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United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service In cooperation with United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service; United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management; Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station; and Wallowa Soil and Water Conservation District Soil Survey of Wallowa County Area, Oregon

Soil Survey of Wallowa County Area, Oregon...Detailed Soil Maps The detailed soil maps can be useful in planning the use and management of small areas. To find information about your

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  • United StatesDepartment ofAgriculture

    NaturalResourcesConservationService

    In cooperation withUnited States Department ofAgriculture, Forest Service;United States Department ofthe Interior, Bureau of LandManagement; Oregon StateUniversity AgriculturalExperiment Station; andWallowa Soil and WaterConservation District

    Soil Survey ofWallowaCounty Area,Oregon

  • General Soil Map

    The general soil map, which is a color map, shows the survey area divided into groupsof associated soils called general soil map units. This map is useful in planning the useand management of large areas.

    To find information about your area of interest, locate that area on the map, identify thename of the map unit in the area on the color-coded map legend, then refer to thesection General Soil Map Units for a general description of the soils in your area.

    Detailed Soil Maps

    The detailed soil maps can be useful in planning the use and management of smallareas.

    To find information about your area of interest,locate that area on the Index to MapSheets. Note the number of themap sheetand turnto thatsheet.

    Locateyour areaof intereston themapsheet.Note themap unitsymbolsthat arein thatarea. Turnto theContents,whichlists themapunits by symbol and name and shows the page where each map unit is described.

    The Contents shows which table has data on a specific land use for each detailed soilmap unit. Also see the Contents for sections of this publication that may address yourspecific needs.

    i

    How To Use This Soil Survey

  • Additional information about the Nation’s natural resources is available onlinefrom the Natural Resources Conservation Service at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov.

    ii

    This soil survey is a publication of the National Cooperative Soil Survey, a joint effortof the United States Department of Agriculture and other Federal agencies, Stateagencies including the Agricultural Experiment Stations, and local agencies. The NaturalResources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) hasleadership for the Federal part of the National Cooperative Soil Survey.

    Major fieldwork for this soil survey was completed in 1996. Soil names anddescriptions were approved in 1996. Unless otherwise indicated, statements in thispublication refer to conditions in the survey area in 1996. This survey was madecooperatively by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the United StatesDepartment of Agriculture, Forest Service; United States Department of the Interior,Bureau of Land Management; Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station;and Wallowa Soil and Water Conservation District. The survey is part of the technicalassistance furnished to the Wallowa Soil and Water Conservation District.

    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 at alarger scale.

    The most current soil information and interpretations for this survey area are availableeither through the Soil Data Mart or in the Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) at thelocal field office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Soil Data Mart isthe Natural Resources Conservation Service data storage site for the official soil surveyinformation. The FOTG is linked to the Soil Data Mart; therefore, the same information isavailable from both sources. Soil survey maps and tabular data can be accessedthrough the Soil Data Mart at http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov. The official soil surveyinformation stored at the Soil Data Mart and this soil survey report are also availablethrough Web Soil Survey at http://soils.usda.gov/survey.

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programsand activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and whereapplicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexualorientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or the fact that all or a part ofan individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibitedbases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means forcommunication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) shouldcontact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaintof discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 IndependenceAvenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or(202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

    Cover: Forested Ferguson, Limberjim, and Syrupcreek soils on Chief Joseph Mountain inbackground. Cheval soils on flood plains adjacent to Lower Hurricane Creek in foreground.

    http://www.nrcs.usda.gov

  • iii

    Contents

    How To Use This Soil Survey ....................................................................................... iContents ..................................................................................................................... iiiForeword .................................................................................................................... xvGeneral Nature of the Survey Area ............................................................................. 2

    History and Development ........................................................................................ 2Physiography, Relief, and Drainage ......................................................................... 4Climate ..................................................................................................................... 5

    How This Survey Was Made ........................................................................................ 6General Soil Map Units .............................................................................................. 9

    Warm, Dry Soils on Fans, Terraces, and Flood Plains ............................................ 91. Voats-Hershal-Veazie ........................................................................................ 92. Langrell-Conley-Snow ....................................................................................... 9Warm, Dry Soils on Structural Benches, Hills, Canyons, and Basalt Plateaus ..... 103. Doublecreek-Schuelke-Tannahill .................................................................... 104. Laufer-Thiessen-Watama................................................................................ 11Warm, Moist Soils in Canyons and on Basalt Plateaus ......................................... 115. Gwinly-Kettenbach-Mallory ............................................................................. 116. Lookingglass-Gwinly-Sopher .......................................................................... 117. Gwin-Kettenbach-Rock outcrop ...................................................................... 12Cool, Moist Soils on Flood Plains, Outwash Plains, Stream Terraces, and

    Fans................................................................................................................. 138. Minam ............................................................................................................. 139. Redmount-Reavis-Lostine-Silverlake .............................................................. 1410. Freels-Cheval-Eggleson ................................................................................ 14Cool, Moist Soils on Glacial Moraines ................................................................... 1411. Rondowa ....................................................................................................... 14Cool, Dry Soils on Structural Benches, Hills, Canyons, and Basalt Plateaus ....... 1512. Harlow-Bocker-Snell ..................................................................................... 15Cool, Moist Soils on Structural Benches, Hills, Canyons, Basalt Plateaus, and

    Mountains ........................................................................................................ 1613. Cloverland ..................................................................................................... 1614. Cowsly-Klicker-Tolo ....................................................................................... 1615. Tamarackcanyon-Threebuck-Harlow ............................................................ 1616. Bocker-Imnaha-Rock outcrop ....................................................................... 17Cool, Moist Soils on Metasedimentary Mountains ................................................ 1717. Slicklog .......................................................................................................... 17Cool, Wet Soils on Structural Benches, Canyons, Basalt Plateaus, and

    Mountains ........................................................................................................ 1818. Syrupcreek-Tamara-Anatone ........................................................................ 1819. Flycreek-Btree ............................................................................................... 19Cold, Wet Soils on Mountains ................................................................................ 1920. Mountemily-Troutmeadows-Bucketlake ........................................................ 19

    General Vegetation Zones ....................................................................................... 21Detailed Soil Map Units ........................................................................................... 25

    1—Akerite silt loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes ............................................................ 27

  • iv

    2—Akerite silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes .......................................................... 283—Albee-Anatone complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes ............................................. 294—Albee-Bocker complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes ................................................ 315—Analulu-Slicklog-Bluecanyon complex, 30 to 60 percent south slopes ............ 326—Analulu-Slicklog-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent south slopes ......... 347—Anatone-Bocker complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes ........................................... 368—Anatone-Bocker complex, 15 to 30 percent south slopes ............................... 389—Anatone-Bocker complex, 30 to 60 percent south slopes ............................... 4010—Anatone-Bocker-Fivebit complex, 0 to 15 percent slopes.............................. 4111—Anatone-Bocker-Fivebit complex, 30 to 60 percent south slopes .................. 4312—Anatone-Cherrycreek-Imnaha complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ........ 4513—Anatone-Imnaha-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent north slopes ...... 4714—Anatone-Kamela complex, 30 to 60 percent slopes ...................................... 4815—Anatone-Klicker-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent south slopes ....... 5016—Anatone-Linecreek-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent south

    slopes .............................................................................................................. 5217—Anatone-Olot complex, 30 to 60 percent south slopes .................................. 5418—Anatone-Rock outcrop-Clearline complex, 60 to 90 percent south slopes .... 5619—Anatone-Rock outcrop-Fivebit complex, 60 to 90 percent south slopes ....... 5720—Anatone-Rock outcrop-Imnaha complex, 60 to 90 percent north slopes ...... 5921—Balm-Catherine complex, 0 to 3 percent slopes ............................................ 6122—Bittercreek-Mippon complex, 0 to 3 percent slopes ....................................... 6223—Bocker extremely cobbly silt loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes .............................. 6524—Bocker-Anatone-Rock outcrop complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes ................... 6625—Bocker-Anatone-Rock outcrop complex, 15 to 30 percent slopes ................. 6726—Bocker-Clearline-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent south slopes ...... 6927—Bocker-Imnaha-Rock outcrop complex, 30 to 60 percent south slopes ........ 7028—Bridgewater extremely stony sandy loam, 0 to 15 percent slopes................. 7229—Btree-Flycreek complex, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ................................ 7330—Btree-Flycreek complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ................................ 7531—Btree-Flycreek-Anatone complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ................. 7632—Btree-Flycreek-Anatone complex, 60 to 90 percent north slopes ................. 7933—Btree-Klicker-Anatone complex, 60 to 90 percent slopes .............................. 8134—Bucketlake silt loam, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ...................................... 8335—Bucketlake silt loam, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ...................................... 8436—Buford-Anatone complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes .......................................... 8537—Buford-Bocker complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes ............................................ 8738—Bunchpoint silt loam, 0 to 15 percent slopes ................................................. 8939—Bunchpoint-Bocker complex, 0 to 15 percent slopes ..................................... 9040—Chard very fine sandy loam, 15 to 30 percent slopes ................................... 9241—Cherrycreek-Imnaha complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes .................................. 9342—Cherrycreek-Imnaha complex, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ....................... 9443—Cherrycreek-Imnaha-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent north

    slopes .............................................................................................................. 9644—Cherrycreek-Limberjim-Rock outcrop complex, 30 to 60 percent north

    slopes .............................................................................................................. 9745—Chesnimnus silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes ................................................. 9946—Chesnimnus gravelly loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes ....................................... 10047—Cheval silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ........................................................ 10148—Cloverland silt loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes .................................................. 10349—Cloverland silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes ................................................ 10450—Conley silty clay loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ............................................... 10551—Conley silty clay loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes ............................................... 10752—Copperfield-Thiessen complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ................... 108

  • v

    53—Copperfield-Thiessen-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent northslopes ............................................................................................................ 109

    54—Cowsly silt loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes ........................................................ 11055—Cowsly silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes ...................................................... 11356—Cowsly stony silt loam, 2 to 15 percent slopes ............................................ 11457—Cowsly complex, 2 to 30 percent north slopes ............................................ 11658—Cowsly complex, 2 to 30 percent south slopes ............................................ 11759—Cowsly-Howmeadows-Sherod complex, 0 to 15 percent slopes ................. 11960—Demasters-Snell complex, 30 to 70 percent north slopes ........................... 12261—Dixiejett-Lickskillet-Rockly complex, 30 to 60 percent south slopes ............ 12362—Doublecreek-Flybow-Rock outcrop complex, 30 to 60 percent slopes ........ 12563—Doublecreek-Langrell complex, 0 to 15 percent slopes ............................... 12664—Doublecreek-Phys complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes .................................... 12865—Downards-Anatone-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent north

    slopes ............................................................................................................ 12966—Downards-Emily-Sopher complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ............... 13167—Downards-Klicker complex, 15 to 30 percent south slopes ......................... 13468—Downards-Klicker complex, 30 to 60 percent south slopes ......................... 13569—Downeygulch-Lowerbluff complex, 0 to 15 percent slopes .......................... 13770—Downeygulch-Thirstygulch complex, 15 to 30 percent slopes ..................... 13871—Eggleson gravelly loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ............................................ 14072—Emily-Wolot complex, 15 to 30 percent slopes ............................................ 14173—Endoaquolls, 0 to 3 percent slopes .............................................................. 14274—Ferguson very fine sandy loam, 2 to 15 percent slopes .............................. 14375—Ferguson very fine sandy loam, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ................... 14576—Ferguson very fine sandy loam, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ................... 14677—Ferguson very fine sandy loam, 15 to 30 percent south slopes .................. 14778—Ferguson very fine sandy loam, 30 to 60 percent south slopes .................. 14879—Flybow-Rubble land-Rock outcrop complex, 30 to 60 percent south

    slopes ............................................................................................................ 15080—Flybow-Rubble land-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent south

    slopes ............................................................................................................ 15181—Flycreek-Flyvalley complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes .................................... 15282—Freels silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes ......................................................... 15383—Geisercreek silt loam, 15 to 30 percent north slopes .................................. 15584—Gelsinger silt loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes .................................................... 15685—Gelsinger silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes .................................................. 15786—Getaway cobbly silt loam, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ............................ 15987—Getaway cobbly silt loam, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ............................ 16088—Getaway-Anatone-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent slopes ............ 16289—Getaway-Harlow complex, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ........................... 16490—Getaway-Harlow complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ........................... 16591—Getaway-Harlow-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent north slopes ..... 16792—Getaway-Linecreek-Anatone complex, 30 to 60 percent slopes ................. 16993—Getaway-Snell complex, 30 to 70 percent north slopes .............................. 17294—Gwin-Kettenbach-Rock outcrop complex, 30 to 60 percent south slopes ... 17395—Gwin-Kettenbach-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent south slopes ... 17596—Gwin-Klickson-Kettenbach association, 60 to 90 percent slopes ................ 17697—Gwinly-Kettenbach-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent south

    slopes ............................................................................................................ 17998—Gwinly-Mallory complex, 3 to 30 percent slopes ......................................... 18099—Gwinly-Mallory complex, 30 to 70 percent south slopes ............................. 182100—Gwinly-Mallory-Kettenbach complex, 15 to 30 percent south slopes ........ 183101—Gwinly-Mallory-Kettenbach complex, 30 to 60 percent south slopes ........ 185

  • vi

    102—Gwinly-Mallory-Kettenbach complex, 60 to 90 percent south slopes ........ 187103—Gwinly-Mallory-Rock outcrop complex, 40 to 90 percent south slopes ..... 189104—Gwinly-Rockly complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes ........................................ 190105—Gwinly-Rockly-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 120 percent north slopes .... 192106—Gwinly-Sopher complex, 60 to 90 percent south slopes............................ 193107—Gwinly-Sopher-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent north slopes ..... 195108—Hapludolls-Endoaquolls-Endoaquents complex, 0 to 5 percent slopes..... 197109—Harl-Anatone-Rock outcrop complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ........ 199110—Harl-Anatone-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent north slopes ........ 201111—Harl-Getaway association, 30 to 60 percent slopes .................................. 203112—Harl-Limberjim-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent north slopes ...... 205113—Harlow-Bocker complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes........................................ 207114—Harlow-Bocker complex, 15 to 30 percent south slopes ............................ 208115—Harlow-Bocker complex, 30 to 60 percent south slopes ............................ 210116—Harlow-Bocker complex, moist, 2 to 15 percent slopes ............................. 211117—Harlow-Bocker-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent south slopes ..... 213118—Harlow-Imnaha-Rock outcrop complex, moist, 2 to 15 percent slopes ..... 214119—Harlow-Imnaha-Rock outcrop complex, moist, 30 to 60 percent south

    slopes ............................................................................................................ 216120—Harlow-Imnaha-Rock outcrop complex, moist, 60 to 90 percent south

    slopes ............................................................................................................ 217121—Harlow-Klicker complex, 30 to 60 percent south slopes ............................ 219122—Harlow-Klicker complex, 60 to 90 percent south slopes ............................ 221123—Harlow-Snell-Imnaha complex, moist, 2 to 15 percent slopes ................... 223124—Harlow-Snell-Imnaha complex, moist, 15 to 30 percent south slopes ....... 225125—Harlow-Snell-Imnaha complex, moist, 30 to 60 percent south slopes ....... 227126—Harlow-Snell-Rock outcrop complex, 40 to 90 percent south slopes ........ 229127—Harlow-Tamarackcanyon-Linecreek complex, 60 to 90 percent south

    slopes ............................................................................................................ 230128—Harlow-Tamarackcanyon-Olot complex, 30 to 60 percent south slopes .... 233129—Harlow-Threebuck complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ...................... 235130—Hershal silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ..................................................... 237131—Hershal-Voats complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes .......................................... 238132—Hershal-Voats-Veazie complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes .............................. 240133—Howmeadows-Wilkins complex, 0 to 3 percent slopes .............................. 241134—Hurwal silt loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes ...................................................... 243135—Hurwal silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes .................................................... 245136—Hurwal silt loam, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ......................................... 246137—Hurwal silt loam, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ......................................... 247138—Hurwal silt loam, moist, 2 to 8 percent slopes ........................................... 248139—Hurwal silt loam, moist, 8 to 15 percent slopes ......................................... 250140—Hurwal silt loam, moist, 15 to 30 percent north slopes .............................. 251141—Imnaha-Anatone complex, 15 to 30 percent south slopes ........................ 252142—Imnaha-Anatone complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ......................... 254143—Imnaha-Bocker-Clearline complex, 30 to 60 percent south slopes ........... 255144—Imnaha-Cherrycreek-Anatone association, 30 to 60 percent slopes ........ 257145—Imnaha-Clearline-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent south

    slopes ............................................................................................................ 259146—Imnaha-Rock outcrop-Cherrycreek complex, 60 to 90 percent north

    slopes ............................................................................................................ 261147—Josset loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ............................................................ 262148—Kahler-Anatone complex, 30 to 60 percent slopes .................................... 263149—Kahler-Anatone-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent slopes ............. 265150—Kahler-Linecreek-Getaway complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ......... 267

  • vii

    151—Kahler-Linecreek-Getaway complex, 60 to 90 percent north slopes ......... 269152—Klicker stony silt loam, 2 to 15 percent slopes ........................................... 271153—Klicker stony silt loam, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ............................... 272154—Klicker stony silt loam, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ............................... 273155—Klicker stony silt loam, 15 to 30 percent south slopes ............................... 275156—Klicker stony silt loam, 30 to 60 percent south slopes ............................... 276157—Klicker-Anatone complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes ...................................... 277158—Klicker-Anatone complex, 15 to 30 percent south slopes .......................... 279159—Klicker-Anatone complex, 30 to 60 percent south slopes .......................... 281160—Klicker-Fivebit-Anatone complex, 0 to 15 percent slopes .......................... 282161—Klicker-Fivebit-Anatone complex, 30 to 60 percent slopes ........................ 285162—Klicker-Harlow complex, 15 to 30 percent south slopes ............................ 287163—Klicker-Kamela-Fivebit complex, 60 to 90 percent slopes ......................... 289164—Klicker-Olot complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ................................. 291165—Klicker-Thirstygulch-Anatone complex, 15 to 30 percent slopes ............... 293166—Klicker-Thirstygulch-Anatone complex, 30 to 60 percent slopes ............... 295167—Klicker-Rock outcrop-Anatone complex, 60 to 90 percent slopes ............. 298168—Klickson-Anatone-Larabee complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ......... 300169—Klickson-Anatone-Larabee complex, 60 to 90 percent north slopes ......... 302170—Klickson-Larabee complex, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ........................ 304171—Klickson-Larabee-Volstead complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ......... 306172—Langrell gravelly loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes ............................................. 308173—Langrell-Snow complex, 0 to 3 percent slopes .......................................... 309174—Larabee-Getaway-Klickson complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes......... 310175—Larabee-Klickson-Volstead complex, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ......... 312176—Larabee-Klickson-Volstead complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ......... 314177—Larabee-Melhorn complex, 0 to 15 percent slopes ................................... 316178—Larabee-Volstead complex, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ....................... 318179—Laufer-Thiessen complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes ..................................... 320180—Laufer-Thiessen complex, 15 to 30 percent south slopes ......................... 321181—Laufer-Thiessen complex, 30 to 60 percent south slopes ......................... 323182—Laufer-Thiessen-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent south slopes ... 324183—Lawyer-Gwinly complex, 40 to 90 percent north slopes ............................ 326184—Lickskillet-Dixiejett-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent south

    slopes ............................................................................................................ 328185—Lickskillet-Doublecreek-Rockly complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes .............. 329186—Lickskillet-Doublecreek-Rockly complex, 15 to 30 percent south

    slopes ............................................................................................................ 331187—Limberjim silt loam, 2 to 15 percent slopes ................................................ 333188—Limberjim-Anatone complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ..................... 334189—Limberjim-Syrupcreek complex, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ................ 336190—Limberjim-Syrupcreek complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ................ 337191—Limberjim-Tamara complex, 0 to 15 percent slopes .................................. 339192—Linecreek-Getaway complex, 60 to 90 percent north slopes ..................... 340193—Lookingglass silt loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes ............................................ 342194—Lookingglass silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes .......................................... 343195—Lookingglass stony silt loam, 2 to 15 percent slopes ................................ 345196—Lookingglass complex, 2 to 30 percent south slopes ................................ 347197—Lookingglass-Sopher complex, 2 to 30 percent north slopes .................... 348198—Lookingglass-Sopher complex, 2 to 30 percent south slopes ................... 350199—Lostine silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes ...................................................... 352200—Mallory-Gwinly-Lawyer complex, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ............... 353201—Mallory-Gwinly-Lawyer complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ............... 355202—Mallory-Lawyer-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent north slopes ..... 357

  • viii

    203—Matheny-Linville-Laufer complex, 40 to 90 percent north slopes .............. 359204—Matterhorn gravelly fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes ...................... 360205—Minam loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes ............................................................ 362206—Minam loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes .......................................................... 363207—Minam gravelly loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes ............................................... 364208—Minam gravelly loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes ............................................. 365209—Minam cobbly loam, 2 to 15 percent slopes .............................................. 367210—Minam stony loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes .................................................. 368211—Minam stony loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes ................................................ 369212—Minam-Endoaquepts complex, 2 to 8 percent slopes ................................ 370213—Minam-Endoaquepts complex, 8 to 15 percent slopes .............................. 372214—Mippon loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes ........................................................... 374215—Mountemily-Troutmeadows complex, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ......... 375216—Mountemily-Troutmeadows complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ......... 377217—Mountemily-Troutmeadows complex, 60 to 90 percent north slopes ......... 378218—Mountemily-Troutmeadows-Anatone complex, 60 to 90 percent north

    slopes ............................................................................................................ 380219—Needhill-Parsnip-Bocker complex, 15 to 30 percent slopes ...................... 383220—Needhill-Zumwalt complex, 0 to 15 percent slopes ................................... 384221—Olot silt loam, 2 to 15 percent slopes ......................................................... 386222—Olot silt loam, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ............................................. 387223—Olot-Anatone complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes .......................................... 388224—Olot-Anatone complex, 15 to 30 percent south slopes .............................. 390225—Parsnip silt loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes ..................................................... 392226—Parsnip-Bocker complex, 0 to 15 percent slopes ....................................... 393227—Phys cobbly loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes ................................................... 394228—Phys-Doublecreek-Collegecreek complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes ........... 395229—Phys-Doublecreek-Collegecreek complex, 15 to 30 percent slopes ......... 397230—Powwatka silt loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes ................................................. 399231—Powwatka silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes ............................................... 400232—Powwatka silt loam, 15 to 30 percent north slopes .................................... 401233—Powwatka silt loam, 15 to 30 percent south slopes ................................... 402234—Puzzlecreek very stony very fine sandy loam, 20 to 60 percent north

    slopes ............................................................................................................ 403235—Ramo silty clay loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes .............................................. 404236—Ramo silty clay loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes ............................................ 406237—Ramo silty clay loam, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ................................. 407238—Ramo-Conley complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes ......................................... 408239—Reavis silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes ...................................................... 410240—Redmount silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes ................................................. 411241—Redmount silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes ................................................. 412242—Redmount gravelly silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes ................................... 413243—Redmount-Cheval complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes .................................... 414244—Riverwash .................................................................................................. 416245—Rock outcrop, limestone, 60 to 90 percent slopes ..................................... 416246—Rock outcrop-Anatone-Fivebit complex, scarp, 60 to 90 percent south

    slopes ............................................................................................................ 417247—Rock outcrop-Anatone-Imnaha complex, scarp, 60 to 90 percent north

    slopes ............................................................................................................ 419248—Rock outcrop-Anatone-Imnaha complex, scarp, 60 to 90 percent south

    slopes ............................................................................................................ 421249—Rock outcrop-Imnaha-Cherrycreek complex, scarp, 60 to 90 percent

    north slopes................................................................................................... 422

  • ix

    250—Rock outcrop-Linecreek-Anatone complex, scarp, 60 to 90 percentslopes ............................................................................................................ 424

    251—Rock outcrop-Rockly-Dixiejett complex, scarp, 60 to 90 percent southslopes ............................................................................................................ 426

    252—Rockly-Rock outcrop-Copperfield complex, 60 to 90 percent northslopes ............................................................................................................ 428

    253—Rockly-Rock outcrop-Lickskillet complex, 60 to 90 percent southslopes ............................................................................................................ 429

    254—Rondowa silt loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes .................................................. 431255—Rondowa silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes ................................................ 432256—Rondowa stony loam, 2 to 15 percent slopes ............................................ 433257—Rondowa stony loam, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ................................ 434258—Rondowa stony loam, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ................................ 435259—Rondowa stony loam, 15 to 30 percent south slopes ................................ 436260—Rondowa stony loam, 30 to 60 percent south slopes ................................ 437261—Rondowa bouldery loam, 2 to 15 percent slopes ...................................... 439262—Rondowa bouldery loam, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ........................... 440263—Rondowa bouldery loam, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ........................... 442264—Rondowa bouldery loam, 15 to 30 percent south slopes ........................... 443265—Rondowa bouldery loam, 30 to 60 percent south slopes ........................... 444266—Rubble land-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent slopes ................... 445267—Sag silt loam, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ............................................. 446268—Sag silt loam, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ............................................. 447269—Sag silt loam, 60 to 90 percent north slopes ............................................. 448270—Schrier silt loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes ...................................................... 449271—Schrier-Almota complex, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ............................ 450272—Schrier-Almota-Rock outcrop complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ..... 451273—Schuelke-Schrier-Rockly complex, 8 to 30 percent slopes........................ 453274—Silverlake silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes .................................................. 456275—Slicklog gravelly loam, 15 to 30 percent slopes ......................................... 457276—Slicklog-Eastpine complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ........................ 458277—Slicklog-Eastpine-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent north

    slopes ............................................................................................................ 460278—Slicklog-Wintercanyon-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent north

    slopes ............................................................................................................ 462279—Snell silty clay loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes ................................................ 463280—Snell-Harlow complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes ........................................... 464281—Snell-Harlow complex, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ............................... 466282—Snell-Harlow complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ............................... 468283—Snell-Harlow complex, 15 to 30 percent south slopes ............................... 469284—Snell-Harlow silt loams complex, 0 to 15 percent slopes........................... 471285—Snell-Harlow-Imnaha complex, moist, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ....... 472286—Snell-Harlow-Imnaha complex, moist, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ....... 474287—Snell-Harlow-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent north slopes ......... 476288—Snell-Imnaha-Rock outcrop complex, moist, 60 to 90 percent north

    slopes ............................................................................................................ 478289—Snow silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes ........................................................ 479290—Sopher stony loam, 15 to 30 percent south slopes.................................... 480291—Sopher stony loam, 30 to 60 percent south slopes.................................... 482292—Sopher-Gwinly complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ............................ 483293—Sopher-Gwinly complex, 15 to 30 percent south slopes............................ 485294—Sopher-Gwinly complex, 30 to 60 percent south slopes............................ 487295—Sturgill silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes ...................................................... 489

  • x

    296—Sturgill-Eggleson complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes ...................................... 490297—Sweitberg silt loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes ................................................. 491298—Sweitberg silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes ............................................... 493299—Sweiting silt loam, 2 to 15 percent slopes .................................................. 494300—Sweiting silt loam, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ...................................... 495301—Sweiting-Harlow complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes ..................................... 496302—Sweiting-Harlow complex, 15 to 30 percent south slopes ......................... 498303—Sweiting-Klicker complex, 15 to 30 percent south slopes .......................... 500304—Syrupcreek silt loam, 0 to 15 percent slopes ............................................. 502305—Syrupcreek-Anatone complex, 0 to 15 percent slopes .............................. 503306—Syrupcreek-Lowerbluff complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes ........................... 505307—Syrupcreek-Tamara complex, 15 to 30 percent north slopes .................... 506308—Syrupcreek-Tamara complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes .................... 508309—Tamara-Sherod complex, 0 to 15 percent slopes ...................................... 509310—Tamara-Syrupcreek complex, 0 to 15 percent slopes ................................ 511311—Tamarackcanyon-Linecreek-Harlow complex, 60 to 90 percent south

    slopes ............................................................................................................ 513312—Tamarackcanyon-Lowerbluff complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes .................. 515313—Tamarackcanyon-Olot-Harlow complex, 15 to 30 percent south slopes .... 517314—Tamarackcanyon-Olot-Harlow complex, 30 to 60 percent south slopes .... 519315—Tannahill-Schrier-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent slopes ............ 522316—Tannahill-Schuelke-Lickskillet complex, 30 to 60 percent south slopes .... 523317—Thiessen very cobbly silt loam, 15 to 30 percent north slopes .................. 525318—Threebuck-Harlow complex, dry, 2 to 15 percent slopes ........................... 526319—Threebuck-Linecreek-Harlow complex, 60 to 90 percent north slopes ..... 528320—Threebuck-Tamarackcanyon complex, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ...... 530321—Threebuck-Tamarackcanyon complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ...... 532322—Threebuck-Tamarackcanyon-Harlow complex, 30 to 60 percent north

    slopes ............................................................................................................ 534323—Threebuck-Tamarackcanyon-Linecreek complex, 60 to 90 percent

    north slopes................................................................................................... 536324—Tippett-Harlow complex, 0 to 3 percent slopes .......................................... 539325—Tippett-Zumwalt complex, 0 to 3 percent slopes ....................................... 540326—Tolo silt loam, 2 to 15 percent slopes ......................................................... 542327—Tolo silt loam, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ............................................. 543328—Tolo silt loam, fan, 2 to 15 percent slopes .................................................. 544329—Tolo-Getaway complex, 15 to 30 percent north slopes .............................. 546330—Tolo-Getaway complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes .............................. 547331—Tolo-Getaway complex, dry, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ....................... 549332—Tolo-Getaway complex, dry, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ....................... 550333—Tolo-Olot complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes ................................................. 552334—Tolo-Olot complex, 15 to 30 percent south slopes ..................................... 554335—Topper silt loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes ...................................................... 555336—Topper silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes .................................................... 556337—Topper silt loam, 15 to 30 percent north slopes ......................................... 558338—Topper silt loam, 15 to 30 percent south slopes ........................................ 559339—Troutmeadows-Crawfish complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes ........................ 560340—Tuckerdowns gravelly loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes .................................... 562341—Tuckerdowns gravelly loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes .................................. 563342—Tuckerdowns gravelly loam, 15 to 30 percent south slopes ....................... 565343—Vandamine-Bordengulch complex, 30 to 60 percent north slopes ............ 566344—Vandamine-Bordengulch-Rock outcrop complex, 60 to 90 percent

    north slopes................................................................................................... 568345—Veazie loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes ............................................................ 569

  • xi

    346—Voats-Veazie complex, 0 to 3 percent slopes ............................................ 570347—Volstead-Quirk-Bocker complex, 0 to 15 percent slopes ........................... 573348—Volstead-Quirk-Bocker complex, 15 to 30 percent slopes ......................... 575349—Wallowa-Bocker complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes ..................................... 577350—Watama silt loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes .................................................... 579351—Watama silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes .................................................. 580352—Watama-Rockly complex, 2 to 15 percent slopes ...................................... 581353—Water .......................................................................................................... 582354—Wilkins silt loam, 0 to 5 percent slopes ...................................................... 582355—Wilkins-Feaginranch complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes ................................ 584356—Wolot silt loam, 0 to 15 percent slopes ...................................................... 586357—Zumwalt-Harlow complex, 2 to 8 percent slopes ....................................... 587358—Zumwalt-Harlow complex, 8 to 15 percent slopes ..................................... 588359—Zumwalt-Harlow complex, moist, 2 to 15 percent slopes .......................... 590

    Use and Management of the Soils ........................................................................ 593Interpretive Ratings ............................................................................................. 593

    Rating Class Terms ......................................................................................... 593Numerical Ratings ........................................................................................... 593

    Crops and Pasture ............................................................................................... 594Yields per Acre ................................................................................................ 596Land Capability Classification ......................................................................... 596Prime Farmland ............................................................................................... 597

    Agricultural Waste Management .......................................................................... 598Rangeland ........................................................................................................... 601Forestland Management and Productivity ........................................................... 611Windbreaks and Environmental Plantings ........................................................... 616Recreation ........................................................................................................... 616Wildlife Habitat ..................................................................................................... 617Engineering ......................................................................................................... 619

    Building Site Development .............................................................................. 620Sanitary Facilities ............................................................................................ 621Construction Materials .................................................................................... 623Water Management ......................................................................................... 625

    Soil Properties ........................................................................................................ 627Engineering Index Properties .............................................................................. 627Physical Properties .............................................................................................. 628Chemical Properties ............................................................................................ 630Water Features .................................................................................................... 631Soil Features ........................................................................................................ 632

    Classification of the Soils ..................................................................................... 633Taxonomic Units and Their Morphology .................................................................. 633

    Akerite Series ...................................................................................................... 634Albee Series ........................................................................................................ 635Almota Series ...................................................................................................... 636Analulu Series ..................................................................................................... 637Anatone Series .................................................................................................... 637Balm Series ......................................................................................................... 638Bittercreek Series ................................................................................................ 639Bluecanyon Series ............................................................................................... 640Bocker Series ...................................................................................................... 641Bordengulch Series ............................................................................................. 642Bridgewater Series .............................................................................................. 643Btree Series ......................................................................................................... 644Bucketlake Series ................................................................................................ 645

  • xii

    Buford Series ....................................................................................................... 646Bunchpoint Series ............................................................................................... 647Catherine Series .................................................................................................. 648Chard Series ........................................................................................................ 649Cherrycreek Series .............................................................................................. 650Chesnimnus Series ............................................................................................. 652Cheval Series ...................................................................................................... 653Clearline Series ................................................................................................... 654Cloverland Series ................................................................................................ 655Collegecreek Series ............................................................................................ 656Conley Series ...................................................................................................... 657Copperfield Series ............................................................................................... 658Cowsly Series ...................................................................................................... 659Crawfish Series .................................................................................................... 660Demasters Series ................................................................................................ 661Dixiejett Series ..................................................................................................... 662Doublecreek Series ............................................................................................. 663Downards Series ................................................................................................. 664Downeygulch Series ............................................................................................ 665Eastpine Series ................................................................................................... 666Eggleson Series .................................................................................................. 666Emily Series ......................................................................................................... 667Endoaquents........................................................................................................ 668Endoaquepts........................................................................................................ 669Endoaquolls, frigid ............................................................................................... 670Endoaquolls, mesic .............................................................................................. 671Feaginranch Series.............................................................................................. 672Ferguson Series .................................................................................................. 673Fivebit Series ....................................................................................................... 674Flybow Series ...................................................................................................... 675Flycreek Series .................................................................................................... 676Flyvalley Series .................................................................................................... 677Freels Series ........................................................................................................ 677Geisercreek Series .............................................................................................. 678Gelsinger Series .................................................................................................. 680Getaway Series ................................................................................................... 681Gwin Series ......................................................................................................... 682Gwinly Series ....................................................................................................... 682Hapludolls ............................................................................................................ 683Harl Series ........................................................................................................... 684Harlow Series ...................................................................................................... 685Hershal Series ..................................................................................................... 686Howmeadows Series ........................................................................................... 687Hurwal Series ...................................................................................................... 688Imnaha Series ..................................................................................................... 690Josset Series ....................................................................................................... 691Kahler Series ....................................................................................................... 692Kamela Series ..................................................................................................... 693Kettenbach Series ............................................................................................... 694Klicker Series ....................................................................................................... 695Klickson Series .................................................................................................... 696Langrell Series ..................................................................................................... 697Larabee Series .................................................................................................... 698Laufer Series ....................................................................................................... 699

  • xiii

    Lawyer Series ...................................................................................................... 699Lickskillet Series .................................................................................................. 701Limberjim Series .................................................................................................. 702Linecreek Series .................................................................................................. 703Linville Series....................................................................................................... 704Lookingglass Series ............................................................................................ 705Lostine Series ...................................................................................................... 706Lowerbluff Series ................................................................................................. 707Mallory Series ...................................................................................................... 708Matheny Series .................................................................................................... 709Matterhorn Series ................................................................................................ 710Melhorn Series .................................................................................................... 711Minam Series ....................................................................................................... 712Mippon Series ...................................................................................................... 713Mountemily Series ............................................................................................... 714Needhill Series .................................................................................................... 715Olot Series ........................................................................................................... 716Parsnip Series ..................................................................................................... 717Phys Series .......................................................................................................... 718Powwatka Series ................................................................................................. 719Puzzlecreek Series .............................................................................................. 720Quirk Series ......................................................................................................... 720Ramo Series ........................................................................................................ 721Reavis Series....................................................................................................... 723Redmount Series ................................................................................................. 724Rockly Series ....................................................................................................... 725Rondowa Series .................................................................................................. 725Sag Series ........................................................................................................... 726Schrier Series ...................................................................................................... 727Schuelke Series ................................................................................................... 728Sherod Series ...................................................................................................... 729Silverlake Series .................................................................................................. 730Slicklog Series ..................................................................................................... 732Snell Series.......................................................................................................... 733Snow Series ......................................................................................................... 734Sopher Series ...................................................................................................... 735Sturgill Series ...................................................................................................... 736Sweitberg Series ................................................................................................. 737Sweiting Series .................................................................................................... 738Syrupcreek Series ............................................................................................... 739Tamara Series...................................................................................................... 740Tamarackcanyon Series ...................................................................................... 742Tannahill Series ................................................................................................... 743Thiessen Series ................................................................................................... 744Thirstygulch Series .............................................................................................. 745Threebuck Series ................................................................................................. 746Tippett Series ...................................................................................................... 748Tolo Series ........................................................................................................... 749Topper Series ...................................................................................................... 750Troutmeadows Series .......................................................................................... 751Tuckerdowns Series ............................................................................................. 752Vandamine Series ............................................................................................... 754Veazie Series ....................................................................................................... 755Voats Series ......................................................................................................... 756

  • xiv

    Volstead Series .................................................................................................... 757Wallowa Series .................................................................................................... 758Watama Series .................................................................................................... 759Wilkins Series ...................................................................................................... 759Wintercanyon Series ........................................................................................... 761Wolot Series ........................................................................................................ 762Zumwalt Series .................................................................................................... 763

    Formation of the Soils ........................................................................................... 765Geology ............................................................................................................... 765Factors of Soil Formation ..................................................................................... 768Geomorphic Surfaces and Soil Development ...................................................... 771

    References .............................................................................................................. 779Glossary .................................................................................................................. 783Tables ...................................................................................................................... 803

    Table 1.--Temperature and Precipitation .............................................................. 804Table 2.--Freeze Dates in Spring and Fall ........................................................... 808Table 3.--Growing Season ................................................................................... 810Table 4.--Acreage and Proportionate Extent of the Soils .................................... 811Table 5.--Land Capability and Yields per Acre of Crops and Pasture .................. 817Table 6a.--Agricultural Disposal of Manure, Food-Processing Waste, and

    Sewage Sludge ............................................................................................. 852Table 6b.--Agricultural Disposal of Wastewater by Rapid Infiltration and

    Slow Rate Treatment ..................................................................................... 935Table 7.--Ecological Sites, Plant Associations, and Characteristic Plant

    Communities ............................................................................................... 1052Table 8.--Forestland Management ..................................................................... 1120Table 9.--Forestland Productivity ....................................................................... 1134Table 10.--Windbreaks and Environmental Plantings ........................................ 1152Table 11a.--Recreation (Part I) .......................................................................... 1163Table 11b.--Recreation (Part II) ......................................................................... 1221Table 12a.--Building Site Development (Part I) .................................................. 1278Table 12b.--Building Site Development (Part II) ................................................. 1345Table 13a.--Sanitary Facilities (Part I) ............................................................... 1423Table 13b.--Sanitary Facilities (Part II) ............................................................... 1496Table 14a.--Construction Materials (Part I) ........................................................ 1560Table 14b.--Construction Materials (Part II) ....................................................... 1643Table 15.--Water Management .......................................................................... 1709Table 16.--Engineering Properties ..................................................................... 1763Table 17.--Physical Properties of the Soils ........................................................ 2068Table 18.--Chemical Properties of the Soils ...................................................... 2127Table 19.--Water Features ................................................................................. 2187Table 20.--Soil Features ..................................................................................... 2256Table 21.--Taxonomic Classification of the Soils ............................................... 2287

    Issued August 2007

  • xv

    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. Broad areas of soils are shown on the general soil map. The location of eachsoil is shown on the detailed soil maps. Each soil in the survey area is described.Information on specific uses is given for each soil. Help in using this publication andadditional information are available at the local office of the Natural ResourcesConservation Service or the Cooperative Extension Service.

    Bob GrahamState ConservationistNatural Resources Conservation Service

    Foreword

  • xvi

    Portland

    Bend

    Enterprise

    Location of Wallowa County Area in Oregon.

  • 1

    By James Kienzle, Natural Resources Conservation Service

    Fieldwork by James Kienzle, Stanley Winther, and William Laird, Natural ResourcesConservation Service; and Robert Ottersberg, contractor, Forest Service

    United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service,in cooperation withUnited States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service; United States Departmentof the Interior, Bureau of Land Management; Oregon State University AgriculturalExperiment Station; and Wallowa Soil and Water Conservation District

    WALLOWA COUNTY AREA is in the extreme northeastern corner of Oregon. Accordingto the 2000 Census, Enterprise, the county seat, had a population of 1,895 andWallowa County had a population of 7,226 (USDC, 2002). The survey area consistsof 928,690 acres, which does not include the 1,000 acres that make up WallowaLake. Private land totals about 769,000 acres, or about 1,200 square miles. There areabout 159,000 acres of public land, of which 18,900 acres is managed by theBureau of Land Management, 117,000 acres is administered by the Forest Service,9,000 acres is managed by the State, and 14,000 acres is locally owned andadministered.

    The survey area includes most of the private land in the county and the public landadministered by the Forest Service along the southern part of the Imnaha River and asmall area around Powwatka Ridge. Also included are isolated areas of public landmanaged by the Bureau of Land Management surrounded by private land. Soil surveywork in this county was begun in 1960, but it was discontinued after 5 years becauseof higher priority work in other counties in Oregon. The current survey was started in1988, and the fieldwork was completed in 1996.

    The average annual precipitation in this survey area ranges from 12 to 45 inches.Elevation ranges from 800 feet along the Snake River to 6,800 feet on Chief JosephMountain. The survey area is composed of two major land resource areas (MLRAs).The Northern Rocky Mountains MLRA covers the forested land, and the Palouse andNez Perce Prairies MLRA encompasses the cropland and rangeland (USDA, 1961).Wallowa County is unique in Eastern Oregon in that sagebrush is absent in almost allof the areas of native rangeland.

    About 15 percent of the survey area is used for crops. Small grain and hay andpasture are the main crops. Snowmelt provides adequate water for irrigation. Waterfrom Wallowa Lake is used for irrigation in summer. Irrigation water has been appliedmainly by gravity flood or gravity sprinkler systems. Pressure irrigation systems arenow being used in a number of areas.

    About 25 percent of the survey area is forested and is used as a source of timberand for livestock grazing in summer. About 60 percent of the area is rangeland, whichis used primarily for livestock grazing.

    Soil Survey of

    Wallowa County Area,Oregon

  • 2 Soil Survey of

    General Nature of the Survey AreaThis section gives general information about the history and development;

    physiography, relief, and drainage; and climate of the survey area.

    History and Development

    Long before the white man arrived, the Nez Perce Indians hunted and fished in theregion known as the Wallowa Country (Wallowa County Museum Board, 1983). OldChief Joseph was their leader. Trappers were the first white men to enter the valleyand encounter the Indians. The first recorded meeting between government officialsand the Native Americans occurred in 1855 when Joel Palmer, governor of Oregon,and I.I. Stevens, governor of Washington, signed a treaty with the Nez Perce Indians.The Indians could not read and thought they signed for exclusive rights to theWallowa Country, but they had actually given up all claims to the land in northeasternOregon. Understandably, they were outraged. The two governors promised that theIndians would not be harmed. They then prepared an amended treaty in which mostof the Indians agreed to leave the region.

    Young Chief Joseph and some of his followers refused to sign the treaty andmoved to more remote areas of the county. Finally, the cavalry ordered all theremaining Indians to leave. Young Chief Joseph and his tribe departed withoutincident. The now famous but short Indian War of 1877 began as a result of anaccompanying tribe, angered by the silent retreat, attacked white settlements alongthe way. The cavalry then chased all of the Indians, including Young Chief Joseph,into Montana where they surrendered. The defeated Indians were settled on theColville Indian Reservation in Washington.

    Drought conditions in the Grande Ronde Valley and government land surveyreports of abundant bunchgrass in the high meadows to the east resulted in the firstcattle herds being moved into the Wallowa Valley in 1871. Leading the way wereJames and Erasmus Tulley, who eventually settled near the present town of Wallowa.William McCormack was acknowledged as the first permanent resident in 1872. By1873, 20 families had built homes in the area. The population of the Wallowa Countrycontinued to grow, so in 1888 the Oregon legislature separated the Wallowa Countryfrom Union County and established Wallowa County.

    Early settlers traversed the hilly Minam country on horseback to access theWallowa Valley. In 1879, the Wallowa Canyon Road was constructed between Elginand the town of Wallowa. A stage line was quickly organized. Construction of the firstrailroad in the county began in August of 1905, and it was completed 4 years later.The Oregon Railway and Navigation Company was the builder. Immigrants could theneasily enter the valley, but just as easily commodities could be sent out of the valleyfor distant markets. Until the construction of the railroad, grain production was noteconomically feasible. Thus, livestock was the main enterprise. After the constructionof the railroad, cattle and sheep were moved to less desirable land.

    Agriculture

    Because of the short growing season in the survey area, the majority of the area islimited to livestock grazing and the production of grain and timber. Orchards andgardens once were common in Wallowa Valley, but now fruits and vegetables aregrown only in the warmer Imnaha and Troy areas.

    Livestock

    Livestock production consists of beef cattle and sheep operations. The number ofhogs and dairy cattle has long since declined. For beef production, the deep canyonsbordering the higher areas of rangeland in the survey area provide a unique

  • Wallowa County Area, Oregon 3

    advantage over areas in other counties. From October to May cattle graze the lowerand warmer canyon bottomland. As the temperatures rise in spring, the cattle aredriven to the higher and cooler areas of rangeland. Snowfall in autumn forces thereturn of the cattle to the lower areas. Alfalfa and hay are used as supplements for thecattle.

    Sheep were once of great importance in the survey area. At one time more than100,000 breeding ewes produced wool and lambs each year and grazed the landconsidered too rugged for cattle and horses. Sheep ranches commonly were largeand under the control of only a few men. After World War II, the number of sheep inthe area sharply decreased as the number of coyotes rose and reliable sheepherdersbecame more difficult to employ. But more importantly, the demand of the generalpublic to move sheep off of government land in favor of wildlife was the major factor inforcing out the sheep business.

    Hog and dairy cattle operations also thrived in the area. In fact, Wallowa Countywas renowned as the leading producer of hogs in Oregon. In addition, dairy cattlewere so abundant that dairies and creameries seemed to be everywhere. Residentscould even boast of having a cheese factory. Local promoters attributed the ease ofraising hogs and dairy cattle to the cool temperatures, which suppressed diseases,and to the abundance of forage and pure water. After World War II, the requirement ofhaving on-the-farm stainless steel tanks and pipes brought an end to the dairybusiness in the county (Isley, 1992). Local farmers simply could not afford to meet therequirement. Because hogs were raised side by side with dairy cattle on most farms,the lack of milk farms also meant elimination of cheap milk for fattening hogs. As aresult, hog production declined as the dairy business collapsed.

    Grain

    The major crops include wheat, barley, oats, and hay, especially alfalfa hay. Thesecrops can be grown in rotation. The crop grown depends on the market value of eachcommodity and the demand for winter hay.

    Crops were first sown by throwing seed from the back of a horse-drawn wagon andusing a drag chain to cover the seed with soil. In 1903 the first grain drill was broughtto the area and was pulled by four horses. In 1917 the self-propelled steam engineinstead of horses was used to pull the grain drill.

    In the early 1900’s, grain was separated from the chafe either by a ground-drivenor stationary thrasher. The ground-driven thrasher was pulled by a team of 20 to 30horses, which turned a 5-foot bull wheel. Through a series of gears, the power wastransferred from the bull wheel to the thrasher. Bundles of grain were fed into thestationary thrasher. Around 1910, the steam engine replaced horses as the source ofpower for the stationary thrasher. The steam engine and thrasher were linked bypulleys and a long belt.

    Local flour mills processed most of the grain grown in the valley in the early 1900’s.Excess wheat was exported by rail to Pendleton. Farmers around the town of Florahad the difficult task of moving their grain to Lewiston, Idaho. The local flour mills areall closed now, so all of the grain is shipped out of the county for milling.

    Timber

    Logging in the early days was a winter activity. Once the fallen trees had beensawed into 16.5-foot lengths, horses dragged the logs to a nearby dirt road wherethey were loaded onto a sled. A team of horses pulled the sled to the nearestrailroad track. Loading and unloading the logs was immeasurably aided by thesteam engine donkey, which had the power to lift and stack logs onto flatbedrailroad cars.

    Because of the abundance of timber and water power to drive the saws, millswere plentiful. One of the largest was the East Oregon Lumber Company located in

  • 4 Soil Survey of

    Enterprise, which employed 500 people. This company operated throughout the1920’s and logged along Trout Creek and all through the North Country. TheJ. Herbert Bate Mill of Wallowa became the largest miller in the 1940’s and 1950’s. In1963 Boise Cascade of Joseph bought all of their holdings. Approximately 90 millionboard-feet of timber are processed each year at all of the mills in the county.Ponderosa pine is the most common tree species and also the species most used insawmill processing.

    Irrigation

    In order to irrigate their land, farmers in the Wallowa Valley banded together toform ditch companies in the early 1900’s. Each company diverted water from nearbyrivers or streams to fields by use of open ditches. To finance these projects, thecompanies taxed each member for the construction and maintenance of the ditches.Initially, water was distributed over the land by flood irrigation. Now farmers areshifting to sprinkler irrigation systems.

    Various ditch companies serve the water needs of the county. For example, wateris removed from Hurricane Creek near Enterprise by the Alder Slope and Lower AlderSlope Ditch Companies for use by Alder Slope farmers. The water for DiamondPrairie near Wallowa is provided by the Chamberlin Ditch Company. The SheepCreek, Westside, Poley-Allen, and Clearwater Ditch Companies use water from theLostine River to supply farmers in the area between Lostine and Wallowa.

    The farmers around Joseph dammed Wallowa Lake, which raised the water levelby 27 feet. Four prominent ditches supply water to the fields just north of the lake.These are the Silverlake, Farmers, Big Bend, and Wrenn Dobbin Ditches.

    Physiography, Relief, and Drainage

    The survey area is composed of broad plateaus and a major river valley, theWallowa Valley. This valley is long and somewhat narrow. It stretches from the town ofJoseph on the east, through the towns of Enterprise, Lostine, and Wallowa, to theentrance of Wallowa Canyon on the west. The broad plateaus include the rangecountry of Zumwalt Prairie, northeast of Enterprise, and the Leap area, north ofLostine. Also included are the forested areas around Akers Butte to the northwestand Harl Butte to the southeast.

    About 15 percent of the survey area, or 139,303 acres, is used for crops andpasture. Most of this acreage is in the Wallowa Valley. Rangeland makes up about60 percent of the survey area, or 557,214 acres. The remaining 25 percent of thearea, or 232,173 acres, is forestland.

    Wallowa Valley is drained by Prairie Creek, Hurricane Creek, and the Lostine River,which combine into the Wallowa River. At the town of Minam, the Minam River joinsthe Wallowa River. Eventually, the Wallowa River merges into the Grande RondeRiver. To the northeast, Chesnimnus, Crow, and Swamp Creeks drain the forestedupland. These creeks empty into Joseph Creek and then into the Grande RondeRiver and the Snake River. To the east, Little Sheep and Big Sheep Creeks flow intothe Imnaha River and drain the rangeland. The Imnaha River continues to the northand is joined by Horse Creek, where it ultimately drains into the Snake River. Most ofthe rivers and streams in the survey area follow geologic faults and are thereforerelatively straight.

    Wallowa County was a recipient of an ancient volcanic ashfall from the explosion ofMt. Mazama 7,700 years ago (Bacon and others, 1997). The silt-sized volcanic ashclung to forested areas, covering the basaltic colluvium with a white mantle. In areasof rangeland, the white ash had less vegetation to hold it and protect it from erosionso much of it was washed away. The remaining ash mixed with dark-surfaced loess,so its whiteness was lost. In both cases, the ash enhanced the available water

  • Wallowa County Area, Oregon 5

    capacity of the original soil and resulted in a diversity of plant life that otherwise wouldnot have been present.

    The survey area is bordered by the Wallowa Mountains to the south, the SnakeRiver and Idaho State line to the east, the Washington State line to the north, and theWallowa and Grande Ronde Rivers to the west.

    The geology of the area is dominated by broad basalt plateaus that are a result ofmany Miocene lava flows. Deep dissection of these plateaus by streams has exposedthe layers of lava flows. These layers are also evident in the uplifted WallowaMountains, south of Enterprise, and more specifically on Ruby Peak.

    The Lostine Valley and Snake River Canyon have exposed rocks that arecomposed of material other than the abundant basalt in the survey area. Above thefloor of the Lostine Valley, steep slopes display rock outcroppings of argillite,limestone, and conglomerate. Over time these outcroppings fractured into individualrocks, which moved downslope by colluvial action. The rock and soil then mixed withthe volcanic ash to produce the present soils. In the northeastern corner of thecounty, conglomerate and sandstone are exposed at the junction of the Snake RiverCanyon and Cache Creek.

    The Wallowa Mountains have a granitic core that is very resistant to erosion. Yet,granitic rock has been ripped out by glaciers and carried downslope into the surveyarea. The rock was rounded and deposited in moraines at the base of the mountains.Glacial meltwater carried smaller rocks and sand into the Wallowa, Lostine, andImnaha River Valleys.

    Climate

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

    Data for the climate tables were recorded at the Enterprise R S, Enterprise 20NNE, Minam 7 NE, and Wallowa, Oregon, climate stations. Thunderstorm days,relative humidity, percent sunshine, and wind information are estimated from datarecorded at the First Order station at Lewiston, Idaho.

    Table 1 gives data on the average temperature and precipitation for the surveyarea as recorded at Enterprise R S, Enterprise 20 NNE, Minam 7 NE, and Wallowa inthe period 1961 to 1990. Table 2 shows probable dates of the first freeze in fall andthe last freeze in spring. Table 3 provides data on the length of the growing season.The full period of record is used for extremes. The full period extends from 1932 to1982 at Enterprise R S, 1969 to 1998 at Enterprise 20 NNE, 1956 to 1985 at Minam7 NE, and 1948 to 1996 at Wallowa.

    In winter, the average temperature is 27.3 degrees F at Enterprise R S, 28.2degrees at Enterprise 20 NNE, 26.1 degrees at Minam 7 NE, and 28.6 degrees atWallowa. The average daily minimum temperature in winter is 17.5 degrees,17.7 degrees, 16.4 degrees, and 19.9 degrees, respectively. The lowest temperatureon record was -36 degrees at Enterprise R S on February 9, 1933; -33 degrees atEnterprise 20 NNE on December 29, 1990; -39 degrees at Minam 7 NE onDecember 23, 1983; and -32 degrees at Wallowa on December 17, 1964.

    In summer, the average temperature is 60.5 degrees at Enterprise R S,61.6 degrees at Enterprise 20 NNE, 58.2 degrees at Minam 7 NE, and 62.8 degreesat Wallowa. The average daily maximum temperature in summer is 78.8 degrees,81.0 degrees, 77.6 degrees, and 81.5 degrees, respectively. The highest temperatureon record was 107 degrees at Enterprise R S on July 24, 1933; 106 degrees atEnterprise 20 NNE on August 14, 1994; 106 degrees at Minam 7 NE on August 4,1961; and 107 degrees at Wallowa, on August 4, 1961.

    Growing degree days are shown in table 1. They are equivalent to “heat units.”

  • 6 Soil Survey of

    During the month, growing degree days accumulate by the amount that the averagetemperature each day exceeds a base temperature (40 degrees F). The normalmonthly accumulation is used to schedule single or successive plantings of a cropbetwee