United StatesDepartment ofAgriculture

NaturalResourcesConservationService

In cooperation with theUtah AgricultureExperiment Station,United States Departmentof Interior, Bureau of LandManagement, Bureau ofIndian Affairs, U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service, UintahSoil Conservation District,and the Daggett SoilConservation District

Soil Survey ofUintah Area,Utah—Parts ofDaggett, Grand,and UintahCounties

Detailed Soil Maps

The detailed soil maps follow the general information about the survey area. These maps can be useful in planningthe use and management of small areas.

To find information about your area of interest, locate that area on the Index toMap Sheets, which precedes the soil maps. Note the number of the mapsheet and turn to that sheet.

Locate your area of interest on the map sheet. Note the mapunits symbols that are in thatarea. Turn to the Contents, whichlists the map units by symbol andname and shows the page whereeach map unit is described.

The Contents shows which tablehas data on a specific land usefor each detailed soil map unit.Also see the Contents forsections of this publication thatmay address your specific needs.

A State Soil Geographic DataBase (STATSGO) is available forthis survey area. This data baseconsists of a soils map at a scaleof 1 to 250,000 and descriptionsof groups of associated soils. Itreplaces the general soil mappublished in older soil surveys.The map and the data base canbe used for multicounty planning,and map output can be tailored for a specific use. More information about the STATSGO for this survey area, or forany portion of Utah, is available at the Utah State Office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

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How to Use This Soil Survey

http://www.ut.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/soils/index.html

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Additional information about the Nation’s natural resources is available on theNatural Resources Conservation Service home page on the World Wide Web.The address is http://www.nrcs.usda.gov.

This soil survey is a publication of the National Cooperative Soil Survey, a jointeffort of the United States Department of Agriculture and other Federal agencies,State agencies including the Agricultural Experiment Stations, and local agencies.The Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil ConservationService) has leadership for the Federal part of the National Cooperative Soil Survey.

Major fieldwork for this soil survey was completed in 1995. Soil names anddescriptions were approved in 1997. Unless otherwise indicated, statements in thispublication refer to conditions in the survey area in 1995. This survey was madecooperatively by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Utah AgricultureExperiment Station, and the United States Department of Interior, Bureau of LandManagement. The survey is part of the technical assistance furnished to the Uintahand Daggett Soil Conservation Districts.

Soil maps in this survey may be copied without permission. Enlargement of thesemaps, however, could cause misunderstanding of the detail of mapping. If enlarged,maps do not show the small areas of contrasting soils that could have been shown ata larger scale.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in allof its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age,disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not allprohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who requirealternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print,audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voiceor TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights,Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC20250-9410, or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunityprovider and employer.

Cover: The community of Tridell with Paradox and Baldfield soils in the foreground and Marsh Peakin the background.

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov

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Contents

How To Use This Soil Survey ................................. 3Foreword ............................................................... 15

General Nature of the Survey Area ................... 17Climate ............................................................... 18History and Development .................................. 19Geology ............................................................. 19How This Survey Was Made .............................. 20Survey Procedures ............................................ 21

Detailed Soil Map Units ....................................... 231—Abracon loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes............ 242—Abracon loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes............ 243—Abracon-Solirec complex, 3 to 8 percent

slopes .......................................................... 254—Arches-Mespun-Rock outcrop complex,

4 to 40 percent slopes ................................. 265—Ardlon very cobbly fine sandy loam, 1 to

3 percent slopes .......................................... 276—Ashley loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes .............. 277—Baconpark very gravelly loam, 3 to 8

percent slopes ............................................. 288—Badland-Denco complex, 4 to 25 percent

slopes .......................................................... 299—Badland-Montwel complex, 50 to 90

percent slopes ............................................. 3010—Badland-Polychrome-Rock outcrop

complex, 50 to 75 percent slopes................ 3011—Badland-Renegade complex, 50 to 80

percent slopes ............................................. 3212—Badland-Rock outcrop complex, 1 to 100

percent slopes ............................................. 3213—Badland-Tipperary association, 1 to 8

percent slopes ............................................. 3314—Badland-Walknolls-Rock outcrop

complex, 50 to 90 percent slopes................ 3415—Badland-Wentridge complex, 50 to 80

percent slopes ............................................. 3516—Baldfield silty clay, 1 to 3 percent slopes .... 3617—Bandbox sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 3718—Bandbox sandy loam, wet, 0 to 2 percent

slopes .......................................................... 3719—Begay sandy loam, 2 to 15 percent

slopes .......................................................... 3820—Begay-Hideout-Rock outcrop complex,

2 to 15 percent slopes ................................. 38

21—Bigpack loam, 1 to 8 percent slopes .......... 3922—Bigtom-Namlot-Dokie association, 15 to

50 percent slopes ........................................ 4023—Blackston loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ....... 4124—Blackston loam, 2 to 4 percent slopes ....... 4225—Blackston loam, 4 to 8 percent slopes ....... 4326—Bodry silty clay loam, 10 to 40 percent

slopes .......................................................... 4327—Boreham loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ........ 4428—Braf-Rock outcrop complex, 2 to 15

percent slopes ............................................. 4429—Bullpen parachannery loam, 2 to 25

percent slopes ............................................. 4530—Bullpen-Hanksville complex, 25 to 50

percent slopes ............................................. 4631—Bullpen-Mikim complex, 2 to 25 percent

slopes .......................................................... 4732—Bullpen-Polychrome complex, 2 to 50

percent slopes ............................................. 4833—Cadrina association, 2 to 25 percent

slopes .......................................................... 4934—Cadrina-Cadrina, cool-Badland complex,

25 to 50 percent slopes ............................... 4935—Cadrina extremely flaggy loam, 4 to 25

percent slopes ............................................. 5136—Cadrina extremely stony loam-Rock

outcrop complex, 25 to 50 percent slopes ... 5137—Cadrina-Badland-Rock outcrop complex,

25 to 50 percent slopes ............................... 5238—Cadrina-Casmos-Rock outcrop complex,

2 to 40 percent slopes ................................. 5339—Cadrina-Rock outcrop complex, 25 to 50

percent slopes ............................................. 5440—Cadrina-Walknolls association, 4 to 25

percent slopes ............................................. 5541—Cakehill sandy loam, 2 to 5 percent

slopes .......................................................... 5642—Casmos-Cadrina-Badland complex, 4 to

25 percent slopes ........................................ 5643—Clapper complex, 25 to 50 percent

slopes .......................................................... 5844—Clapper gravelly loam, 2 to 25 percentslopes ................................................................ 5945—Clapper gravelly loam-Badland-Rock

outcrop complex, 25 to 50 percent slopes ... 59

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46—Clapper very cobbly loam, 4 to 25percent slopes ............................................. 60

47—Clapper very cobbly loam, 25 to 50percent slopes ............................................. 61

48—Clapper very cobbly loam-Badland-Rockoutcrop complex, 25 to 50 percent slopes... 62

49—Clapper-Abracon complex, 3 to 25percent slopes ............................................. 63

50—Clapper-Abracon complex, 8 to 50percent slopes ............................................. 63

51—Clapper-Hanksville complex, 4 to 50percent slopes ............................................. 64

52—Clapper-Montwel complex, 2 to 50percent slopes ............................................. 65

53—Cliff sandy loam, 2 to 4 percent slopes ...... 6654—Clyl-Pinerid association, 8 to 40 percent

slopes .......................................................... 6755—Cobbra loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes ........... 6856—Cortyzack-Diagulch complex, 3 to 25

percent slopes ............................................. 6857—Cortyzack-Duffymont complex, 3 to 25

percent slopes, rubbly ................................. 6958—Cortyzack-Flynncove association, 3 to

25 percent slopes ........................................ 7059—Cortyzack-Flynncove-Chivers

association, 1 to 25 percent slopes ............. 7160—Cottree loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes ........... 7361—Crib loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes ................ 7362—Crustown-Motto complex, 2 to 25

percent slopes ............................................. 7463—Dams .......................................................... 7664—Denco silty clay loam, 2 to 8 percent

slopes .......................................................... 7665—Denco silty clay loam, 8 to 25 percent

slopes .......................................................... 7666—Denco-Gerst complex, 4 to 40 percent

slopes .......................................................... 7767—Dokie-Flynncove association, 25 to 50

percent slopes ............................................. 7868—Dokie-Namlot association, 15 to 70

percent slopes ............................................. 7969—Eghelm-Uffens complex, 0 to 3 percent

slopes .......................................................... 8070—Emlin loam, 3 to 15 percent slopes ............ 8171—Firstgap loam, 2 to 20 percent slopes ........ 81

72—Flynncove-Bigtom-Dokie association,25 to 70 percent slopes ............................... 82

73—Foxpoint-Rock outcrop association, 50to 80 percent slopes .................................... 83

74—Gerst parachannery loam, 4 to 25percent slopes ............................................. 84

75—Gerst loam, 4 to 40 percent slopes ............ 8476—Gerst-Bullpen complex, 2 to 40 percent

slopes .......................................................... 8577—Gerst-Rock outcrop complex, 4 to 40

percent slopes ............................................. 8678—Gilston sandy loam, 2 to 8 percent

slopes .......................................................... 8779—Gilston-Chalkcliff association, 2 to 25

percent slopes ............................................. 8780—Gilston-Muff-Cadrina, Cool complex, 1

to 25 percent slopes .................................... 8881—Gompers very channery silt loam, 4 to

25 percent slopes ........................................ 8982—Gompers very channery silt loam, 25

to 50 percent slopes .................................... 9083—Gompers-Bigpack association, 2 to 25

percent slopes ............................................. 9184—Gompers-Pherson association, 4 to 25

percent slopes ............................................. 9285—Gompers-Rock outcrop complex, 50 to

80 percent slopes ........................................ 9286—Gooseneck-Wonsits association, 1 to 3

percent slopes ............................................. 9387—Green River loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes, frequently flooded ........................... 9488—Green River loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes, occasionally flooded ....................... 9589—Green River loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes, rarely flooded .................................. 9590—Green River-Fluvaquents complex, 0 to

2 percent slopes .......................................... 9691—Greybull clay loam, 4 to 20 percent

slopes .......................................................... 9792—Greybull clay loam, 20 to 50 percent

slopes .......................................................... 9793—Greybull loam, 4 to 8 percent slopes .......... 9894—Greybull-Utaline-Badland complex, 8 to

50 percent slopes ........................................ 98

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95—Hanksville silty clay loam, 2 to 25percent slopes ........................................... 100

96—Hanksville silty clay loam, 25 to 50percent slopes ........................................... 100

97—Hanksville silty clay loam, moist, 25 to50 percent slopes ...................................... 101

98—Hanksville-Uffens complex, 2 to 25percent slopes ........................................... 101

99—Hazmaz gravelly loam, 1 to 8 percentslopes ........................................................ 102

100—Hazmaz-Cobbra complex, 1 to 3percent slopes ........................................... 103

101—Heapo loamy sand, 1 to 3 percentslopes ........................................................ 104

102—Hideout-Badland-Rock outcropcomplex, 2 to 8 percent slopes .................. 105

103—Hideout-Mespun association, 4 to 50percent slopes ........................................... 106

104—Hiko Springs fine sandy loam, 0 to 2percent slopes ........................................... 107

105—Hominy very cobbly loamy sand, 1 to3 percent slopes ........................................ 107

106—Homko loam, 0 to 4 percent slopes........ 108107—Honlu gravelly loam, 4 to 25 percent

slopes ........................................................ 108108—Honlu sandy loam, 1 to 8 percent

slopes ........................................................ 109109—Honlu very cobbly sandy loam, 8 to

15 percent slopes ...................................... 110110—Honlu-Abracon association, 25 to 40

percent slopes ........................................... 110111—Hoymount-Bigtom association, 25 to

50 percent slopes ...................................... 111112—Iceslew silt loam, 1 to 3 percent

slopes ........................................................ 112113—Ioka gravelly sandy loam, 0 to 3

percent slopes ........................................... 113114—Ioka very gravelly sandy loam, 4 to 25

percent slopes ........................................... 113115—Ioka-Cadrina complex, 2 to 25

percent slopes ........................................... 114116—Ironco extremely cobbly sandy loam,

4 to 15 percent slopes ............................... 115117—Ironco extremely cobbly sandy loam,

50 to 70 percent slopes ............................. 115

118—Ironco-Emlin association, 3 to 50percent slopes ........................................... 116

119—Jagon-Rock outcrop complex, 3 to 8percent slopes ........................................... 117

120—Jenrid sandy loam, 0 to 2 percentslopes ........................................................ 117

121—Jenrid-Eghelm complex, 0 to 3percent slopes ........................................... 118

122—Jenrid-Green River complex, 0 to 2percent slopes ........................................... 119

123—Kilroy loam, 1 to 4 percent slopes .......... 120124—Lakebench-Yampa complex, 5 to 30

percent slopes, very stony ......................... 120125—Lambsen loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes .... 121126—Lanver-Walknolls association, 2 to 25

percent slopes ........................................... 122127—Lapoint-Pointla complex, 2 to 4

percent slopes ........................................... 123128—Leebench sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes ........................................................ 124129—Leeko loam, 0 to 4 percent slopes ......... 125130—Leeko-Boreham complex, 0 to 4

percent slopes ........................................... 125131—Lind loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ............ 126132—Lind loam, 2 to 4 percent slopes ............ 127133—Mespun fine sand, 4 to 25 percent

slopes ........................................................ 127134—Mezzo loamy sand, 4 to 15 percent

slopes ........................................................ 128135—Mikim complex, 1 to 4 percent slopes .... 128136—Mikim loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes ......... 129137—Mikim loam, 3 to 15 percent slopes ....... 130138—Mikim silt loam, 2 to 4 percent slopes .... 130139—Mikim silt loam, sodic, 1 to 4 percent

slopes ........................................................ 131140—Mikim-Hickerson association, 1 to 4

percent slopes ........................................... 137141—Milok fine sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent

slopes ........................................................ 137142—Milok-Montwel-Badland association,

3 to 25 percent slopes ............................... 138143—Milok-Strych complex, 3 to 25 percent

slopes, very stony ...................................... 139144—Montwel clay loam, 4 to 25 percent

slopes ........................................................ 140

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145—Montwel very cobbly clay loam, 15 to50 percent slopes ...................................... 141

146—Montwel-Denco complex, 4 to 50percent slopes ........................................... 141

147—Montwel-Hideout complex, 2 to 25percent slopes ........................................... 143

148—Montwel-Honlu-Rock outcrop complex,25 to 90 percent slopes ............................. 144

149—Montwel-Tipperary-Rock outcropassociation, 1 to 25 percent slopes ........... 145

150—Moonset-Saddlehorse association, 8to 50 percent slopes .................................. 146

151—Moonset-Whetrock association, 8 to50 percent slopes ...................................... 147

152—Motto-Casmos complex, 2 to 25percent slopes ........................................... 148

153—Motto-Muff-Rock outcrop complex, 2to 25 percent slopes .................................. 149

154—Motto-Rock outcrop complex, 2 to 25percent slopes ........................................... 150

155—Motto-Uffens complex, 2 to 25 percentslopes ........................................................ 151

156—Moynier loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes ...... 152157—Muff clay loam, 1 to 4 percent slopes ..... 152158—Muff gravelly sandy loam, 2 to 8

percent slopes ........................................... 153159—Muff-Cadrina, Cool association, 1 to

25 percent slopes ...................................... 154160—Nakoy loamy fine sand, 1 to 5 percent

slopes ........................................................ 155161—Namlot-Flynncove association, 3 to

25 percent slopes ...................................... 155162—Nolava-Nolava, wet complex, 0 to 2

percent slopes ........................................... 156163—Nolava-Nolava, wet complex, 2 to 4

percent slopes ........................................... 157164—Nolava loam, 4 to 8 percent slopes ........ 158165—Notlic-Iogoon-Labyrinth complex, 2 to

15 percent slopes, extremely stony ........... 158166—Ohtog-Parohtog complex, 0 to 2

percent slopes ........................................... 160167—Ohtog-Parohtog complex, 2 to 4

percent slopes ........................................... 161168—Paradox loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes ...... 162169—Paradox loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes ...... 162

170—Paradox loam, 8 to 25 percent slopes .... 163171—Paradox silty clay loam, 1 to 3 percent

slopes ........................................................ 163172—Paradox-Badland association, 8 to 25

percent slopes ........................................... 164173—Pariette gravelly sandy loam, 2 to 8

percent slopes ........................................... 165174—Pariette loam, 2 to 4 percent slopes ....... 165175—Parohtog clay loam, 1 to 3 percent

slopes ........................................................ 166176—Parohtog loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes .... 166177—Pensore-Lodore-Rock outcrop

complex, 3 to 45 percent slopes, verystony .......................................................... 167

178—Pensore-Moonshine-Rock outcropassociation, 4 to 25 percent slopes ........... 168

179—Pherson-Hickerson complex, 1 to 8percent slopes ........................................... 169

180—Pinetown loam, 4 to 8 percent slopes .... 170181—Pits, gravel .............................................. 171182—Pits-Dumps complex .............................. 171183—Polychrome-Milok complex, 8 to 50

percent slopes ........................................... 172184—Polychrome-Paradox association, 8 to

40 percent slopes ...................................... 173185—Redrock family-Roto complex, 3 to 15

percent slopes, very stony ......................... 174186—Reepo-Rock outcrop complex, 4 to

25 percent slopes ...................................... 175187—Renegade very flaggy fine sandy

loam, 50 to 80 percent slopes ................... 175188—Riemod loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ...... 176189—Riemod loam, 2 to 4 percent slopes ...... 176190—Riemod loam, 4 to 8 percent slopes ...... 177191—Riverwash .............................................. 178192—Robido-Uver complex, 1 to 4 percent

slopes ........................................................ 178193—Rock outcrop .......................................... 179194—Rock outcrop, Torriorthents, and

Ustorthents soils, 25 to 75 percentslopes, rubbly ............................................ 179

195—Rock outcrop-Boxring-Tridell complex,10 to 50 percent slopes ............................. 180

196—Rock outcrop-Strell-Moonshineassociation, 4 to 40 percent slopes ........... 182

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197—Rock outcrop-Ustochrepts-Cryochrepts complex, 50 to 90 percentslopes, extremely stony ............................. 183

198—Saddlehorse-Rock outcrop-Patheadassociation, 50 to 80 percent slopes ......... 184

199—Saddlehorse-Tosca-Rock outcropassociation, 40 to 80 percent slopes ......... 185

200—Schoonover-Duffymont complex, 3 to25 percent slopes, rubbly .......................... 186

201—Seeprid-Utso complex, 4 to 25percent slopes ........................................... 187

202—Sheecal channery loam, 10 to 40percent slopes ........................................... 188

203—Sheecal channery loam, 40 to 80percent slopes ........................................... 189

204—Shindy sandy loam, 3 to 8 percentslopes ........................................................ 189

205—Shotnick loamy sand, 0 to 4 percentslopes ........................................................ 190

206—Shotnick sandy loam, 2 to 4 percentslopes ........................................................ 191

207—Shotnick sandy loam, 4 to 8 percentslopes ........................................................ 191

208—Shotnick-Ioka complex, 4 to 25percent slopes ........................................... 192

209—Shotnick-Walkup complex, 0 to 2percent slopes ........................................... 193

210—Shower silty clay loam, 1 to 2 percentslopes ........................................................ 194

211—Snakejohn-Utso complex, 3 to 25percent slopes ........................................... 195

212—Solirec fine sandy loam, 3 to 8percent slopes ........................................... 196

213—Solirec-Abracon-Begay complex, 2 to15 percent slopes ...................................... 196

214—Soward sandy loam, 3 to 15 percentslopes ........................................................ 198

215—Spitzen sand, 1 to 4 percent slopes ....... 198216—Splimo extremely channery loam, 25

to 50 percent slopes .................................. 199217—Splimo very cobbly loam, 8 to 25

percent slopes ........................................... 200218—Splimo very gravelly loam, 8 to 25

percent slopes, extremely flaggy ............... 200

219—Splimo-Chew-Rock outcrop complex,10 to 50 percent slopes, extremelyflaggy ......................................................... 201

220—Splimo-Clapper complex, 25 to 50percent slopes ........................................... 202

221—Stygee clay loam, 0 to 1 percentslope .......................................................... 203

222—Stygee clay, 0 to 3 percent slopes .......... 204223—Stygee silty clay loam, 0 to 1 percent

slope .......................................................... 204224—Sugun clay loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes ........................................................ 205225—Sugun sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes ........................................................ 205226—Sugun sandy loam, 2 to 4 percent

slopes ........................................................ 206227—Surfaz extremely stony loamy sand,

2 to 15 percent slopes ............................... 207228—Tabyago-Cedarknoll association, 2 to

8 percent slopes ........................................ 207229—Tipperary loamy fine sand, 1 to 8

percent slopes ........................................... 208230—Toliver-Rock outcrop association, 50

to 80 percent slopes .................................. 209231—Tonigut loam, 40 to 70 percent slopes ... 210232—Tosca gravelly sandy loam, 25 to 40

percent slopes ........................................... 210233—Tosca gravelly sandy loam, 40 to 80

percent slopes ........................................... 211234—Towave-Gompers-Rock outcrop

association, 45 to 80 percent slopes ......... 211235—Tridell cobbly loam, 4 to 15 percent

slopes ........................................................ 212236—Tridell very cobbly loam, 4 to 25

percent slopes ........................................... 213237—Tridell-Ironco association, 15 to 50

percent slopes ........................................... 214238—Tridell-Rock outcrop association, 25

to 50 percent slopes .................................. 215239—Tridell-Waterhill association, 3 to 25

percent slopes ........................................... 216240—Turzo clay loam, 4 to 8 percent slopes ... 217241—Turzo complex, 2 to 4 percent slopes ..... 217242—Turzo loam, 0 to 4 percent slopes .......... 218

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243—Turzo-Umbo complex, 0 to 2 percentslopes ........................................................ 219

244—Turzo-Umbo complex, 2 to 4 percentslopes ........................................................ 220

245—Turzo-Wyasket complex, 0 to 4percent slopes ........................................... 221

246—Tyzut very channery silt loam, 8 to 25percent slopes ........................................... 222

247—Tyzut-Rock outcrop association, 15 to50 percent slopes ...................................... 223

248—Uffens loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes ......... 224249—Uffens loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes ......... 225250—Uffens sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes ........................................................ 225251—Umbo clay loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes ........................................................ 226252—Umbo silty clay loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes ........................................................ 227253—Utaline very gravelly sandy loam, 0 to

2 percent slopes ........................................ 227254—Utaline very gravelly sandy loam, 2 to

8 percent slopes ........................................ 228255—Utaline very gravelly sandy loam, 8 to

25 percent slopes ...................................... 228256—Walknolls extremely channery sandy

loam, 4 to 25 percent slopes ..................... 229257—Walknolls extremely channery sandy

loam-Gilston association, 2 to 50percent slopes ........................................... 230

258—Walknolls very channery loam, 25 to50 percent slopes ...................................... 231

259—Walknolls-Badland-Rock outcropcomplex, 25 to 50 percent slopes.............. 231

260—Walknolls-Bullpen association, 2 to25 percent slopes ...................................... 232

261—Walknolls-Bullpen-Walknollsassociation, 2 to 25 percent slopes ........... 233

262—Walknolls-Gilston association, 2 to 25percent slopes ........................................... 235

263—Walknolls-Mikim association, 2 to 50percent slopes ........................................... 236

264—Walknolls-Rock outcrop complex, 2 to50 percent slopes ...................................... 237

265—Walknolls-Rock outcrop complex, 50to 70 percent slopes .................................. 237

266—Walknolls-Uendal association, 2 to 25percent slopes ........................................... 238

267—Walkup sandy loam, 2 to 5 percentslopes ........................................................ 239

268—Waterhill loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes ..... 240269—Waterhill loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes ... 241270—Whitesage-Cedarknoll complex, 3 to

8 percent slopes ........................................ 241271—Wildcow-Tosca-Buckcamp

association, 25 to 80 percent slopes ......... 242272—Wildmount-Whitesage association, 8

to 50 percent slopes .................................. 243273—Windcomb-Badland-Rock outcrop

complex, 8 to 25 percent slopes,extremely flaggy ........................................ 244

274—Winteridge-Moonset association, 1 to8 percent slopes ........................................ 245

275—Wyasket loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ..... 246276—Wyasket loam, 2 to 4 percent slopes ..... 247277—Wyasket peat, 0 to 2 percent slopes,

ponded ...................................................... 248278—Wyasket silty clay loam, 0 to 2

percent slopes ........................................... 248279—Yarts complex, 2 to 5 percent slopes ..... 249280—Yarts fine sandy loam, 2 to 4 percent

slopes ........................................................ 250281—Yarts fine sandy loam, 4 to 8 percent

slopes ........................................................ 250282—Yarts-Paradox complex, 2 to 5 percent

slopes ........................................................ 251283—Yonic sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent

slopes ........................................................ 252284—Miscellaneous water .............................. 253285—Water ...................................................... 253

Use and Management of the Soils .................... 255Interpretive Ratings.......................................... 255Rating Class Terms .......................................... 255Numerical Ratings ........................................... 255Cropland, Hayland, and Pastureland ............... 255Crop Yield Estimates ........................................ 258Land Capability Classification.......................... 261Prime Farmland and Other Important

Farmland ................................................... 261Windbreaks and Environmental Plantings ....... 263Rangeland ....................................................... 263

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Forestland Productivity and ForestlandUnderstory Vegetation ............................... 264

Forest Productivity ........................................... 264Forestland Understory Vegetation ................... 264Recreation ....................................................... 264Wildlife Habitat ................................................. 266Engineering ..................................................... 267Building Site Development ............................... 268Sanitary Facilities ............................................. 269Construction Materials ..................................... 271Water Management ......................................... 272Agricultural Waste Management ...................... 273

Soil Properties .................................................... 277Engineering Index Properties .......................... 277Physical Properties .......................................... 278Chemical Properties ........................................ 279Soil Features .................................................... 280Water Features ................................................ 281

Classification of the Soils ................................. 283Soil Series and Their Morphology ................... 283

Abracon Series ............................................ 284Arches Series .............................................. 285Ardlon Series ............................................... 286Ashley Series .............................................. 287Baconpark Series ........................................ 288Baldfield Taxadjunct ..................................... 290Bandbox Series ........................................... 291Bandbox, wet Series .................................... 292Begay Series ............................................... 294Bigpack Series ............................................ 295Bigtom Series .............................................. 295Blackston Series .......................................... 297Bodry Series ................................................ 298Boreham Series ........................................... 300Boxring Series ............................................. 301Braf Series ................................................... 302Buckcamp Series ........................................ 302Bullpen Series ............................................. 304Cadrina Series............................................. 305Cakehill Series ............................................ 306Casmos Series ............................................ 307Cedarknoll Series ........................................ 308Chalkcliff Series ........................................... 309Chew Series ................................................ 311Chivers Series ............................................. 312

Clapper Series ............................................. 314Cliff Series ................................................... 315Clyl Series ................................................... 316Cobbra Series ............................................. 317Cortyzack Series ......................................... 319Cottree Series ............................................. 320Crib Series ................................................... 322Crustown Series .......................................... 323Cryochrepts ................................................. 324Denco Series ............................................... 325Diagulch Series ........................................... 327Dokie Series ................................................ 328Duffymont Series ......................................... 329Eghelm Series ............................................. 330Emlin Series ................................................ 331Firstgap Series ............................................ 332Fluvaquents ................................................. 334Flynncove Series ......................................... 335Foxpoint Series ............................................ 336Gerst Series ................................................ 337Gilston Series .............................................. 338Gompers Series .......................................... 339Gooseneck Series ....................................... 340Green River Series ...................................... 342Greybull Series ............................................ 343Hanksville Series ......................................... 344Hazmaz Series ............................................ 345Heapo Series ............................................... 346Hickerson Series ......................................... 348Hideout Series ............................................. 349Hiko Springs Series ..................................... 349Hominy Series ............................................. 351Homko Series .............................................. 352Honlu Series ................................................ 354Hoymount Series ......................................... 355Iceslew Taxadjunct ....................................... 356Iogoon Series .............................................. 358Ioka Series .................................................. 359Ironco Series ............................................... 360Jagon Series ............................................... 361Jenrid Series ............................................... 362Kilroy Series ................................................ 363Labyrinth Series .......................................... 365Lakebench Series ........................................ 366Lambsen Series .......................................... 368

12

Lanver Series .............................................. 369Lapoint Series ............................................. 371Leebench Series ......................................... 372Leeko Series ............................................... 374Lind Series .................................................. 375Lodore Series .............................................. 377Mespun Series ............................................ 378Mezzo Series ............................................... 378Mikim Taxadjunct ......................................... 379Milok Series ................................................. 381Montwel Series ............................................ 382Moonset Series ........................................... 383Moonshine Series ........................................ 384Motto Series ................................................ 385Moynier Series............................................. 386Muff Series .................................................. 387Nakoy Series ............................................... 388Namlot Series .............................................. 390Nolava Series .............................................. 391Nolava, wet Series ....................................... 392Notlic Series ................................................ 393Ohtog Series ............................................... 394Paradox Series ............................................ 396Pariette Series ............................................. 397Parohtog Series ........................................... 398Pathead Series ............................................ 399Pensore Series ............................................ 400Pherson Series ............................................ 401Pinerid Series .............................................. 402Pinetown Series .......................................... 403Pointla Series .............................................. 404Polychrome Series ...................................... 406Redrock Family ............................................ 407Reepo Series ............................................... 408Renegade Series......................................... 409Riemod Series ............................................. 410Robido Series .............................................. 412Roto Series .................................................. 413Saddlehorse Series ..................................... 414Schoonover Series ...................................... 415Seeprid Series ............................................. 416Sheecal Series ............................................ 418Shindy Series .............................................. 419Shotnick Series ........................................... 420Shower Series ............................................. 421

Snakejohn Series ........................................ 422Solirec Series .............................................. 423Soward Series ............................................. 425Spitzen Series ............................................. 426Splimo Series .............................................. 427Strell Series ................................................. 429Strych Series ............................................... 429Stygee Series .............................................. 431Sugun Series ............................................... 432Surfaz Series ............................................... 433Tabyago Series ............................................ 434Tipperary Series .......................................... 435Toliver Series ............................................... 436Tonigut Series .............................................. 437Torriorthents ................................................ 439Tosca Series ................................................ 439Towave Series ............................................. 441Tridell Series ................................................ 442Turzo Series ................................................. 444Tyzut Series ................................................. 445Uendal Series .............................................. 446Uffens Series ............................................... 447Umbo Series ................................................ 448Ustochrepts ................................................. 449Ustorthents .................................................. 450Utaline Series .............................................. 451Utso Series .................................................. 452Uver Series .................................................. 453Walknolls Series .......................................... 454Walkup Series ............................................. 455Waterhill Series ........................................... 456Wentridge Series ......................................... 458Whetrock Series .......................................... 458Whitesage Series ........................................ 460Wildcow Series ............................................ 461Wildmount Series ........................................ 462Windcomb Series ........................................ 463Winteridge Series ........................................ 464Wonsits Series ............................................. 466Wyasket Series ............................................ 467Yampa Series .............................................. 469Yarts Series ................................................. 470Yonic Series ................................................. 471

Formation of the Soils ....................................... 473References .......................................................... 475

13

Issued 2003

Glossary .............................................................. 477Tables .................................................................. 489

Table 1.--Temperature and precipitation .......... 490Table 2.--Freeze dates in spring and fall .......... 497Table 3.--Growing season ................................ 504Table 4.--Acreage and proportionate extent

of the soils ................................................. 506Table 5.--Land capability and yields per

acre of crops and pasture.......................... 517Table 6.--Main cropland limitations and

hazards ...................................................... 540Table 7.--Prime farmland ................................. 548Table 8.--Ecological sites and characteristic

native vegetation ....................................... 549Table 9.--Recreation ........................................ 634Table 10.--Recreation ...................................... 679

Table 11.--Wildlife habitat ................................ 711Table 12.--Building site development ............... 732Table 13.--Building site development ............... 769Table 14.--Sanitary facilities ............................. 815Table 15.--Sanitary facilities ............................. 862Table 16.--Construction materials .................... 900Table 17.--Construction materials .................... 934Table 18.--Water management ........................ 990Table 19.--Agricultural waste management ... 1028Table 20.--Agricultural waste management ... 1099Table 21.--Engineering index properties ........ 1168Table 22.--Physical properties of the soils ..... 1253Table 23.--Chemical properties of the soils ... 1306Table 24.--Soil features .................................. 1345Table 25.--Water features ............................... 1373Table 26.--Classification of the soils .............. 1410

15

This soil survey contains information that affects land use planning in this surveyarea. It contains predictions of soil behavior for selected land uses. The survey alsohighlights soil limitations, improvements needed to overcome the limitations, and theimpact of selected land uses on the environment.

This soil survey is designed for many different users. Farmers, ranchers, foresters,and agronomists can use it to evaluate the potential of the soil and the managementneeded for maximum food and fiber production. Planners, community officials,engineers, developers, builders, and home buyers can use the survey to plan landuse, select sites for construction, and identify special practices needed to ensureproper performance. Conservationists, teachers, students, and specialists inrecreation, wildlife management, waste disposal, and pollution control can use thesurvey to help them understand, protect, and enhance the environment.

Various land use regulations of Federal, State, and local governments may imposespecial restrictions on land use or land treatment. The information in this report isintended to identify soil properties that are used in making various land use or landtreatment decisions. Statements made in this report are intended to help the landusers identify and reduce the effects of soil limitations on various land uses. Thelandowner or user is responsible for identifying and complying with existing laws andregulations.

Great differences in soil properties can occur within short distances. Some soilsare seasonally wet or subject to flooding. Some are shallow to bedrock. Some are toounstable to be used as a foundation for buildings or roads. Clayey or wet soils arepoorly suited to use as septic tank absorption fields. A high water table makes a soilpoorly suited to basements or underground installations.

These and many other soil properties that affect land use are described in this soilsurvey. The location of each soil is shown on the detailed soil maps. Each soil in thesurvey area is described. Information on specific uses is given for each soil. Help inusing this publication and additional information are available at the local office of theNatural Resources Conservation Service or the Cooperative Extension Service.

Phillip J. NelsonState ConservationistNatural Resources Conservation Service

Foreword

17

General Nature of the Survey AreaThe Uintah Area, Utah soil survey is located in the

northeast corner of Utah (fig. 1). It is the eastern part of what is known as the Uintah Basin. It includes 2,261,340acres in Uintah County, 143,357 acres in northernGrand County, and 73,037 acres in the southeastpart of Daggett County. The total acreage is2,477,734 acres, or about 3,872 square miles. AshleyNational Forest on the north and Dinosaur NationalMonument is on the east side of the survey area. UteIndian tribal lands south of Ouray are not included.The area extends from the Utah-Colorado border onthe east to the Uintah-Duchesne county line on thewest, and from the Ashley National Forest boundaryon the North to the Book Cliffs divide on the south.

Vernal, in Uintah County, is the center ofcommercial activity and provides touristaccommodations. Places of interest in the area areDinosaur National Monument, Flaming GorgeRecreation Area, High Uintas Wilderness Area, UtahField House of Natural History State Park, SteinakerLake State Park, and Red Fleet State Park. FortDuchesne is the headquarters for the Uintah and

Ouray Indian Tribe and Reservation. The populationwithin the survey area is about 24,000.

Soil Survey of

Uintah Area, Utah—Parts ofDaggett, Grand, and UintahCounties

By Garth W. Leishman, Robert H. Fish, and Randy J. Lewis, Natural ResourcesConservation Service

Fieldwork by Garth W. Leishman, Woodrow Nielson, Kenneth D Adams, Stephen M.Bonnell, James E. Borchert, James E. Brewer, Mark F. Cottrell, Thomas Culhane,Terry A. Dallin, Robert H. Fish, Richard A. Foster, Barbara Hoffman, David W. Howell,Randy J. Lewis, Ronald T. Pearson, Terry D. Ramborger, Thomas J. Rice Jr., Randal J.Southard, Susan B. Southard, Steven D. Sponaugle, Natural Resources ConservationService; and Keith J. Chapman, Steven Strong, Michael Walcznski, Bureau of LandManagement

Quality Assurance by Steven S. Park, SDQS, Natural Resources ConservationService, Lakewood, Colorado

United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service,in cooperation with the Utah Agriculture Experiment Station, United StatesDepartment of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service, Uintah Soil Conservation District, and the Daggett SoilConservation District.

INSERT ILLUST 2A (20 x 18-1/2 picas)

Figure 1.—Location of the Uintah Area in Utah.

18 Soil Survey

U.S. Highway 40 crosses the survey area fromDinosaur, Colorado on the east through Vernal toRoosevelt, Utah on the west. U.S. Highway 191 runseast from Roosevelt on the west through Vernal, andthen north to Manila.

The extraction and processing of oil, gas,phosphate, and gilsonite and the generation ofelectricity at the Bonanza Power Plant are majorindustries in the area. The gilsonite deposits atBonanza are the largest known in the world. Thereare large untapped reserves of oil in the tar sand andoil shale deposits. Livestock is a major industry.86,000 acres of cropland produces alfalfa, barley,corn, and pasture as feed for livestock locally.Approximately 1.6 million acres of Federal land in thearea is grazed by livestock and wildlife.

The Green River is the major drainageway throughthe survey area, flowing from the north out ofWyoming. Major tributaries are the Duchesne Riverflowing out of the west, and the Yampa and WhiteRivers flowing from the east out of Colorado. AshleyCreek and the Uinta River are minor tributariesflowing out of the Uinta Mountains from the north;Willow, Hill, and Bitter Creeks flow north out the BookCliffs.

Soils in this survey area vary widely in theircharacteristics. Major geologic formations from whichthe soils formed are Uinta Mountain Group, BrownsPark, Park City, Morrison, Mancos, Duchesne River,Uinta, and Green River. The elevations range from9,100 feet on the Diamond Mountain Plateau to4,600 feet at Ouray, and back up to 9,000 feet on theBook Cliffs divide. Precipitation ranges from about 30inches per year at the higher elevations to about 5inches annually at Ouray.

Older published surveys of the Uintah Area areRoosevelt-Duchesne Area, Utah, 1959; Soil Surveyof the Uinta River Valley Area, Utah, 1920; and SoilSurvey of the Ashley Valley, Utah, 1921. These earliersurveys cover part of the present day survey on thewest side of Uintah County and in Ashley Valley. Thissurvey updates the earlier surveys and providesadditional information and larger maps that show thesoils in greater detail.

Climate

Prepared by the Natural Resources Conservation ServiceNational Water and Climate Center, Portland, Oregon.

The climate tables are created from climatestations at Bonanza, Dinosaur National MonumentQuarry Area, Fort Duchesne, Jensen, Ouray 4 NE,Roosevelt, and Vernal Airport, Utah.

Thunderstorm days, relative humidity, percentageof days with sunshine, and wind information areestimated from the First Order station at GrandJunction, Colorado.

Table 1 gives data on temperature andprecipitation for the survey area. Table 2 showsprobable dates of the first freeze in fall and the lastfreeze in spring. Table 3 provides data on the lengthof the growing season. The period of record for allthese tables is 1961 to 1990.

For Vernal, the average winter temperature is 20.1degrees F and the average daily minimumtemperature is 8.3 degrees. The lowest temperatureon record, which occurred at Vernal on January 9,1937 and on February 7, 1989, was -38 degrees. Insummer, the average temperature is 68.7 degreesand the average daily maximum temperature is 86.9degrees. The highest temperature, which occurred atVernal on July 25, 1931, was 103 degrees.

Growing degree days are shown in Table 1. Theyare equivalent to “heat units.” During the month,growing degree days accumulate by the amount thatthe average temperature each day exceeds a basetemperature (40 degrees F). The normal monthlyaccumulation is used to schedule single orsuccessive plantings of a crop between the lastfreeze in spring and the first freeze in fall.

The average annual total precipitation is about8.16 inches. Of this, about 3.60 inches, or 45 percent,usually falls from May through September. Thegrowing season for most crops falls within this period.Precipitation over this soil survey area generally isbetween 6 and 10 inches annually, although some ofthe higher elevation areas in the extreme northernsection receive up to 20 inches annually, andsouthern sections receive between 10 and 18 inchesannually. The heaviest 1-day rainfall during the periodof record at Vernal was 1.60 inches on October 11,1981. Thunderstorms occur on about 35 days eachyear, and most occur in July and August.

The average seasonal snowfall is 8.8 inches atVernal, but some of the areas at higher elevations inthis survey area average between 20 and 40 inchesof snow each winter. The greatest snow depth at anyone time during the period of record at Vernal was 23inches recorded on January 25, 1944. On anaverage, 7 days per year have at least 1 inch of snowon the ground. In the Uintah area, the heaviest 1-daysnowfall on record was 24.0 inches recorded onDecember 19, 1949.

The average relative humidity in mid-afternoon isabout 36 percent. Humidity is higher at night, and theaverage at dawn is about 60 percent. The sun shines78 percent of the time in summer and 60 percent in

Uintah Area, Utah 19

winter. The prevailing wind is from the west, althoughwind direction is quite variable over this complexlyterrained region. Average wind speed is highest,around 10 miles per hour, from April to July.

History and Development

By Randy J. Lewis

The Fremont Indians were an early group thatoccupied the survey area before the arrival ofpioneer settlers. Fremont writings and artistry canstill be found along rugged canyon walls of the area.After the departure of the Fremonts, the Ute Indiansoccupied the area. The name Uintah is taken fromone of the Ute bands, “Uinta-ats.”

In 1776, Fathers Francisco Atanasio Dominguesand Silvestre Valez de Escalante were the firstexplorers in the area as they searched for anoverland route from Santa Fe, New Mexico toCalifornia. Trappers and hunters came in search ofbeaver in 1825. William Henry Ashley was theearliest of this group to come in the area. Hisnamesake was left on the area’s main valley andcreek. In 1837 a French trapper named AntoineRobidoux established a fort near present day White

Rocks. Fort Robidoux is believed to be the first year-round settlement in Utah. In 1869 John WesleyPowell explored the Green River Canyons. The firstpermanent settlers came in 1873 and introducedirrigated farming to the area. Uintah County wasestablished in 1880.

Livestock, honey, small grains, and alfalfa havebeen the main agricultural forms of livelihood in thesurvey area (fig. 2). One of the world’s few reserves ofAsphaltum, or gilsonite, as well as significantdeposits of oil shale are found in the area. The area’sfirst oil well was drilled in 1948 and oil production hassince been a major part of the area’s economy. Manyand diverse forms of recreation, as well as theDinosaur National Monument, have allowed tourismto be an important part of the area’s economy aswell.

Geology

By Terril Kay Stevenson, Geologist, NRCS

The Uintah Area survey is located mainly in theUinta Basin section of the northern edge of theColorado Plateau physiographic province. The southflank of the Uinta Mountains (part of the Middle

Figure 2.—Ashley Valley has homes intermingled with cropland. Soils are Turzo-Umbo complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes in theforeground. Buckskin Hills are in the background.

20 Soil Survey

Rocky Mountains physiographic province) forms thenortheastern edge of the survey area as displayedand described in the Geology Map of Utah.

The Uinta Basin section of the Colorado Plateauprovince is a sparsely vegetated landscape ofplateaus, mesas, canyons, gently sloping pediments,linear cliffs, and badlands that result from differentialerosion of relatively soft, predominantly Tertiary agesedimentary rocks. The Uinta Basin is structurally aneast-west trending syncline (down-warp) with steeplysouth-dipping strata on the north limb where thesyncline merges into the Uinta Mountain anticline,and generally north-dipping strata on the south limbwhere the basin gives way to massive erosionallinear cliffs. The basin is relatively flat-lying in thecenter with strongly dissected badlands; gentlysouthwest-sloping pediment surfaces or benches;and alluvial canyons with near vertical cliffs, mesas,benches, and flats. The streams have formed trellisdrainage patterns throughout most of the basin.Mesozoic age sedimentary rocks crop out along boththe northern and southern edges of the basin.

The Uinta Mountains section of the Middle RockyMountain province is an east-west trending anticlinalstructure (up fold) bounded by normal faulting. Theanticline is formed almost entirely in layeredsedimentary rocks ranging in age from Precambrianthrough Paleozoic and Mesozoic. Stream and glacialerosion have dissected the anticline, though theportion that is included in the survey area is affectedmainly by stream erosion.

Sediments consisting of alluvium, colluvium,terrace and bench deposits, talus, landslide deposits,glacial outwash, and eolian or dune deposits have allbeen deposited within the survey area. The rivervalleys and drainageways contain alluvium andcolluvium that generally consist of clay, silt, sand,gravel, and cobbles. The terrace and bench depositsare predominantly medium to coarse grainedsediments (silt, sand, gravel, and boulders) occurringas remnant erosional terraces or pediment surfacesbetween the steep slopes of the Uinta Mountains andthe basin floor. The landslide and talus deposits formmainly as mass-wasting products from the steeperslopes of the Uinta Mountains and in steep-sidedcanyon drainageways on the northern and southernedges of the Uinta Basin. Glacial outwash is a coarsegrained deposit (sand, gravel, cobbles, and boulders)which grades into the terrace deposits nearer theupper slopes of the northern edge of the Uinta Basin.The eolian or dune deposits generally are associatedwith sandstone bedrock outcrops, consist ofpredominantly sand- to silt-sized particles, andgenerally occur in the middle portion of the Uinta

Basin. Because the Uinta Basin sediments weredeposits created from an inland sea (Cretaceousage) and a large lake (early Miocene-Oligocene age),saline and calcium carbonates and associatedevaporites are major constituents of some of the soilswithin the survey area.

The Uinta Basin section of the Colorado Plateauand Uinta Mountains section of the Middle RockyMountains provinces are both considered relativelystable tectonically with no appreciable recent seismicactivity. As a result of this tectonic stability, themountains have been deeply eroded and are nolonger actively contributing to fan or pedimentdevelopment. This has allowed the dissection andvirtual destruction of many of the fan and pedimentsurfaces. The tributary streams in the survey areaare generally incising the existing sediments andbedrock rather than depositing new sediment. Themain streams or rivers in the survey area exhibitmeandering patterns and appear to be in a stablecondition, neither aggrading or degradingappreciably. Sediment deposition is occurring in themany reservoirs built on the streams and rivers inthe survey area.

In summary, the active geologic process in thissoil survey area is erosion characterized by alluvialstream action, colluvial slope erosion, mass-wasting(including landslides), freeze and thaw, and eolian-dune erosion and deposition. The soils of the surveyhave highly variable salt contents due to marine andterrestrial geologic history of the bedrock from whichthe soils are derived.

How This Survey Was MadeThis survey was made to provide information

about the soils and miscellaneous areas in thesurvey area. The information includes a descriptionof the soils and miscellaneous areas and theirlocation and a discussion of their suitability,limitations, and management for specified uses. Soilscientists observed the steepness, length, and shapeof the slopes; the general pattern of drainage; thekinds of crops and native plants; and the kinds ofbedrock. They dug many holes to study the soilprofile, which is the sequence of natural layers, orhorizons, in a soil. The profile extends from thesurface down into the unconsolidated material inwhich the soil formed. The unconsolidated materialis devoid of roots and other living organisms and hasnot been changed by other biological activity.

The soils and miscellaneous areas in the surveyarea are in an orderly pattern that is related to thegeology, landforms, relief, climate, and natural

Uintah Area, Utah 21

vegetation of the area. Each kind of soil andmiscellaneous area is associated with a particularkind of landform or with a segment of the landform.By observing the soils and miscellaneous areas inthe survey area and relating their position to specificsegments of the landform, a soil scientist develops aconcept or model of how they were formed. Thus,during mapping, this model enables the soil scientistto predict with a considerable degree of accuracy thekind of soil or miscellaneous area at a specificlocation on the landscape.

Commonly, individual soils on the landscapemerge into one another as their characteristicsgradually change. To construct an accurate soil map,however, soil scientists must determine theboundaries between the soils. They can observe onlya limited number of soil profiles. Nevertheless, theseobservations, supplemented by an understanding ofthe soil-vegetation-landscape relationship, aresufficient to verify predictions of the kinds of soil in anarea and to determine the boundaries.

Soil scientists recorded the characteristics of thesoil profiles that they studied. They noted soil color,texture, size and shape of soil aggregates, kind andamount of rock fragments, distribution of plant roots,reaction, and other features that enable them toidentify soils. After describing the soils in the surveyarea and determining their properties, the soilscientists assigned the soils to taxonomic classes(units). Taxonomic classes are concepts. Eachtaxonomic class has a set of soil characteristics withprecisely defined limits. The classes are used as abasis for comparison to classify soils systematically.Soil taxonomy (USDA, 1999), the system oftaxonomic classification used in the United States,is based mainly on the kind and character of soilproperties and the arrangement of horizons withinthe profile. After the soil scientists classified andnamed the soils in the survey area, they comparedthe individual soils with similar soils in the sametaxonomic class in other areas so that they couldconfirm data and assemble additional data basedon experience and research.

While a soil survey is in progress, samples ofsome of the soils in the area generally are collectedfor laboratory analyses and for engineering tests.Soil scientists interpret the data from these analysesand tests as well as the field-observed characteristicsand the soil properties to determine the expectedbehavior of the soils under different uses.Interpretations for all of the soils are field testedthrough observation of the soils in different uses andunder different levels of management. Someinterpretations are modified to fit local conditions,

and some new interpretations are developed to meetlocal needs. Data are assembled from other sources,such as research information, production records,and field experience of specialists. For example, dataon crop yields under defined levels of managementare assembled from farm records and from field orplot experiments on the same kinds of soil.

Predictions about soil behavior are based not onlyon soil properties but also on such variables asclimate and biological activity. Soil conditions arepredictable over long periods of time, but they are notpredictable from year to year. For example, soilscientists can predict with a fairly high degree ofaccuracy that a given soil will have a high water tablewithin certain depths in most years, but they cannotpredict that a high water table will always be at aspecific level in the soil on a specific date.

After soil scientists located and identified thesignificant natural bodies of soil in the survey area,they drew the boundaries of these bodies on aerialphotographs and identified each as a specific mapunit. Aerial photographs show trees, buildings, fields,roads, and rivers, all of which help in locatingboundaries accurately.

This survey area was mapped at two levels ofdetail. At the more detailed level, map units arenarrowly defined. Map unit boundaries were plottedand verified at closely spaced intervals. At the lessdetailed level, map units are broadly defined. Mapunit boundaries were plotted and verified at widerintervals. The narrowly defined units are indicated byan asterisk in the list of detailed soil map units in theContents. The detail of mapping was selected tomeet the anticipated long-term use of the survey,and the map units were designed to meet the needsfor that use.

The State Roadless area in the southwest cornerof the survey area and the Ute Indian Tribal landsalong the Pariette Draw and north of Randlett weremapped by photo interpretation only. Placement ofsoil map unit delineation lines and soil and vegetationinterpretations are not as reliable as those in the restof the soil survey.

Survey Procedures

The general procedures followed in making thissurvey are described in the “National Soil SurveyHandbook” (USDA, 1996) of the Natural ResourcesConservation Service and the “Soil Survey Manual”(USDA, 1993.) The soil survey maps made forconservation planning on individual farms prior tothe start of the project and the maps and descriptionsfrom the Roosevelt-Duchesne Area, Utah -Series

22 Soil Survey

1940, No. 24 and Geologic Map of Utah,Northeastern Quarter (Univ. of Utah, 1961) wereamong the references used.

Before the fieldwork began, preliminaryboundaries of slopes and landforms were plottedstereoscopically on aerial photographs taken in 1976and enlarged to a scale of 1:24,000. Soil scientistsstudied U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps ata scale of 1:24,000 to relate land and image features.Reconnaissance was made by vehicle before thelandscape was traversed on foot.

Sample areas were selected to represent themajor landscapes in the county. These areas wereinvestigated more closely than the rest of the county.Extensive notes were taken on the composition ofmap units in these preliminary study areas. Asmapping progressed, these preliminary notes weremodified and a final assessment of the compositionof the individual map units was made. In areas of theTurzo-Umbo complex and in other areas where thesoil pattern is very complex, traverses were as closeas 100 yards. In areas of the Winteridge-Moonsetassociation and in other areas where the soil patternis relatively simple, traverses were about one-halfmile apart.

As the traverses were made, the soil scientistsdivided the landscape into landforms or landformsegments based on the use and management of thesoils. For example, a hill would be separated from a

depression and a gently sloping summit from a verysteep back slope of a ridge. In most areas, soilexaminations along the traverses were made 100 to1,000 yards apart, depending upon the landscapeand soil pattern.

Observations of such items as landforms, blown-down trees, vegetation, roadbanks, and animalburrows were made without regard to spacing. Soilboundaries were determined on the basis of soilexaminations, observations, and photo interpretation.The soil material was examined with the aid of ahand auger or a spade to a depth of about 5 feet orto bedrock within a depth of 5 feet. The pedonsdescribed as typical were observed and studied inpits that were dug with shovels, spades, or backhoes.

Samples for chemical and physical analyses andfor analyses of engineering properties were takenfrom representative sites of several of the soils in thesurvey area. The chemical and physical analyseswere made by the Soil Survey Laboratory MethodsManual (USDA, 1996) at the Natural ResourcesConservation Service’s National Soil SurveyLaboratory at Lincoln, Nebraska. The results of theanalyses are stored in a computerized data file at thelaboratory. A description of the laboratory procedurescan be obtained on request from the laboratory. Theresults of the studies can be obtained from the stateoffice of the Natural Resources Conservation Servicein Salt Lake City, Utah.

23

The map units delineated on the detailed soilmaps in this survey represent the soils ormiscellaneous areas in the survey area. The map unitdescriptions in this section, along with the maps, canbe used to determine the suitability and potential of aunit for specific uses. They also can be used to planthe management needed for those uses.

A map unit delineation on a soil map representsan area dominated by one or more major kinds of soilor miscellaneous areas. A map unit is identified andnamed according to the taxonomic classification ofthe dominant soils. Within a taxonomic class thereare precisely defined limits for the properties of thesoils. On the landscape, however, the soils arenatural phenomena, and they have the characteristicvariability of all natural phenomena. Thus, the rangeof some observed properties may extend beyond thelimits defined for a taxonomic class. Areas of soils ofa single taxonomic class rarely, if ever, can bemapped without including areas of other taxonomicclasses. Consequently, every map unit is made up ofthe soils or miscellaneous areas for which it is namedand some minor components that belong totaxonomic classes other than those of the majorsoils.

Most minor soils have properties similar to thoseof the dominant soil or soils in the map unit, and thusthey do not affect use and management. These arecalled noncontrasting, or similar, components. Theymay or may not be mentioned in a particular map unitdescription. Other minor components, however, haveproperties and behavioral characteristics divergentenough to affect use or to require differentmanagement. These are called contrasting, ordissimilar, components. They generally are in smallareas and could not be mapped separately becauseof the scale used. Some small areas of stronglycontrasting soils or miscellaneous areas areidentified by a special symbol on the maps. Thecontrasting components are mentioned in the mapunit descriptions. A few areas of minor componentsmay not have been observed, and consequently theyare not mentioned in the descriptions, especiallywhere the pattern was so complex that it wasimpractical to make enough observations to identify

all the soils and miscellaneous areas on thelandscape.

The presence of minor components in a map unitin no way diminishes the usefulness or accuracy ofthe data. The objective of mapping is not to delineatepure taxonomic classes but rather to separate thelandscape into landforms or landform segments thathave similar use and management requirements.The delineation of such segments on the mapprovides sufficient information for the developmentof resource plans. If intensive use of small areas isplanned, however, onsite investigation is needed todefine and locate the soils and miscellaneous areas.

An identifying symbol precedes the map unitname in the map unit descriptions. Each descriptionincludes general facts about the unit and gives theprincipal hazards and limitations to be considered inplanning for specific uses.

Soils that have profiles that are almost alike makeup a soil series. Except for differences in texture ofthe surface layer, all the soils of a series have majorhorizons that are similar in composition, thickness,and arrangement.

Soils of one series can differ in texture of thesurface layer, slope, stoniness, salinity, degree oferosion, and other characteristics that affect theiruse. On the basis of such differences, a soil series isdivided into soil phases. Most of the areas shown onthe detailed soil maps are phases of soil series. Thename of a soil phase commonly indicates a featurethat affects use or management. For example, Turzoclay loam, 4 to 8 percent slopes is a phase of theTurzo series.

Some map units are made up of two or moremajor soils or miscellaneous areas. These map unitsare complexes, associations, or undifferentiatedgroups.

A complex consists of two or more soils ormiscellaneous areas in such an intricate pattern or insuch small areas that they cannot be shownseparately on the maps. The pattern and proportionof the soils or miscellaneous areas are somewhatsimilar in all areas. Shotnick-Walkup complex, 0 to 2percent slopes is an example.

Detailed Soil Map Units

24 Soil Survey

An association is made up of two or moregeographically associated soils or miscellaneousareas that are shown as one unit on the maps.Because of present or anticipated uses of the mapunits in the survey area, it was not consideredpractical or necessary to map the soils ormiscellaneous areas separately. The pattern andrelative proportion of the soils or miscellaneousareas are somewhat similar. Montwel-Tipperary-Rockoutcrop association, 1 to 25 percent slopes is anexample.

An undifferentiated group is made up of two ormore soils or miscellaneous areas that could bemapped individually but are mapped as one unitbecause similar interpretations can be made for useand management. The pattern and proportion of thesoils or miscellaneous areas in a mapped area arenot uniform. An area can be made up of only one ofthe major soils or miscellaneous areas, or it can bemade up of all of them. Rock outcrop, Torriorthents,and Ustorthents soils, 25 to 75 percent slopes, rubblyis an undifferentiated group in this survey area.

This survey includes miscellaneous areas. Suchareas have little or no soil material and support littleor no vegetation. Rock outcrop is an example.

Table 4 gives the acreage and proportionateextent of each map unit. Other tables give propertiesof the soils and the limitations, capabilities, andpotentials for many uses. The Glossary defines manyof the terms used in describing the soils ormiscellaneous areas.

1—Abracon loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes

Map Unit Setting

Major Land Resource Area: 34Elevation: 5,300 to 5,500 feet (1,615 to 1,676 meters)Mean annual precipitation: 8 to 12 inches (203 to 305

millimeters)Average annual air temperature: 45 to 49 degrees F.

(7.2 to 9.5 degrees C.)Frost-free period: 110 to 140 days

Map Unit Composition

Abracon and similar soils: 85 percentMinor components: 15 percent

Component Descriptions

Abracon soils

Landform: Fan remnantParent material: Slope alluvium derived from

sandstone, limestone, shale, and quartziteSlope: 1 to 3 percent

Drainage class: Well drainedSlowest permeability: 0.6 to 2.0 in/hr (moderate)Available water capacity: About 9.4 inches (high)Shrink-swell potential: About 1.5 percent (low)Flooding hazard: NoneRunoff class: LowCalcium carbonate maximum: About 40 percentGypsum maximum: NoneSalinity maximum: About 2 mmhos/cm (nonsaline)Sodium adsorption ratio maximum: About 10 (slightly

sodic)Ecological site: Semidesert Loam (Wyoming Big

Sagebrush)Potential native vegetation: Indian ricegrass,

Wyoming big sagebrush, bottlebrush squirreltail,galleta, needleandthread, globemallow, winterfat

Land capability subclass (irrigated): 2eLand capability subclass (nonirrigated): 7e

Typical Profile:Ap—0 to 8 inches; loamBw—8 to 12 inches; loamBk—12 to 52 inches; loam, clay loamC—52 to 60 inches; loam

Minor Components

Solirec and similar soilsComposition: About 5 percent

Cobbra and similar soilsComposition: About 5 percent

Clapper and similar soilsComposition: About 5 percent

2—Abracon loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes

Map Unit Setting

Major Land Resource Area: 34Elevation: 5,500 to 6,000 feet (1,676 to 1,829 meters)Mean annual precipitation: 8 to 12 inches (203 to 305

millimeters)Average annual air temperature: 45 to 49 degrees F.

(7.2 to 9.5 degrees C.)Frost-free period: 110 to 140 days

Map Unit Composition

Abracon and similar soils: 85 percentMinor components: 15 percent

Component Descriptions

Abracon soils

Landform: Fan remnantParent material: Slope alluvium derived from

Uintah Area, Utah 25

sandstone, limestone, shale, and quartziteSlope: 3 to 8 percentDrainage class: Well drainedSlowest permeability: 0.6 to 2.0 in/hr (moderate)Available water capacity: About 9.4 inches (high)Shrink-swell potential: About 1.5 percent (low)Flooding hazard: NoneRunoff class: MediumCalcium carbonate maximum: About 40 percentGypsum maximum: NoneSalinity maximum: About 2 mmhos/cm (nonsaline)Sodium adsorption ratio maximum: About 10 (slightly

sodic)Ecological site: Semidesert Loam (Wyoming Big

Sagebrush)Potential native vegetation: Indian ricegrass,

Wyoming big sagebrush, bottlebrush squirreltail,galleta, needleandthread, globemallow, winterfat

Land capability subclass (irrigated): 3eLand capability subclass (nonirrigated): 7e

Typical Profile:A—0 to 4 inches; loam (fig. 12)Bw—4 to 10 inches; loamBk—10 to 51 inches; loam, clay loamC—51 to 60 inches; loam

Minor Components

Clapper very cobbly loam and similar soilsComposition: About 8 percentSlope: 4 to 25 percentEcological site: Semidesert Stony Loam (Utah

Juniper-Pinyon)Hanksville and similar soils

Composition: About 7 percentEcological site: Desert Clay (Shadscale)

3—Abracon-Solirec complex, 3 to 8percent slopes

Map Unit Setting

Major Land Resource Area: 34Elevation: 5,300 to 6,700 feet (1,615 to 2,042 meters)Mean annual precipitation: 8 to 12 inches (203 to 305

millimeters)Average annual air temperature: 45 to 49 degrees F.

(7.2 to 9.5 degrees C.)Frost-free period: 110 to 140 days

Map Unit Composition

Abracon and similar soils: 45 percent

Solirec and similar soils: 40 percentMinor components: 15 percent

Component Descriptions

Abracon soils

Landform: Fan remnantParent material: Slope alluvium derived from

sandstone, limestone, shale, and quartziteSlope: 3 to 8 percentDrainage class: Well drainedSlowest permeability: 0.6 to 2.0 in/hr (moderate)Available water capacity: About 9.4 inches (high)Shrink-swell potential: About 1.5 percent (low)Flooding hazard: NoneRunoff class: MediumCalcium carbonate maximum: About 40 percentGypsum maximum: NoneSalinity maximum: About 2 mmhos/cm (nonsaline)Sodium adsorption ratio maximum: About 10 (slightly

sodic)Ecological site: Semidesert Loam (Wyoming Big

Sagebrush)Potential native vegetation: Indian ricegrass,

Wyoming big sagebrush, bottlebrush squirreltail,galleta, needleandthread, globemallow, winterfat

Land capability subclass (irrigated): 3eLand capability subclass (nonirrigated): 7e

Typical Profile:A—0 to 4 inches; loamBw—4 to 10 inches; loamBk—10 to 51 inches; loam, clay loamC—51 to 60 inches; loam

Solirec soils

Landform: Fan remnantParent material: Eolian deposits over slope alluvium

derived from sandstone and shaleSlope: 3 to 8 percentDrainage class: Well drainedSlowest permeability: 0.6 to 2.0 in/hr (moderate)Available water capacity: About 10.6 inches (high)Shrink-swell potential: About 1.5 percent (low)Flooding hazard: NoneRunoff class: MediumCalcium carbonate maximum: About 35 percentGypsum maximum: NoneSalinity maximum: About 2 mmhos/cm (nonsaline)Sodium adsorption ratio maximum: About 5 (slightly

sodic)Ecological site: Semidesert Loam (Wyoming Big

Sagebrush)Potential native vegetation: Indian ricegrass,

26 Soil Survey

Wyoming big sagebrush, bottlebrush squirreltail,galleta, needleandthread, globemallow, winterfat

Land capability subclass (irrigated): 3eLand capability subclass (nonirrigated): 7e

Typical Profile:A—0 to 4 inches; fine sandy loamBt—4 to 12 inches; sandy clay loamBk1—12 to 19 inches; loamBk2—19 to 75 inches; clay loam

Minor Components

Clapper very cobbly loam and similar soilsComposition: About 8 percentSlope: 4 to 25 percentEcological site: Semidesert Stony Loam (Utah

Juniper-Pinyon)Milok and similar soils

Composition: About 7 percent

4—Arches-Mespun-Rock outcropcomplex, 4 to 40 percent slopes

Map Unit Setting

Major Land Resource Area: 34Elevation: 5,000 to 6,000 feet (1,524 to 1,829 meters)Mean annual precipitation: 8 to 12 inches (203 to 305

millimeters)Average annual air temperature: 45 to 49 degrees F.

(7.2 to 9.5 degrees C.)Frost-free period: 110 to 140 days

Map Unit Composition

Arches and similar soils: 45 percentMespun and similar soils: 20 percentRock outcrop: 20 percentMinor components: 15 percent

Component Descriptions

Arches soils

Landform: HillParent material: Eolian deposits over sandstoneSlope: 5 to 40 percentDepth to restrictive feature: 5 to 20 inches to

bedrock (lithic)Drainage class: Excessively drainedSlowest permeability: 6.0 to 20 in/hr (rapid)Available water capacity: About 0.7 inch (very low)Shrink-swell potential: About 1.5 percent (low)Flooding hazard: NoneRunoff class: Very high

Calcium carbonate maximum: About 5 percentGypsum maximum: NoneSalinity maximum: About 0 mmhos/cm (nonsaline)Sodium adsorption ratio maximum: About 0

(nonsodic)Ecological site: Semidesert Shallow Loam (Utah

Juniper-Pinyon)Potential native vegetation:

Common trees: Utah juniper, twoneedle pinyonOther plants: black sagebrush, saline wildrye,

Mormon tea, bluebunch wheatgrass, galletaLand capability subclass (nonirrigated): 7e

Typical Profile:A—0 to 2 inches; loamy fine sandC1—2 to 5 inches; loamy fine sandC2—5 to 9 inches; fine sandR—9 to 13 inches; unweathered bedrock

Mespun soils

Landform: Hill, fan remnantParent material: Eolian deposits derived from

sandstoneSlope: 4 to 25 percentDrainage class: Excessively drainedSlowest permeability: 6.0 to 20 in/hr (rapid)Available water capacity: About 4.7 inches (low)Shrink-swell potential: About 1.5 percent (low)Flooding hazard: NoneRunoff class: Very lowCalcium carbonate maximum: NoneGypsum maximum: NoneSalinity maximum: About 0 mmhos/cm (nonsaline)Sodium adsorption ratio maximum: About 0

(nonsodic)Ecological site: Semidesert Sand (Fourwing

Saltbush)Potential native vegetation: Indian ricegrass, fourwing

saltbush, needleandthread, sand sagebrush,crispleaf buckwheat, galleta, scarlet globemallow

Land capability subclass (nonirrigated): 7e

Typical Profile:A—0 to 9 inches; fine sandC—9 to 60 inches; loamy fine sand, fine sand

Rock outcrop

Description: Rock outcrop consists of moderatelysloping to steep exposures of bedrock associatedwith shale, siltstone, sandstone, and limestone ofthe Duchesne River, Green River, Park City andUinta formations. Local relief generally rangesfrom 2 to 1,000 feet. Potential runoff is very high.

Uintah Area, Utah 27

Landform: Erosion remnant, cliff, escarpment, ledgeSlope: 4 to 40 percentDepth to restrictive feature: 0 inches to bedrock

(lithic)Available water capacity: About 0.0 inches (very low)Flooding hazard: NoneRunoff class: Very highLand capability subclass (nonirrigated): 8s

Minor Components

Milok and similar soilsComposition: About 5 percent

Begay and similar soilsComposition: About 5 percent

Walknolls very channery loam and similar soilsComposition: About 5 percentSlope: 4 to 25 percentEcological site: Semidesert Shallow Loam (Black

Sagebrush)

5—Ardlon very cobbly fine sandy loam, 1to 3 percent slopes

Map Unit Setting

Major Land Resource Area: 34Elevation: 5,600 to 6,400 feet (1,707 to 1,951 meters)Mean annual precipitation: 8 to 12 inches (203 to 305

millimeters)Average annual air temperature: 45 to 49 degrees F.

(7.2 to 9.5 degrees C.)Frost-free period: 110 to 140 days

Map Unit Composition

Ardlon and similar soils: 85 percentMinor components: 15 percent

Component Descriptions

Ardlon soils

Landform: Flood plain, drainagewayParent material: Alluvium derived from quartzite,

sandstone, limestone, and shaleSlope: 1 to 3 percentDrainage class: Moderately well drainedSlowest permeability: 2.0 to 6.0 in/hr (moderately

rapid)Available water capacity: About 2.7 inches (very low)Shrink-swell potential: About 1.5 percent (low)Flooding hazard: Occasional

Seasonal high water table depth: About 42 to60 inches

Runoff class: Very lowCalcium carbonate maximum: NoneGypsum maximum: NoneSalinity maximum: About 2 mmhos/cm (nonsaline)Sodium adsorption ratio maximum: About 0

(nonsodic)Ecological site: Semidry Stream Terrace (Basin Big

Sagebrush-Skunkbush Sumac)Potential native vegetation: basin big sagebrush,

skunkbush sumac, needleandthread, Fremont’scottonwood, Indian ricegrass, bottlebrushsquirreltail, western wheatgrass

Land capability subclass (irrigated): 6wLand capability subclass (nonirrigated): 7w

Typical Profile:A—0 to 11 inches; very cobbly fine sandy loamABk—11 to 21 inches; cobbly sandy loamBk1—21 to 29 inches; extremely cobbly sandy

loamBk2—29 to 60 inches; extremely cobbly loamy

sand, extremely cobbly sand

Minor Components

Uver and similar soilsComposition: About 5 percent