a.
Site has bedrock within 20 inches of the soil surface
5b.
Site not as above
6b.
Site not as above - Not Applicable
4b.
Site not as above
7a.
Site influenced (fragments on surface or in the surface horizon, >15% rock fragments in surface horizon – gravelly texture modifier in surface horizon) by rock fragments
8a.
Site is predominantly stones and/or boulders (>10 inches in diameter) Stony Foothill (formerly Rocky Foothill)
... R049XY206CO – Stony Foothill
8b.
Site not as above
9b.
Site not as above
10b.
Site not as above - Not Applicable
7b.
Site not as above
11a.
Coarse-loamy or sandy family particle size and has surface textures of fine sandy loam, loamy sand, or sand
... R049XB210CO – Sandy Foothill
11b.
Site not as above
12a.
Fine family particle size and has surface textures of clay loam, clay, silty clay, or silty clay loam
... R049XB208CO – Clayey Foothill
12b.
Site not as above
13a.
Fine-loamy family particle size and has surface texture of loam, silt loam or fine sandy loam and 20-60 inches in depth
... R049XB202CO – Loamy Foothill
13b.
Site not as above
14a.
Family particle size varies. Surface textures are sandy loam and loam and soil depth is greater than 60 inches
... R049XY220CO – Ponderosa Loam
14b.
Site not as above - Not Applicable
1b.
Site receives extra water beyond normal precipitation through high water table, riparian area, or run-in water
2b.
Site not as above
3b.
Site not as above - Not Applicable
C.
LRU C - Frigid (MAAT 45-47 degrees F), Typic Ustic, (MAP 16-20 inches), Freeze Free days 90-150, elevation 5,400-7,500 feet); Black Forest Area (Douglas County) Dawson and White River formation; West of Colorado Spring including Monument Hill and Palmer Divide (El Paso County) Pierre Shale, Laramie and Fox Hill Sandstone, and Denver Formation.
1a.
Site receives no extra water beyond normal precipitation
4a.
Site has bedrock within 20 inches of the soil surface
5b.
Site not as above
6b.
Site not as above - Not Applicable
4b.
Site not as above
7a.
Site influenced (fragments on surface or in the surface horizon, >15% rock fragments in surface horizon – gravelly texture modifier in surface horizon) by rock fragments
8a.
Site is predominantly stones and/or boulders (≥10 inches) Stony Foothill (formerly Rocky Foothill)
... R049XY206CO – Stony Foothill
8b.
Site not as above
9b.
Site not as above
10b.
Site not as above - Not Applicable
7b.
Site not as above
11a.
Site has surface textures of sandy loam, loamy sand, or sand. There are 2 choices for this node - Sandy Foothill or Sandy Divide.
11b.
Site not as above
12a.
Site has surface textures of clay loam, clay, silty clay, or silty clay loam and residuum, alluvium from shale or slope alluvium from shale
... R049XB208CO – Clayey Foothill
12b.
Site not as above
13b.
Site not as above
14a.
Family particle size varies. Surface textures are sandy loam and loam and soil depth is greater than 60 inches
... R049XY220CO – Ponderosa Loam
14b.
Site not as above - Not Applicable
1b.
Site receives extra water beyond normal precipitation through high water table, riparian area, or run-in water
2a.
Site is in the fine-loamy/loamy in family particle size control section
... R049XY036CO – Overflow
2b.
Site not as above
3a.
Site is sandy or coarse-loamy in the family particle size control section
... R049XY031CO – Sandy Bottomland
3b.
Site not as above - Not Applicable
D.
LRU D - Frigid (MAAT 40-46 degrees F), Ustic Aridic (MAP 11-14 inches), Freeze Free days 90-150, elevation 5,500-7,200 FT; Gardner Area (northern Huerfano County) & Huerfano & Farisita Formations; West of Canon City & Howard (Southwestern Pueblo county) & metamorphic quartz, monzonite, gneiss & schist with lesser amounts of igneous granite & diorite; Southwestern El Paso (Fountain, Morrison & Dakota Formations); & Arkansas River Canyon-West of Pueblo to near Salida
1a.
Site receive additional run-on moisture. Site is subject to flooding (rare, occasional, frequent, or very frequent)
... R049XE223CO – Shrubby Foothill
1b.
Site not as above
2a.
Site have bedrock within 20 inches of the soil surface
3b.
Site not as above
4b.
Site is not as above - Not Applicable
2b.
Site not as above
5a.
Site influenced (fragments on surface or in the surface horizon, >15% rock fragments in surface horizon – gravelly texture modifier in surface horizon) by rock fragments. Note Cobbly Foothills and Gravelly Foothills have been correlated to soil map unit very inconsistently in the past)
6b.
Site not as above
7b.
Site is not as above - Not Applicable
5b.
Site not as above
8b.
Site not as above
9a.
Site has surface textures of clay loam derived from calcareous clayey alluvium and deep (60-80 inches) in depth; fine family particle size
... R049XB208CO – Clayey Foothill
9b.
Site not as above
10a.
Site have surface textures of clay loam, clay, silty clay, or silty clay loam; moderately deep to deep (20-100 inches in depth)
... R049XY004CO – Loamy Plains
10b.
Site not as above
11b.
Site is not as above - Not Applicable
E.
LRU E – Mesic and Frigid (MAAT 42-50 degrees F), Ustic Aridic and Typic Ustic (MAP 15-18inches), Freeze Free days 70-120, elevation 6,500-8,500 feet; West of Trinidad and Southern Huerfano County (Ration Formation); North part (Purgatoire River Watershed Area) Las Animas and southwestern Huerfano Counties (Poison Canyon Sandstone)
1a.
Site has surface textures of clay loam, or silty clay loam; shallow to moderately deep (8-40 inches) in depth; clayey and fine family particle size
... R049XE223CO – Shrubby Foothill
1b.
Site not as above
2a.
Site has surface textures of clay loam derived from calcareous clayey alluvium and deep (60-80 inches) in depth; fine family particle size
... R049XY004CO – Loamy Plains
2b.
Site not as above - Not written
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