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Soil Survey of Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

 

Detailed Soil Map Units

 

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12—Cleetwood-Castlecrest complex, dry, 10 to 30 percent slopes

 

Map Unit Setting

 

General location: Meadows and forests in the southeastern part of the park

Major land resource area (MLRA): 3

Elevation: 5,700 to 6,500 feet

Average annual precipitation: 40 to 60 inches

Average annual air temperature: 38 to 42 degrees F

Frost-free period: 0 to 50 days

 

Map Unit Composition

 

Cleetwood and similar soils: 55 percent

Castlecrest and similar soils: 35 percent

Minor components: 10 percent

 

Characteristics of the Cleetwood and Similar Soils

 

Setting

 

Landform: Ashflow

Geomorphic position: Side slopes and benches of Mount Mazama

Parent material: Ash, and andesite and pumice fragments

 

Properties and qualities

 

Slope: 10 to 20 percent

Percentage of surface covered with stones and boulders: None

Restrictive features: None within a depth of 60 inches

Drainage class: Excessively drained

Permeability: Rapid

Flooding: Not present

Water table: Not present

Ponding: Not present

Available water capacity: About 6.2 inches

 

Interpretive groups

 

Ecological site: Rangeland—(003XY012OR) Ashy Alpine Meadow 50-70 PZ

 

Typical profile

 

A1—0 to 4 inches; gravelly ashy sandy loam

A2—4 to 10 inches; ashy loamy sand

C1—10 to 36 inches; ashy sand

C2—36 to 50 inches; ashy coarse sand

C3—50 to 60 inches; gravelly ashy sand

 

Characteristics of the Castlecrest and Similar Soils

 

Setting

 

Landform: Ashflow

Geomorphic position: Side slopes of Mount Mazama

Parent material: Ash and pumice

 

Properties and qualities

 

Slope: 10 to 30 percent

Percentage of surface covered with stones and boulders: None

Restrictive features: None within a depth of 60 inches

Drainage class: Somewhat excessively drained

Permeability: Rapid

Flooding: Not present

Water table: Not present

Ponding: Not present

Available water capacity: About 6.3 inches

 

Interpretive groups

 

Ecological site: Forestland—(003XY704OR) Abies/Arctostaphylos nevadensis/Carex inops

 

Typical profile

 

Oi—0 to 1 inch; slightly decomposed plant material

A—1 inch to 3 inches; paragravelly ashy loamy sand

Bw—3 to 19 inches; paragravelly ashy loamy sand

C1—19 to 26 inches; ashy sand

C2—26 to 38 inches; ashy coarse sand

C3—38 to 64 inches; ashy coarse sand

 

Characteristics of the Minor Components

 

Timbercrater soils

 

Percentage of map unit: 5 percent

Landform: Ashflow

Geomorphic position: Pumice and ashflow deposits on mountainsides

 

Sunnotch soils

 

Percentage of map unit: 5 percent

Landform: Debris flow

Geomorphic position: Debris flows on mountainsides

 

Major Soil Features and Properties Affecting Management

 

Cleetwood soil

 

• Wind erosion

• Dustiness

• Low soil strength

 

Castlecrest soil

 

• Sandy textures

• Low soil strength

• Dustiness if vegetation is removed

 

 

 

 

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