Reconnaissance Soil Survey of the Chip Lake Area

The University of Alberta Research Council of Alberta Bulletin No. SS-II Report No. 91

RECONNAISSANCE SOILSURVEY of the CIIIPLAKE AREA

A. G. TWARDY and J. D . LINDSAY Soils Division, Research Council of Alberta

ALBERTASOILSURVEYREPORTS-71-28 1971

Report printed by The University of Alberta Maps published by the Alberta Department of Lands and Forests Distributed by the Department of Extension, The University of Alberta ALBERTA INSTITUTE OF PEDOLOGY

Technical Co-ordinating Committee Dr. J. A. Toogood, The University of Alberta, Chairman Mr. A. A. Kjearsgaard, Canada Department of Agriculture Mr. J. D. Lindsay, Research Council Bf Alberta Mr. T. W. Peters, Canada Department of Agriculture Dr. C. F. Bentley, The University of Alberta Dr. W. A. Ehrlich, Canada Department of Agriculture

This report is published with the approval of the Alberta Institute of Pedology and with permission of the Committee on Agricultural Extension and Publications of The University ofAlberta.

COVER: Sandstones of the Paskapoo Formation on the Pembina River near Evansburg. TABLE OF CONTENTS P”g7’ Acknowledgements ...... Preface ...... 9 General Description of the Area Location and Extent .._.._...,_...... ,...,...... f J History and Development ...... _._.._...... _...... f f Transportation and Markets ...... 14 Geology ...... 15 Climate ...... 18 Vegetation ...... *...... 19 Physiography and Topography ...... 20 Drainage . .._. ._ ...... 21 Soils Soi1 Development ._...... 22 Soi1 Classification ...... 22 Soi1 Mapping ...... <...... 26 Description of Soils ...... <...... 27 AIIuvium ...... 27 Bigoray series ...... _...... _...... 29 Bremay series ._...... <...... Breton series ...... 29 Caroline series .,...._._...... _...... ,...... ,...... :y Clouston series ...... _...... Codesa complex . . .._...... ,...... :i Codner series ...... <...... Cooking Lake series . . . .._...... _...... 34 Culp series .._...... _._.._....,...... ,...... 34 Dekalta series ...... _...... _._...... 35 Eaglesham complex ...... 36 Eta series . . . .._...._...... 37 Evansburg series ...... <...... 37 Heart complex ...... 38 Horburg series ...... 39 Hubalta series . . .._...... _...._...... 40 Judah series ...... _...... _...... _...... _...... 41 Kathleen series . . .._...... _...... 42 Kawood series ...... <...... 42 Kenzie complex ._...... _._...... 43 Macola series ...... 44 Maywood series ...... _...._...... ,...... 45 Mica series ...... _...... 46 Modeste series ._...... _...... ,._...... ,...... 47 Newbrook series ...... _...... _<...... 48 Nicot complex ...... <...... <...... 49 O’Chiese series ...... _...... <...... <...... 50 Onoway series...... 51 Pegasus series ...... _...... _...... 52 Pinto series ...... _...... 52 Rat complex ...... <..._...... 53 Raven series ...... _...... 54 Rochester series .<...... ,...... 55 Sundance series . . . <...... <...... 56 Tolman series <...... <..,...... ,....,...... 56 Uncas series ,.....,...,..,...... 57 Wabamun series ...... _...... 58 Wildhay series ...... _...... _._...... i ...... 59 Wildwood series ...... <..._...... _... ., 60 Chemical and Physical Analyses . . .._._...... <...... 61 Soi1 Reaction ...... 61 Nitrogen . . .._...... <...... -...... 61 Organic Carbon ...... 62 Exchangeable Cations and Cation Exchange Capacity . . ..<...... 62 Particle Size Distribution ..,..,...... _,...... 62 TABLE OF CONTENTS-continued

Interpretation Page Agriculture ...... <...... 62 (a) Soi1 Productivity Rating ...... 62 (b) Soi1 Capability ...... 63 Forestry ...... 64 (a) Average Site Index ..,._...... ,...... ,.. 64 (b) Moisture Status ...... _...... _...... 64 (c) Potential Erosion Hazard ...... _...... 64 (d) Potential Windthrow Hazard . . .._...... 65 (e) Potential Brush Hazard _.._...... ,...... ,...... 65 Engineering ...... _...... 65 References ...... 66 Appendix Definitions of Descriptive Terms ...... _...... 67 Glossary ...... _...... 68 LlST OF TABLES Page Table 1. Farm Population, Number of Farms, Acres Occupied, and Acres Improved in the Chip Lake Area (1921 to 1966) _...... 12 Table 2. Acreage of Principal Crops and Fallow in the Chip Lake Area (1921 to 1966) . . .._...... 12 Table 3. Livestock Population in the Chip Lake Area (1921 to 1966) ...... 14 Table 4. Timber Production within the Chip Lake Area (1960 to 1970) ...... 14 Table 5. Relationship of Soi1 Series, Soi1 Complexes, and Land Form to Parent Materials ...... 18 Table 6. Mean Meteorological Data for Stations near the Map Area ...... 19 Table 7. Frost-Free Period in Days in Selected Stations near the Map Area _...... 19 Table 8. Acreage and Percentage Distribution of Topographie Classes in the Map Area .._...._...... _...... 21 Table 9. Classification of the Soils of the Chip Lake Map Area . . . .._...... 24-25 Table 10. Analyses of an Alluvium Soi1 Profile .._...... 28 Table II. Analyses of a Bigoray Soi1 Profile ...... 28 Table 12. Analyses of a Bremay Soi1 Profile . . . .._...... _...._...... 30 Table 13. Analyses of a Breton Soi1 Profile ...... _...... 30 Table 14. Analyses of a Caroline Soi1 Profile . . . .._...... _...... 31 Table 15. Analyses of a Codesa Soi1 Profile ...... ,...... 33 Table 16. Analyses of a Codner Soi1 Profile ...... _...... ,...... 33 Table 17. Analyses of a Cooking Lake Soi1 Profile ...... 34 Table 18. Analyses of a Culp Soi1 Profile . . .._...... _...... _...... 35 Table 19. Analyses of a Dekalta Soi1 Profile ._...... _...... 36 Table 20. Analyses of an Eta Soi1 Profile . .._...... 37 Table 21. Analyses of an Evansburg Soi1 Profile ...... _...... 38 Table 22. Analyses of a Heart Soi1 Profile ...... _...... 39 Table 23. Analyses of a Horburg Soi1 Profile _...... zy Table 24. Analyses of an Hubalta Soi1 Profile ...... Table 25. Analyses of a Judah Soi1 Profile _...._....,._...... ,...... i: Table 26. Analyses of a Kathleen Soi1 Profile ...... Table 27. Analyses of a Kawood Soi1 Profile ...... _...... 43 Table 28. Analyses of a Macola Soi1 Profile ...... _...... 45 Table 29. Analyses of a Maywood Soi1 Profile ...... _...... 46 Table 30. Analyses of a Mica Soi1 Profile . .._...... _...... _...... “4: Table 31. Analyses of a Modeste Soi1 Profile ...... Table 32. Analyses of a Newbrook Soi1 Profile ._...... _._...... ,...... 48 Table 33. Analyses of a Nicot Soi1 Profile ...... _...... _...... 50 Table 34. Analyses of an O’Chiese Soi1 Profile ...... 51 Table 35. Analyses of an Onoway Soi1 Profile ...... _...... 52 Table 36. Analyses of a Pinto Soi1 Profile ...... Table 37. Analyses of a Rat Soi1 Profile ...... _...... :d, Table 38. Analyses of a Raven Soi1 Profile ...... _...... _...... $ Table 39. Analyses of a Rochester Soi1 Profile ...... _...... _...... Table 40. Analyses of a Sundance Soi1 Profile ...... ,...... 56 Table 41. Analyses of a Tolman Soi1 Profile . . .._...... 57 Table 42. Analyses of an Uncas Soi1 Profile ...... 58 Table 43. Analyses of a Wabamun Soif Profile ...... 59 Table 44. Analyses of a Wildhay Soi1 Profile ...... _...... 60 Table 45. Analyses of a Wildwood Soi1 Profile _._...... _...... 61 Table 46. Length of Frost-Free Period and Degree-Days above 42 Degrees Fahrenheit for the Climatic Subregions of the Map Area ...... 63 Table 47. Acreage of the Agricultural Capability Classes in the Chip Lake Map Area . . ..<.,...... ,...... 63 Table 48. Pulpwood and Sawtimber Inventory in the Chip Lake Map Area ...... 64 Table 49. Soi1 Productivity and Management Limitations for Timber Production -Cynthia Area ...... _...... _...... ~...... ~. 64 Table 50. Physical Analyses of Some Representative Soils ._...... _...... _...... 65 Table 51. Unifîed Soi1 Classification System ...... _...... 69 LISTOFFIGURES Page Figure 1. Location map . . .._...._...... _...... 10 Figure 2. Paddle River gas plant near Mayerthorpe ...... 1 1 Figure 3. A commercial peat plant near Evansburg . .._...... _...._...... 11 Figure 4. Farmstead south of Mayerthorpe ...... 12 Figure 5. Map showing the cultivated, abandoned, and virgin lands in the Chip Lake map area at the time of survey ...... 13 Figure 6. Oil well in the Pembina Oil and Gas Field ...... 14 Figure 7. An outcrop of Paskapoo Formation. Modeste soils are found on this material ...... _...... 15 Figure 8. Map showing the surfîcial deposits of the Chip Lake map area ...... 16 Figure 9. Rolling topography near Mayerthorpe in which lacustrine material overlies a hummocky dead-ice moraine _,...... ,...... 17 Figure 10. A gravelly outwash deposit near Rat Creek. Clouston and Horburg soils are formed on this material . . . .._...... 17 Figure 11. Map showing the vegetative sections in the Chip Lake map area ...... 20 Figure 12. Strongly rolling to hilly topography north of Chip Lake . . . .._...... 21 Figure 13. Undulating topography near Wildwood ...... 21 Figure 14. Diagram of a soi1 profile showing various horizons ._...... _...... 22 Figure 15. Bigoray soi1 profile showing a strata of dark colored fine textured material typical of lacustre-till ...... 28 Figure 16. A Codesa soi1 profile with coarse textured alluvial-aeolian material overlying till ...... _...... _...... 32 Figure 17. Codner soi1 profïle. A Humic Gleysol developed on alluvial-lacustrine material ...... _...... 32 Figure 18. Cooking Lake soi1 profile showing a thick distinct Ae horizon. This soi1 is developed on till ...... _...... 35 Figure 19. An area of Eaglesham soils developed on sedge peat ...... _...... _..... 36 Figure 20. Sand dune near Sunset Lake. Heart soils are found on this material ...... _ 38 Figure 21. Horburg soi1 profile showing a gravel-free surface underlain by gravelly outwash ...... 39 Figure 22. Hubalta soi1 profile developed on till ...... _...._...... 40 Figure 23. Judah soi1 profile showing a distinct Ah horizon and a strongly calcareous Cca horizon .,...._...... 41 Figure 24. An area of Kenzie soils showing the native vegetation. These soils are developed on peat moss and occur in approximately 25 per cent of the map area . . . .._...... 44 Figure 25. Drainage and cultivation of Kenzie soils for the peat moss industry ...... _ 44 Figure 26. Macola soi1 profile showing a relatively thick Ah horizon and a distinct Ae horizon ...... _...._...... 45 Figure 27. A Maywood-Raven soi1 area under cultivation ...... 46 Figure 28. Modeste soi1 profile ...... 47 Figure 29. Nicot soi1 profile showing a thick Ae horizon ...... 49 Figure 30. An undulating area of Nicot soils recently cleared ...... _...... 49 Figure 3 1. A peaty Onoway soi1 profile developed on moderately fine textured till ...... 51 Figure 32. Peaty Raven soi1 profile. A peaty Humic Gleysol developed on lacustrine material ...... 54 Figure 33. Tolman soi1 profile showing a thin Ah horizon and a distinct Ae horizon ._..... 57 Figure 34. A Wabamun soi1 profile showing columnar structure .._...,.....,..._...... _...... 58 Figure 35. Wildwood soi1 profile. A Low Humic Eluviated Gleysol developed on lacustrine material ...... 60 Figure 36. Histogram showing the distribution of the agricultural rating classes in the Chip Lake map area ...... 63 Figure 37. Char? showing proportions of soi1 separates ...... _.... 67 Soi1 Map and Soi1 Rating Map ...... Inside Back Cover ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The soi1 survey of the Chip Lake map area was conducted by the Soils Divi- sion, Research Council of Alberta, as part of a joint project involving the Canada Department of Agriculture and the University of Alberta. These three organiza- tions form the Alberta Institute of’Pedology. The Research Council of Alberta supplied the funds for the field work and for compilation of the soil and soi1 rating maps. The Research Branch, Canada Department of Agriculture, together with the Research Council of Alberta supplied the funds for the laboratory work. The University of Alberta provided the office and laboratory accommodation. Funds for publication of the report and maps were provided by the Department of Extension and the Alberta Depart- ment of Agriculture. Aerial photographs and field maps were obtained through the Technical Division, Alberta Department of Lands and Forests who also prepared the final soi1 and rating maps for this project. The assistance provided by the Alberta Department of Highways Soi1 Test- ing Laboratory, in determining the engineering properties of some of the soils is acknowledged. In the Chip Lake map area able field assistance was given by W. Borden, D. Helgeland, L. Knapik, W. Munn, A. Taylor, R. Weisenberger, C. Wildgoose, and G. Winnia. Appreciation is expressed to R. Green, A. Wynnyk, and G. M. Greenlee-for reviewing the manuscript. Mr. R. M. Ditchburn and Mr. Z. Widt- man assisted in the compilation and drafting of the maps. Mrs. A. Bembridge assisted in the compilation and proof reading of this report. PREFACE A soi1 survey was initiated in the summer of 1966 to obtain data about the kind, distribution, and characteristics of the soils of the Chip Lake map area. The information is presented in this report and on a soi1 map and a soi1 rating map. Collins and Swan (1955) published a report and map describing the surficial geology of some of the area. This work was largely confined to the northern portion of the area. Very little information is available about the relatively in- accessible southern part of the map area. This was a reconnaissance soi1 survey in which traverses were made at one mile intervals with soil inspections made approximately every half mile along traverse lines. Aerial photos were utilized in establishing soi1 and topography boundary lines. The soi1 map, printed on a scale of 2 miles to 1 inch, shows the location and extent of the different soi1 areas and indicates the main topographie features. Township and range numbers are shown along the margins. Soi1 series and complexes are identified by color and letter designations, the color representing the dominant and first-mentioned soi1 in the mapping unit. A key to color and letter designation appears in the descriptive legend at the side of the map. The soi1 rating map indicates the better land from the poorer land and serves as a guide to future agricultural development. The rating indicated on the map and in the report should be regarded as an average for the area rather than specific for individual land parcels. The report presents descriptions of the data on the cultural and physical features of the map area and the formation, character, and limitations of the soils. In addition, it outlines the methods used in chemical and physical analyses, defïnes terms describing significant features of the map area and of the field classification, includes physical analyses for engineering purposes, and gives a classification of the soils of the Chip Lake map area. A glossary giving definitions of the more frequently used descriptive soi1 terms is included. Figure l-Sketch map of Alberta showing locations of survcyed areas for which~... reports bave been published: (1) MacLeod shcet, (2) Mcdicine Hat sheet. (3) Sound- ing Creek sheet. (6) Peace River, High r 3 D-^:_:^ P. . ..-.. irea. If,‘-’ ..P”,)I>.:..., Lake sheet, (9) Leth- urmgc a”” rmmer LreeK snects, (C”,‘I#l> x1:11.,“llln R<“C,D:..^_ sheet, (II) Blackfoot and Calgary sheets, (12) Rose- bud and Banff sheels, (13) Vermilion and Wainwright ^L..-.^ 111% n.... Tr’l.~ IL =llrCLJ, 11*, rc*w “IUS S”e=l, Ii>, ..,-. “.. p,ay Walino sheets, (16) Red Deer sheet. (17) High Prairie and McLennan sk lcets. (18) Grande Prairie and Sturgeon. . Lake sbects, (19) Rwky M ounmn _.“ouse sheet. (20) 0osavsrwugc ^^.._ .,^A^. anc,, namucoer,y ~ountam sheets, (2, Edmontol ‘1 sheet, (22) St. Mary and Milk Rivers Project. (A) Prelim’ (B) Prelin n~nary 59-1, (C) Preliminary 60-l. (D) Preliminary 61-l. (E) Prclin ICI1’~ n-.9.rrcmnmaty 63-1, (G) Preliminary 641, (H) Preliminary 64-2. (23) Cherry romt and Hines Creek area. (24) Buck Lake and Wabamun Lake area, (25) Crimshaw and Notikewin area, (26) Hotchkiss and Keg River area. (27) Whitccourt and Barrhead arca, (28) (In Black) Chip Lake area. Note: Reports for areas 1 to 17 inclusive are out of print but may be obtained on loan from the University Extension Library, The University of Alberta, Edmonton. U. S. A.

10 REPORTS-71-28 Soi1 Survey of the Chip Lake Area GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ARE4

LOCATION AND EXTENT HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT The Chip Lake area (approximately the west half The Wood Crees, a branch of the Algonquin Na- of National Topographie System Map 83G) is located tion, lived in the Chip Lake area. A more peaceful in west-central Alberta and comprises an area 51.5 tribe than the Blackfoot of the plains to the south, miles long from north to south by 41 miles from east the Wood Crees were tolerant of the early white ex- to west. It consists of townships or portions of town- plorers and fur traders who traversed their domain. ships 49 to 58 in ranges 7 to 14 inclusive, west of Some early accounts report the aid given by the the fifth meridian (see Figure 1). Evansburg and Roch- Wood Crees to the first white settlers of the area. fort Bridge are on the east side of the area, the post David Thomspon is thought to have passed through office of Cynthia lies near the southern edge midway parts of this region on his map making expedition of between the east and west boundaries, and the town 1807 to 1812. of Whitecourt is located about 10 miles north of the Trading posts were established in regions adjacent northern boundary in the western portion of the area. to the Chip Lake area at Edmonton (1795), Rocky The hamlet of Peers is found on the west side, mid- Mountain House (1799), Jasper (1813), Fort Assini- way between the north and south boundaries. Speci- boine (1825), Pigeon Lake (1869), and Lac Ste. Anne fically, the area lies between 53O 15’ and 54” 00’ north (1870). The Chip Lake area was a major source of latitude and between 115O 00’ and 116” 00’ west beaver pelts. Of the many trails connecting these longitude. posts the most popular one ran overland from Ed- The soil map for the area described above covers monton to Jasper through Lac Ste. Anne. Many not- an area of approximately 59 townships, amounting to able explorers and travellers used this trail, among 1,364,400 acres. them Dr. Hector of the Palliser Expedition (1859), Lord Southesk (1859), Lord Milton and Dr. Cheadle (1863), and Edward William Jarvis (1877). The pre- sentday Yellowhead Route (Highway #16) closely follows this early trail. The Grand Trunk Pacifie and Canadian North- ern Railways were both active in rail line construction through the Chip Lake area to the Pacifie toast during the period of 1903 to 1914. The Grand Trunk Pacifie completed the line from Edmonton through Evansburg to Edson in 1910. The Canadian North- ern Railway chose the route from Edmonton to Peace River Junction (near Onoway) from which point the main line turned southwest to Evansburg and followed the route of the Grand Trunk Pacifie line to the Pacifie toast. From Peace River Junction a proposed branch line to reach the Peace River area was begun. It was completed to Sangudo (8 miles east of Rochfort Bridge) in 1915 and to Whitecourt in 1921. In 1917 the two railways were amalgamated into the Canadian National Railways. By 1905 a few families of white settlers, perhaps from the settlement at Lac Ste. Anne, had made their way to the northeastern fringes of the map area. With the building of the Grand Trunk Pacifie Rail- way from Edmonton to Edson in 1910, settlement accelerated northward from Evansburg and Wild- wood to the Greencourt and Mayerthorpe vicinity. The present village of Mayerthorpe was surveyed in 1919 and named early in 1920 after R. 1. Mayer, postmaster at Little Paddle post office (NE 36-57- 9-W5th). Figure 3-A eommercialpeat plant near Evansburg. Since 1920, settlement and land cultivated have

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE AREA 11 increased steadily and as a result, the settlement fringe has gradually moved westward. A considerable influx of settlers into the area occurred during the 193O’s, mainly from the dry prairies. Many early settlers supplemented their income by working in the lumber camps or by operating small farm sawmills. Figure 5 shows the distribution of farms on which cultivation has taken place at the time of the survey. Data in Tables 1, 2, and 3, compiled from the Census of Canada, show the changes in agricultural development in the map area between 1921 and 1966.

Table 1 shows a marked and steady increase in land Figure 4-Farmstead south of hlagerthorpe. occupancy and a very marked mcrease m lmproved land during this period. A steady increase in the imately 40 per cent of the cultivated acreage in 1966 number of farms took place from 1921 to 1941 with was sown to forage crops. The use of these crops a subsequent decrease from 1941 to 1966. on most soils in the area is considered a desirable This decrease suggests a consolidation of some farm trend. The data in Table 2 suggests that the per- units, corroborated by an increase in average size centage of cultivated land in fallow has decreased of farm from 195 acres in 1921 to 405 acres in 1966. since 1941. This is also a desirable trend in this Field observations indicate that improvements, new arG-a. clearing and breaking, are stiil continuing in parts Livestock population, given in Table 3, shows a of the area: marked change in composition. The increase in cattle The principal field crops are forage, oats, wheat, appears closely related to the increase in forage and barley. The acreages sown to these and other trop production. Since 1941 there has been little crops in, the period from 1921 to 1961 are shown in change m numbers of sheep, swine, and poultry Table 2. Wheat has rarely been a dominant trop but a marked decrease in the horse population. in this region. The acreage sown to wheat and oats In addition to agriculture, a number of oil and has not fluctuated greatly over the years, whereas natural gas fields contribute to the economy of the the acreage under barley has increased since the area. The Pembina Oil and Gas Field was brought 1940’s. The most striking change has been in the into production about 1954 and since then has de- acreage of grasses and legumes, increasing from veloped into one of Alberta’s major fields. The por- 5,600 acres in 1921 to 57,100 acres in 1966. Approx- tion of this field found in the Chip Lake area com-

TABLE 1-Farm Population, Number of Farms, Acres Occupied, and Acres Improved in the Chip Lake Area (1921 to 1966)

Farm % of Total YO of Acres Average Acres Popu- No. of Acres Acres Area Occupied, Size of Improved Year lation Farms Occupied Improved* Improved Improved Farm per Farm (acres)

1921 2,900 1,000 196,200 32,900 2:4 16.8 195 35 1931 3,700 1,200 267,600 64,300 4.7 24.0 22s SS 1941 5,000 1,400 33 1,900 100,800 7.4 30.4 235 70 1951 4,300 1,100 349,700 123,600 9.0 35.3 320 110 1961 3,500 950 355,100 142,300 10.4 40.1 375 150 1966 4,200 1,000 402,500 185,700 13.6 46.1 405 185

‘Improved includes improved pasture, farm sites, gardens, etc., in addition to field crops and fallow.

TABLE 2-Acreage of Principal Crops and Fallow in the Chip Lake Area (1921 to 1966)

M ixed Total % % Year Wheat Oats Barley Rye Grains Forage Fallow Cuit. Forage Fallow

1921 1,200 15,100 1,500 350 2s 5,600 5,900 29,675 18.9 19.9 1931 18,200 15,400 3,400 100 50 6,300 11,600 55,050 11.4 21.1 1941 17,400 22,200 12,500 200 500 15,400 22,500 90,700 17.0 24.8 1951 17,800 23,100 25,400 30 700 16,600 23,700 107,330 15.5 22.1 1961 12,400 23,300 18,000 SO 2,100 36,700 21,200 113,750 32.3 18.6 1966 20,400 21,200 18,400 50 2,000 57,100 22,400 141,550 40.3 15.8

12 REPORT S-71-28 LEGEND

Completely cultivoted (120 - 160 ocres) m Abondoned cultivatlon (10 160 ocres) E4

Portmlly cultwated (10 120 ocres) q Vrgm londs (Idle ond Posture 1 .o

Figure 5-Mnp showing the culli~ntcd, abanduned, and rirgin lands in the Chip Lake map area, at fime of survey.

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE AREA 13 TABLE 3-Livestock Population in the Chip Lake Area (1921 to 1966)

Year Cattle Sheep Swine Poultry Horses

1921 2,100 200 800 10,800 1,000 1931 5,000 1,900 6,600 6 1,300 4,000 1941 8,500 3,500 15,700 84,100 5,200 1951 9,800 2,600 9,700 69,800 3,200 1961 19,700 5,300 13,300 67,800 1,200 1966 33,100 4,000 9,700 78,400 1,100

prises approximately 185,000 acres and generally covers the area south of township 51 in ranges 7 to 11. Several other producing oil and gas fields exist in the area: Paddle River Gas Field (39,000 acres)

(township 51, range 8); Carrot Creek Oil Field Fipurc 6-011 wel in tbe Panbina Oil ad Cs Field. (8,000 acres) (township 52, range 12); Cynthia- Pembina Oil Field (7,000 acres) (township 51, range area are shown on the accompanymg soi1 map. 11). Generally, the settled portions of the area are well Some lumbering occurs within the map area. supplied with all-weather transportation facilities Although the eastern portion is largely developed but commonly the fringe areas have only fair-weather for agriculture, the western portion remains mainly apd winter roads. Oil development in the southern forested land where merchantable timber has been portion has resulted in the construction of many good harvested for many years. The timber production from gravelled roads. The central portion of the map area this area for the period 1960-70 is shown in Table 4. is serviced by the main line of the Canadian Nation- The forest industry in this area is based mainly al Railways. This line from Edmonton through Evans- on coniferous trees of which white spruce, balsam burg, Wildwood, and Peers forms a part of the main fir and lodgepole pine are the principal species. At i& to Vancouver, B.C. The northeastern portion is present the trees are utilized mainly as saw-logs serviced by a Canadian National Railways branch and railroad ties. The data presented in Table 4 line which extends from Edmonton to Mayerthorpe, indicate that local production of lumber from coni- Whitecourt and the Windfall Gas Field area. ferous species has remained relatively constant in Major paved highways in the area include High- the past 10 years, with the exception of low pro- way 16 (the Yellowhead Highway) which passes duction from 1966 to 1968. Production of poplar through Edmonton, Evansburg and Wildwood en lumber expanded signigicantly in the 1969-70 period; route to Jasper. Highway 43, from Carvel Corner however pulpwood production has dropped off through Whitecourt, traverses the northeastern por- considerably since the 1964-1965 fiscal year. tion of the map area. Bridges have been built across the Pembina River at Evansburg and south of Easy- TRANSPORTATION AND MARKETS ford. The McLeod River is spanned by a bridge on The railways, highways, and main secondary Highway 32 near the McLeod Valley settlement, roads that form the transportation network for this immediately west of the map area.

TABLE 4-Timber Production Witbin the Chip LakeArea* (1960 to 1970)

Volume in FBM Fiscal Poplar Coniferous Railway Round Year Lumber Lumber Ties Timber Pulpwood Total Volume

1960-61 19,973 2,98 1,684 66,000 259,747 87,750 3,415,154 1961-62 8,011 3,783,383 3 10,068 56,05 1 81,900 4,239,413 1962-63 1,260 3,080,070 974,094 8,994 230,400 4,294,818 1963-64 - 2,984,255 284,691 1,432 464,625 3,735,003 1964-65 - 2,205,448 544,830 31,353 506,250 3,287,881 1965-66 - 1,291,764 135,201 - 248,400 1,675,365 1966-67 546,167 180,411 9,900 736,478 1967-68 2,600 821,967 250,041 1,074,608 1968-69 - 2,273,209 110,286 11,369 2,394,864 1969-70 65,830 2,892,282 160,710 7,961 3,126,783

*Data supplied by Alberta Forest Service, 1970.

14 REPORT S-71-28 Mayerthorpe is the. largest farm market and trad- glacial ice generally resulted in till characterized by ing centre, containing grain and livestock market- Edmonton bedrock being transported a short distance ing facilities. Smaller centres with similar facilities into the area underlain by the Paskapoo Formation. are Evansburg, Wildwood, and Peers. The till deposited by the Cordilleran ice is primarily of mixed origin, containing considerable dolomite GEOLOGY and limestone. Granitic erratics of Precambrian ori- The Edmonton Formation of Late Cretaceous age gin typify the Continental till while quartzitic erratics underlies the northeastern part of the Chip Lake are characteristic of the Cordilleran till. area. This formation outcrops generally northeast of Glaciation resulted in the deposition of accumu- a line drawn one to two miles southwest of Mayer- lated materials on the subglacial land surface. Later thorpe and Rochfort Bridge (G.B. Mellon, persona1 postglacially some of these materials were moved, communication). The remainder of the area is under- sorted, and redeposited. The preglacial, glacial and lain by the Paskapoo Formation, mainly of Early postglacial surficial deposits recognized in the map Tertiary (Paleocene) age. The Edmonton Formation area and their areal extent are shown in Figure 8. is of fresh and brackish water origin and is com- Till is a heterogeneous material, deposited direct- posed of bentonitic sandstones, sandy shales, ben- ly from glacial ice. In this area till comprises 45 per tonitic clays, and coal seams. Some salinity is often cent of the surficial deposits; it makes up most of associated with the soils developed on or near out- the more or less gently undulating ground moraine crops of this material. The overlying Paskapoo and the hummocky dead-ice moraine. and underlies Formation is primarily of fresh water origin. It is most other glacial deposits. At higher elevations the composed of sandstones and soft shales, is relatively till is found as a thin mantle covering the under- low in soluble salt content, and usually contains a lying rock materials. Within the area Soi1 Survey significant amount of lime carbonate. has recognized soils developed on three variants of ?he materials from which the majority of soils Continental till and one of Cordilleran till. The tills in this area have developed are the deposits from generally reflect the characteristics of the underly- glacial and postglacial times. The area was glaciated ing geological formations. Till overlying the Edmon- mainly by the Continental Ice Sheet which advanced ton Formation is characterized by a brown color and from the central region of Keewatin (Gravenor and a medium texture. Two variants of till overlying the Bayrock, 1955), but also the extreme southwest corner Paskapoo Formation have been recognized in the was covered by Cordilleran ice moving from the west area. One variant is moderately fine textured and and northwest. The two Ice Sheets met along a zone olive brown in color, the other medium textured and roughly paralleling Wolf Creek (Roed, 1968). Accor- yellowish brown in color. Other than these character- ding to Bayrock (1962) glacial till contains approxi- istics the tills overlying the Paskapoo Formation mately 80 per cent local bedrock. On this basis the appear fairly similar (Twardy, 1969) and have not material deposited by the Laurentide (Continental) been separated on the accompanying parent material ice is primarily of Paskapoo Formation origin through- map. out the area, except for the northeastern corner which The two types of till are considered to be reflec- is of Edmonton Formation origin.. However, there is tions of differences in bedrock lithology, as coarse some mixing of till parent materials along the line of textured sandstone zones may alternate in outcrop contact between the bedrock formations. Advancing with more shaly zones. The medium textured yellowish brown till reflects a coarse sandstone source and the moderately fine textured olive brown till a shaly material. Coarse-grained beds of the Paskapoo Formation outcrop sporadically throughout the map area but only form the soi1 parent material in less then 1 per cent of the area. It is yellowish brown, medium to very coarse textured, and is usually found on the steeper sloping landscapes and high hills. Areas of exposed bedrock are found in the Chip Lake vicinity as well as in the southeastern portion. The Cordilleran till in the map area cari be distinguished from the Continental till by a lack of high grade crystalline metamorphic and igneous pebbles and by its higher calcium carbonate and limestone content. The texture of the Cordilleran till varies from silt loam to clay loam. The main glacio-lacustrine basins are found in Figure ?-An outcrop of PpPkapoo Formation. Modeste soib are Pound on this mnterinl. the Mayerthorpe and Wildwood regions, and adjacent

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE AREA 15 I 543210 5 MILES

QUATERNERY LEGEND RECENT m Till; Edmonton Formation B Till i Poskopoo Formotion = Continenta’

E ztz SOI~ deposit a Till ; Cordilleron @pJ Colluviol Alluvial - aeolion PLEISTOCENE Aeolion

Locustrine ” Outwash ” Alluvial - locustrine TERTIARY PALEOCENE Lacustre - il11 Poskopoo Formation

Ffgure 8-Mnp showhg lhe swficial deposits of the Chip Lake msp area.

16 REPORT S-71-28 to the .Pembina River near Easyford. These stone- free deposits range:- in texture from silty clay ioam to heavy clay a%! vary considerably in depth. Approximately 17 per cent of the area is covered by lacustrine sediments. They are found at elevations ranging between 2,300 and 2,600 feet above sea level in the northeastern portion and between 2,700 and 2,800 feet above sea level in the southeastern portion of the map area. In the hummocky dead-ice moraine area, at Mayerthorpe, lacustrine deposits overlie the till and appear to have been deposited in superglacial or impounded lakes. Lacustre-till deposits consist of fine textured stratified materials that contain some stones. These deposits comprise only approximately 1 per cent of the area. They appear to be moderately fine to fine textured brown to olive brown coloured till, however interstratified dark brown heavy clay with some stones is common to the material. Lacustre-till deposits are found in the vicinity of the Bigoray River and Sink- hole Lake. Solonetzic, Gleysolic, and Organic soils have de- Figure 9-Rolling topography near Mayerlhorpe in which lacustrine materinl owr~ veloped in areas of groundwater discharge. The lie P hummocky dead-ice moraine. Solonetzic soils are not, however, widespread and are comprise 1 per cent of the area and are found mainly confined to small areas in the vicinity of Mayer- in the southwestern portion. The alluvial-lacustrine thorpe and Chip Lake. Solonetzic soils develop in material varies from silt loam to silty clay loam in a saline environment, generally where groundwater texture and commonly are banded with finer or has brought to or near the surface relatively high coarser textured materials. Gravelly outwash ma- concentrations of sodium salts. terials generally have thin coarse textured materials Organic and Gleysolic soils are of significant overlying the grave1 deposits. These deposits are occurrence throughout the map area. The greatest commonly found on old river terraces, particularly extent of these soils occurs in the Niton region and near the contact between the Continental and Cor- in the southern portion of the map area. These soils dilleran Ice Sheets near Wolf and Rat Creeks. generally have an accumulation of slightly to mo- The recent alluvium and colluvium along the derately decomposed mesic organic material at the floodplains and banks of streams and rivers comprise surface, which ranges from 6 to 12 inches in some approximately 3 per cent of the area. The greatest of the Gleysolic soils and more than 12 inches in the Organic soils. Organic soils comprise approximately 25 per cent of the area. Aeohan deposits are found in the Peers-Hatton- ford area and in the extreme southern portion of the map area in ranges 11 and 12. These deposits are coarse textured and occur as U-shaped and longitudinal dunes, and as thin beds overlying other deposits. The dunes are now stabilized by vegetation while the inter-dune areas are characteristically occupied by Organic soils. Aeolian deposits comprise approximately 3 per cent of the surficial deposits of the area. Variable coarse textured deposits, whose mode of deposition was not determined, were designated to be of alluvial-aeolian origin. They occur throughout the area as thin beds overlying other deposits, but are concentrated to some extent in the western portion. Alluvial-aeolian deposits are found in approximately 3 per cent of the area. Alluvial-lacustrine and gravelly outwash materials

*Meteorological Observations in Canada, Depanment of Transport, Met Bmnch, Toronto, Canada, l%B. (Peavine, 1966)

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE AREA extent are found mainly along the Pembina and of the map area. Edson is located 18 miles west in McLeod Rivers. The alluvium varies in texture from township 53 range 17 and Sion is approximately sandy loam to clay. 25 miles east of the map area in township 56 range 2. The relationship of the soi1 series or soi1 com- No reliable meteorological records are available for plexes to the various parent materials in the area stations within the boundaries of the Chip Lake area. are presented in Table 5. The records of the neighboring stations indicate the general climate common to this area. According- CLIMATE ly, on a seasonal basis, the western half of the area The climate of the Chip Lake map area is con- is, on the average, about 2’ F. warmer in the winter tinental, characterized by relatively warm summers and cooler in the summer than the eastern half. and cold Winters. Climatic data showing annual The slightly cooler summer in the western portion temperature and precipitation at five recording sta- is possibly due to higher elevation; the slightly warmer tions are shown in Table 6. Except for Edson and winter temperature is possible due to the greater Sion, these stations are found north and northeast frequency of Chinook winds closer to the mountains. TABLE 5-Relationship of Soi1 Series and Soi1 Complexes to The mean summer temperature, as indicated by the Parent Mat&ais records for June, July, and August is 58OF. July is the warmest month with a mean temperature of Soi1 Series about 60°F. The mean winter temperature is 9OF. Parent Material or Complex with January the coldest month at 6’F.

Lacu&ne Evansburg The mean annual precipitation in this area de- Judah creases from west to east and ranges from 20 to Kathleen 18 inches. Of this amount approximately 50 per cent Macola falls from June to August when it cari best be Maywood utilized by the vegetation. Table 6 indicates that Mica the rainfall peak is reached in July. However, from Raven scanty information at various stations located within Wabamun or near the map area, August appears to be the Wildwood month of maximum rainfall in some years. About Alluvial-Iacustrine Caroline 15 per cent of the total precipitation falls as snow Codner Eta during the winter months (December, January, Feb- Tolman ruary), and it is probable that in forested regions Alluvial-aeolian Codesa about half of the snow water is lest in the spring Culp nui-off. In regions of cultivated land the loss is Pinto greater. Rat The frost-free period in the area decreases from Rochester east to southwest. The first fa11 frost may occur about Sundance August 22, while the date of the last spring frost Aeolian Heart Nicot ranges from about June 10 in the eastem section to Lacustre-till Bigoray about June 25 in the southwestern region. The length Alluvial Alluvium of frost-free period has a bearing on the range of crops Colluvial Rough Broken that cari be satisfactorily grown and matured. The Modified Residual (a) Saline Bedrock Kawood average frost-free period at selected stations near (b) Paskapoo Formation Modeste the map area is shown in Table 7. The period since Pegasus 1951 has had a significantly longer frost-free period Organic Eaglesham than prior to 1950 (Longley, 1967; Boughner et al, Kenzie 1956). Gravelly Outwash Clouston Horburg At present this change should be considered as an XII (a) Edmonton Formation Cooking Lake anomaly rather than a permanent warming trend. Onoway The incidence of summer frost increases from east Uncas to west. The increase in elevation in this direction Newbrook is doubtless an influencing factor. The eastcentral (b) Paskapoo Formation Bremay portion of the map area has an average of approxi- Breton mately 80 frost-free days, the southwestem portion Dekalta generally has less than 60 days, and the annual Hubalta variation is fairly large. The degree-days above 42”F., Newbrook O’Chiese May to September, decrease from about 2,000 along Onoway the east side to 1,600 in the southwest corner (Chap- (c) Cordilleran Wildhay man and Brown, 1966). A number of factors, however, cari influence climate locally. These include

18 REPORT S-71-28 TABLE 6-Mean Meteorological Data for Stations near the Map Area Sion Campsie Peavine Whitecourt Edson (NE 36-56-2-W5th) (SW 26-59-5-W5th) (SW 1-59-7-W5th) (SE 35-59 -12-W5th) (NW 15-53 -17-W5th) T* P* T P T P T P T P December 12.4 0.93 9.8 0.82 12.6 0.86 8.8 I .04 12.1 0.99 January 4.9 1.04 4.2 0.93 6.9 1.11 4.2 1.12 8.4 1.00 February 10.2 0.97 9.6 0.83 12.3 0.85 10.5 0.99 13.8 0.75 Winter 9.2 2.94 7.9 2.58 10.3 2.82 7.8 3.15 L1.4 2.74 - -

March 21.9 0.17 21.0 0.75 23.4 0.81 21.8 0.81 23.6 0.95 April 38.6 0.92 38.1 0.95 39.2 0.83 36.9 1.20 37.2 1.06 May 51.6 1.63 49.6 1.84 50.7 1.82 48.3 1.85 48.2 2.05 Spring 37.4 3.32 36.2 3.54 37.8 3.46 35.7 3.86 36.3 4.06 - -

June 56.5 2.95 55.7 3.10 55.9 3.24 54.4 2.88 53.9 3.59 July 61.7 3.38 60.7 3.73 61.2 3.72 59.7 3.86 58.7 3.66 August 58.1 2.31 57.5 2.71 58.4 3.19 56.5 3.33 56.2 3.16 Summer 58.8 8.64 58.0 9.54 58.5 10.15 56.9 10.07 56.3 10.41 - -

September 50.5 1.33 49.3 1.30 50.6 1.30 48.5 1.31 48.7 1.29 October 39.9 0.80 39.2 0.80 40.8 0.86 38.0 1.07 38.4 0.98 November 24.8 0.89 22.6 0.85 24.6 0.64 21.7 0.85 23.5 1.03 Fall 38.4 3.02 37.0 2.95 38.7 2.80 36.1 3.23 36.9 3.30 - -

Annual 35.9 17.92 34.8 18.61 36.3 19.23 34.1 20.31 35.2 20.51 *T-Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit *P-Precipitation in inches

TABLE 7-Frost-Free Period in Days at Seiected Stations near the Map Area

Sion Campsie Edson Peavine Whitecourt

Years of record before 195 1 36 38 35 6 6 Elevation (feet above M. S L. ) 2315 2200 2985 2279 2430 Frost-free period to 1950 70 65 59 78 54 Frost-free period 1951-l 964 104 .80 74 112 88 topography, vegetation, elevation, and proximity to The characteristic forest association of the Mixed- muskegs or large bodies of water. wood Section, as the name implies, is a mixture of aspen poplar, balsam poplar, white birch (Betula VEGETATION papyrifera) and white spruce (Picea glauca). The The Chip Lake map area lies within the Boreal aspen caver type is of greatest areal extent because Forest Region. According to Rowe (1959) three vege- of its ablity to regenerate readily following dis- tative sections of the Boreal Forest Region extend turbance. Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. lati- into this area: the Lower Foothills, the Mixedwood, foiia) is found in the forest composition on the drier and the Aspen Grove Sections. The areal extent and sites. Gray Wooded soils predominate in the Mixed- location of these vegetative zones is shown in Fi- wood Section of the Boreal Forest. gure 11. The percentage of conifers increases gradually The Aspen Grove Section is a forest-grassland from northeast to southwest and in the extreme south- transition area that roughly coincides with the Dark western portion of the area the percentage of conifers Gray soi1 zone. Only aspen poplar (Populus tremu- increases rapidly. Rowe (1959) states that this area loides) is abundant in natural stands. Balsam poplar (the Lower Foothills Section of the Boreal Forest (Popuh balsamfera) is frequently present on moist Region) contains a transitional forest between the lowlands and occasionally on uplands after fire. Wil- Boreal and Sub-alpine Regions. The distinctive tree lows (Salix spp.) are found in the wetter sites. The species is the lodgepole pine which with aspen and grass species is primarily rough fescue (Festuca sca- balsam poplar has assumed a dominant position over brella). much of the area in the wake of fire. In older forest

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE AREA 19 and Labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum) are the r principal trees and herb in the organic soi1 areas. Willow, dwarf birch (Betula giandulosa), horsetail (Equisetum arvense), alder (Alnus spp.), and black spruce grow around the edges of deep organic soi1 areas and well into the shallower organic soi1 areas. Some of the depressional areas, mainly in the northeastern portion of the map area, contain sedge peat. The sedge peat is rarely over three feet in thickness and sedges (Carex spp.) and slough grass (Beckmannia spp.) predominate in these areas. Willow, dwarf birch, and alder are usually found on the poorly drained soils surrounding the sedge organic soi1 areas. The uncultivated areas have some grazing potential. The amount of grass caver varies with (a) the type of tree caver, (b) how recently the area has been burned over, (c) the amount of logging or disturbance that has taken place, and (d) the nature of the soil. According to Cormack the dominant grass in the Foothills area of west-central Alberta is hairy wild rye grass (Eiymus innovatus) with lesser amounts of brome grass (Bromus spp.), blue grass (Poa spp.), and common timothy (Pheleum pratense). There is also some spike trisetum grass (Trisetum spicatum) in the open woods areas, some fescue grasses (mainly in the northwest portion) and various species of vetch. At the present these grasses and herbs provide native pasture for deer, elk, moose, and cattle.

PHYSIOGRAPHY AND TOPOGRAPHY The Chip Lake area is located in the west-central portion of Alberta, on the western edge of the Third stands white spruce is an important constituent and Prairie Steppe and east of the Rocky Mountain Foot- black spruce (Picea mariana) also is frequently found. hills. The land surface is extremely variable, ranging The soils in the Rat Creek-Wolf Creek vicinity from relatively level lacustrine plains to gently rolling (southwestern portion) are primarily Bisequa Gray and rolling morainic areas. The regions between Evans- Wooded in an area dominated by coniferous trees. burg and Wildwood, between MacKay and Niton and The remaining Lower Foothills Section is character- between Sinkhole Lake and the Pembina River are ized by Gray Wooded soils in an area of mixed level to gently undulating. They coincide with regions deciduous and coniferous trees. of extensive organic deposits. Undulating areas are The understory vegetation is variable throughout found in the Cynthia, Carrot Creek, Hattonford, and the Chip Lake map area and was not correlated Anselme regions. The rolling and hilly areas of Mayer- with any of Rowe’s vegetative sections. The following thorpe and Carrot Creek Tower are of the knob and is a partial list of understory species common to the kettle type. The remaining areas of gently rolling to map area: raspberry (Rubus strigosus); choke cherry strongly rolling topography have long gentle slopes, (Prunus virginiana var. melanocarpa); pin cherry and have developed a dendritic drainage pattern. Bed- (Prunus pennsylvaniea); dogwood (Cornus stolon- rock controlled highlands occur north and northwest ifera): rose bush (Rasa aciculous); hazelnut (Corylus of Chip Lake and are characterized by strongly rolling cornufa); gooseberry (Ribes hirtellum); buffaloberry to hilly topography. (Shepherdia canadensis); bearberry (Arctostaphylos The smaller creeks and rivers in the central, north- uva-ursi); blueberry (Vaccinium myrtilioides); low- eastern, and southwestern portions of the map area bush cranberry (Viburnum eduie); and strawberry are generally not deeply incised. The Bigoray, Lob- (Fragaria virginiana). stick and Paddle Rivers and Brule and Carrot Creeks Throughout the map area there are many wet have virtually no banks in some areas, a feature which depressional areas that vary from a few acres to a has contributed to the periodic flooding of these areas township or more in size. These areas are generally in years of higher than normal run-off. The creeks in moss covered, the moss being dominantly sphagnum the remainder of the area are generally character- and varying from one to ten feet in depth. Black ized by steep valley walls and narrow floodplains. spruce (usually dwarfed), tamarack (Larix faricina), The McLeod River valley is 150 to 200 feet deep;

20 REPORT S-71-28 it varies in width from one eighth to one and one-half miles, the widest portion being about one mile northeast of the McLeod Valley settlement. The Pembina River valley is approximately 200 feet deep near Evansburg but to the south, the valley depth decreases and the floodplain of the river widens. In the vicinity of Easyford the river is less than 75 feet below the general land surface. The overall elevation gradually rises from east to west. The lowest elevation of about 2,200 feet above sea !evel occurs near the hamlet of Rochfort Bridge in the Paddle River lowlands, while the high- est elevation of 3,800 feet is in the extreme northwest corner of the area. The -entire southwestern portion, as well as small portions of the northwest, lie at over 3,000 feet above sea level. Figure lt-Stmngly rolting to hily topogmphy north of Chip Lake.. Six topographie classes are shown on the soi1 map by a system of hachuring. The six classes are: level to gently undulating (less than 2 per cent slopes), undulating (2 $0 5 per cent slopes), gently rolling (5 to 9 per cent slopes), moderately rolling (9 to 15 per cent slopes), strongly rolling (15 to 30 per cent slopes), and hilly (over 30 per cent slopes). Table 8 gives the acreage and percentage distribution of these topographie classes in this area.

TABLE 8-Acreage and Percentage Distribution of Topographie Classes in the Map Area

Slope Per cent (%) Acreage of Area Level to Gently Undulating 0 to 2 372,600 27.3 Undulating 2+ to 5 361,400 26.5 Gently Rolling 5+ to 9 146,440 10.7 Moderately Rolling 9+to 15 90,320 6.6 Strongly Rolling 15+ to 30 12,800 1.0 Figure 13-Undulsting topognphy nea, Wildnood. Hilly 30+ 360 0.1 Rough Broken 21,680 1.6 Depressional (peat areas) 336,040 24.6 Depressional (water) 22,760 1.6 inant throughout the area and which could have been Total 1,364,400 100.0 the fesult of the retreating ice sheet or a reflec- tion of bedrock control. The Pembina and McLeod Rivers have their sources in the mountains but the creeks and smaller DRAINAGE rivers that drain the area originate essentially in the The Chip Lake area contains parts of two dis- organic soi1 basins. Their discharge varies greatly tinct drainage systems, the Nelson System and the throughout the season yet the streams are rarely if MacKenzie System. In the extreme southeastern por- ever dry. During the spring melt some of the water tions the drainage is by tributaries of the North Sas- goes directly into the soil, some runs off via the katchewan River into Hudson Bay while the re- creeks, and a considerable percentage is stored in mainder of the area is drained by the McLeod and organic soi1 depressions. These organic soi1 basins Pembina Rivers into the Athabasca River and ulti- are land locked or have high water outlets and con- mately to the Arctic Ocean. South of Easyford the sequently their high storage capacity tends to dis- distance between the Pembina and the North Sas- tribute the run-off over a fairly long period. katchewan Rivers is less than ten miles. Chip Lake is the only large lake in the map area. The high land in the northwest and southwest It lies in the central portion and is freshened by is drained by a dendritic pattern of small streams. the Lobstick River. It is relatively shallow but the In the remainder of the area the tributaries that water level is fairly stable throughout the season. flow into the Pembina River form a fairly regular There is no recreational development on this lake northwest-southeast trellis pattern which is dom- at present .

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LGKE ARE4 21 SOILS SOIL DEVELOPMENT the soi1 forming agencies. The C horizon is the re- Soi1 development is a complex and continuous latively unaltered parent material. process. The characteristics that a soi1 acquires as a Through observation of the soi1 profile character- result of the interaction of the various soil-forming istics it is possible to classify soils in accordance factors are reflected in the development of more or with the processes involved in their formation. less distinct layers or horizons. A cross section of these horizons from the surface to the relatively un- SOIL cL4SSIFICATION altered parent material is known as a soi1 profile The abject of a soi1 survey is to classify and map (Fig. 14). The horizons which make up the soi1 pro- the soi1 units that are found in a defined area. The file differ from one another in one or more of the basic units in the field classification system used in following features: colour, texture, structure, con- this survey are the soi1 series or soi1 complex. A sistency, reaction, and chemical and biological com- soi1 series consists of soils that are developed on position. similar parent material and under similar environ- The main horizons which make up the soi1 pro- mental conditions, particularly drainage. Any sig- file consist of an organic horizon (L, F and H) over- nificant variation in one or more of the soi1 form- lying a sequence of horizons designated as A, B and ing factors results in dissimilarities of profile fea- C. Each major horizon may be subdivided, using the tures and the soi1 is classified as a different sertes. horizon suffixes as described in the glossary. The A Individual soi1 series may occupy large continuous horizon is the portion of the profile from which ma- land areas but more commonly are associated with terials are leached by percolating rain water and in other series in a complex landscape pattern. In some which, in most soi1 profiles, organic matter accumu- cases this is a result of local differences in relief lates. The ‘B horizon is the portion in which the and drainage, while in others it is due to the close materials carried down from the A horizon are de- association of different parent materials. If it is not posited. Taken together, the A and B horizons form possible, because of the scale of mapping, to separate the solum, which represents the true soi1 formed by series developed on similar material, such undif-

--- L, F and H-Organic horizon, which may be subdivided into: L (raw organic matter), F (partially decomposed organic matter), and H (decomposed organic matter). A -A minera1 horizon at or near the surface. It may be a dark colored horizon in which there is an accumulation of humus - (Ah), or a light colored horizon from which clay, iron, and - humus have been leached (Ae). - AB -Transition horizon.

-B -Minera1 horizons that (1) may have an enrichment of clay (Bt), iron (Bf), or. organic matter (Bh); or (2) may be characterized by a columnar structure and a signitïcant amount of exchangeable sodium (Bn); or (3) may be altered to give a change in color or structure (Bm). Usually lime and salts have been leached out of this horizon. (4) The symbol (j) is used with the above suffixes to denote a failure to meet the specified limits of the suffix.

0 \ - 1 01 ‘.; I --l C -Minera1 horizon comparatively unaffected by the soi1 forming process operative in the A and B horizons except for the pro- ,l.. _aJ cess of gleying (Cg) and the accumulation of calcium and/or - .e / ,’ magnesium carbonates (Ck) and soluable salts (Cs). , x 0

Figure I4-Dingram oln soi1 profile showing various horizons.

22 REPORT S-71-28 ferentiated groups are referred to as soi1 complexes. (b) .Solonetzic Soils Where soils have similar profile characteristics but This Order of soils consists of well to imperfectly vary in some physical feature significant to their use drained soils developed under a variable vegetative and management, the soils are classified as phases. caver. They are characterized by Solonetzic B hori- Soil phases are based on external features, such as zons and saline parent material. Chemical criteria topography, stoniness, surface peat, or the presence provides a guide in the characterization of these soils, of an nonconforming substrate that may occur below but separations into the Great Group category are the solum. made mainly on morphologie differences evident in While series, complexes and phases are the basic the profiles, namely on the presence or absence of units used in field classification of soils, other cate- an AB horizon and on the nature of the B horizon. gories are used to group soils into broader classes. The Solonetz Great Group is characterized by a very In the classification system adopted by the National hard columnar B horizon that remains intact when Soi1 Survey Committee of Canada (1968) there are removed from the profile. There is an abrupt break 6 levels at which soils may be separated or grouped. between the A and B horizons. The Solod Great These are: Order, Great Group, Subgroup, Family, Group is characterized by a distinct transitional AB Series and Phase. In the 3 higher categories, Order, horizon and a B horizon that breaks readily into Great Group and Subgroup, divisions are based on blocky aggregates. In both of these Great Groups, major differences in morphologie features exhibited however, the profile must have a Solonetzic B hor- in the soi1 profile. In the lower 3 categories of Fa- izon characterized by a ratio of exchangeable calcium mily, Series and Phase, divisions within any one Sub- to exchangeable sodium of 10 or less. Separations at group are based on soi1 variations resulting from the Subgroup level are based on the colour of the differences in composition, texture of the parent ma- surface horizon and are accordingly designated as terials, &d difference in thickness and degree Black and Gray Solonetz or Solod soils. of development of soi1 horizons. The Subgroup In this map area Solonetz and Solod soils are of level of the classification system is used in this report rare occurrence and are dominant in only 120 acres. to indicate the kind of profile that is characteristic Only 2 series Kawood (Gray Solonetz) and Waba- of each soi1 series. mun (Black Solod) of the Solonetzic Order are represented in the map area. The soils were classified according to the pro- posals made by the National Soi1 Survey Committee (c) Luvisolic Soils of Canada in 1965 but in the preparation of this report an attempt was made to incorporate the changes This Order consists of well and imperfectly proposed in the committee meetings of 1968. Table 9 drained soils that have developed under forest or shows the classification and profile type of the vari- forest-grassland tkansition zones in moderate to cool climates. Luvisolic soils have pronounced eluvial (Ae) ous Subgroups found in the Chip Lake map area. horizons and illuvial textural Bt horizons in which The various soi1 series and soi1 complexes are classi- silicate clay is the main accumulation product. Only fied into their respective Subgroups, Great Groups and Orders. The following is a brief description of the the Gray Wooded Great Group of the Luvisolic Order soil orders found in this region: is found in the map area. Further separations made on the recognition of various horizon characteristics permit a grouping at the Subgroup level of classification. (a) Chernozemic Soils: Five Subgroups of the Gray Wooded Great Group These soils are well to imperfectly drained soils occur in this area, namely Orthic Gray Wooded, Dark developed under a grassland-forest vegetative caver. Gray Wooded, Brunisolic Gary Wooded, Bisequa Gray They are characterized by a dark coloured, humus- Wooded, and Gleyed Orthic Gray Wooded. The Orthic minera1 (Ah) surface horizon and B and C horizons Gray Wooded Subgroup consists of soils that have an of high base saturation. Recognition of colour dif- organic surface horizon (L-H) with a light colored Ae ferences between Ah horizons provides a basis for horizon and a Bt horizon. They may have a thin separating the soils in this Order into Brown, Dark Ah (less than 2 inches), a slightly mottled Ae horizon, Brown, Black, and Dark Gray Great Groups: In the and a marked AB horizon. The Dark Gray Wooded Chip Lake map area, however, only soils of the Dark Subgroup consists of soils that have a thicker Ah Gray Great Group are represented. Further separa- horizon (greater than 2 inches) overlying a promin- tions are made on the basis of horizon character- ent Ae horizon and a Bt horizon. Brunisolic Gray istics which permit a grouping at the Subgroup level. Wooded soils are characterized by a brown or red- Only one soil, the Mica series, belonging to the dish brown Upper Ae, (Bm) horizon which grades Chernozemic Order was mapped in the area. It is to a lighter coloured Ae, horizon overlying the Bt an Orthic Dark Gray soi1 developed on fine textured horizon. The Bisequa Gray Wooded is distinguished material. This Chernozemic soi1 is dominant in only by the presence of a thin but distinctive brown or approximately 3 per cent of the map area. reddish brown (Bf) horizon under a light coloured

iOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE AREA 23 TABLE 9-Classification of the Soils of the Chip Lake Map Area

CREAT SERIES PER CENT ORDER GROUP SUBGROUP PROFILE TYPE* PARENT MATERIAL OR COMPLEX OF AREA

Chernozemic Dark Gray Orthic Dark (L-V, (Ah), Ahe, (A4 Lacustrine Mica 2.70 Gray Bm or Bt, (Cca), Ck or C.

Solonetzic Solonetz Gray Solonetz (L-H), (Ah), Ahe or Ae Modified Residual Kawood - or both, an intact Bnt, Saline Csa or Cs, (Cca), (Ck).

Solod Black Solod (L-H), Ah or Ahe OC Saline Lacustrine Wabamun 0.01 both, Ae, AB, Bnt, (Cca), (Ck), Csa or Cs.

Luvisolic Gray Wooded Orthic Gray L-H, (Ah or Ahe), Ae, Lacustrine Maywood 3.25 Wooded WL Bt, (Cca), (CO Lacustrine Kathleen 0.13 w. Alluvial-Lacustrine Tolman 0.55 Lacustre-Till Bigoray 1.06 Alluvial-Aeolian Culp 0.10 Shallow Alluvial- Aeolian Codesa** 1.13 Till-Edmonton Formation Origin Cooking Lake 3.68 Tilt-Paskapoo Formation Origin Hubalta 34.63 Till-Paskapoo Formation Origin Breton 1.03 Gravelly Outwash Clouston 0.04 Modifïed Residual- Paskapoo Sandstone Modeste 0.72 Moditïed Residual- Paskapoo Shale Pegasus -

Dark Gray (L-H), Ah or Ahe, Ae, Lacustrine Macola 7.17 Wooded Bt, (Cca), Ck, (C). Lacustrine Judah 0.13 Till-Edmonton Formation Origin Uncas 0.26 Till-Paskapoo Formation Origin Dekalta 0.05

Brunisolic Gray L-H, (Ah), Ae, or Bm or Aeolian Nicot** 1.69 Wooded (Bf, Bm) (Ae, or ‘C”), W% Bt, (W, ((3.

Bisequa Gray (L-H), (Ah), (Ae), Bfh Alluvial-Lacustrine Caroline - Wooded or Bf, (Ae, or “C”), Till-Paskapoo C-h Wi), Bt, (CU (‘3. Formation Origin O’Chiese 0.47 Till (Cordilleran) Wildhay 0.16 Shallow Alluvial- Aeolian Pinto 0.07 Gravelly Outwash Horburg 0.27 Alluvial-Aeolian Sundance 0.09

Gleyed Orthic L-H, WhAegi,(ABgi), Lacustrine Evansburg 0.83 Gray Wooded Bt.G Wgh @Cg), (Cg), Alluvial-Lacustrine Eta 0.10 (W 63. Till-Paskapoo Formation Origin Bremay 3.80 Shallow Alluvial- Aeolian Rat** 1.11

24 REPORT S-71-28 TABLE 9-Classificaiion of the Soils of the Chip Lake Map Area (contimed)

CREAT SERIES PER CENT ORDER CROUP SUBGROUP PROFILE TYPE* PARENT MATERIAL OR COMPLEX OF AREA

Podzolic Humo-Ferric Orthic Humo- L-H, Ae, (Bht), Bfh or Aeolian Heart** 1.39 Podzol Ferric Podzol Bf, (Cl.

Brunisolic Eutric Degraded Eutric L-H or Ap, Aej or Ae, Shallow Alluvial Brunisol Brunisol Bm or Btj, Ck. Aeolian Codesa** - Aeolian Nicot** - Aeolian Heart** -

Gleyed Degraded L-H or Ap, Aejgi or Shallow Alluvial- Eutric Brunisol Aegj, Bmgj or Btjgj, Aeolian Rat** - Ckg.

Regosolic Undifferentiated - - Alluvial Alluvium** 1.75

Gleysolic Humic Gleysol Orthic Humic (L-H), Ah, (Ah@,(A%), Lacustrine Raven 2.39 Gleysol Bg or Btjg, Cg or C or Till-Edmonton or Ch Paskapoo Formation Origin Onoway 0.22 Alluvial-Lacustrine Codner 0.08 AlluvialAeolian Rochester 0.14

Eluviated Low Humic Eluv- (L-H), (Ah), (Ahe), Aeg, Lacu&ne Wildwood 0.08 Gleysol iated Gleysol Btg, @Cg), Cg or Cti Till-Edmonton or or C or Ckg. Paskapoo Formation Origin Newbrook 0.82

Organic Mesisol Undifferentiated Sedge Peat Organic Eaglesham** 0.39 Moss Peat Organic Kenzie** 24.26

*Bracketed horizons may or may not be present. **Soi1 Complex-May include more than one Order or may include different Subgroups within the same Order.

Ae and above a finer textured Bt horizon. This ter and/or sesquioxides. Of the three Great Groups sequence of horizons indicates that a Podzol profile found in this Order, only the Humo-Ferric Podzol is starting to form in the Ae horizon of a former is represented in the Chip Lake area. It is an Orthic Gray Wooded soil. Gleyed Orthic Gray Wooded Humo-Ferric Podzol with the main accumulation SO& show evidence of gleying as indicated by mott- product be‘ing sesquioxides. These soils are charac- ling or other discolorations due to periodic wetness terized by organic surface horizons (L,F,H,) and in the Ae and Bt horizons. eluviated light coloured horizons (Ae) which overlie The Gray Wooded Great Group of the Luvisolic Bf horizons. Order has the largest areal extent of the 10 Great Soils of the Podzolic Order are of rare occurrence Groups mapped in the Chip Lake area. Twenty- in the .map area. They are found as a complex with four soil series and 3 soi1 complexes comprising Degraded’ Eutric Brunisol soils mainly in the sand approximately 60 per cent of the map area belong dune area west of Cynthia. to this Great Group. The Orthic Gray Wooded soils of the Gray Wooded Great Group comprise 45 per (e) Brunisolic Soils cent of the area (See Table 9). This Order consists of well to imperfectly drained soils that have developed under forest, mixed forest (d) Podzolic Soi\s and grass or heath and tundra vegetation associa- Podzolic soils are well to imperfectly drained soils tions. Under virgin conditions, they may have or- that have developed under coniferous and mixed- ganic surface horizons (L-H) and organo-minera1 forest vegetation, mostly in cool and temperate (Ah) horizons. They may also have weakly or strongly climates. They are characterized by light coloured developed eluvial (Ae) horizons but never textural eluvial horizons and darker coloured illuvial horizons Bt or sesquioxide B horizons by definition. Depen- in which the accumulation products are organic mat- ding on the type and thickness of the Ah horizon,

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE AREA 25 the pH(CaCl,), and the base saturation (neutral Salt), with no eluviated Aeg horizon, whereas the Eluviated the Brunisolic Order cari be subdivided into four Gleysol is characterized by a prominent Aeg horizon. Great Groups. Namely: the Melanic Brunisol, Further separations, at the Subgroup level of cate- Eutric Brunisol, Sombric Brunisol, and the Dystric gorization are based on horizon characteristics. Brunisol. Only Eutric Brunisol soils are found in the Two Subgroups, comprising 6 soi1 series were map area. This Great Group is characterized by a recognized in the map area. These are the Orthic thin Ah horizon overlying a Bm or Btj horizon. The Humic Gleysol and Low Humic Eluviated Gleysol. solum has a pH greater than 5.5 (CaC12) and a base The former is characterized by a thick Ah horizon saturation of 100 per cent using a neutral salt ex- overlying a Bg horizon, and the latter by a thin Ah traction. The parent material is usually calcareous. horizon and a prominent Aeg horizon overlying a Different horizon characteristics permit further sep- textural Btg horizon. In cases where the surface peat arations at the Subgroup level of classification. was greater than 6 inches and less than 12 inches Only the Degraded Eutric Brunisol and Gleyed in thickness, peaty phases .of the above Gleysolic Degraded Eutric Brunisol Subgroups are found in this Subgroups have been recognized. Gleysolic soils are area. The Degraded Eutric Brunisol soils are charac- dominant in approximately 4 per cent of the map terized by a weak eluvial horizon (Aej) or a strong area, but frequently occur in association with the eluvial horizon (Ae), and by a lack of an illuvial or better drained upland soils. textured Bt horizon. The Aej or Ae horizon overlies a Bm or Btj horizon. The Gleyed Degraded Eutric Brunisol soils show evidence of gleying as indicated (h) Organic Soils by mottles in the solum. The Eutric Brunisol soils Soils of the Organic Order are very poorly of the map area have developed on coarse textured drained and are characterized by an accumulation materials. They occur, however, in close association of peat exceeding a compact thickness of 12 inches with Gray Wooded or Humo-Ferric Podzol soils on and with 30 per cent or more of organic matter. these materials and the scale of mapping employed In the Chip Lake area 2 types of organic soils were did not permit their separation. Consequently it has mapped-one is peat developed from sedge while the been necessary to consider these soils as soi1 com- other is peat developed from moss. Both were classi- plexes rather than soi1 series (See Table 9). Eutric fied mainly in the Mesisol Great Group, which is Brunisol soils represent approximately 4 per cent of characterized by an intermediate stage of decom- the map area. position. A limited investigation of the Organic Order, at the time of mapping, did not permit further sepa- (f) Regosolic Soils ration of these soils. Organic soils constitute approximately 25 per cent of the map area. Regosols include rapidly to poorly drained soils that lack discernible horizons or have only organic (L-H) or nonchernozemic organo-minera1 (Ah) surface horizons. The Orthic and Gleyed Regosols are the only Subgroups found in the map area. These SOIL MAPPING soils occur as an undifferentiated soi1 complex on recent river alluvium and comprise approximately The soi1 survey of the Chip Lake area was a 2 per cent of the area. reconnaissance survey carried out by making traverses at one mile intervals. Soi1 inspections were made approximately every half mile along the line (g) Gleysolic Soils of traverse. At each inspection site the arrangement, The Gleysolic Order is comprised of soils which thickness, colour, texture, consistency, and structure are poorly drained and have strongly gleyed minera1 of the soi1 profile horizons were recorded. These horizons. They have developed under various clima- parameters as well as soi1 reaction, topography, tic and vegetative conditions in the presence of a high drainage, and stoniness were considered when the or a fluctuating water table. These soils may have mapping units were established. Representative organic surface horizons up to 12 inches in thick- samples of each soi1 series or soi1 complex were ness and are characterized by du11 grayish colours collected for laboratory study. throughout the profile which may be accompanied From this field information and with the aid of by the presence of prominent yellowish or reddish aerial photograph interpretation, the soi1 boundaries coloured mottles. The characteristics of the A were plotted on maps. The degree of detail used horizon provide a guide to classification at the Great in separating soi1 series is governed by the scale of Group level. In the map area 2 Great Groups, the mapping. The accompanying soi1 map was prepared Humic Gleysol and the Eluviated Gleysol have been on a scale of 2 miles to 1 inch (1:126,000). Thus a recognized. The former consists of soils that have limit is imposed on the size of areas that cari be an Ah horizon more than 3 inches in thickness but shown on the soi1 map. The soils are usually shown

26 REPORT S-71-28 on the map as an association of two or more soi1 Ahb,-22 to 25 inches, dark brown (IOYR 3/3, moist) loamy series, or of a soi1 series and a soi1 complex. These Sand; single grain; loose; clear, wavy boundary; ex- associations or mapping units are shown on the map tremely variable thickness; pH 7.0. by a symbol for each component. The first component WC-25 to 32 inches, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4, moist) loamy is the dominant soi1 in the mapping unit, while the Sand; single grain; very friable; abrupt, smooth boun- last component of the association comprises at least dary; extremely variable thickness; pH 7.5. 10 per cent of the area. Ahb*-32 to 34 inches, dark yellowish brown (IOYR 414, moist) sandy loam; single grain; very friable; clear, wavy boundary; extremely variable thickness; pH 7.1. DESCRIPTION OF SOILS Ck-34 to 43 inches, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4, moist) loamy Sand; single grain; loose; abrupt, smooth boundary; extremely variable thickness; weakly calcareous; pH 8.0. Table 9 shows the classification of the soils of Great Group IICk-43 to 47 inches, dark grayish brown (IOYR 4/2, moist) the Chip Lake map area. The Subgroup, loam; stratified; friable; abrupt, smooth boundary; soi1 complex and Order to which each soi1.~ series or variable thickness; moderately calcareous; pH 8.0. belongs is indicated as well as the profile type for lIICk-47 to 54 inches, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4, moist) each Subgroup. The dominant texture for each Sand; single grain; loose; abrupt, smooth boundary; series or complex, as shown in the soils map legend, variable thickness; weakly calcareous; pH 8.4. represents the average texture of the soi1 solum. IVCk-54 to 58 inches, dark grayish brown (IOYR 4/2, The soils in the area are classified into 8 Orders, moist) silt loam, amorphous; friable; abrupt, smooth 10 Great Groups, 16 Subgroups, 33 soi1 series and 7 boundary; variable thickness; moderately calcareous; soil complexes. pH 8.1. VCk-at 58 inches, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4, moist) Sand; single grain; loose; stone free; weakly calcare- Alluvium (A) (23,880 acres) ous; pH 8.3. The recent alluvial deposits found along streams and rivers were mapped as alluvium. Significant Use areas of alluvium occur along the floodplains of the Alluvium is subject to occasional flooding. Al- Pembina and McLeod Rivers. Since these terraces though the soils are generally fertile, argiculture are of variable size, commonly too small to outline utilization is restricted to areas where the flats and on this scale of mapping, no attempt was made to terraces are of a significant size. The main crops differentiate the various soils formed on this material. grown are coarse grains on the higher terraces -and Soils developed on alluvium nsually lack distinct hay and forage on the lower more poorly dramed horizon development but may have buried Ah hon- benches. In addition to their limited agricultural use, zens. These stone-free materials vary in texture from gravelly subsoils may be used as a source of com- fine Sand to clay but are generally high in silt or Sand mercial gravel. A grave1 deposit of significant size, content. Occasionally gravelly subsoils are encount- now being used for road construction, occurs near ered. Areas of alluvium are level to very gently slop- the McLeod Valley settlement. ing and rapidly to poorly drained. The soils in these areas are generally Orthic Regosol and Gleyed Or- thic Regosols. Native vegetation varies with drainage but commonly consists of aspen poplar, balsam Bigoray Series (Bg) (14,480 acres) poplar, and white spruce on moderately well to imperfectly drained sites and sedges, meadow grasses The Bigoray soils are moderately well drained and often black spruce on poorly drained sites. The Orthic Gray Wooded soils developed on fine tex- following is a description of an Orthic Regosol soi1 tured lacustre-till material. This fine textured material profile developed on alluvium adjacent to the McLeod consists of strata of heavy clay alternating with stra- River: ta of silty clay that often contains stones. These soils occur in the southeastern portion of Ap-0 to 6 inches, very dark gray (IOYR 3/ 1, moist)* the map area in the vicinities of Sinkhole Lake, loam; strong, medium granular; very friable; abrupt, Bigoray River and Chip Lake. The topography is wavy boundary; 2 to 12 inches thick; pH 6.5. gently undulating to gently sloping. Native vegeta,- C-6 to 18 inches, dark grayish brown (IOYR 4/2, moist) tion is mainly aspen poplar and balsam poplar wtth loam; single grain; very friable; abrupt, smooth boun- some white spruce and willow; also shrubs such as dary; extremely variable thickness; pH 6.0. wild rose, raspberry, saskatoon, and dogwood, and a IIC-18 to 22 inches, dark grayish brown (IOYR 4/2, moist) profusion of herbs and some grasses. loamy sand; single grain; loose; abrupt, wavy boundary; The Bigoray soils may have an Ah horizon UP to extremely variable thickness; pH 7.1. 2 inches in thickness but it is often absent. They havc a light brownish gray Ae horizon which ranges

*Munsell color designation in thickness from 2 to 8 inches, and a moderately to

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE AREA 27 TABLE ~fhhalyses ofan Alluvium Soi1 Profile (SE 29-56-13-W5th)

% Particle Size Analysis % Oxalate % Desh % % % % % % CaC03 Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC HO~. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe +AI H Na K Ca Mg me/ IOOg

O-6 39 41 20 APC 6-18 1; 6.5 - 6.50 13 - - 13.6 0.3 2.6 83.5 - 35.7 44 19 60 - IIC 18-22 37 3. 1 - 10.0 -0.6 1.3 84.3 3.8 16.5 Ahb, 22-25 79 15 6 7.1 - - 0.18 - - 0.2 1.2 94.0 4.6 8.6 6 3 7.0 0.25 - 4.9 0.5 1.1 84.2 9.2 19.2 4 .05 .74 15 Ahb2HIC 25-3232-34 8375 13 17 8 1 7.5 - - - 0.49 - - 0.6 1.4 75.8 22.2 6.9 Ck 34-43 3 7.1 .05 .78 !! 0.21 - - 0.7 1.4 85.4 12.5 16.3 IICk 43-47 81 17 2 2 8.0 - _ 2.13 - - - - _ - IIICk 47-54 48 38 14 5 8.0 - - - 9.94 ------1 IVCk 54-58 1491 65 2; 0 8.4 - 1 4.77 ------VCk at 58 89 7 4 9 8.1 - 1 9.59 ------1 8.3 - - - 4.04 ------

strongly developed textural Bt horizon. Except for the stratification, generally found in the lower portion of the solum, these soils are similar to the Hubalta series. A representative Bigoray soi1 profile is described as follows: L-H-3 to 0 inches, deciduous leaf litter and grasses; pH 5.8. Ae-0 to 6 inches, light gray (IOYR 7/2, dry) silt loam strong, medium platy; soft; abrupt, wavy boundary; i to 8 inches thick; pH 5.2. AB-6 to 9 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 514, moist) clay; moderate, fine subangular blocky; friable; gradua], wavy boundary; 1 to 4 inches thick; pH 4.6. Bt-9 to 25 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/6, moist) clay; strong, fine to medium subangular blocky; firm; clear, wavy boundary; 10 to 24 inches thick; pH 4.4. BC-25 to 37 inches, dark yellowish brown (IOYR 414 moist) silty clay, in which dark grayish brown (IOYa 4/2, moist) heavy clay beds are of common occurrence. amorphous; very firm; clear, wavy boundary; 5 to 20 inches thick; pH 5.9. Ck-at 37 inches, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4, moist) silty clay in which dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2, moist) heavi clay beds are of common occurrence; amorphous. firm slightly stony; Weakly to moderately calcareous; p’H 7.41 Figure IS-Bigoray mil profile showing a sfrala 01 dark colored fine lextured material lypical of lacusfro-till.

TABLE Il-Analyses of a Bigoray Soi1 Profile (NE 16-53-IO-W5th)

% Pa&le Size Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % CaC03 Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC Hor. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+AI H Na K Ca Mg me/lOog

L-H 3-o - - _ _ 5.8 - - Ae O-6 - - - 18.3 0.1 3.2 41.8 36.6 57.9 20 62 5.2 AB 6-9 4; 2s" 0.04 0.51 13 - - 29.2 1.4 1.7 26.2 41.5 11.0 31 28 4.6 Bt 9-25 0.05 0.51 10 - - 23.3 1.0 1.6 34.6 39.5 28.7 34 23 43 26 BC 25-37 17.5 0.7 1.3 47.8 32.7 27.3 13 45 42 20 Ck at 37 2.8 0.6 1.1 59.1 36.4 34.8 44 44 18 7.4 - - 12 - 5.22 - - 0.6 0.9 74.3 24.2 27.2

28 REPORT S-71-28 Associated Soils BCgj-25 to 39 inches, dark yellowish brown (10YR 414, Soils of the Bigoray series are associated with the moist) clay loam, with faint, yellowish brown (IOYR soils developed on lacustrine material-the Maywood, 5/6; moist) mottles; amorphous; friable; abrupt, Raven, Evansburg, and Macola soils. Generally, or- smooth boundary; 5 to 20 inches thick; pH 6.2. ganic sails are also closely associated. Ckgi-at 39 inches, dark yellowish brown (IOYR 4/4, moist) clay loam, with faint, yellowish brown (IOYR Use 5/6, moist) mottles; amorphous; friable; slightly to Limited argicultural use has been made of these moderately stony till; weakly calcareous; pH 7.0. soils in this area. Bigoray soils are relatively low in organic matter and natural fertility and therefore Associated Soils Bremay soils are generally associated with other crops should respond to applications of nitrogen and soils developed on glacial till. Among these the Hub- phosphorus fertilizer. Crop rotations that include deep-rooted legumes Will improve the rate of perco- alta, Newbrook, and Onoway soils are the most prominent. The Organic soils, Kenzie and Eaglesham, lation and thereby improve the structure of these are also associated to some extent with Bremay soils. soils. These soils are rated as fair to fairly good arable soils. However, a fairly high risk of frost Use damage may be encountered in areas where these Nearly a11 the Bremay soils are in their native soils are found. For this reason these soils should be state. Bremay soils are best suited for permanent used primarily for forage production and coarse pasture, forage production, and limited coarse grain grains. production. They are responsive to improvement practices such as clearing trees, seeding down to adapted grasses and legumes, and fertilization. Drain- Bremay Series (Bm) (51,800 acres) age may not be required on these soils because the gleying features appear to diminish with clearing and Bremay Soils are imperfectly drained Gleyed cultivation. Their major limitations are low organic Orthic Gray Wooded soils developed on weakly cal- matter content and low available plant nutrients. careous, moderately fine textured till. The profile is These soils are rated as fair arable. slightly to moderately stony. Bremay soils are found primarily in the southern portion of the map area Breton Series (Bn) (14,040 acres) where the land surface is relatively level or gently sloping. These soils are generally associated with Breton soils are yellowish brown, medium textured, areas of groundwater discharge. The native vegeta- moderately well drained, Orthic Gray Wooded soils tion consists dominantly of aspen and balsam poplar, developed on Continental till of Paskapoo Forma- with wild rose, white spruce, willow, and birch. How- tion origin. Quartzite, sandstone, siltstone, and high- ever, black spruce and lodgepole pine are occasionally grade crystalline metamorphic and igneous pebbles associated with this series. make up the majority of the stones found in the pro- Bremay soils have an organic layer underlain by file. Coal flakes, olive colored shale, chips, and sand- a strongly developed, very pale brown, mottled Aegj stone fragments are common. Exposures of Paskapoo horizon and a moderately well developed textural Bt sandstones are commonly associated with Breton horizon. The subsoil is usually du11 coloured with soils in the map area. Breton soi1 areas are found faint mottles. These soils differ from the Low Humic on irregular undulating to moderately rolling topo- Eluviated Gleysol soils like Newbrook, in that they graphy. They occur primarily in tne southeastern por- possess distinctive blocky to subangular blocky tion of the map, east of the Pembina River. Native structure not typical of the Gleysol group. The fol- vegetation consists mainly of aspen poplar with oc- lowing is a description of a typical Bremay soi1 pro- casional white spruce and alder, a profusion of shrubs file: such as raspberry, buffaloberry, choke cherry, saskatoon and cranberry, and herbs and grasses. L-H-3 to 0 inches, deciduous leaf litter and grasses; pH 5.7. In virgin sites, Breton soils have a thin L-H hori- Aegj-0 to 5 inches, very pale brown (10YR 7/3, dry) silt zon, an Ah horizon up to 2 inches in thickness, which loam, with distinct, brownish yellow (IOYR 6/5, dry) is often absent, a grayish brown, slightly acidic Ae mottles; strong, fine to medium platy; soft; abrupt, horizon, and a moderately well developed textural smooth boundary; 2 to 9 inches thick; pH 5.0. Bt horizon. A weakly calcareous C horizon is usually ABgj-5 to 9 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 516, moist) found at 40 to 60 inches from the surface. The follow- clay loam, with distinct, brownish yellow (IOYR 6/6, ing is a description of a Breton soi1 profile: moist) mottles; moderate, fine subangular blocky; friable; clear, wavy boundary; 1 to 5 inches thick; L-H-2 to 0 inches, very dark grayish brown (IOYR 3/2, pH 4.4. dry) deciduous leaf litter and grasses; fairly well Btgj-9 to 25 inches, dark brown (IOYR 313, moist) clay decomposed in lower portion. loam, with faint, brownish yellow (IOYR 616, moist) Ae-0 to 6 inches, grayish brown (10YR 5/2, dry) silt mottles; moderate to strong, medium blocky; firm; loam; strong, fine to medium platy; soft; abrupt, clear, wavy boundary; 10 to 24 inches thick; pH 4.8. smooth boundary; 2 to 8 inches thick; pH 6.3.

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE ARE4 29 TABLE Il-Analyses of a Bremay Soi1 Profile (NW 3-50-lO-W5th)

% Particle Size Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC HO~. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+Al H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

L-H 3-0 - - - _ 5.7 0.04 - - - - 17.3 - 5.6 75.2 1.9 95.1 Aegi O-5 21 68 11 3 5.0 0.04 0.34 8.5 - 42.4 3.0 6.1 31.8 16.7 8.3 ABgi 5-9 35 37 28 12 4.4 0.04 0.46 11.5 - - 35.8 - 2.7 52.3 9.2 12.4 Btgj 9-25 32 30 38 22 4.8 0.05 0.50 10.0 - - 15.2 1.2 2.9 42.7 38.0 20.4 BCgi 25-39 31 37 32 19 6.2 - - - - 2.6 0.6 2.0 87.2 7.6 21.6 Ckgj at 39 33 34 33 19 7.0 - - - 3.75 - 0.3 0.7 1.4 97.2 0.4 19.2

AB-6 to 13 inches, pale brown (IOYR 6/ 3, dry) clay loam; soils rate as fair to fairly good arable soils on un- moderate, fine subangular blocky; slightly hard; clear, dulating landscapes and are suitable for growing hays, wavy boundary; 2 to 8 inches thick; pH 5.9. coarse grains, and legumes. Bt,--13 to 30 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/4, dry) clay loam; weak, medium prismatic breaking to moderate, Caroline Series (Ca) ( - acres) fine to medium subangular blocky; hard; graduai, irregular boundary; 8 to 24 inches thick; pH 5.8. Caroline soils are well to moderately well drained, medium textured Bisequa Gray Wooded soils develop- Bt,30 to 44 inches, dark yellowish brown (IOYR 4/4, moist) clay loam; moderate, medium prismatic break- ed on stone-free alluvial-lacustrine material. The al- ing to strong, medium subangular blocky; firm; clear, luvial-lacustrine material is relatively thin ,with glacial wavy boundary; 0 to 20 inches thick; pH 5.6. till often occurring at 3 to 4 feet below the surface. BC-44 to 59 inches, dark yellowish brown (IOYR 4/4, These soils occur on undulating topography in the moist) loam to clay loam; amorphous; friable; abrupt, southwestern portion of the map area in the vicinity wavy boundary; 5 to 20 inches thick; pH 6.0. of Rat Creek. Native ‘tree caver consists of aspen Ck-at 59 inches, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4, moist) clay loam; poplar, lodgepole pine, white and black spruce, and amorphous; friable; slightly to moderately stony till; alder. weakly calcareous; pH 7.2. In their native state a Pdozol-like development (Ae and Bf horizon sequence) cari be readily recognized Associated Soi!s in the Gray Wooded Ae horizon. This development is Breton soils generally occur alone or in associa- characteristic of Bisequa Gray Wooded soi1 profiles. tion with the Modeste or Maywood series. However, in the survey area, the Bf horizon often has Use insufficient oxalate-extractable iron plus aluminum Breton soils have low natural fertility, but respond to meet the criteria for a Bf horizon. to good cultural practices. Their productivity cari be Caroline soils are characterized by a light gray materially increased by the addition of organic matter Ae, horizon, a brown Bf or Brj horizon which ranges and the application of minera1 fertilizers. The inclusion in thickness from 1 to 3 inches, and a light yellowish of legumes in the trop rotation is essential. The brown Ae, horizon. The Bt horizon is brown in color legumes add nitrogen as well as fibre. Organic mat- and considerably fïner in texture than the overlying ter helps to reduce water and wind erosion. Breton horizons. Lime carbonate usually occurs in the glacial

TABLE 13-Analyses of a Breton Soi1 Profile (SW 31-50-7-W5th)

% Particle Size Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC HO~. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+AI H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

- - - - _ _ L-H 2-O ------1.9 98.1 - 97.9 Ae O-6 26 62 12 6 6.3 0.06 0.73 12.2 - - 22.1 1.0 5.3 66.3 5.3 10.5 AB 6-13 34 37 29 19 5.9 0.04 0.31 10.3 - - 7.6 9.5 4.6 75.1 3.2 18.4 % 13-30 32 35 33 22 5.8 0.04 0.46 11.5 - - 7.5 - 3.8 79.6 9.1 21.1 Bt2 30-44 31 36 33 21 5.6 0.03 0.28 9.3 - - 8.0 0.5 3.0 76.4 12.1 21.3 BC 44-59 35 38 27 18 6.0 - - - - 6.4 1.1 2.7 81.7 8.1 20.0 Ck at 59 32 40 28 15 7.2 - 3.06 - - 0.4 1.5 98.1 - 18.3

30 REPORT S-71-28 till IIC horizon. A representative soi1 profile of the of the survey area. Clouston soils are generally Caroline series is described as follows: found on undulating topography. The native tree caver L-H-I to 0 inches, deciduous leaf and grass litter; pH 6.0. is mainly aspen poplar except in the vicinity of Rat Ae,-0 to 2 inches, dark yellowish brown (IOYR 4/4, moist) Creek where lodgepole pine is the dominant tree silt loam; strong, ‘medium platy; very friable; abrupt, species. smooth boundary; 1 to 3 inches thick; pH 5.8. Clouston soils have a11 the major horizons of the Bf-2 to 4 inches, brown (7.5YR 5/4, moist) silt loam; Gray Wooded soils (L-H, Ae, Bt and C horizons) moderate, medium platy; very friable; clear, wavy but the solum usually is relatively shallow varying boundary; 1 to 3 inches thick; pH 6.0. from 10 to 25 inches in thickness. The Ae horizon Aez-4 to 9 inches, light brown (IOYR 6/4, moist) silt may or may not contain stones depending upon loam; moderate, medium platy; very friable; abrupt, whether or not a sandy overlay is present. A firm smooth boundary; 3 to 7 inches thick; pH 5.3. Bt horizon of 5 to 10 inches in thickness, in which Bt-9 to 21 inches, brown (10YR 5/3, moist) silty clay loam; the fine textured material clings to the stones and strong, fine blocky; friable to firm; gradual, wavy rootlets, is generally found in the gravelly material. boundary; 8 to 18 inches thick; pH 5.1. The C horizon may be weakly to moderately calcareous BC-21 to 33 inches, dark brown (IOYR 413, moist) silty with lime carbonate being found on the undersides of clay loam; amorphous with some stratification, friable the stones. The following is a description of a repre- to firm; abrupt, smooth boundary; 8 to 18 inches thick; sentative Clouston soi1 profile: occasional stone; pH 5.2. IICk-at 33 inches, dark brown (IOYR 4/ 3, moist) loam to F-l to 0 inches, relatively undecomposed pine needles. sandy loam; amorphous; firm; very stony till; moderate- Ae-0 to 7 inches, light gray (IOYR 7/2, dry) gravelly ly calcareous; pH 7.5. sandy loam; moderate, medium platy; soft; abrupt, Associated Soils smooth boundary; 3 to 9 inches thick; pH 5.8. Caroline soils are not dominant in any of the Bt-7 to 13 inches, dark brown (IOYR 4/3, dry) gravelly mapping units outlined. However, they are found as- loam, with fine textured material clinging to stones sociated with Tolman, Hubalta, O’Chiese, Codner, and and rootlets; weak to moderate, fine subangular blocky; Kenzie soils. hard; clear, wavy boundary; 3 to 12 inches thick; pH 6.2. Use Ck-at 13 inches, dark yellowish brown (IOYR 4/3, moist) In the surveyed area, Caroline soils are not culti- pale brown (IOYR 6/3, dry) gravelly loamy Sand; vated and are unsuitable for most cultivated crops. amorphous; loose; gravelly outwash; weakly effer- This is due, in part, to the adverse climatic condi- vescent; pH 7.4. tions associated with the area in which they occur. These soils are best suited to improved pasture or tree Associated Soils production. Clouston soils are found in association with Codesa Clouston Series (Cl) (600 acres) and Horburg soils. Soils of the Clouston series consist of rapidly drained Orthic Gray Wooded soils developed on gra- Use velly outwash deposits. Commonly there is a sandy Clouston soils are not cultivated in the map area. surface mantle, which ranges in thickness from 5 to They are rated as suitable only for pasture or wood- 12 inches over the coarser gravelly material. These land. These soils are low in organic matter, available soils occur primarily in the southwestern portion of plant nutrients, and have a low moisture-holding the map area in the vicinity of Rat Creek as well as capacity. Some of the thicker grave1 deposits are used in small isolated pockets throughout the renîainder as a source of grave1 for road construction.

TABLE 14-Analyses of a Caroline Soi1 Profile (SE 29-49-13-W5th)

% Particle Size Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC HO~. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+Al H Na K Ca Mg me/IOOg

L-H 1-o - - - - 6.0 - - - - - 23.3 - 3.9 58.0 14.8 51.1 Ael o-2 15 77 8 3 5.8 0.08 0.93 12 - 0.42 32.1 0.2 6.4 41.5 19.8 9.6 Bf 2-4 15 76 9 2 6.0 0.08 0.63 8 - 1.39 50.0 0.2 5.6 19.8 24.4 11.1 Aea 4-9 17 66 17 4 5.3 0.03 0.22 7 - 0.32 15.8 0.9 1.5 57.3 24.5 10.0 Bt 9-21 15 53 32 17 5.1 0.03 0.43 14 - 0.52 11.0 0.3 1.8 62.8 24.1 20.4 BC 21-33 17 54 29 15 5,2- _ _ - - 10.2 0.2 1.6 61.8 26.2 20.2 11Ck at 33 51 31 18 9 7.5 - - - 7.30 - 1.1 0.2 1.0 73.2 24.5 13.8

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE AREA 31 L-H-I to 0 inches, deciduous leaf litter and grasses; pH 6.9. Ahej-0 to 1 inches, very dark grayish brown (IOYR 312, moist) sandy loam; weak, fine platy; loose; abrupt, smooth boundary; 0 to 2 inches thick; pH 6.9. Aej-1 to 6 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/4, moist) sandy loam; weak, fine platy; loose; clear, wavy boundary; 4 to 8 inches thick; pH 6.5. Btj-6 to 11 inches, dark brown (10YR 3/3, moist) sandy loam; single grain; loose; clear, wavy boundary; 4 to 12 inches thick; pH 5.5. BC-II to 17 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/4, moist) loamy Sand; single grain; loose; abrupt, smooth boundary; 0 to 20 inches thick; stone-free; pH 5.9. IIBC-17 to 41 inches, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4, moist) clay loam; moderate to strong, medium subangular blocky; fïrm; clear, wavy boundary; this horizon may be absent; pH 5.3. UC-41 to 56 inches, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4, moist) clay loam; amorphous; firm; clear, smooth boundary; pH 6.1. IICk-56 to 60 inches, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4, moist) clay loam; amorphous; friable; moderately stony till; weakly Figure 16-A Codesa soi1 profilewith EOIM alluvial-aeolinn material overlying !ill. calcareous; pH 7.4. Associated Soils Codesa Complex (CO) (15,560 acres) Codesa soils are found in association with Hu- balta, Cooking Lake, Nicot, Clouston, and Eagles- Codesa soils consist of well to moderately well ham soils. drained Orthic Gray Wooded and Degraded Eutric Brunisolic soils developed on moderately coarse tex- Use tured, relatively shallow, alluvial-aeolian material that Codesa soils of the map area are not extensive- overlies till or lacustrine deposits. The depth of this ly cultivated. These soils, where associated ‘with overlying material is less than 30 inches and its com- finer textured soils, are suitable for cultivated crops. position quite variable. A stony phase has been re- However, since these soils are low in natural ferti- cognized and is shown on the accompanying soi1 map. lity and are droughty because of a low water-hold- Significant areas of Codesa soils are found east ing capacity, good management practices should be of the aeolian sand deposit, in the vicinity of Sunset followed with cropping. In areas where Codesa soils Lake. The topography in these areas is gently undu- are associated with very coarse textured soils, such lating to moderately rolling. The native vegetation generally consists of aspen poplar, white spruce, some lodgepole pine, and a fairly dense undergrowth of shrubs. Surface drainage is rapid to good, but in- ternal drainage may be impeded by the finer textured lacustrine or till deposits beneath. Codesa soils have a thin L-H horizon, a relatively thick Ae horizon and a very weakly expressed Bt or Bm horizon. In many Codesa soils there is insufficient clay movement from the A horizon to the B horizon to meet the requirements of the Gray Wooded Great Group. Therefore, these soils have been classified in this report as an Orthic Gray Wooded and Degarded Eutric Brunisol complex. Because of their origin the Codesa soils vary fairly widely in texture, sandy loam being most common. No further separations were made on the basis of differences in the underlying materials but the associated series indicated on the map provide a guide to the characteristics of the underlying material. The following is a description of a Degraded Eutric Brunisol soi1 profile common to the Codesa complex formed on relatively uniform sandy material, underlain by moderate- Figure 17-Codncr soi1 profile. A Humic Cleysol developed on alluvisl-heuseine ly fine textured till: mstei+sL

32 REPORT S-71-28 TABLE 15-Analyses of a Codesa Soi1 Profile (SE 12-55-12-W5th)

% Particle Size Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC Hor. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+Al H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

L-H 1-0 - - - - 6.9 - - - - - _ 0.1 3.4 71.4 25.1 67.2 Ahej o-1 58 33 9 4 6.9 0.34 5.06 15 - - 0.1 0.1 2.1 76.8 20.9 29.3 Aej l-6 56 36 8 4 6.5 0.07 0.69 10 - - 1.0 0.2 2.5 78.3 18.0 9.1 Btj 6-11 63 27 10 4 5.5 0.08 0.77 10 - 0.53 38.3 1.0 3.0 27.3 30.4 10.3 BC II-17 79 16 5 2 5.9 - - - - 0.17 16.1 0.5 2.4 57.5 23.5 5.4 IIBC 17-41 30 35 35 21 5.3 - - - - 6.9 0.8 1.1 63.8 27.4 25.0 IlC 41-56 29 34 37 21 6.1 - - _ _ _ 4.0 0.4 1.2 74.5 19.9 24.2 IICk 56-60 29 36 35 16 7.4 - - - 4.56 - - 0.5 0.7 84.1 14.7 22.8 as Nicot or Heart soils, improved pasture or forage Bg-6 to 15 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/4, moist) production should be the main agricultural use. The sandy loam, with prominent, yellowish brown (IOYR gravelly and stony phases of the Codesa soils are 5/6, moist) mottles; single grain; very friable; gradual, generally rated as non-arable land and should be uti- irregular boundary; 5 to 15 inches thick; pH 7.0. lized for pasture or woodland. BCg-15 to 28 inches, dark brown (IOYR 4/3, moist) loam, with distinct, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/6, moist) mottles; Codner Series (Cn) (1,080 acres) stratified, friable; gradual, irregular boundary; 0 to 20 The Codner series consists of poorly drained inches thick; pH 6.9. Orthic Humic Cleysols developed on weakly cal- Cg-at 28 inches, dark brown (IOYR 4/3, moist) silty clay careous alluvial-lacustrine material. The texture ranges loam, with distinct, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/6, moist) mottles; stratifïed; friable; stone-free; weakly cal- from loam to silty clay loam. These soils occur in the careous; pH 6.9. Rat Creek vicinity and in small scattered areas throughout the western and southern portions of the map area. They occupy level to depressional positions in Associuted Soils the landscape. Their surface drainage is slow and Codner soils generally occur with the Organic interna1 drainage is impeded because of a high water soils, Kenzie and Eaglesham, as well as the minera1 table. Native vegetation is normally willow, dwarf soils, Tolman, Nicot, Caroline, and Eta. birch, black spruce, balsam poplar, slough grasses, sedges, horsetail, and mosses. Codner soils may have up to 6 inches of peat on Use the surface. The underlying Ah horizon, usually very Undrained Codner soils are too wet for grain pro- difficult to observe in the moist condition, is very dark duction. Slow surface and interna1 soi1 drainage, sus- grayish brown in color. The Bg horizon is mottled ceptibility to flooding and poor tilth are the principal and grades gradually into a stratified to single management problems. If adequate drainage is esta- grained mottled Cg horizon. The following is a des- blished these soils cari be moderately productive, and cription of a typical Codner soi1 profile: with the inclusion of legumes in the cropping system L-H-6 to 0 inches, well decomposed grass or sedge peat; further beneficial effects on soi1 tilth and fertility cari pH 6.4. be attained. Although Codner soils are not extensive- Ah-O to 6 inches, very dark grayish brown (IOYR 3/2, ly cultivated in the map area, considerable success moist) loam; strong, fine granular; very friable; abrupt, has been experienced in the production of forage smooth boundary; 3 to 10 inches thick; pH 6.8. crops in the adjacent area to the east.

TABLE 16-Analyses of a Codner Soi1 Profile (NE 33-55-12-W5th)

% Particle Size Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC Hor.. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv.. Fe +AI H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

L-H 6-0 - - _ _ 6.4 _ - _ - - 16.3 0.5 1.2 70.2 11.8 36.8 Ah O-6 42 47 II 4 6.8 0.31 2.82 9 - - 14.0 2.5 0.8 68.4 14.3 15.0 Bg 6-15 69 19 12 8 7.0 0.04 0.50 13 - - 3.3 0.6 1.4 71.5 23.2 12.4 BCtz 15-28 34 46 20 10 6.9 - - - - - 3.1 0.7 1.8 70.7 23.7 16.2 cg at 28 6 62 32 16 6.9 - - - - - 2.5 0.3 1.7 75.0 20.5 20.9

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE AREA 33 Cook@ Lake Series (Ck) (50,200 acres) weak prismatic breaking to strong, medium blocky; firm to very firm; abrupt, wavy boundary; 0 to 20 Cooking Lake soils are moderately well drained inches thick; pH 4.8. Orthic Gray Wooded soils developed on weakly to BC-28 to 46 inches, dark yellowish brown (IOYR 4/4, moderately calcareous Continental till derived main- moist) loam, with frequent iron stains and iron con- ly from Edmonton Formation bedrock. The profile is cretions; amorphous; firm; abrupt, irregular boundary; slightly to moderately stony with iron concretions and 10 to 25 inches thick; pH 5.7. iron staining common in the parent material. Cook- Cca-46 to 50 inches, brown (IOYR 5/3, moist) silt loam to ing Lake soils are found in the northeastern portion loam; amorphous; firm; abrupt, wavy boundary; 0 to 7 of the survey area where the topography varies from inches thick; moderately calcareous; pH 7.5. undulating to moderately rolling. The native vegeta- Ck-at 50 inches, brown (IOYR 4/3, moist) loaln, with fre- tion consists mainly of aspen poplar, with occasional quent iron stains and iron concretions; amorphous, fri- white spruce. able; slightly to moderately stony till; moderately cal- The Cooking Lake soils are charactêrized by careous; pH 7.5. strongly developed Orthic Gray Wooded features. In Associated Soils virgin sites a thin leaf and herb mat overlies a 2 to 7 inch Ae horizon that is medium acid in reaction. These soils are associated with sedge and sphag- An Ah horizon up to 2 inches in thickness may occur num peats and with Codesa, Onoway, and Uncas soils. but is often absent. Frequently, a strongly acid AB Use horizon occurs below the Ae horizon. The Bt hori- Many of the Cooking Lake soils are presently zon is well developed and is very strongly acid in under cultivation in the map area. These soils are rated reaction, it is usually separated from the calcareous as fair to fairly good arable soils on undulating land- Ck horizon by a BC horizon. The Cooking Lake soils scapes. They respond to good management practices are browner in color than t.he Breton soils. A hard such as the application of minera1 fertilizers and the somewhat prismatic Bt horizon also aids in differenti- use of legumes in the trop rotation. However, these ating Cooking Lake soils from Breton and Hubalta soils should be used primarily for the production of soils. A representative soi1 profile of the Cooking hays, coarse grains and legumes. Lake series is described as follows: Culp Series (CU) (1,400 acres) L-H-3 to 0 inches, deciduous leaf litter and grasses, partially decomposed in lower portion; pH 6.7. Culp soils are well drained Orthic Gray Wooded Ahe-0 to 1 inches, dark brown (IOYR 4/3, moist) loam; soils developed on moderately coalse textured alluvial- strong, fine platy; very friable; abrupt, smooth boun- aeolian material. In the map area these soils are of dary; 0 to 2 inches thick; pH 6.2. minor occurrence and are found primarily adjacent Ae-1 to 5 inches, pale brown (IOYR 6/3, moist) loam; to the McLeod River where the topography is undu- strong, fine platy; very friable; abrupt, smooth boun- lating to gently sloping. Native vegetation is domi- dary; 2 to 7 inches thick; pH 6.0. nantly aspen poplar, shrubs, and coarse grasses. AB-5 to 8 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/4, moist) However, lodgepole pine and white spruce occasional- loam; moderate to weak, fine subangular blocky; friable; ly occur with the aspen poplar. Culp soils are usually clear, wavy boundary; 0 to 4 inches thick; pH 5.3. stone-free. Bt,-8 to 15 inches, brown (IOYR 5/3, moist) sandy clay The Culp soi1 profile possesses a thin organic (L- loam; strong, fine to medium blocky; firm; gradual, H) horizon and may have a thin organo-minera1 wavy boundary; 5 to 20 inches thick; pH 5.0. (Ah or Ahe) horizon. These horizons overlie a leach- Bt,-15 to 28 inches, brown (IOYR 5/ 3, moist) clay loam; ed (Ae) horizon. Underlying the Ae horizon there is

TABLE 17-Analyses of a Cooking Lake Soi1 Profile (NE 36-57-S-W5th)

% Parti& Size Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC HO~. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+AI H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

L-H 3-O - - - - 6.7 - - 10.1 - 3.4 80.9 5.6 84.2 Ahe O-l 45 46 9 2 6.2 0.10 1.35 13.5 - - 26.3 0.5 3.0 59.9 10.3 11.8 Ae l-5 49 43 8 2 6.0 0.03 0.18 6.0 - - 21.0 0.8 3.5 51.7 23.0 4.6 AB 5-S 41 33 26 13 5.3 0.04 0.54 13.5 - 11.6 0.2 3.6 69.4 15.2 15.4 Btl 8-15 51 26 23 13 5.0 0.03 0.36 12.0 - 12.8 0.3 2.9 65.6 18.4 13.1 J% 15-28 36 29 35 21 4.8 0.02 0.48 24.0 - - 13.3 0.6 2.7 63.4 20.0 22.5 BC 28-46 50 31 19 14 5.7 - - - - - 10.6 0.4 2.9 66.4 19.7 13.3 CC23 46-50 27 49 24 14 7.5 - - - 10.38 - - 0.4 1.2 98.4 - 11.9 Ck at 50 46 29 22 11 1.5 - - - 6.71 ------10.5

REPORT S-71-28 Ck-at 39 inches, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4, moist) loamy sand to Sand; single grain; loose; stone-free; weakly calcareous; pH 7.1. Associated Soils Culp soils are associated with Tolman, Codner, and Kenzie soils. Use Culp soils are not cultivated to any extent in the map area. In other areas it has been shown that these soils Will respond favorably to mixed farming practices that include the use of commercial fertilizers. Culp soils are generally low in organic matter and somewhat droughty. The addition of barnyard and green manure Will improve the fertility and raise the moisture holding capacity. These soils are vulner- able to wind and water erosion and areas which have variable steeply sloping topography should be left in permanent pasture. Culp soils on undulating topography are rated as fair arable soils. Dekalta Series (L)k) (640 acres) Dekalta soils are moderately well drained, Dark Figure 18-Cooking Lake soi1 profile howing s thick distinct Ae horizon. This sail is developed on Iill. Gray Wooded soils developed on Continental till derived mainly from Paskapoo Formation bedrock. Stones a weakly developed, finer textured Bt horizon which are found throughout the profile. A small acreage of differentiates this soi1 from other coarse textured soils. these soils is found in the southeastern portion of The Bt horizon has a lower permeability and higher the map area. The topography is complex, varying water-holding capacity than the horizons above and from gently undulating to gently rolling. A weakly below and is important in regulating the moisture to moderately calcareous lime carbonate content is regime of this soil. The following is a description of found at depths of 40 to 50 inches from the surface. a typical Culp soi1 profile: The native vegetation consists mainly of aspen ‘poplar with occasional white spruce and lodgepole pine. L-H-2 to 0 inches, deciduous leaf litter and grasses; pH 6.4. Dekalta soils usually have a distinct organic layer Ae,-0 to 2 inches, brown (IOYR 5/3, moist) loamy Sand; underlain by a distinct thick organo-minera1 (Ah or weak, fine platy; loose; clear, wavy boundary; 2 to 12 Ahe) horizon. The presence of an Ah and/or Ahe inches thick; pH 6.3. horizon distinguishes this soi1 from its Orthic Gray Ae,-2 to 9 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/4, moist) Wooded (Hubalta) counterpart. The following is a loamy Sand; moderate, fine platy; loose; abrupt, smooth boundary; 0 to 10 inches thick; pH 6.2. description of a Dekalta soil profile: Bt-9 to 15 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/8, moist) L-H-3 to 0 inches, deciduous leaf litter and grasses; pH 6.3. sandy clay loam; weak, medium subangular blocky Ah-O to 3 inches, dark brown (IOYR 4/3, moist) sih loam breaking to single grain; friable; abrupt, smooth boun- to loam; weak, medium granular; loose; clear, wavy dary; 3 to 12 inches thick; pH 6.0. boundary; 2 to 5 inches thick; pH 6.1. BC-15 to 39 inches, grayish brown (2SY 5/2, moist) loamy Ae-3 to 7 inches, pale brown (10YR 6/3, moist) silt loam; Sand; single grain; loose; abrupt, smooth boundary; 0 strong, fine platy; friable; abrupt, smooth boundary; 2 to 40 inches thick; pH 6.4. to 7 inches thick; pH 5.5.

TABLE 16Analyses of a Culp Soi1 Profile (SW 29.56-13-W%

% Particle Size Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC Hor. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+Al H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

L-H 2-O - -. - 6.4 - - - - - 9.6 0.6 3.5 74.6 11.7 Ael 35d O-2 81 Z 7 1 6.3 0.04 0.58 14 - - 12.6 0.1 4.2 67.6 15.5 6.4 Aei 2-9 82 12. 6 1 6.2 0.04 0.29 1 - - 13.7 0.3 3.4 70.6 12.0 5.6 Bt 9-15 71 6 23 14 6.0 0.03 0.41 14 - - 8.8 0.3 3.4 67.1 20.4 12.9 BC 15-39 85 5 10 4 6.4 - - _ - - 12.8 1.1 4.3 62.9 18.9 5.3 Ck at39 88 5 7 3 7.1 - - - 2.83 - - 0.3 1.6 91.1 7.0 4.8

SOIL SURVEYOF THE CHIP LAKE AREA 35 TABLE 19-Analyses of a Dekalta Soi1 Profile (NW 36-49~S-W5th)

% Particle Size Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC Hor. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C PH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+Al H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

L-H 34 - - _ 6.3 - - - - - 16.4 0.6 3.6 68.6 10.8 86.3 Ah o-3 29 52 19 12 6.1 0.23 3.58 15.0 - - 10.6 1.6 3.7 75.5 8.6 19.8 Ae 3-7 16 65 19 7 5.5 0.04 0.48 12.0 - - 17.1 - 4.8 46.7 31.4 10.4 AB T-10 24 47 29 17 5.4 0.04 0.38 9.5 - - 11.0 0.6 3.5 68.0 16.9 20.0 Bt 10-26 31 31 38 28 5.8 0.04 0.40 10.0 - 5.3 0.9 2.6 71.9 19.3 26.1 BC 26-46 34 33 33 23 6.8 - - - - - 0.4 0.8 2.0 81.9 14.9 21.2 Ck at 46 35 32 33 22 7.2 - - - 5.52 - - 0.7 1.3 92.4 5.6 19.3

AB-7 to 10 inches, brown (IOYR 5/3, moist) loam; moderate, profile developed on sedge peat, which is common fine subangular blocky; friable; clear, wavy boundary; to the Eaglesham complex: 1 to 5 inches thick; pH 5.4. Bt-10 to 26 inches, very dark grayish brown (IOYR 3/2, Om-0 to 8 inches, black (IOYR 2/1, moist) about 45 per moist) clay loam; weak, coarse prismatic, breaking to cent fiber; compacted to felt-like; fine to very fine, non- strong, medium to coarse blocky; fïrm; clear, wavy Woody, mesic sedge peat; abrupt, smooth boundary; boundary; 10 to 25 inches thick; pH 5.8. pH 6.6. Of-8 to 18 inches, very dark grayish brown (IOYR 3/2, BC-26 to 46 inches, dark grayish brown (IOYR 4/2, moist) moist) about 70 per cent fiber; layered or matted; clay loam; weak, medium prismatic breaking to amor- medium, phous; firm; clear, wavy boundary; 5 to 30 inches thick; non-Woody,- partially decomposed, fïbrous sedge peat; abrupt, smooth boundary; pH 6.6. pH 6.8. Om-18 to 25 inches, very dark brown (10YR 2/2, moist) Ck-at 46 inches, dark grayish brown (IOYR 4/2, moist) about 50 per cent fiber; layered or matted, fine, non- clay loam; amorphous; fïrm; slighfly to moderately Woody, mesic sedge material; abrupt, smooth boundary; stony till; moderately calcareous; pH 7.2. pH 6.4. Associated Soils Of-25 to 28 inches, light yellowish brown (IOYR 614, moist) These soils are associated with Hubalta and Ono- about 80 per cent fiber; layered or matted; coarse, way soils. non-Woody, fibric sedge peat; abrupt, smooth boundary; pH 6.2. Use Om-28 to 36 inches, dark brown (7.5Y 3/2, moist) about 55 Dekalta soils are largely under cultivation and per cent fiber; layered or matted; medium, non-Woody, cropped mainly to grains. They are rated as fairly dominantly sedge material; pH 6.8. good to good arable soils on undulating topography. Of-36 to 52 inches, brown to dark brown (IOYR 4/3, moist) The introduction of grasses and legumes into the about 10 per cent fiber; compact or felt-like; medium, trop rotation, and application of fertilizers appear to non-Woody, fibric sedge peat; pH 6.3. be the basic requirements for the successful man- Use agement of these soils. Eaglesham soils are not cultivated within the map area. Good use cari be made of these soi1 areas Eaglesham Complex (Eg) (5,280 acres) for pasture purposes and cutting of grasses for hay. Eaglesham soils are very poorly drained Organic soils characterized by more than 12 inches of con- solidated or more than 18 inches of unconsolidated sedge peat. The sedge peat varies widely with respect to stage of decomposition an@ depth. Eaglesham soils are the dominant soils in less than 1 per cent of the map area, however they occur in association with nearly a11 other soils of the area. The topography is mainly depressional. The native vegetation includes sedges and coarse grasses with occasional bluffs of willow and dwarf birch. The Eaglesham soi1 profile is separated into horizons on the basis of color and degree of decomposition of the peat material. The peat in this complex seldom exceeds 40 inches in depth in this area. The following is a description of a Fibric Mesisol Figura 19-An arca of Fagksham SOUSdcveloped on scalp put.

36 REPORT S-71-28 After drainage, some areas have successfully produced Cd-25 to 30 inches, dark yellowish brown (10YR 414, grain crops; however, since these SO& are cold, con- moist) loam, with faint, yellowish brown (IOYR 518, siderable risk may be encountered in maturing a moist) mottles; amorphous and stratified; friable; ab- trop. rupt, smooth boundary; stone-free; pH 6.4. IICkgi-at 30 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/6, moist) Eta Series (Ea) (1,360 acrea) clay loam, with distinct, gray (5Y 5/ 1, moist) mottles; Soils of the Eta series consist of imperfectly drain- amorphous; friable to firm; slightly to moderately stony ed Gleyed Orthic Gray Wooded soils developed on tilt weakly calcareous; pH 7.3. stratified, medium to moderately fine textured al- Associated Soils luvial-lacustrine material. The Upper portion of the Eta soils are found in association with Rat, Tol- profile is generally stone-free. Moderately stony man, Bremay, and Codner soils. glacial till is usually found at 3 to 4 feet from the surface and a gravelly or sandy layer often separates Use the till from the overlying fine grained sediments. HI1 Eta soils in the map area are in their native This soi1 type occurs in narrow strips along the mus- state. They are rated as suitable only for pasture kegs in the vicinity of Eta Lake. The topography is and woodland largely because of adverse climatic gently undulating to undulating, with slopes rarely conditions. Some of the problems associated with exceeding j to 4 per cent. These soils have a fairly farming these soils would be low organic matter con- good infiltration rate, but interna1 drainage is poor tent, low available plant nutrients, and imperfect and may be impeded by a high water table. The interna1 drainage. Since these soils are found on re- native tree caver consists dominantly of aspen poplar, latively flat topography, water erosion is not a hazard, balsam poplar, white spruce and lodgepole pine with but wind erosion might be a danger if these soils occasional black spruce. were cultivated. The Eta soils are characterized by a leaf and/or moss mat overlying a 2 to 8 inch mottled leached Evansburg Series (Eb) (11,320 acres) Aegj horizon. The Btgj horizon has slight clay accumu- Evansburg soils consist of imperfectly drained lation. The presence of fïner textured strata in the Gleycd Orthic Gray Wooded soils developed on lower portion of the solum is characteristic of these weakly to moderately calcareous stratified lacustrine soils. The stratified material may range in texture material. These soils are stone-free and are found on from a sandy loam to silty clay loam with loam being undulating topography in the southeastern portion the most common. A representative soi1 profile of the of the map area, mainly on the west side of the Eta series is described as follows: Pembina River. Runoff and interna1 drainage are L-H-2 to 0 mches, deciduous leaf litter and mosses; pH 4.8. moderately slow. The native vegetation consists of Aegj-0 to 3 inches, brown (IOYR 5/3, moist) silt loam to aspen poplar, balsam poplar, willow, spruce, occa- loam, with prominent, brownish yellow (IOYR 6/6, sional black spruce, and native coarse grasses. moist) mottles; moderate, medium platy; very friable; Evansburg soi1 profiles have an organic (L-H) abrupt, smooth boundary; 2 to 8 inches thick; pH 5.2. horizon and may have a thin organo-minera1 (Ah) Btgj-3 to 11 inches, dark brown (IOYR 4/3, moist) loam, horizon which overlies a light yellowish brown Aegi with distinct, brownish yellow (10YR 6/6, moist) horizon. Underlying this horizon is a dark grayish mottles; moderate, fine subangular blocky and strati- brown Btgj horizon which is very fine textured and fied; friable; clear, wavy boundary; 5 to 15 inches strongly acid. The following is a description of a thick; pH 5.0. representative Evansburg soi1 profile: BCgj-11 to 25 inches, dark brown (10YR 413, moist) sandy loam, with faint, brownish yellow (10YR 6/6, moist) L-H-3 to 0 inches, deciduous leaf litter and grasses, mottles; amorphous and stratified; very friable; graduai, partially decomposed in lower portion; pH 5.7. irregular boundary; 5 to 20 inches thick; pH 5.7. Ah-O to 1 inches, very dark gray (IOYR 3/ 1, moist) silty clay;

TABLE 20-Analyses of an Eta Soil Profile (SW 16.Sl-11-WSth)

% Particle Size Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC H~T. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine Ci pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+Al H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

L-H 24) - _ - - 4.8 - - - - - 5.1.8 0.3 2.1 21.4 17.8 28.4 Aegj o-3 41 48 11 4 5.2 0.03 0.33 Il - - 25.7 0.5 2.0 45.0 26.8 7.7 Btgi 3-11 50 31 19 13 5.0 0.03 0.26 9 - - 12.5 0.6 2.2 58.5 26.2 13.9 BCgi 11-25 71 15 14 11 5.7 - - - - - 8.0 0.5 1.7 60.1 29.7 11.2 Cii 25-30 48 30 22 14 6.4 - - - - - 2.9 0.7 1.6 70.9 23.9 15.6 IICkgi at 30 31 31 38 15 7.3 - - - 5.08 - - 0.4 1.0 81.1 17.5 14.2

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE ARE4 37 strong, medium granular; friable to fïrm; abrupt, smooth boundary; 0 to 2 inches thick, pH 5.6. Aegj-1 to 3 inches, light yellowish brown (IOYR 6/4, moist) silt loam, with prominent, yellowish brown (IOYR 6/4, moist) mottles; strong, medium platy; friable to firm; abrupt, smooth boundary; 2 to 5 inches thick; pH 5.8. Btgj-3 to 15 inches, dark grayish brown (IOYR 4/2, moist) heavy clay, with distinct, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4, moist) mottles; moderate, fine to medium subangular blocky; very firm; gradual, wavy boundary; 8 to 15 inches thick; pH 5.4. BCgi-15 to 28 inches, brown (IOYR 4/3, moist) heavy clay, with faint, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/4, moist) mottles; amorphous and stratified; firm; abrupt, smooth boundary; 5 to 25 inches thick; pH 6.0. Cca-28 to 31 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/4, moist) silty clay; amorphous and stratified; friable; abrupt, Figure 20-Sand dune near Sumet Lake. Hati soik are Pound on lkii malerinl. smooth boundary; 0 to 5 inches thick; strongly calcareous; pH. 7.2. Ckgj-at 31 inches, brown (IOYR 4/3, moist) heavy clay, Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzolic soils developed on aeo- with faint, olive gray (IOYR 5/2, moist) mottles; amor- lian, stone-free very coarse textured material. While phous and stratified; firm; stone-free lacustrine; mo- both Brunisolic and Podzolic profiles have been re- derately calcareous; pH 7.1. cognized, no attempt has been made to make further Associated Soils separations of the soils formed on this material. Heart soils are found in the vicinity of Pccrs and Hatton- Evansburg soils are found associated with the ford on the east side of the McLeod River as well as Raven, Maywood, Wildwood and Bigoray soils. west of Cynthia. The topography is moderately rol- Use ling to undulating. Much of the area appears to con- Evansburg soi1 areas are not extensively cultivated sist of U-shaped or longitudinal dunes, well stabilized in the map area. These soils are low in organic mat- with tree caver. In some areas, Organic soils pre- ter and have a relatively impermeable subsoil. Be- dominate in many of the inter-dune areas. Native cause of a high water table and the very fine texture vegetation consists of lodgepole pine, black spruce, of the material, water penetration is impeded. Local buffaloberry, bunchberry, blueberry, bearberry, and a flooding or water logging is a hazard in seasons of variety of mosses and grasses. above average rainfall. The growing of deep-rooted. In Heart soils a thin organic conifer needle and legumes would tend to improve the permeability of moss mat is present, o.verlying a pale brown leached these soils. Applications of nitrogen-phosphorus com- Ae horizon. The B horizon is yellowish brown but mercial fertilizers would be beneficial. Evansburg generally does not meet the chemical requirements of soils are rated as fair to fairly good arable soils in a Bf horizon. Weakly expressed Bisequa Gray the map area. Wooded soi1 profiles (Ae, Bfj, Ae sequence) have been recognized in the Heart complex but again the oxalate-extractable iron plus aluminum is generally in- Heart Complex (Ht) (18,920 acres) sufficient for a Bf horizon. The following is a des- Heart soils consist predominantly of rapidly cription of a Degraded Eutric Brunisol soi1 profile drained Degraded Eutric Brunisolic soils and some common to the Heart complex in the map aréa:

TABLE 21-Analysesof an EvansburgSoil Profile (SW 1%50~S-WSth)

% Parti& SizeAnalysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract ExchangeableCations CEC HO~. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+AI H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

L-H 3-O --- - 5.7------_ Ah O-l 8 42 50 21 5.6 0.36 4.27 12 - - 14.6 0.3 2.8 65.2 17.1 41.2 Aegj 1-3 14 60 26 8 5.8 0.07 0.87 12 - - 11.3 0.7 2.0 60.5 25.5 15.2 Btgj 3-15 2 28 70 41 5.4 0.05 0.78 16 - - 4.7 0.4 1.6 69.4 23.9 37.2 BCgj 15-28 1 29 70 40 6.0 - - - - - 4.0 0.3 1.5 63.2 31.0 38.5 CCC4 28-31 1 45 54 24 7.2 - - - 18.85 - - 0.3 0.8 79.7 19.2 20.8 Ckgj at31 1 34 65 32 7.1 - - - 5.21 - - 0.3 1.1 81.8 16.8 34.3

38 REPORT S-71-28 L-F- 1 to 0 inches, conifer needles and moss litter. Ae-0 to 7 inches, pale brown (10YR 6/3, dry) loamy Sand; single grain; loose; clear, wavy boundary; 1 to 8 inches thick; pH 6.7. Bm-7 to 23 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/6, dry) loamy Sand; single grain; loose; clear, wavy boundary; 5 to 25 inches thick; pH 5.8. BC-23 to 54 .inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/4, moist) Sand; single grain; loose; abrupt, smooth boundary; 0 to 35 inches thick; pH 6.4. Cca-54 to 63 inches, grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2, moist) Sand, single grain; loose; abrupt, smooth boundary; 0 to 10 inches thick; moderately calcareous; pH 7.9. Ck-at 63 inches, grayish brown (2.5Y 512, moist) Sand; single grain; ,loose; stone-free; moderately calcareous; pH 8.4. Associated Soils Heart soils are associated with the Organic soils, Kenzie and Eaglesham, which are usually interspersed between the dunes. Use Heart soils are not cultivated in this area. They have only limited use as permanent pasture and should be retained for timber growth or as game re- serve areas. Any disturbance of their protective vege- and a dark yellowish brown Bt horizon. The Bt hor- tative caver could result in serious wind erosion. Heart izon is usually found in the lower portion of the over- soils are rated as non-arable. lay material and in the Upper portion of the grave1 Horburg Series (Hb) (3,760 acres) layer. The finer textured material tends to cling to the pebbles and to plant rootlets. The gravelly Soils of the Horburg series are rapidly to well material is moderately calcareous and has very little drained Bisequa Gray Wooded soils developed on fine material associated with it. The following is a relatively stone-free sandy or silty material, with description of a representative Horburg soi1 profile: gravelly outwash occuring at 10 to 24 inches from the surface, The grave1 is generally very fine and L-H-l to 0 inches, conifer needles, moss and grass litter; consists mainly of limestone and quartzite pebbles. pH 4.8. Horburg soils are found only in the southwestern Ae,-O to 1 inches, brown (10YR 513, moist) silt loam; mo- portion of the map area. These areas usually occur derate, fine to medium platy; very friable; clear, smooth on narrow, elongated gently undulating old river ter- boundary; 1 to 3 inches thick; pH 6.3. races. Surface runoff is moderate and interna1 drain- Bf-1 to 3 inches, dark brown (7.5YR 4/4, moist) silt loam; age is rapid. Native vegetation normally consists of moderate, medium platy; very friable; clear, smooth lodgepole pine, bearberry, blueberry, and coarse boundary; 1 to 4 inches thick; pH 5.5. grasses. A%--3 to 6 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/4, moist) silt These soils are characterized by a thin organic loam; strong, medium platy; very friable; clear, smooth (L-H) surface layer, a brown Ae, horizon, a dark boundary; 2 to 6 inches thick; stone-free; pH 5.7. brown Bf horizon, a yellowish brown Ae, horizon, IIBt-6 to 13 inches, dark yellowish brown (IOYR 4/4, moist)

TABLE 22-Analyses of a Heart Soi1 Profile (SW 27-56-13-WSth)

Y0 ParticleSize Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract ExchangeableCations CEC HO~. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. c C/N Equiv. Fe+Al H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

L-F 1-o __------_ ------Ae o-7 85 10 5 1 6.7 0.02 0.18 9 - 0.17 12.0 0.2 2.4 54.7 30.1 4.3 Bm 17-23 85 9 6 4 5.8 0.02 0.19 10 - 0.18 13.7 0.3 1.7 49.5 34.8 7.1 BC 23-54 91 6 3 1 6.4 - - - - 0.11 8.3 0.5 1.3 57.4 32.5 5.7 Cca 54-63 91 7 2 2 7.9 - - - 10.33 ------Ck at 63 90 7 3 3 8.4 - - - 8.73 ------

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE ARFA 39 TABLE 23-Analyses of a Horburg Soi1 Profile (SE 13-50-13-W5th)

% Particle Size Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC Hor. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+Al H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

L-H 1-0 - - - - 4.8- - - - - 53.9 - 2.6 37.3 6.2 58.7 Ael O-I 35 58 7 1 6.3 0.05 1.16 23 0.22 23.0 1.8 1.3 62.2 11.7 7.6 Bf 1-3 35 SQ 15 6 5.5 0.06 1.04 17 - 0.92 32.3 1.2 1.2 43.3 22.0 14.1 A% 3-6 20 74 6 0 5.7 0.02 0.17 9 - 0.24 26.1 1.1 1.0 ‘51.1 20.7 6.8 IlBt 6-13 29 26 45 33 6.4 0.05 1.26 25 - 0.54 2.4 0.4 0.8 65.3 31.1 30.1 IICk at13 - - - - 7.5 - - - 9.34 ------

clay; moderate, fine subangular blocky; firm; abrupt, smooth boundary; 3 to 10 inches thick; gravelly; pH6.4. IlCk-at 13 inches, fine gravel; moderately calcareous; pH 7.5. Associuted Soils Horburg soils are associated with Clouston, O’Chiese, and Sundance soils. Use Horburg soils are not cultivated in the map area. They have limited value for tame hay and pasture. These soils are droughty, and low in organic matter and natural fertility. Trees and lack of desirable forb and grass species severely limit their value for native pasture and hay. Horburg soils are rated as soils suitable only for pasture and woodland in this area. They do, however, provide good sources of grave1 for construction purposes.

Hubalta Series (Hhb) (472,200 acres) Hubalta soils are moderately well drained Orthic Gray Wooded soils developed on moderately fine textured till which was deposited by the Continental Ice Sheet. The till is olive brown in color, slightly to moderately stony, and weakly to moderately calcareous with lime carbonate occuring at a depth of about 40 to 50 inches. The till is generally underlain by coarse textured Paskapoo sandstone, however olive green shales have also been observed in the region. Hubalta soils are generally found at elevations between 2,700 and 3,500 feet above sea level throughout the map area. They have the largest areal ex- PIsure 22-Hubalta roi1 pro5le developcd on till tent of a11 the soils mapped, being the dominant soils in approximately 35 per cent of the area. They are horizon, except in the southwestern portion where found on complex gently undulating to strongly rol- they often have a 1 to 3 inch light gray Ae, horizon ling topography. Native tree caver consists mainly of overlying a 3 to 6 inch yellowish brown Ae, horizon. aspen poplar, in the northern and eastern portion of The double Ae horizon sequence is typical of soils the area and lodgepole pine in the southwestern which are intergrades between the Orthic Gray section of the area. Wooded and Bisequa Gray Wooded soils. These soils Hubalta soils are characterized by strongly deve- have been referred to as ‘Bleached Gray Wooded loped Orthic Gray Wooded features (L-H, Ae, Bt soils. However, for mapping purposes those soils horizon sequence). The Bt horizon is very strongly having an Ae, and Ae, horizons have been grouped to strongly acid and has a firm to very firm con- with the Orthic Gray Wooded soils in this area. The sistericy. The Hubalta soils in most of the map area following is a description of a soi1 profile typical of have a 3 to 8 inch pale brown to yellowish. brown Ae the Hubalta series:

40 REPORT S-71-28 L-H-l to 0 inches, deciduous leaf litter and grasses; well decomposed in lower portion. Ae-0 to 4 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/4, moist) silt loam; strong, medium platy; very friable; abrupt, smooth boundary; 3 to 8 inches thick; pH 6.9. AB-4 to 7 inches, brown (10YR 5/3, moist) clay loam; moderate, fine subangular blocky; friable to firm; gradual, wavy boundary; 1 to 4 inches thick; pH 6.5. Bt-7 to 32 inches, brown to dark brown (10YR 4/ 3, moist) clay loam; strong, medium subangular blocky; firm; clear, wavy boundary; 10 to 30 inches thick; pH 5.1. BC-32 to 49 inches, olive brown (2SY 4/4, moist) clay loam; weak, medium blocky to amorphous; firm; clear, wavy boundary; 5 to 30 inches thick; pH 5.0. Ck-at 49 inches, olive brown (2.5Y 414, moist) clay loam; amorphous; firm; slightly to moderately stony till; weakly calcareous; pH 7.1. Associated Soils Bremay, Onoway, Newbrook, Kenzie, Eaglesham, Codesa, and Modeste are the more prominent soils associated with the Hubalta soils. Use Fiim 23-Judah soil profile showing P distinct Ah horizon nnd P shongly calrareo~ Hubalta soils are not extensively cultivated in this Cep horizon. area. They are low in organic matter and available only a small area north of Mayerthorpe is charac- plant nutrients but Will respond to the application terized by these soils. They are stone-free and are of commercial fertilizer. Climate is a limitation in the found on gently undulating to gently rolling top- southwestern and extreme northwestern portions of ography. The native tree caver is principally aspen the map area. These areas should be used exclusively poplar with occasional white spruce and balsam for pasture and tree production. Hubalta soils are poplar. rated as fair to fairly good arable soils on undulating Judah soils are distinguished from Macola soils topography, poor to fair on gently roliing topography by a browner colored parent material. The solum of and suitable only for pasture and woodland on the Judah soi1 is characterized by a distinct organo- moderately rolling topography. Hubalta soils with minera1 horizon (Ah), a light gray medium to slightly no topographie’ limitations cari be used to advantage acidic Ae horizon, and a strongly developed suban- in trop production in the eastern. portion of the area gular blocky textural Bt horizon. This Bt horizon when recommended management practices are fol- is brown and strongly acidic. Lime carbonate is en- lowed. countered at a depth of 20 to 30 inches. A des- Judah Series (Ju) (1,720 acres) cription of a representative Judah soil profile is given below: Judah soils consist of moderately well drained Dark Gray Wooded soils developed on moderately L-H-2.to 0 inches, deciduous leaf litter and grasses; pH 6.8. calcareous, moderately fine to fine textured lacus- Ah-O to 3 inches, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2, moist) trine deposits. The surface texture varies from silty silty clay loam; moderate, medium granular; very friable; clay loam to silt loam. In the Chip Lake map area abrupt, smooth boundary; 2 to 4 inches thick; pH 6.9.

TABLE 24-Analyses of an Hubalta Soi1 Prqfile (SE 31-53-10-W5th)

% Particle Size Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % CaCO, Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC Hor. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fi: C pH E Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+Al H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

L-H ,a ______------Ae 04 25 64 11 1 6.9 0.04 0.15 4 - - 9.4 0.8 4.1 50.5 35.2 5.8 AB 4-7 28 43 29 17 6.5 0.05 0.70 14 - - 4.8 0.2 2.8 69.0 23.2 14.5 Bt l-32 32 31 37 22 5.1 0.03 0.50 17 - - 9.9 0.7 1.5 63.2 24.7 24.1 BC 32-49 33 31 36 21 5.0 - - - - - 8.1 0.6 1.3 66.3 23.7 23.2 Ck at 49 35 32 33 19 7.1 - - - 5.00 - - 0.3 1.0 80.7 18.0 20.9

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE ARFA 41 TABLE 25-Analyses of a Judah Soi1 Profile (SW 3-5%S-WSth)

% Pa&le Size Analysis % Oxalate % 4th % % % % % % CaCO, Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC HO~. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+Al H Na K Ca Mg me/ 1OOg

L-H 2-O - - - - ,53- - _ - - 8.8 0.1 2.0 89.1 - 61.3 Ah o-3 19 50 31 14 6.9 1.03 16.67 16 - - - 0.1 2.1 96.8 1.0 64.6 Ae 3-7 32 52 16 2 6.3 0.04 0.30 8 - - 15.1 1.1 2.5 56.6 24.7 1.3 AB 7-11 17 42 41 24 5.4 0.06 0.92 15 - - 11.5 0.6 2.0 65.1 20.8 25.2 Bt II-23 13 32 55 33 5.1 0.05 0.79 16 - 11.5 0.4 2.4 72.1 13.6 30.7 Cca 23-26 14 45 41 23 7.8 - - - 25.18 - - _ - _ _ - Ck at 26 23 49 28 20 7.9 - - - 8.29 - - _ - _ _ -

Ae-3 to 7 inches, light gray (IOYR 7/2, dry) silt loam; mo- parable to that of the Judah soil. The following is a derate, medium platy; soft; abrupt, smooth boundary; description of a representative Kathleen soi1 profile: 2 to 5 inches thick; pH 6.3. AB-7 to Il inches, grayish brown (IOYR 5/2, dry) silty clay; Ah-O to 1 inches, very dark grayish brown (IOYR 3/ 2, dry) moderate, fine subangular blocky; hard; gradual, irregu- clay loam; weak, fine granular; soft; abrupt, smooth lar boundary; 1 to 4 inches thick; pH 5.4. boundary; 0 to 1 inches thick; pH 6.2. Bt-11 to 23 inches, brown (IOYR 5/3, dry) clay; weak, me- Ae- 1 to 6 inches, light gray (IOYR 7/2, dry) loam; moderate, dium prismatic, breaking to strong, medium subangular fine to medium platy; soft; abrupt, smooth boundary; blocky; very hard; abrupt, wavy boundary; 5 to 15 inches 3 to 8 inches thick; pH 6.0. thick; pH 5.1. AB-6 to 7 inches, grayish brown (IOYR 5/2, dry) clay; Cca-23 to 26 inches, white (IOYR 8/2, dry) silty clay; single strong, fine subangular blocky; hard; gradual, clear grain to amorphous; slightly hard; abrupt, wavy boun- boundary; 1 to 3 inches thick; pH 4.8. dary; 0 to 4 inches thick; strongly calcareous; pH 7.8. Bt-7 to 17 inches, brown (IOYR 513, dry) clay; strong, Ck-at 26 inches, gray (IOY R 6/ 1, dry) clay loam; amorphous; medium subangular blocky; very hard; gradual, clear slightly hard; stone-free; moderately calcareous lacus- boundary; 5 to 15 inches thick; pH 6.1. trine; pH 7.9. BCk-17 to 25 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/4, dry) heavy clay; amorphous to weak, medium blocky; slightly hard; Associated Soi/s abrupt, smooth boundary; 0 to 10 inches thick; weakly Judah soils occur in association with the Mica, calcareous; pH 7.5. Macola, Raven and Kathleen soils. Ck-at 25 inches, gray (IOYR 6/ 1, dry) silty clay to clay; Use amorphous; slightly hard; stone-free; moderately calcareous lacustrine; pH 7.8. A major portion of the Judah soils are under cultivation, and cropped mainly to grains. These soils Associated Soils are moderately productive and are rated as fairly Kathleen soils are associated with Judah, Macola good to good arable soils. Cultivation on the contour and Kenzie soils. where practical, introduction of grasses and legumes into the trop rotation, and application of commer- Use cial fertilizers appear to be the basic requirements The Kathleen soils of this area are largely under for the successful management of these soils. Manure cultivation. They are utilized for both grain and for- and gras+legume crops plowed into the soi1 Will age production. These soils are somewhat low in greatly improve the tilth as well as help maintain natural fertility and should respond favourably to the organic matter content. These soils may be sus- good management practices which include the use of ceptible to water erosion on steep slopes. commercial fertilizers. Kathleen soils are rates as fairly good arable soils on undulating topography. Kathleen Series (Kt) (1,840 acres) Kathleen soils are moderately well drained, stone- Kawood Series (KW) ( - acres) free Orthic Gray Wooded soils developed on mo- Kawood soils are moderately well to imperfectly derately calcareous fine textured lacustrine material. drained Gray Solonetz soils developed on weathered They occur in the northeastern portion of the map saline bedrock material in areas of groundwater dis- area on gently undulating to gently rolling topo- charge. The topography varies from undulating to graphy. The native tree caver is mixed, consisting of gently rolling. These soils are not the dominant aspen poplar and white spruce. soils in any of the mapping units outlined, but are Kathleen soils have a thin organo-minera1 Ah associated with Wabamun, Cooking Lake, and stony horizon overlying a relatively thick, light gray Ae Codesa soils in a very small area in the northeastern horizon. The remainder of the soi1 profile is com- portion of the map area. Surface stones vary from

42 REPORT S-71-28 Table 26-Analyses of a Kathleen Soil~Profile (NW 2-58-S-WSth)

% Particle Size Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaC03 Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC Hor. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+Al H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

Ah O-I 26 38 36 II 6.2 0.48 9.04 19 - - 9.3 0.1 3.0 53.4 33.6 40.8 Ae l-6 41 40 19 5 6.0 0.07 0.78 II - - 10.5 1.0 1.3 38.7 48.5 10.2 AB 6-7 25 25 50 31 4.8 0.05 0.96 19 - - 14.2 2.4 1.2 32.4 49.8 30.2 Bt 7-17 25 16 59 36 6.1 0.06 0.98 16 - - 3.2 2.1 0.9 42.8 51.0 33.7 BCk 17-25 5 28 67 39 7.5 - - - 4.45 ------Ck at 25 15 35 50 26 7.8 - - - 14.22 - _ _ _ _ - - very few to many. Stony areas often occur where the Use fine material from the original till caver has been Kawood soils are low in organic matter and are eroded away. Exposed bedrock cari often be seen characterized by a very hard impermeable Bnt hor- along the road cuts. The native vegetative caver izon. These soils are suited only to pasture and consists of small shrubs and stunted aspen poplar. woodland. Kawood soils may be recognized by a thin dark coloured Ah horizon, a pale brown leached Ae hori- Kenzie Complex (Kz) (330,760 acres) zon, and a very hard organic stained flat topped Bnt Kenzie soils consist of a complex of very poorly horizon. The solum is generally thin with the Csk drained soils developed from moss organic material horizon occuring at approximately 15 to 20 inches varying in depth from 1 to 10 feet. These soils from the surface. The surface texture is generally a occupy approximately 25 per cent of the Chip Lake loam, but the lower subsurface horizons vary some- area, on level to depressional landscapes where sur- what in colour and texture depending upon the face waters accumulate. Quite frequently these soils character of the exposed bedrock. A fairly typical are associated and intermixed with Eaglesham soils. description of a Kawood soi1 profile is as follows: The native vegetation varies with the water regime or water movement pattern. The most common vege- L-H-2 to 0 inches, deciduous leaf litter and grasses; pH 5.8. tative association is ?,tunted black spruce and tama- Ah-O to 1 inches, very dark gray (IOYR 3/ 1, moist) loam to rack forest with sphagnum and feather mosses, silt loam; weak, medium granular; very friable; abrupt, labrador tea, bog cranberry, and bearberry. Another smooth boundary; 0 to 2 inches thick; pH 5.8. vegetative association is partially treed or treeless Ae-1 to 4 inches, pale brown (IOYR 6/3, moist) silt loam; and consists of a mixture of herbaceous plants, sedges, strong, medium platy; very friable; abrupt, smooth boun- grasses, and mosses forming string-like patterns in dary; 2 to 6 inches thick; pH 5.4. muskegs. This latter association appears to occur Bnt-4 to 17 inches, dark yellowish brown (IOYR 4/4, moist) where the depth of peat is thick or where the peat- clay loam, with grayish brown (IOYR 3/2, moist) or- land areas are affected by moving water. Differences ganic stained ped surfaces; strong, medium columnar with flat tops, breaking to strong, medium blocky; very in the features of the soils associated with these firm; clear, wavy boundary; 5 to 15 inches thick; pH 5.1. broad vegetative associations occur but no attempt Csk-at 17 inches, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4, moist) clay loam to was made to further separate soils formed on dom- loam; amorphous; friable to firm; stone-free, weathered inantly moss material. sandstones and shales; moderately saline; weakly to The Kenzie soi1 complex consists of several soil moderately calcareous; pH 7.3. types differentiated on the type and degree of de-

TABLE 27-Analyses of a Kawood Soi1 Profile (NE 22-57-9-W%)

% Particle Size Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCOj Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC Hor. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+Al H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

L-H 2-o - - - - 5.8 _ _ ------Ah O-l 28 56 16 6 5.8 0.41 7.02 17 - - 26.2 1.6 1.7 42.9 21.6 26.2 Ae 14 30 59 Il 2 5.4 0.05 0.50 10 - - 34.8 3.4 2.5 21.8 37.5 6.5 Bnt 4-17 30 35 35 21 5.1 0.04 0.52 13 - - 22.9 13.7 1.4 30.2 31.8 23.1 Csk at 17 35 37 28 16 7.3 0.03 0.79 26 7.82 - - 15.5 1.1 49.0 34.4 20.5

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE AREA 43 Figure U-An area of Kemie soik skowing the native vegetation. These soik are Figure 25-Dminage and cultivntian of Kemk soik for the pest mosr indurtry. developed cm pent mors nnd occur in spproximntely 25 percent of tk map aes. ture and woodland. Those with a thick accumulation composition of the vegetation from which the peat of peat moss generally are excellent reservoirs for was formed. The dominant soi1 type is Mesisol de- surface water. They help control spring flooding and veloped on extremely acid to slightly acid peat. The provide for a steady stream discharge throughout Upper portion of the organic material is generally a the summer. Consequently the larger areas of these mixture of fibrous feather mosses and sphagnum, soils should never be drained. Smaller areas associated while the lower portion consists of compact layers of with cultivated fields cari be used to advantage for the moderately or well decomposed peat derived from production of hay, pasture, and other crops if ade- moss or a mixture of wood and moss. The darkest quate drainage cari be provided. Drainage allows a and most decomposed layer usually occurs imme- more rapid rate of decomposition and greater sub- diately above the minera1 layer. The average thick- sidence and compaction of peat, resulting in a shal- ness of peat in the map area is about 40 inches. lower peat layer and thus better conditions for culti- The following is a description of a Typic Mesisol vation. soi1 profile common to the Kenzie complex: Other problems characteristic of cultivated organic soils are frost and fire hazards. Frozen condi- Of-O to 26 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/6, moist) about tions persist longer in the spring while in the fa11 such 90 per cent fiber; spongy, medium, non-Woody, fibric areas are subject to earlier frosts than are the better sphagnum and feather moss peat; abrupt, smooth boundary; pH 4.3. drained mineral soils. Drained organic soils are subject to serious ground fire. Uncontrolleh burning cari Om-26 to 45 inches, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4, moist) result in complete loss of the organic layer, uneven- about 45 per cent fiber; compacted to felt-like; fine, non-Woody, mesic, slightly discernible sphagnum and ness of land surface, aggravation of drainage prob- feather moss peat; some thin, black (5YR 2/1, moist) lems, and exposure of poorly structured minera1 soils. humic layers; abrupt, smooth boundary; pH 4.8. In the vicinity of Evansburg some Kenzie soi1 Oh-45 to 52 inches, dark reddish brown (5YR 2/2, moist) areas are utilized in the peat moss industry. about 25 per cent fiber, compacted or matted felt-like; amorphous granular, fine, slightly Woody, humic un- Macola Series (Ml) (97,720 acres) discernible mosses;abrupt, smooth boundary; pH 4.7. Soils of the Macola series are moderately well Om-52 to 82 inches, dark brown (7.5YR 312, moist) about drained Dark Gray Wooded soils developed on weak- 35 per cent fiber; layered or matted; fine, slightly Woody, ly calcareous, stone-free, dark colored, very fine tex- mesic, undiscernible to slightly discernible mosses; some tured lacustrine deposits. This material is frequent- thin, dark reddish brown (5YR 2/2, moist) humic layers containing about 25 per cent fiber; pH 5.8. ly underlain by till at depths ranging from 2 to 6 feet. These soils occur in the northeastern section of the Use map area on gently undulating to moderately rolling Kenzie soils in their natural state are of little agri- topography. Interna1 drainage is slow and surface culture value. They are rated as suitable only for pas- runoff may or may not be slow depending upon topo-

44 REPORT S-71-28 graphie position. Native tree caver consists mainly of aspen poplar. The Macola soils are characterized by a fairly thick dark colored Ah horizon underlain by a thin Ae horizon, a very strongly acidic fine textured Bt horizon, and a dark grayish brown very fine textured stratified C horizon. The following is a description of a representative Macola soi1 profile: . Ah-O to 4 inches, black (IOYR 2/1, moist) clay; strong, medium granular; friable; abrupt, smooth boundary; 2 to 6 inches thick; pH 5.4. Ae-4 to 6 inches, brown (IOYR 5/3, moist), light gray (IOYR 7/2, dry) clay loam; strong to moderate, medium platy; friable; abrupt, smooth boundary; 1 to 4 inches thick; pH 5.2. AB-6 to 9 inches, dark brown (IOYR 4/3, moist) clay; moderate, medium subangular blocky; friable; clear, wavy boundary; 0 to 4 inches thick; pH 4.8. Bt-9 to 24 inches, dark brown (IOYR 413, moist) heavy clay; strong, medium subangular blocky to blocky; firm; clear, wavy boundary; 8 to 20 inches thick; pH 4.9. .BC-24 to 35 inches, olive brown (2SY 414, moist) clay; amorphous and stratified; friable; abrupt, smooth boundary; 0 to 20 inches thick; pH 6.6. Cca-35 to 41 inches, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2, moist) clay; amorphous; firm; gradual, irregular boundary; 0 to 8 inches thick; moderately calcareous; pH 7.5. Ae horizon. Ck-at 41 inches, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2, moist) heavy clay; amorphous and stratified; firm; stone-free lacustrine, soi1 fertility and tilth are obtained when legumes are with some limestone concretions; weakly calcareous; included in the trop rotation. Slow interna1 drain- pH 7.6. age and poor tilth, because of fine textures, are the Associared Soils common management problems. Macola soils are Macola soils are generally associated with the rated as fairly good to good arable soils. other fine to very fine textured dark lacustrine soils -Maywood, Raven, and Mica series. They are also found to some extent with the fine textured yel- Maywood Series (Mw) (44,280 acres) lowish Brown lacustrine soils-Judah and Kathleen. Maywood soils are moderately well drained Orthic Where the lacustrine material is relatively shallow, Gray Wooded soils developed on dark colored very Macola soils are found in association with soiis fine textured stratified lacustrine material. They are developed on till. These include the Hubalta, Cook- stone-free and are found on gently undulating to ing Lake, Uncas and Dekalta soils. gently rolling topography, primarily in the southeast- Use ern and eastern portion of the map area. The native Macola soils are extensively cultivated, mainly vegetation consists mainly of aspen poplar, willow, for grain production. However beneficial effects on wild rose, dogwood, and grasses.

TABLE 28-Analyses of a Macola Soü Profile (SW 30-56-9-W5th)

% ParticleSize Analysis Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract ExchangeableCations CEC HO~. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+AI H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

Ah O-4 20 38 42 23 5.4 0.34 3.98 12 - - 27.6 0.3 1.4 53.0 17.7 33.5 Ae 4-6 26 42 32 13 5.2 0.09 0.94 Il - - 18.2 0.3 2.7 55.3 23.5 18.5 AB 6-9 17 26 57 33 4.8 0.08 0.97 11 - - 19.4 0.6 1.3 52.4 26.3 32.4 Bt 9-24 12 17 71 47 4.9 0.05 0.93 18 - - 15.7 1.0 1.3 57.7 24.3 42.3 BC 24-35 19 29 52 31 6.6 _ _ - _ - 2.6 1.1 1.1 68.7 32.5 29.8 Cca 35-41 9 33 58 22 7.5 0.03 0.71 24 6.13 ------28.5 Ck at41 3 23 74 39 7.6 0.05 0.70 14 2.51 - - _ _ - - -

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHlP LAKE ARE4 45 Maywood soils have a thin, partially humified L- H horizon, a thin organo-minera1 Ah horizon, a thick grayish brown Ae horizon, and a dark grayish brown, strongly developed Bt horizon. The Ah horizon which is less than 2 inches in thickness, distinguishes Maywood soils from Macola soils. The C horizon is weakly calcareous and stratified. Till may be encountered at a depth ranging from 2 to 6 feet. A representative soi1 profile of the Maywood series is described as follows: L-H-I to 0 inches, deciduous leaf litter and grasses, well decomposed in lower portion; pH 6.1. Ah-O to 1 inches, very dark gray (IOYR 3/ 1, moist) silty clay; moderate, medium granular; friable; abrupt, smooth boundary; 0 to 2 inches thick; pH 6.5.

Ae-1 to 6 inches, light brownish gray (IOYR 6/2, moist) silt Figure 27-A Msywood-Rave sail area under cultivaiion. loam; strong, coarse platy; friable; abrupt, smooth boundary; 3 to 7 inches thick; pH 6.0. soils formed on lacustre-till material are also as- AB-6 to 9 inches, grayish brown (IOYR 512, moist) clay; sociated to some extent with Maywood soils. moderate, medium subangular blocky; firm; graduai, Use wavy boundary; 0 to 4 inches thick; pH 5.3. Bt-9 to 24 inches, very dark grayish brown (IOYR 3/2, moist) Maywood soils are fairly extensively cultivated in heavy clay; weak, coarse prismatic breaking to strong, the map area and are moderately productive agricul- coarse subangular blocky; firm; abrupt, wavy boundary; tural soils. The chief management problems arise 8 to 20 inches thick; pH 5.3. from their extremely fine textured, poor physical Cca-24 to 28 inches, very dark grayish brown (IOYR 312, structure, slow interna1 drainage, and low natural moist) heavy clay, with olive brown (2SY 4/4, moist) fertility. Crops usually Will respond to phosphate and strata; amorphous; friable; graduai, irregular boundary; nitrogen fertilizers. Legumes should be included in 0 to 6 inches thick; moderately calcareous; pH 7.6. trop rotation. These soils are rated as fairly good Ck-28 to 43 inches, very dark grayish brown (IOYR 3/2, arable soils. moist) heavy clay, with olive brown (2.5Y 4/4, moist) strata; amorphous; friable; abrupt, smooth boundary; Mica Series (Mc) (36,840 acres) stone-free lacustrine; weakly to moderately calcareous; pH 7.6. Mica soils are moderately well drained Orthic IICk-at 43 inches, olive brown (2SY 4/4, moist) clay; Dark Gray soils developed on weakly calcareous, amorphous; friable; moderately stony till; weakly cal- stone-free, very fine textured, dark colored stratified careous; pH 7.6. lacustrine material. These soils are found in the vicinity of Mayerthorpe in the northeastern portion Associated Soils of the map area, where the topography varies from Maywood soils are associated with Wildwood, moderately rolling to gently undulating. The interna1 Raven, Macola, and Evansburg soils. In addition, drainage is slow because of the fine textured nature where the lacustrine deposits are shallow, they are of the material. The native vegetation consists main- often associated with those soils developed on till- ly of aspen poplar, dogwood, wild rose, alder, wil- the Cooking Lake, Hubalta and Breton soils. Bigoray low, and grasses.

TABLE 29-Analyses of a Maywood Soi1 Profile (SE 1%53-IO-WSth)

% l’article Size Analysis % Oxalate % Dwh % % % % % % CaCO, Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC Hor. (inches) Sand Silt Clay FineC pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+Al H Na K Ca Mg me/Ihg

L-H 1-0 - - - - 6.1 - - - - Ah O-I 9 - 5.0 0.0 2.1 77.2 15.7 109.3 6.5 10.50 13 - - Ae 1-6 12 46 45 22 0.79 10.4 0.0 7.6 68.5 13.5 56.6 6.0 0.29 6 - - AB 6-9 9 64 24 8 0.05 10.3 0.0 3.4 68.1 18.2 10.4 0.06 0.61 11 - - Bt 9-24 9 34 57 38 5.3 4.9 0.1 2.6 66.7 25.7 34.5 0.58 12 - - Cca 24-28 3 2517 74 48 5.3 0.05 3.7 0.2 1.6 69.2 25.3 38.7 7.6 0.05 12.17 ------Ck 28-43 5 12 18 0.66 13 33.2 7.6 0.04 0.61 15 5.38 - - - - _ - IICk at 43 24 28 33 67 24 32.9 43 8 7.6 0.03 0.55 18 4.54 ------30.5

46 REPORT S-71-28 These soils are characterized by a thick, dark grayish brown organo-minera1 (Ah) horizon that is medium acid in reaction and strongly granular in structure. The underlying B horizon is brown to dark brown in color, very strongly acid, and fine blocky in the Upper portion to amorphous in the lower portion. The C horizon is dark gray in color and weakly calcareous. In some locations an Ahe and a thin Ae horizon may occur under the Ah horizon. A description of a representative Mica soi1 profile is given below: Ah-O to 5 inches, very dark grayish brown (IOYR 3/2, moist) silty clay; strong, medium granular; friable; abrupt, smooth boundary; 3 to 8 inches thick; pH 5.9. AB-5 to 11 inches, brown (IOYR 5/3, moist) clay; moderate, fine subangular blocky; firm; graduai, irregular boun- . dary; 2 to 8 inches thick; pH 4.8. Bm-II to 20 inches, dark brown (IOYR 4/3, moist) heavy clay; strong, fine blocky to amorphous in lower portion; firm; clear, smooth boundary; 5 to 20 inches thick; pH 4.8. Figure 28-Modeste soi1 profile. Cca-20 to 25 inches, dark gray ( IOYR 4/ 1, moist) heavy clay; amorphous and stratified; friable; gradual, smooth boundary; 0 to 6 inches thick; moderately calcareous; pH 7.7. poo Formation. Fragments of weathered bedrock are often found in the solum, and bedrock exposures are Ck-at 25 inches, dark gray (IOYR 4/ 1, moist) heavy clay, with very pale brown (IOYR 7/3, moist) strata; amorph- often seen in many road cuts at depths ranging from ous; friable; stone-free lacustrine; weakly calcareous; 1 to 3 feet from the surface. The B horizon ranges pH 7.1. in texture from a sandy loam to a clay loam, depending upon the inherent nature of the bedrock. Modeste Associated Soils soils are found primarily south, west, and northwest Mica soils are associated with Macola and Raven of Chip Lake, but also as small scattered areas soils. throughout the map area. They are generally found in the gently rolling to hilly areas. Native tree caver Use is primarily aspen poplar, lodgepole pine, and white Mica soils are productive agricultural soils and spruce. are extensively cultivated. Although these soils are relatively fertile, limitations occur upon cultivation. Modeste soils have an L-H horizon, a thin Ah The fine textures and amorphous structure make til- horizon, a well developed Ae horizon, a weakly de- lage difficult. Beneficial effects on fertility and tilth veloped Bt horizon, and a weakly calcareous C hori- are obtained when legumes are included in the crop- zon. The profile is generally stone-free. The follow- ping sequence. Mica soils are rated as good arable ing is a description of a representative Modeste soi1 soils on undulating topography. profile:

Modeste Series (Md) (9,880 acrès) L-H-I to 0 inches, deciduous leaf litter; pH 6.7. Soils of the Modeste series are well drained Ah-O to 1 inches, very dark grayish brown (IOYR 3/2, moist) Orthic Gray Wooded soils developed on sandy ma- loam; moderate, medium granular; loose; clear, smooth terial derived from the sandstone beds of the Paska- boundary; 0 to 2 inches thick; pH 6.4.

TABLE 30-Analyses of a Mica Soi1 Profile (NE 32-56-8-W5th)

% Particle Size Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaC03 Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC Hor. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+AI H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

Ah O-5 8 47 45 24 5.9 0.72 7.52 10 - - 18.2 0.0 2.3 79.5 - 49.4 AB 5-11 7 36 57 37 4.8 0.06 0.75 11 - - 16.8 0.6 1.4 58.1 23.1 36.9 Bm 11-20 6 33 61 42 4.8 0.05 0.75 16 - - 11.8 1.0 1.3 61.5 24.4 40.2 Cca 20-25 7 30 63 12 7.7 0.04 0.54 12 7.02 - _ - - - - 31.6 Ck at 25 0 18 82 21 7.1 0.04 0.96 22 2.70 ------43.7

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE ARE4 47 TABLE 31-Analyses of a Modeste Soi1 Profile (NW 16-55-ll-WSth)

% ParticleSize Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % CaCO, Extract ExchangeableCations CEC Hor. (inches) Sand Silt Ciay Fi: C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+AI H Na K Ca Mg W100g

L-H 14 - - - - 6.7 - - - - 11.9 0.0 0.7 79.3 8.1 39.8 Ah O-l 47 35 18 8 6.4 0.41 7.60 19 - - 12.5 0.0 2.5 82.7 2.3 36.5 Ae l-8 41 46 13 4 6.8 0.03 0.27 8 - - 8.0 0.2 3.0 79.8 9.0 8.2 Bt 8-15 43 28 29 19 5.9 0.04 0.25 7 5.9 0.2 2.0 85.1 6.8 20.6 BC 15-32 12 61 27 10 5.9 - - 4.8 0.2 1.1 87.0 6.9 24.2 CCa 32-36 26 62 12 5 7.2 0.02 0.19 10 12.73 - _ _ 1 - - 19.4 Ck at36 21 65 14 6 7.4 - - - 3.75 ------

Ae-1 to 8 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/4, moist) very Newbrook Series (Nb) (11,240 acres) pale brown (IOYR 7/3, dry) loam; strong, medium platy; friable; clear, smooth boundary; 4 to 8 inches thick; Newbrook soils are poorly drained Low Humic pH 6.8. Eluviated Gleysols developed on weakly calcareous Bt-8 to 15 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/6, moist) clay Continental till. Stones may be found throughout the loam to loam, with dark yellowish brown (IOYR 4/4, profile. These soils are found in low, poorly drained moist) sandstone fragments; weak, medium blocky; areas. While comparatively few areas of these soils firm; clear, wavy boundary; 5 to 20 inches thick; pH 5.9. have been outlined on the soi1 map, small areas are BC-15 to 32 inches, brownish yellow (IOYR 6/6, moist) silt common and have been mapped as associates with loam to silty clay loam; amorphous to single grain; fri- many of the better drained soils developed on till. able; clear, smooth boundary; 0 to 25 inches thick; pH 5.9. Significant areas of Newbrook soils occur in the C~a-32 to 36 inches, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4, moist) silt western portion of the map area near Niton. The na- loam; amorphous to single grain; friable; clear, wavy tive vegetation consists primarily of willow, aspen boundary; 0 to 6 inches thick; moderately calcareous; poplar, balsam poplar, black spruce, dwarf birch, pH 7.2. white spruce, alder, sedges, and coarse grasses. Ck-at 36 inches, olive brown (2.5Y 5/4, moist) silt loam; Newbrook soils have up to 6 inches of peat on amorphous to single grain; friable; stone-free; weakly the surface. Those soils which have 6 to 12 inches calcareous; pH 7.4. of accumulated peat at the surface, have been re- Associated Soils cognized as a peaty phase, and have been indicated Modeste soils are associated with Breton, Hubalta, as such on the accompanying soi1 map. Newbrook Maywood, and Kenzie soils. soils are distinguished by an organic horizon underlain by a fairly thick, iron stained, brown Aeg horizon Use that is medium to strongly acid in reaction. These The major portion of Modeste soils are not cul- horizons rest on a gray to dark gray, fine textured tivated because of unsuitable topography and poor Btg horizon which shows evidence of iron staining soi1 quality. These soils are rated as poor arable and is medium to strongly acid. The subsoil is us- soils on undulating topography and are suitable only ually du11 colored and possesses bright mottles. A for pasture and woodland on the more strongly slop- representative profile of the Newbrook series is des- ing topography. cribed as follows:

TABLE 32-Analyses of a Newbrook Soil Profile (NE lO-54-11-WSth)

% ParticleSize Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaC03 Extract ExchangeableCations CEC Hor. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+AI H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

L-H ~XI - - - - 5.7 - 10.4 0.3 0.6 79.0 9.7 75.2 Aheg O-1 31 54 15 5 6.2 0.08 0.57 7 - 21.1 0.5 3.5 62.6 12.3 11.0 Aeg 1-7 27 61 12 3 5.8 0.03 0.22 7 - 16.3 0.5 3.5 63.3 16.4 6.8 Ah 7-11 17 46 37 21 5.4 0.04 0.17 4 - - 10.5 0.7 1.9 70.1 16.8 19.4 Btg II-39 29 33 38 12 6.1 0.04 0.34 10 - - 3.3 0.5 1.1 77.0 18.1 24.5 Ck at39 33 35 32 15 7.0 0.03 0.36 12 3.97 ------21.4

48 REPORT S-71-28 L-H-I to 0 inches, decomposed deciduous leaf litter and grasses;pH 5.7. Aheg-0 to 1 inches, grayish brown (10YR 5/2, moist) silt loam, with prominent, yellowish brown (10YR 5/6, moist) mottles; moderate, fine platy; friable; clear, smooth boundary; 0 to 2 inches thick; pH 6.2. Aeg-1 to 7 inches, brown (IOYR 5/3, moist) silt loam, with prominent, brownish yellow (10YR 6/6, moist) mottles; strong, medium platy; friable; abrupt, smooth boundary; 3 to 8 inches thick; pH 5.8. ABg-7 to 11 inches, brown (IOYR 5/3, moist) silty clay loam, with prominent, brownish yellow (10YR 6/6, moist) mottles; moderate, fine subangular blocky; tïrm; gradual, irregular boundary; 1 to 5 inches thick; pH 5.4. Btg-11 to 39 inches, dark grayish brown (IOYR 4/2, moist) clay loam, with distinct, brownish yellow (10YR 6/8, moist) mottles; moderate, medium subangular blocky; firm; graduai, wavy boundary; 10 to 30 inches thick; pH 6.1. Ckg-at 39 inches, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4, moist) clay loam, with distinct, greenish gray (5BG 5/1, moist) mottles; amorphous; firm; slightly stony till; weakly calcareous; pH 1.0. bociated S&ls Newbrook soifs are associated with Hubalta, Bre- may, Onoway, Kenzie, and Eaglesham soils. Use The larger areas of Newbrook soils are not extensively cultivated, but small areas associated with better drained soils, are usually cultivated provided that drainage conditions are reasonably good. How- ever, even with improved drainage, late maturity of Fiiure ZV-Nicot sail pmle showing a lhick Ae horiwn. grain crops is often a problem in these SO&. When associated with better drained upland soils, New- brook soils are rated as poor to fair arable soils; however, when associated with poorly drained organic soils, they are rated as suitable for pasture and woodland.

Nicot Complex (NC) (23,320 acres) Soils of the Nicot complex consist of rapidly drained Brunisolic Gray Wooded and Degraded Eutric Brunisolic soils developed on weakly to moderately calcareous sandy aeolian matèrial. These soils occur primarily in the Hattonford region, to the east of an aeolian sand dune deposit. The topography varies Figure JO-An undukting area of Nicot soilr recently ckucd. from undulating to moderately rolling. Native vegetation is dominantly aspen poplar, lodgepole pine teria for an illuvial horizon. The solum is slightly saskatoon, rose, chokecherry, blueberry, bearberry acid and generally stone-free. Glacial till is usually and a variety of grasses. found at depths ranging from 4 to 7 feet from the Nicot soils are developed on sandy deposits with surface. The following is a description of a Brunisolic a very low clay content and consequently the develop- Gray Wooded soi1 common to the Nicot complex: ment of a textured B horizon is very weak; the Bt horizon is discontuous. These soils are easily distin- Ah-O to 1 inches, very dark grayish brown (IOYR 3/2, moist) guishes from Culp and Heart soils by distinctive sandy loam; single grain; loose; abrupt, smooth boun- bands in the Bt horizon that are separated by eluvi- dary; 0 to 2 inches thick; pH 6.8. ated horizons. These bands show some clay enrich- Ae,-1 to 4 inches, dark yellowish brown (IOYR 4/4, moist) ment; however, there may not always be sufficient loamy Sand; single grain; loose; graduai, irregular boun- banded material in the B horizon to meet the cri- dary; 2 to 7 inches thick; pH 6.6.

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE AREA 49 Bm-4 to 6 inches, reddish brown (5YR 4/4, moist) sand; soils are rated as soils suitable for pasture and single grain; -1oose; clear, wavy boundary; 0 to 3 woodland in this area. inches thick; pH 6.2. Aq-6 to 15 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/4, moist) Sand; O’Chiese Series (Oh) (6,360 acres) single grain; loose; abrupt, wavy boundary; 4 to 18 inches thick; pH 6.6. O’Chiese soils are moderately well drained Bise- Bt-15 to 17 inches, dark yellowish brown (IOYR 4/4, moist) qua Gray Wooded soils devoloped on moderately fine sandy loam, amorphous; friable; abrupt, wavy boundary; textured Continental till. They are found in the 0.5 to 2 inches thick; pH 6.5. southwestern portion of the map area on undulating Ae-17 to 29 inches, brown (IOYR 4/3, moist) sandf single to gently rolling topography. The native tree caver grain; loose; abrupt, wavy boundary; 2 to 20 inches thick; consists mainly of lodgepole pine and aspen poplar pH 6.6. with occasional white spruce, birch, and balsam pop- Bt-29 to 30 inches, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4, moist) lar. sandy loam; amorphous; friable; abrupt, wavy boundary; O’Chiese soils are characterized by a Podzol-like 0.5 to 2 inches thick; pH 6.5. sequence of horizons (Ae and Bf) developed in the Ae-30 to 39 inches, brown (IOYR 4/3, moist) Sand; single Ae horizon of an Orthic Gray Wooded sOi1. This grain; loose; abrupt, wavy boundary; 2 to 20 inches sequence grades into a strongly developed textural thick; pH 6.6. Bt horizon, which is strongly to very strongly acid. Bt-39 to 41 inches, brown (10YR 5/3, moist) sandy loam; The C horizon is weakly calcareous and is found at amorphous; friable; abrupt, wavy boundary; 0.5 to 2 inches thick; pH 6.5. depths ranging from 40 to 60 inches. The occurence of a thin (1 to 4 inches thick), Ae-41 to 59 inches, pale brown (IOYR 6/3, dry) Sand; single brown Bf horizon between the two lighter colored grain; loose; abrupt, wavy boundary; 2 to 20 inches thick; pH 6.7. Ae horizons distinguishes O’Chiese soils from Hu- balta soils. The following is a description of a repre- Bt-59 to 60 inches, dark yellowish brown (IOYR 4/4, moist) sandy loam; amorphous; friable; abrupt, wavy boun- sentative O’Chiese soi1 profile: dary; 0.5 to 2 inches thick; pH 6.7. L-H-2 to 0 inches, deciduous leaf litter and conifer needles; Ae-60 to 65 inches, brown (IOYR 4/ 3, moist) loamy Sand; pH 6.8. single grain; loose; abrupt, wavy boundary; 2 to 20 in- Ae,-0 to 2.5 inches, dark grayish brown (IOYR 4/2, moist) ches thick; pH 6.8. silt loam; moderate, fine platy; friable; clear, smooth Cca-65 to 83 inches, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4, moist) Sand; boundary; 1 to 4 inches thick; pH 5.8. single grain; loose; clear, wavy boundary; 4 to 20 inches Bf-2.5 to 5 inches, dark brown (7.5YR 4/4, moist) silt loam; thick; moderateiy calcareous; pH 7.8. weak, fine granular; friable; clear, smooth boundary; 1 Ck-at 83 inches, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4, moist) loamy Sand; to 4 inches thick; pH 5.7. single grain; loose; stone-free; weakly cal?areous; pH 7.4. Ae,-5 to 10 inches, pale brown (IOYR 6/3, moist) sandy loam Associated Soils to silt loam; strong, medium platy; friable; abrupt, smooth boundary; 3 to 7 inches thick; pH 5.3. Nicot soils are associated with Codesa, Rochester, and Kenzie soils. AB-10 to 12 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/6, moist) silty clay loam; moderate, medium to coarse subangular Use blocky; firm; gradual, irregular boundary; 1 to 4 inches Nicot soils are not extensively cultivated. They thick; pH 4.8. are low in available plant nutrients and organic mat- Bt-12 to 26 inches, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2, moist) ter, and have a low water-holding capacity. Nicot clay; strong, fine to medium subangular blocky; very

TABLE 33-Analyses of a Nicot Soil Profile (SW l-57-13-W5th)

% Parti& Size Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC Hor. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C’ pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+Al H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

Ah O-1 66 24 10 2 6.8 0.76 9.12 12 - 0.28 10.4 0.3 2.9 74.7 11.7 39.4 Ae, 14 79 15 6 2 6.6 0.06 0.62 10 - 0.16 12.6 0.1 7.8 69.9 9.6 7.3 Bm 4-6 88 10 2 2 6.2 0.03 0.33 II - 0.27 19.4 0.6 6.7 59.7 13.6 5.2 A% 6-15 90 7 3 2 6.6 0.02 0.13 J - 0.15 10.9 0.9 5.2 68.1 14.9 4.8 Bands* 6in. 76 12 12 10 6.5 0.03 0.41 14 - 0.34 4.7 0.4 2.3 76.8 15.8 11.9 W Inter- 44 in. 89 6 5 2 6.6 0.02 0.20 10 - 0.17 8.5 0.3 2.2 JO.1 18.9 7.2 bands* CC3 65-83 89 7 4 4 7.8 - - 7.94 0.08 - 0.2 0.7 87.9 11.2 6.0 Ck at 83 86 7 7 4 7.4 - 0.39 - 0.1 1.7 79.3 18.9 4.6

* Average of several

50 REPORT S-71-28 firm; gradual, irregular boundary; 5 to 20 inches thick; pH 5.2. BC-26 to 39 inches, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2, moist) . clay; amorphous; firm; clear, wavy boundary; 5 to 25 inches thick; pH 5.5. Ck-at 39 inches, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2, moist) clay loam; amorphous; firm; moderately stony till; weakly calcareous; pH 7.4. Associuted Soils O’Chiese soils are assoicated with Hubalta, Kenzie, and Newbrook soils. Use O’Chiese soils are found at elevations greater than 3,000 feet above sea level where the frost-free period generally does not exceed 60 days. This high risk of frost damage together with the relatively low inherent fertility of these soils necessitates rating them as suitable only for pasture and woodland.

Onoway Series (On) (3,000 acres) Onoway soils are poorly drained Orthic Humic Gleysols developed on weakly calcareous, slightly to moderately stony Continental till. The solum texture varies from silty clay loam to clay loam. Onoway soils occupy flat, poorly drained positions or depressions in some of the morainic areas. These soils are common throughout the till regions, except in the southwestern portion of the map area. No attempt Figure 31-A peaty Onoway soil profile developed on moderately fine textured till. was made to separate the Orthic Humic Gleysols L-F-5 to 0 inches, mass, very slightly decomposed in lower formed on different tills. The native vegetation con- portion; pH 6.4. sists mainly of willow, alder, white spruce, balsam Ah-O to 4 inches, black (IOYR 2/1, moist) silty clay loam; poplar, aspen poplar, birch, and a profusion of shrubs, strong, medium granular (“shot-1ike”); friable; clear, mosses, herbs, and grasses. wavy boundary; 3 to 6 inches thick; pH 6.6. In their native conditon, Onoway soils have up ABg-4 to 9 inches, gray (5Y 5/ 1, moist) silt loam to silty clay to 6 inches of organic material overlying a fairly loam, with distinct, yellowish red (5YR 4/6, moist) mot- thick Ah horizon that becomes somewhat lighter in tles; moderate, fine granular (“shot-like”); friable; sticky; color with depth. The Bg and Ckg horizons are du11 gradual, irregular boundary; 2 to 8 inches thick; pH 6.8. colored and show varying degrees of motthng. The Bg-9 to 23 inches, light gray (5Y 6/ 1, moist) clay, with dis- profile is slightly to moderately stony and is usually tinct, yellowish red (5Y 4/6, moist) mottles, moderate, neutral in reaction. The solum occasionally has a fine blocky (“shot-1ike”); friable, very sticky; diffuse, weakly developed, eluviated (Aeg) horizon beneath irregular boundary; 5 to 20 inches thick; pH 6.9. the Ah horizon. A description of a representative soi1 BCg-23 to 32 inches, gray (5Y 5/ 1, moist) clay loam to clay, profile of the Onoway series is as follows: with distinct, brown (7.5YR 4/4, moist) mottles; TABLE 34-Analyses of an O’Chiese Soi1 Protïle (NW 17~50-13-W5th)

% Particle Size Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC Hor. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+AI H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

L-H 2-0 - - - - 6.8 - - - - 0.25 11.1 0.1 2.0 86.8 0.0 60.0 Ae, O-3 32 58 10 3 5.8 0.09 1.58 18 - 0.26 34.2 0.5 2.5 61.0 1.8 11.1 Bf 3-5 28 56 16 6 5.7 0.12 1.72 14 - 1.46 41.4 0.5 2.1 55.3 0.7 18.6 Ae2 S-10 43 51 6 0 5.3 0.02 0.10 5 - - 30.8 1.2 1.6 50.0 16.4 4.0 AB 10-12 14 58 28 12 4.8 0.06 0.69 12 - 0.37 27.8 0.3 2.5 68.0 1.4 15.4 Bt 12-26 23 35 42 24 5.2 0.05 0.61 12 - 0.48 14.7 0.5 2.2 78.7 3.9 22.9 BC 26-39 24 35 41 22 5.5 - - - - 0.41 8.8 0.4 1.9 74.1 14.8 23.0 Ck at 39 25 37 38 18 7.4 - - - 4.26 0.26 - 0.4 1.2 97.3 1.1 18.1

SOIL SUBVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE AREA 51 weak, fine subangular blocky; friable to firm, very fine platy; very friable; abrupt, smooth boundary; 2 sticky; diffuse, irregular boundary; 0 to 20 inches thick; to 6 inches thick; pH 5.1. pH 7.2. Bt-4 to 15 inches, grayish brown (10YR 5/2, moist) silty Ckg-at 32 inches, gray (5Y 5/ 1, moist) clay loam, with faint, clay; moderate, fine to medium granular; friable; clear, yellowish red (SYR 416, moist) mottles; amorphous; smooth boundary; 7 to 18 inches thick; pH 4.8. friable to firm, very sticky; moderately stony tilt weakly BC-15 to 32 inches, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4, moist) calcareous; pH 7.5. silty clay loam; weak, fint granular; friable to very friable; gradual, wavy boundary; pH 5.5. Associated Soils C-at 32 inches, olive (5Y 5/3, moist) silty clay loam; amor- Onoway soils are associated with Hubalta, Bre- phous; very friable; stone-free; non-calcareous; pH 5.8. may, Newbrook, Dekalta, Cooking Lake, Uncas, and Kenzie soils. Associated Soils Use Pegasus soils are not of extensive occurrence but are found in association with Hubalta soils in some The larger areas of Onoway soils are not exten- locations. sively cultivated, but the smaller areas associated with better drained soils are usually cultivated if Use drainage conditions permit. Large areas of Onoway Pegasus soils are not cultivated. They have low soils are used almost exclusively for pasture trop natural fertility and are susceptible to water erosion production. These soils, even after drainage are, “cold if the native vegetation is removed. Pegasus soils poils”, and are not immediately suitable for grain are rated as suitable only for pasture and woodland, rrop production, but considerable success has been and in this area should remain under permanent tree experienced in growing green feeds, grasses, and caver. legumes. Onoway soils are good for pasture trop Pinto Series (Po) (1,000 acres) production and after drainage, become fair arable soils for coarse grain trop production. Soils of the Pinto series consist of well drained Bisequa Gray Wooded soils developed on 12 to 30 inches of moderately coarse textured alluvial-aeolian Pegasus Series (Pg) ( - acres) material and underlain by weakly to moderately cal- Pegasus soils are moderately well draincd Orthic careous, medium to fine textured glacial till or la- Gray Wooded soils developed on medium to moder- custrine deposits. The Upper part of the solum is ately fine textured brown to olive coloured material stone-free or only slightly stony. These soils are derived from the shaley member of the Paskapoo found primarily in the extreme southwestern portion Formation. The Pegasus soils are most commonly of the map area on undulating topography. The found on moderately rolling to hilly topography. The native vegetation consists of lodgepole pine, aspen native tree caver is mainly aspen poplar with some poplar, and a profusion of ta11 and short shrubs in white spruce and lodgepole pine. This soi1 is not association with a ground caver of herbs, mosses, the dominant soi1 in any of the mapping units out- and grasses. lined and is found only in the northwestern portion Pinto soils are characterized by a fairly thick Ae of the Chip Lake map area. horizon in which a Podzol sequence of horizons (Ae The Pegasus soii profile has an L-H horizon, a and ‘.Bf) has developed. This is underlain by a con- fairly thin Ae horizon, and a brown granular Bt tinuous, weakly to moderately well developed tex- horizon and an acidic C horizon. The following is a tural Bt horizon. A gravelly layer may’ be present description of a representative Pegasus soil profile: at the contact with the underlying fïner textured material. No separations were made on the basis of L-H-2 to 0 inches, deciduous leaf and root litter; pH 6.1. differences in the underlying materials but the asso- Ae-0 to 4 inches, gray (IOYR 6/ 1, moist) silt loam; weak, ciated series indicated on the soi1 map provide a

TABLE 35-Analyses of an Onoway Soi1 Profile (NE 5-53-8-WSth)

% Particle Size Analysis % OXalate % Wth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC HO~. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+Al H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

L-F 5-O - - - - 6.4 ------0.2 0.9 68.6 30.3 94.2 Ah 04 II 53 36 15 6.6 0.31 2.86 9 - - - 0.2 1.9 72.6 25.3 47.6 A& 4-9 10 65 25 15 6.6 0.07 0.72 10 - - 2.2 0.4 1.0 62.3 34.1 24.3 Bg 9-23 27 30 43 29 6.9 0.04 0.76 10 - - - 0.5 0.9 57.4 41.2 28.9 BCg 23-32 29 34 37 21 7.2 - - - 2.96 - - 1.0 0.7 76.4 21.9 21.7 Ckg at 32 33 36 31 17 7.5 - 5.26 _ - - _ - _ -

52 REPORT S-71.28 guide to the characteristics of the underlying ma- lacustrine material. The coarse textured surface material. A representative soi1 profile of the Pinto terial is generally stone-free and ranges in thickness series is described as follows: from 12 to 30 inches. Often a thin stony layer separates the two types of deposits. These soils are found L-H-l to 0 inches, deciduous leaf litter and conifer needles; pH 5.6. on undulating and gently undulating topography in the southwestern portion of the area, approximately Ae,-0 to 3 inches, grayish brown (IOYR 5/2, moist) sandy loam to loamy Sand; single grain; loose; clear, smooth ten miles south of the McKay post office. Drainage, boundary; 1 to 4 inches thick; pH 5.3. impeded by a relatively high water table results in Bf-3 to 5 inches, strong brown (7.5YR 516, moist) sandy distinct to prominent mottles throughout the solum. loam; single grain; loose; clear, wavy boundary; 1 to 4 The native vegetation generally consists of aspen inches thick; pH 5.6. poplar, lodgepole pine, birch, willow, white spruce, Aq-5 to 11 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/6, moist) black spruce, balsam poplar, and a fairly dense under- loamy Sand; single grain; loose; abrupt, smooth boun- growth of native shrubs, herbs, mo$ses, and grasses. dary; 4 to 8 inches thick; pH 5.7. Rat soils are similar to Codesa soils except that Bt-11 to 18 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/8, moist) sandy mottling is evident throughout the soi1 profile. They loam; single grain; very friable; clear, irregular boun- contain an L-H horizon, a relatively thick Aegj hori- dary; 4 to 15 inches thick; pH 5.2. zon, and a weakly expressed Btgj or Bgj horizon BC-18 to 24 inches, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4, moist) which may or may not have sufficient illuviated clay loamy Sand; single grain; loose; abrupt, smooth boun- to meet the requirements of a Bt horizon. Because dary; 0 to 18 inches thick; pH 5.8. of origin, Rat soils vary widely in texture but sandy IIBC-24 to 29 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/6, moist) loam is the most common. The underlying material sandy clay loam; amorphous; firm; gradual, wavy boun- cari generally be identifïed by the Pssociated soils dary; 0 to 20 inches thick; pH 6.6. which are indicated on the accompanying soi1 map. IICk-at 29 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/4, moist) sandy The following is a description of a Gleyed Orthic clay loam; amorphous; firm; moderately to very stony Gray Wooded soi1 profile common to the Rat com- till; moderately calcareous; pH 7.3. plex: Associated Soils L-H-l to 0 inches, moss and pine needles, decomposed in Pinto soils are associated with Sundance, O’Chiese, lower portion; pH 4.8. Wildhay, Hubalta, and Horburg soils. Aegf-4 to 5 inches, light yellowish brown (IOYR 6/4, moist) Use sandy loam, with prominent, olive (5Y 5/4, moi@ mot- Pinto soils are not cultivated, partly because of tles; single grain; loose; clear, wavy boundary; 3 to 8 the adverse climatic conditions in the region where inches thick; pH 4.9. these soils are located. Pinto soils are rated as suit- Btgj-5 to 12 inches, strong brown (7.5YR 5/6, moist) sandy clay loam, with distinct, olive yellow (2.5Y 6/6, moist) able for pasture and woodland in the map area. mottles; single grain; loose; clear, smooth boundary; 2 to 10 inches thick; pH 5.1. Rat Complex (Rt) (15,200 acres) BCgj-12 to 17 inches, strong brown (7.5YR 5/6, moist) sandy loam, with distinct, olive yellow (2.5Y 6/6, moist) mot- Soils of the Rat complex consist of imperfectly tles; single grain; loose; abrupt, smooth boundary; 0 to drained Gleyed Orthic Gray Wooded and Gleyed 20 inches thick; stone-free, pH 5.3. Degraded Eutric Brunisol soils developed on rela- IIBtgj-17 to 27 inches, dark brown (IOYR 4/3, moist) clay tively shallow, moderately coarse textured alluvial- loam with prominent, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/6, moi@ aeolian material overlying finer textured till or mottles; moderate, medium to coarse subangular blocky;

TABLE 3Q-Analyses of a Pinto Soi1 Profile (SW 5-SO-13-W5th)

% ParticleSize Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract ExchangeableCations CEC HO~. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+Al H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg ..-- L-H 1-0 - - - - 5.6 _ - _ ------Ael O-3 73 24 3 0 5.3 0.04 0.58 15 - 0.10 36.8 2.0 1.4 31.1 28.7 6.1 Bf 3-5 62 28 10 4 5.6 0.04 0.81 20 - 1.53 42.2 0.2 2.1 26.8 28.7 10.7 Ae2 5-11 76 22 2 0 5.7 0.01 0.05 5 - 0.18 16.5 1.4 1.5 41.1 39.5 5.1 Bt 11-18 69 16 15 8 5.2 0.02 0.20 10 - 0.37 15.9 0.3 1.0 53.7 29.1 13.7 BC 18-24 82 9 9 4 5.8 - - - - 0.26 11.6 0.1 1.2 58.1 29.0 7.8 IIBC 24-29 57 17 26 18 6.6 - - - - 0.54 4.6 0.2 1.2 63.1 30.9 19.6 IICk at 29 56 23 21 9 7.3 - - - 8.76 0.33 - 0.1 0.7 76.6 22.6 14.0

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE AREA 53 tïrm; clear, smooth boundary; 0 to 10 inches thick; pH 5.2. IlBCgj-27 to 38 inches, dark brown (10YR 4/ 3, moist) clay loam, with distinct, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/6, moist) mottles; weak, fine subangular blocky to amorphous; friable; gradual, irregular boundary; 0 to 20 inches thick; pH 6.0. IICkgi-at 38 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/6, moist) clay loam, with faint, gray (5Y 5/ 1, moist) mottles; amorphous; friable; moderately stony till; weakly calcareous; pH 7.3. Associuted Soils Rat soils are associated with Eta, Bremay, Nicot, G’Chiese, Rochester, Tolman, and Newbrook soils. Use Rat soils are not presently cultivated. They occur in the southwestern portion of the map area, where the frost-free period is generally less than 60 days per year. For this reason, Rat soils are rated as suitable for pasture and woodland.

Raven Series (Rv) (32,640 acres) Figure 32-Penty Rnven soù profile. A penty Humic Cleyxd developed on lacustrine mterid. Raven soils are poorly drained Orthic Humic Gleysols developed on weakly to moderately calcare- is underlain by a relatively thick, very dark gray ous, very fine textured lacustrine material. The surface Ah horizon, “shot-1ike” in structure, and medium acid texture varies from silty clay to heavy clay. However, to neutral. An ABg horizon varies in thickness from 1 the tilth of these fine textured soils, is ameliorated to 5 inches, but is occasionally absent. The gray Bg to some extent through the incorporation of some of and Ckg horizons usually contain prominent dark the peaty surface material. These soils are widespread yellowish brown mottles. The texture of the Ckg throughout the lacustrine basin in the northeastern horizon is generally heavy clay, and lime carbonate portion of the map area. They occur along the is encountered at depths ranging from 20 to 40 inches. margins of the numerous peat-covered lowlands in A representative soi1 profile of the Raven series is the vicinity of Wildwood and Easyford, and in de- described as follows: pressional positions in the Mayerthorpe area. Na- L-H-3 to 0 inches, deciduous leaf litter and sedges; pH 6.4. tive vegetation in the depressional positions is mainly Ah-O to 6 inches, very dark gray (IOYR 3/ 1, moist) heavy sedges, reed-grasses, and marsh plants with clumps clay; strong, medium granular (“shot-like”); firm, very of willow, alder, and black spruce; in the undulating sticky; abrupt, wavy boundary; 3 to 8 inches thick; areas, trees such as black spruce, balsam poplar, pH 5.9. and aspen poplar prevail. These soils are stone-free Bg-6 to 34 inches, gray (5Y 4/1, moist) heavy clay, with except where a substrate of glacial till occurs near prominent, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4, moist) the surface. mottles; weak, fine subangular blocky; firm, very sticky; Raven soils may have up to 6 inches of surface gradual, irregular boundary; 12 to 35 inches thick; peat which is usually medium acid to neutral. This pH 5.9.

TABLE 37-Analyses of a Rat Soi1 Profile (NE 31-SO-Il-WSth)

% ParticleSize Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract ExchangeableCations CE6 HO~. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+Al H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

L-H 1-0 - - - - 4.8 - - - - - 62.4 0.5 2.1 21.6 13.4 36.3 Aegj o-5 68 22 10 2 4.9 0.04 0.99 25 - - 49.8 0.8 2.2 28.8 18.4 6.1 Btgj 5-12 58 21 21 6 5.1 0.03 0.49 16 - - 39.2 1.4 3.0 36.8 19.6 9.5 BCgj 12-17 76 II 13 3 5.3 - - - - - 20.9 1.6 1.9 42.3 33.3 5.4 IIBtgi 17-27 30 34 36 21 5.2 0.04 0.35 9 - - - 1.2 2.3 76.7 19.8 17.3 IIBCgi 27-38 30 37 33 18 6.0 ------0.5 2.2 75.0 22.3 17.1 IICkgj at 38 35 33 32 18 7.3 - - - 4.51 - - 0.2 1.0 88.9 9.9 16.7

54 REPORT S-71-28 TABLE 38-Analyses of a Raven Soi1 Profile (NE 19-534bW5th)

% Pa&le SizeAnalysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract ExchangeableCations CEC HO~. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+AI H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

L-H 3-O - - - - 6.4 - _ _ - - 7.1 0.1 1.4 83.5 7.9 100.5 Ah O-6 6 24 70 22 5.9 0.09 1.48 16 - - 4.2 0.2 1.6 67.2 26.8 47.3 Bg 6-34 3 22 75 48 5.9 0.06 0.72 12 - - 2.5 0.6 1.1 67.3 28.5 46.0 Ckis at 34 2 17 81 32 7.1 0.06 0.73 11 3.86 - 1.0 1.0 1.6 70.8 25.6 49.2

Ckg-at 34 inches, gray (SY 4/I, moist) heavy clay, with Rochester soils may have up to 6 inches of peat prominent, dark yellowish brown (IOYR 4/4, moist) on the surface. The lower portion of the peat is mottles; weak, fine subangular blocky to amorphous; genemlly well decomposed (H). An Ah horizon, firm, very sticky; stone-free stratified lacustrine; weakly greater than 3 inches in thickness, overlies a mottled calcareous; pH 7.1. Bg horizon and du11 coloured Cg horizon. The follow- Associated Soils ing is a description of a Rochester soi1 profile: Raven soils are associated with Mica, Macola, H-3 to 0 inches, black (IOYR 2/ 1, moist) well decomposed Evansburg, Kenzie, Eaglesham, and Maywood soils. peat; pH 6.8. Use Ah-O to 4 inches, very dark brown (IOYR 2/ 2, moist) loamy Raven soils are extensively cultivated in the map Sand, single grain; loose; abrupt, wavy boundary; 3 to area. In their natural state they may be too wet 8 inches thick; pH 6.7. for growing grain crops. In areas now under culti- Bg-4 to 15 inches, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4, moist) vation some drainage has been provided, but local Sand, with prominent, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/6, flooding and water-logging are serious problems. moist) mottles; single grain; loose; gradual, irregular Maintaining good tilth in these soils is important and boundary; 3 to 20 inches thick; pH 6.4. BCg-15 to 27 inches, olive brown (2SY 4/4, moist) Sand, cari be accomplished by incorporating the peat Iayer with distinct, strong brown (7SYR 5/6, moist) mottles; into the minera1 soi1 when bringing new areas under single grain; loose; graduai, irregular boundary; 0 to 25 cultivation and also by incorporating trop residues inches thick; pH 6.3. into the minera1 soi1 in cultivated fïelds. These soils Cg-at 27 inches, grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2, moist) sandy are rated as fair arable soils. loam, with faint, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4, moist) mottles; single grain; loose; stone-free; non-calcareous; Rochester Series (RC) (1,960 acres) pH 6.1. Rochester soils are poorly drained Orthic Humic Associated Soi.5 Gleysols developed on very coarse textured alluvial- aeolian deposits. These soils occur in the northwestern Rochester soils are associated with Heart, Nicot, Codesa, and Kenzie soils. portion of the area adjacent to Sunset Lake. They occupy depressional to level positions in the land- Use scape and are commonly found interspersed with or- These soils are not cultivated in the map area. ganic soils between the sand dunes. The native Their chief management problems are poor surface vegetation consists of black spruce, lodgepole pine, drainage and low fertility. Where surface drainage dwarf birch, slough grasses, sedges, labrador tea, is provided, these soils are suited to the production horsetail, bog cranberry, bearberry, and a variety of forage crops. Rochester soils are rated as suit- of mosses. able for pasture and woodland in this area.

TABLE 35LAnalyses of a Rochester Soi1 Profile (SE 3-56-13-W5th)

% ParticleSize Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract ExchangeableCations CEC Hor. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+Al H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

H 3-0 _ - - - 6.8 - - - - - 10.1 0.5 3.0 74.8 11.6 35.9 Ah O-4 83 8.9 3 6.7 0.43 4.52 11 - - 13.5 2.8 1.4 77.4 4.9 25.7 Bs 4-15 89 8 3 1 6.4 0.02 0.27 14 - - 14.2 0.3 3.1 69.7 12.7 4.7 BCg 15-27 89 6 5 3 6.3 - - _ - - 10.4 1.0 2.1 68.8 17.7 7.9 cg at 27 80 8 12 8 6.1 - - - - - 8.3 1.5 1.5 72.9 15.8 11.6

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE AREA 55 Sundance Series (Su) (1,280 acres) Associated Soils Sundance soils are rapidly to well drained Bisequa Sundance soils are associated with Pinto, Heart, Gray Wooded soils developed on sandy alluvial- and Horburg soils. aeolian deposits. These soils occur in the extreme southwestern portion of the map area. The deposits Use are relatively thick and appear to have been re- Sundance soils are not cultivated. These soils worked by water or wind on topography that is occur at elevations exceeding 3,000 feet above sea usually undulating to gently undulating. Interna1 level where climatic conditions limit agricultural drainage is very rapid and runoff is negligible. Native trop production. The major soi1 limitations are very vegetation is dominantly lodgepole pine forest with coarse texture, low organic matter, low available an understory of low ericaceous shrubs, lichens, a plant nutrient status, and low water-holding number of herbs, and several moss species. capacity. Their value as native pasture is limited somewhat by the lack of desirable grass and forb Soils of the Sundance series have horizons which species. are distinguished by pronounced changes in colour. They have a thin organic horizon, a thin yellowish brown Ae, horizon, a distinct yellowish red Bf Tolman Series (TO) (7,480 acres) horizon, and a yellowish brown Ae, horizon. This Soils of the Tolman series consist of well to mo- sequence (Ae , Bf, Ae,) grades into a relatively thin derately well drained Orthic Gray Wooded soils continuous, brown Bt or Btj horizon. The solum is developed on weakly calcareous, stratified, medium medium to strongly acid. The C horizon is usually textured alluvial-lacustrine sediments. A fine tex- stone-free and non-calcareous to weakly calcareous. tured lacustrine or till substrate maybe present at 3 A representative Sundance soi1 profile is described to 5 feet from the surface. The surface texture ranges as follows: from sandy loam to loam and the underlying stratified material usually has layers of very fine sand to L-H-3 to 0 inches, conifer needles and masses, decomposed silty clay. The material is generally stone-free. These slightly in the lower portion; pH 5.2. soils are not widespread, occurring principally south Ae,-0 to 2 inches, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4, moist) loamy of Eta Lake and west of the McLeod River, near Sand; single grain; loose; abrupt, smooth boundary; 1 to Haddock. In addition, Tolman soils are of minor 3 inches thick; pH 5.1. occurrence in many of the morainic till areas. They Bf-2 to 5 inches, yellowish red (5YR 416, moist) sandy are found on undulating and gently undulating loam; single grain; loose; abrupt, smooth boundary; 1 landscapes. Native tree caver consists mainly of to 4 inches thick; pH 5.8. lodgepole pine, aspen poplar, white spruce, balsam Ae,--5 to 7 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/6, moist) loamy poplar, and occasional birch and willow. The follow- Sand; single grain; loose; clear, smooth boundary; 2 to ing is a description of a representative soi1 profile 6 inches thick; pH 5.7. of the Tolman series: Btj-7 to 17 inches, brown (7.5YR 5/4, moist) loamy Sand; weak, medium prismatic breaking easily to single grain; L-H-2 to 0 inches, deciduous leaf litter and grasses. friable; graduai, irregular boundary; 3 to 15 inches thick; Ah-O to 1 inches, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2, moist) pH 5.5. sandy loam to loam; moderate, medium granular; very BC-17 to 56 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/4, moist) friable; abrupt, smooth boundary; 0 to 2 inches thick; sand; single grain; loose; diffuse, irregular boundary; 0 pH 6.8. to 35 inches thick; pH 5.8. Ae-1 to 8 inches, light gray (IOYR 7/2, dry) sandy loam; C-at 56 inches, brown (IOYR 5/3, moist) loamy Sand; single strong, medium platy; soft; abrupt, smooth boundary; 4 grain; loose; stone-free; non-calcareous; pH 5.8. to 8 inches thick; pH 6.1.

TABLE 40-Analyses of a Sundance Soi1 Profile (SW 4-50-13-WSth)

% Particle Size Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC HO~. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+Al H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

L-H 3-O - - - - 5.2 - - - - - 45.9 0.0 1.3 40.8 12.0 46:3 Ae, O-2 76 21 3 1 5.1 0.05 0.93 19 - 0.17 38.3 0.1 2.5 24.1 35.0 6.2 Bf 2-5 63 33 4 1 5.8 0.10 1.67 17 - 2.78 65.8 0.2 4.0 5.0 25.0 12.2 Ae, 5-7 84 12 4 1 5.7 0.01 0.14 14 - 0.14 23.1 0.7 2.0 44.6 29.6 4.6 Btj 7-17 83 11 6 2 5.5 0.02 0.15 8 - 0.26 39.1 1.0 2.8 21.1 40.0 5.8 BC 17-56 90 7 3 1 5.8 - - - - 0.14 11.4 0.7 2.4 34.6 50.9 4.2 C at56 81 14 5 3 5.8 - - - - 0.14 10.2 0.4 2.0 48.0 39.4 3.9

56 REPORT S-71-28 AB-8 to 11 inches, brown (IOYR 4/3, moi@, pale brown (IOYR 6/3, dry) sandy clay loam; moderate, fine subangular blocky; slightly hard; gradual, irregular boundary; 1 to 5 inches thick; pH 5.8. Bt,-11 to 21 inches, brown (IOYR 4/3, moist), (IOYR 5/3, dry) sandy clay loam; strong, very coarse blocky breaking to strong, fine to medium subangular blocky; hard; gradual, irregular boundary; 5 to 20 inches thick; pH 6.0. Bt,--21 to 33 inches, dark yellowish brown (IOYR 4/4, moist) sandy clay loam; strong, coarse columnar breaking to strong, medium subangular blocky; firm to very firm; clear, smooth boundary;, 0 to 15 inches thick; pH 5.6. BC-33 to 48 inches, dark yellowish brown (IOYR 4/4, moist) sandy loam, moderate, coarse blocky and somewhat stratified; tïrm; abrupt, smooth boundary; 0 to 20 inches thick; stone-free, pH 5.7. IIBC-48 to 57 inches, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4, moist) clay loam; weak, medium subangular blocky; firm; gradual, irregular boundary; 0 to 20 inches thick; pH 6.1. IICk-at 57 inches, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4, moist) silty clay loam; amorphous; firm; stone-free lacustrine; weakly calcareous; pH 7.5. Associated Soi& Tolman soils are associated with Hubalta, Caro- line, Eta, Codner, Maywood, and Kenzie soils. Use Tolman soils are not extensively cultivated. Those areas of Tolman soils that are cultivated, however, are used for grain and forage trop production. The chief problems associated with these soils are low fertility and susceptibility to wind erosion on bare Figure 3%Toton soi1 profile showing a’thtn Ah horbon nnd P dbtincl Ae horizon. fields. These soils on undulating topography are rated as fair arable soils, except in the southwestern slightly to moderately stony throughout, with quart- portion where they are rated suitable only for pas- zite, sandstone, and crystalline igneous and meta- ture and woodland because of adverse climate. morphic stones being dominant. Iron concretionary fragments also occur to some extent. These soils are found in the northeastern section of the map area on Uncas Series (Un) (3,520 acres) gently undulating to gently rolling topography, but Uncas soils are moderately well drained Dark are generally of minor occurrence. The native tree Gray Wooded soils developed on weakly to moderate- caver consists dominantly of aspen poplar. ly calcareous Continental till material derived mainly Uncas soils have well expressed Dark Gray from the Edmonton Formation. The soi1 profile is Wooded features. The surface texture varies from

TABLE 41-Analyses of a Tolman Soi1 Profile (NW 7-56lfW5th)

% Particle Size Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % CaCO, Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC Hor. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fi: C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+Al H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

L-H 2-f) _ _ _ - _ _ _ ------Ah o-1 50 43 7 2 6.8 0.73 8.30 Il - - 12.9 0.1 2.6 84.4 - 37.8 Ae l-8 55 37 8 0 6.1 0.02 0.20 10 - - 15.5 0.5 10.5 63.0 10.5 4.9 AB 8-11 51 24 25 14 6.0 0.03 0.31 10 - - 8.4 0.6 2.9 84.7 3.4 18.1 Btl 11-21 60 15 25 14 5.8 0.04 0.40 10 - - 9.6 0.3 2.5 82.5 5.1 18.3 Bt, 21-33 63 16 21 12 5.6 0.02 0.28 14 - - 11.6 0.7 2.2 80.4 5.1 13.2 BC 33-48 59 23 18 10 5.7 - - - - - 10.3 0.7 1.5 7’1.2 10.3 13.4 IIBC 48-57 22 45 33 17 6.1 - - - - - 5.9 0.4 2.1 81.9 9.7 23.5 IICk at 57 7 55 38 24 7.5 - - - 4.05 ------

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE AREA 57 silt loam to loam while the finer textured Bt horizon is generally clay loam. These soils differ from the Cooking Lake soils in that they contain an Ah horizon which varies from 3 to 5 inches in thickness. The following is a description of a representative Uncas soi1 profile: L-H-1 to 0 inches, deciduous leaf litter and grasses; pH 6.6. Ah-O to 4 inches, very dark grayish brown (IOYR 3/2, moist) silt loam to silty clay loam; moderate, medium granular; friable;,abrupt, smooth boundary; 3 to 5 inches thick; pH 6.3. Ae-4 to 7 inches, light yellowish brown (IOYR 6/4, moist) silt loam; strong, medium platy; friable; abrupt, smooth boundary; 2 to 6 inches thick; pH 6.5. AB-7 to 9 inches, dark yellowish brown (IOYR 4/4, moist) clay loam; moderate, fine subangular blocky; friable to firm; gradual, irregular boundary; 1 to 5 inches thick; pH 5.3. Bt,-9 to 17 inches, dark yellowish brown (IOYR 4/4, moist) clay loam; strong, medium to fine subangular blocky; Figure 34-A Wabmun soi1 profileoboring columnar structure. iïrm; gradual, smooth boundary; 5 to 20 inches thick; pH 4.9. erosion and therefore the addition of organic matter Btz-17 to 33 inches, dark brown (1Oi’R 4/3, moist) clay to the soi1 and avoidance of cultivating up and down loam; strong, medium subangular blocky; firm; gradual, the slope should be standard farm practices. Uncas smooth boundary; 0 to 20 inches thick; pH 5.0. soils on undulating topography are rated as fairly BC-33 to 44 inches, dark brown (IOYR 413, moist) loam to good to good arable soils. clay loam; weak, medium subangular blocky; firm to friable; graduai, irregular boundary; 0 to 20 inches thick; Wabamun Series (Wa) (120 acres) pH 6.6. Wabamun soils cons& of moderately well to Ck-at 44 inchek, dark yellowish brown (IOYR 4/4, moist) imperfectly drained Black Solod soils developed on clay loam; amorphous; firm to friable; moderately stony weakly calcareous, moderately saline, very fine tex- till; weakly to moderately calcareous; pH 7.5. tured lacustrine material. A small acreage of these Associated Soi/s soils occur on undulating topography at the north- Uncas soils are associated with Cooking Lake, east end of Chip Lake. Surface drainage is moderate, Onoway, and Macola soils. while interna1 drainage is impeded by the very fine textured material. Use The dominant feature of the Wabamun soi1 pro- Most Uncas soils are presently under cultivation file is the very firm organic stained, columnar struc- and grain is the principal trop grown. They are suit- ture of the Bnt horizon. These soils are character- able for trop production but precautions should be ized by a fairly thick Ah horizon, a leach Ae hori- taken to maintain their native fertility. Mixed farming zon, and a distinct AB horizon that breaks into and the inclusion of legumes and grasses in the ro- blocky aggregates and rests on the dark coloured tation are beneficial practices. Frequently these soils Bnt horizon. The gray coloured siliceous material are found on sloping land that is susceptible to water of the Ae horizon usually coats the Upper 2 to 3

TABLE 42-Analyses of an Uncas Soi1 Profile (NE 8-568-W5th)

% Parti& Size Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaC03 Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC Hor. (inches) Sand Silt Clay FineC pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+Al H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

L-H 1-4) - - - - 6.6 - - - - _ 6.7 0.1 3.8 63.7 25.7 75.7 Ah O-4 17 55 28 11 6.3 0.20 3.49 17 - - 8.7 0.1 8.2 52.3 30.7 25.6 Ae 4-7 24 67 9 1 6.5 0.03 0.36 12 - - 9.9 0.2 3.8 44.1 42.0 5.1 AB 7-9 22 47 31 17 5.3 0.04 0.58 15 - - 9.9 0.4 2.3 50.9 36.5 17.1 % 9-17 33 36 31 18 4.9 0.04 0.46 12 - - 11.6 0.4 1.7 50.6 35.7 20.0 Bt, 17-33 31 36 33 19 5.0 0.03 0.51 17 - - 7.7 0.6 0.8 43.6 47.3 22.4 BC 33-44 34 39 27 18 6.6 - - - - - 2.1 0.8 0.7 58.6 37.8 21.0 Ck at 44 36 35 29 15 7.5 - - - 5.51 - - 0.5 0.6 69.7 29.2 23.8

58 REPORT S-71-28 inches of the Bnt columns. The columns grade into Wildhay Series (Wld) (2,160 acres) amorphous clay in the C horizon. The following is Wildhay soils are moderately welI to imperfectly a description of a representative soil profile of the drained Bisequa Gray Wooded soils formed on mo- Wabamun series: derately to very stony Cordilleran glacial till. The stone suite consists of a mixture of smooth water- Ah-0 to 4 inches, very dark brown (IOYR 2/ 2, moist) silty wom quartzite and sandstone pebbles, and also clay to silty clay loam; strong, medium granular; friable; limestone fragments. The absence of crystalline abrupt, smooth boundary; 3 to 6 inches thick; pH 5.3. igneous and metamorphic pebbles in the material is Ae-4 to 8 inches, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2, moist) an important differentiating characteristic between silt loam; strong, medium platy; friable; abrupt, smooth the Cordilleran and Continental tills. The Cordilleran boundary; 2 to 5 inches thick; pH 5.2. till is moderately to strongly calcareous and varies AR-8 to 10 inches, very dark brown (IOYR 2/2, moist) silty clay loam to silty clay; moderate, fine to medium sub- in texture from silt loam to clay loam. Wildhay soils angular blocky; firm to very firm; clear, smooth boun- are found on gently undulating to strongly rolling dary; 1 to 4 inches thick; pH 4.5. topography in the extreme southwestern portion of Bnf,-10 to 16 inches, very dark grayish brown (IOYR the map area at elevations over 3,500 feet above sea 3/2, moist) heavy clay, with black (IOYR 2/ 1, moist) level. The native tree caver consists of lodgepole organic stained ped surfaces; strong, medium cohtmnar pine, aspen poplar, white and black spruce, and alder. breaking ro strong, fine subangular blocky; very firrn; The understory is primarily blueberry, bearberry, gradual, irregular boundary; 4 to 10 inches thick; pH 4.1. bunchberry, buffaloberry, and a profusion of mosses. Bn$-16 to 23 inches, very dark grayish brown (IOYR 3/2, The dominant feature of the Wildhay soi1 profile moist) heavy clay, with black (IOYR 2/ 1, moist) organic is the occurrence of a podzol sequence (Ae and Bf- stained ped surfaces; strong, fine columnar breaking to like) of horizons, in an Ae horizon overlying a con- strong, .fine subangular blocky; very firm; gradual, tinuous textural Bt horizon which occurs at depths wavy boundary; 0 to 10 inches thick; pH 5.0. of less than 15 inches from the surface. The Bf hori- Cksa-at 23 inches, very dark grayish brown (10YR 312, zon may or may not have sufficient oxalateextract- moist) heavy clay; amorphous and stratitïed; very firm; able iron plus aluminum to meet the criteria for a stone-free lacustrine; moderately saline and weakly cal- Bf horizon. The underlying Ae and Bt horizons are careous; pH 7.5. usually moderately well to strongly developed. The texture of the surface horizons is generally silt loam, Associuted Soils while the Bt horizon varies from clay loam to sandy Wabamun soils are associated with Kawood soils clay loam. The Podzol solum seldom exceeds 6 inches in this area. in depth and never merges with the Bt horizon of the Gray Wooded solum. This is characteristic of aIl Use Bisequa Gray Wooded soi1 profiles in the map area. Wabamun soils are fairly good agricultural soils The podzol sequence of horizons in the Wildhay soils and are used for cereal and forage trop produc- is very strongly to strongly acidic, and the under- tion. The management problems associated with these lying Gray Wooded solum is medium to slightly acid. soils are caused by a somewhat tough Bnt horizon Lime carbonate occurs at 20 to 44 inches from the which is very fine textured and slowly permeable. surface. The following soi1 profile description is Tillage may be difficult and is somewhat restricted representative of the Wildhay series: to periods when the soils are not too dry or too wet. L-H-2 to 0 inches, moss and pine needles, slightly decom- Beneficial effects on soi1 fertility and tilth are ob- posed in lower portion; pH 4.3. tained when organic matter is periodically added and Ae,-0 to 1.5 inches, light brownish gray (IOYR 6/2, moist) a legume is included in the cropping program. These silt loam; moderate, fine to medium platy; very friable; soils are rated as fairly good arable soils. abrupt, smooth boundary; 1 to 4 inches thick, pH 5.1.

TABLE 43-Analyses of a Wabamun Soi1 Profile (SW 26-54-IO-W5th)

% Particle Size Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC HO~. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe +AI H Na K Ca Mg me/ 1OOg

Ah O-4 12 48 40 25 5.3 0.53 4.90 9 - - 32.7 8.5 1.7 48.9 8.2 42.8 Ae 4-8 24 62 14 3 5.2 0.10 0.91 9 - - 39.4 13.8 1.8 30.3 14.7 12.9 AB 8-10 14 47 39 20 4.5 0.11 1.31 12 - - 30.8 12.1 4.2 35.4 17.5 28.6 Bnt I 10-16 10 22 68 48 4.1 0.06 1.05 18 - - 16.6 13.1 2.4 48.2 19.7 43.4 Bnt, 16-23 7 16 77 51 5.0 0.05 0.67 13 - - 5.6 16.3 2.6 51.0 24.5 37.3 Cksa at 23 8 20 72 44 7.5 - - - 3.96 - 0.2 13.5 2.1 71.1 13.1 44.5

SOlL SURVEY OF THE CHIP IAKEAREA 59 Bfi-1.5 to 3 inches, dark brown (7.5YR 4/4, moist) silt loam; moderate, medium platy; very friable; abrupt, smooth boundary; 1 to 3 inches thick; pH 5.1. Aez-3 to 9 inches, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/4, moist) silt loam; strong, medium platy; very friable; abrupt, smooth boundary; 3 to 7 inches thick; pH 5.4. Bt-9 to 16 inches, yeliowish brown (IOYR 5/6, moist) clay Ioam; strong, fine subangular blocky; firm; abrupt, wavy boundary; 5 to 20 inches thick; pH 5.9. BC-16 to 20 inches, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4, moist) loam; weak, fine subangular blocky to amorphous; friable; gradual, iriegular boundary; 0 to 15 inches thick; pH 6.7. Ck-at 20 inches, light olive brown (2.5Y 514, moist) loam; amorphous; friable; very stony till; moderately calcareous; pH 7.4. Associated Soiis Wildhay soils are associated with Caroline, Ken- zie, Pinto, and Horburg soils. Use Wildhay soils are not cultivated as they are found in an area where agricultural potential is limited by adverse climatic conditions. These soils are rated as suitable only for pasture and woodlnnd.

Wildwood Series (Ww) (1,120 acres)

Soils of the Wildwood series are poorly drained Figure 35-Wildwood soü profile. A Low Humic Eluviated Cleysol developd on Low Humic Eluviated Gleysols developed on weakly Iscustrinc materisl. to moderately calcareous, very fine textured, lacustrine material. These soils occupy flat, poorly drained neutral. A representative soi1 profilé of the Wildwood areas near the margins of organic soi1 areas, north series is described as follows: of Easyford, and in depressional locations south of L-H-4 to 0 inches, slightly decomposed moylitter; pH 6.2. Chip Lake. Surface and interna1 drainage is very slow. The material is stone-free and stratified. Na- Ah-O to 2 inches, very dark gray (IOYR 3/ 1, moist) clay to heavy clay; strong, fine granular (“shotty”); friable; tive vegetation is dominantly willow, black spruce, abrupt, smooth boundary; 1 to 3 inches thick; pH 5.9. balsam poplar, birch, aspen poplar, and a variety of Aeg-2 to 6 inches, brown (IOYR 5/3, moist) silt loam, with mosses and sedges. prominent, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/6, moist) mottles; The Wildwood soils have less than 6 inches of strong, fine platy; very friable; abrupt, smooth boundary; surface organic material which rests on a thin, very 2 to 5 inches thick; pH 5.8. dark gray Ah horizon, and a relatively thick, brown, ABg-6 to 8 inches, gray (5Y 5/ 1, moist) silty clay loam, with mottled Aeg horizon. The dark gray Btg horizon prominent, olive yellow (5Y 6/6, moist) mottles; mo- contains prominent yellowish brown mottles and is derate, fine subangular blocky; friable to firm; gradual, heavy clay. The solum is usually medium acid to irregular boundary; 1 to 4 inches thick; pH 5.7.

TABLE 44-Analyses of a Wildhay Soi1 Profile (SE 29-49-lSW5th)

% Particle Size Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC Hor. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+AI H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

L-H 2-o - - - - 4.3 - - - 53.9 0.2 3.1 27.9 14.9 78.7 Ael O-I 21 66 13 3 5.1 0.08 1.10 14 - 0.45 44.1 1.4 2.6 31.5 20.4 14.0 B6 1-3 22 63 15 4 5.1 0.09 1.55 17 - 0.85 53.6 0.3 2.9 19.0 24.2 16.2 Aez 3-9 24 65 1.1 1 5.4 0.03 0.46 15 - 0.39 21.4 - 2.6 43.8 32.2 9.6 Bt 9-16 42 27 31 18 5.9 0.03 0.26 9 - 0.48 6.5 0.4 1.8 62.2 29.1 21.4 BC 16-20 47 30 23 10 6.7 - - - - 0.30 1.1 0.4 1.3 69.0 28.2 16.8 Ck at 20 48 34 18 8 7.4 - - - 13.54 0.18 - 0.3 0.8 84.9 14.0 12.5

60 REPORT S-71-28 Btg,-8 to 17 inches, dark gray (SY 4/ 1, moist) heavy clay, moist) mottles; amorphous and stratified; friable; stone- with prominent, olive yellow (5Y 6/6, moist) mottles; free lacustrine; weakly calcareous; pH 7.4. moderate, fine subangular blocky; firm; gradual, irregu- Associakd Soils lar boundary; 5 to 15 inches thick; pH 5.4. Wildwood soils are found in association with Btg,-17 to 30 inches, dark grayish brown (IOYR 4/2, moist) Raven, Maywood, Evansburg, and Kenzie soils. heavy clay, with distinct, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/8, moist) mottles; moderate, fine subangular blocky; firm; Use giadual, irregular boundary; 0 to 20 inches thick; pH 6.4. Some Wildwood soils are cultivated, mainly for BCg-30 to 40 inches, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4, moist) heavy grass and forage production. They are generally clay, with distinct, yellowish brown (IOYR 5/8, moist) “cold” soils and unsuitable for grain crops. Adequate mottles; amorphous; friable; gradual, irregular boun- surface drainage is essential because in wet years dary; 0 to 25 inches thick; pH 6.9. depressional areas are subject to severe local flood- Ckg-at 40 inches, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2, moist) ing and water-logging. Wildwood soils are rated as heavy clay, with faint, yellowish brown (10YR 5/6, poor to fair arable soils depending upon wetness.

TABLE 45-Analyses of a Wildwood Soil Profile (NW 18-53-9-WSth)

% Pa&le Size Analysis % Oxalate % Depth % % % % % % CaCO, Extract Exchangeable Cations CEC HO~. (inches) Sand Silt Clay Fine C pH N Org. C C/N Equiv. Fe+Al H Na K Ca Mg me/lOOg

L-H 4-O - - - - 6.2 - _ - - - 11.3 0.2 3.0 53.4 32.1 87.7 Ah O-2 9 31 60 33 5.9 0.37 9.49 26 - - 12.5 0.4 5.2 52.0 29.9 53.7 A% 2-6 16 63 21 5 5.8 0.06 0.65 11 - - 11.5 0.9 4.0 49.2 34.4 10.2 ABis 6-8 14 52 38 17 5.7 0.07 0.78 11 - - 8.7 0.7 3.2 52.4 35.0 20.5 Be, S-17 7 18 75 47 5.4 0.04 0.84 21 - - 5.4 0.7 1.3 56.9 35.7 42.2 B% 17-30 5 22 73 42 6.4 0.04 0.65 16 - - 2.1 0.7 1.6 59.1 36.5 39.5 BCg 3040 6 24 70 37 6.9 - _ _ - - 1.2 0.8 1.6 57.6 38.8 38.4 Ck at 40 6 27 67 33 7.4 - - - 3.52 - - 0.9 1.3 63.2 34.6 34.9

CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL ANALYSES

Chemical and physical analyses for most of the soi1 8. Oxalate Extractable Iran and Aluminum-Acid ammonium oxalate method of McKeague and Day 1966. Can. J. Soi1 Sci. series and soi1 complexes are shown in table form 46(1):13-22. Iron was determined by atomic absorption spec- throughout the body of this report. troscopy and aluminum colorimetrically using aluminon. The analytical methods used in the various de- terminations were as follows: Soi1 Reaction (pH) 1. Reaction (pH)-Soi1 paste method of Doughty, 1941. Soi1 Sci. Soi1 reaction is expressed in terms of the pH 221135-138. A Coleman glass electrode was used. scale. Soils with pH 7 are neutral. Values below 7 2. Nitrogen-Macro-Kjeldahl method of Jackson, 1958. Soi1 indicate a degree of acidity while those above 7 in- chemical analysis. Prentice-Hall Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N.J. dicate a degree of alkalinity. Most soils within the The catalyst used is a commercially available Kel-pak which map area are acidic to very acidic. Usually the great- contains HgO, CuSO,, and K2S0,. est acidity occurs in the Upper portion of the Bt 3. Oreanic Carbon-By difference between total carbon and horizon of Gray Wooded soils. Gleysolic soils are inorganic carbon. Total carbon by dry combustion as per instruction manual for operation of Leco Carbon Analyzer generally not as acidic as other soils because of bases nos. 577 - 100. contained in the ground water. The C horizon of Exchange Capacity-Ammonium acetate method by displace- most soils in the map area are neutral to moderately ment of ammonium with sodium chloride. Methods of soi1 alkaline. analysis Agronomy No. 9 Part 2, 1965. Nitrogen Exchangeable Cations-A.0A.C. extraction method, 8th Edi- tion, 1955, Washington D.C. Calcium and magnesium were Nitrogen is an important plant nutrient and the determined by EDTA titration and sodium and potassium by amount present in different soils varies considerably. atomic absorption spectroscopy. The well decomposed organic matter in the Ah hori- Calcium Carbonate Equivalent-Manometer method of Bas- zon is the main source of nitrogen in a soil. Con- comb, 1961. Chem. Ind. Nov. 11:1826-1827. A Smolik calci- sequently soils that have the darkest and thickest meterwas used. Ah horizons are generally the most fertile. There are, Particle Size Distribution-Pipette method of Kilmer and Alexander as modifïed by Toogood and Peters, 1953, Can. J. therefore, appreciable differences among soils of Agr. Sci. 33:159-171. different Great Groups because of variations in Ah

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE AREA 61 horizons. Gray Wooded and Bisequa Gray Wooded assium are available for plant growth. Despite acidic soils are low in nitrogen. Dark Gray Wooded soils reactions which are common to the soils of the map are intermediate and Dark Gray soils are relatively area, the base saturation is quite high, suggesting that high in nitrogen content. liming may not be necessary for satisfactory trop production. Calcium is usually the dominant ex- Organic Carbon changeable cation in the soil. The determination of organic carbon in soi1 is A criterion used in the classification of Solonetzic considered the best method of estimating the amount soils is the ratio of exchangeable calcium to exchange- of organic matter in the soil. Generally it is assumed able sodium. A ratio of less than 10 is considered that soi1 organic matter contains 58 per cent carbon as diagnostic for this order of soils. The Wabamun and that an estimate of organic matter is made by and Kawood series are examples of Solonetzic soils multiplying the amount of organic carbon by the in the map area. factor 1.724. An indication of the amount of easily decomposed organic matter contained is provided by Particle Size Distribution the carbon-nitrogen ration. Thus it has been con- The determination of Sand, silt and clay size par- sidered that a desirable ratio should be less than 15 ticles in a soil sample makes it possible to group for Ah horizons and less than 17 for the surface soils into textural classes as shown by the textural 6 inches in the mixed plow layer. triangle in Figure 37. The clay soils, that is those with 40 per cent or more of clay size particles have Exchangeable Cations and Cation Exchange high moisture holding capacity, high cation exchange Capacity capacity but often low permeability. The sandy soils Cation exchange capacity in soi1 varies with the on the other hand usually have low moisture holding clay and organic matter contents. The higher the ex- and cation exchange capacities but high permeability. change capacity the greater is the ability of the soi1 The textural class used in conjunction with a soi1 to retain certain plant nutrients against the action of series or soi1 complex, in this report and on the ac- leaching. A high base saturation usually implies that companying soi1 map, refers to the average texture adequate amounts of calcium, magnesium and pot- of the soil solum.

INTERPRETATION

AGRICULTURE The soils of this map area have been grouped (a) Soi1 Productivity Rating on the basis of their inherent productivity, into five In addition to the classification and mapping of categories or groups; one nonarable and four arable, the soils of the Chip Lake map area, a grouping was in accordance with their suitability for grain produc- made to provide a comparative rating of the soils in- tion. In view of the fact that most of the soi1 areas dicating their inherent productivity for agricultural that appear on the map consist of more than one crops. This information is presented in map form series, and that each of these series may have a and accompanies this report. different soi1 rating, it is necessary to indicate The productivity rating considers such factors as averages when referring to the rating of the various type of soi1 profile, texture of the soil, degree of soil areas outlined on the soi1 map. Thus, the soi1 stoniness, topography and elevation. Because of the rating map should be regarded as presenting average climatic limitations associated with elevation, soils ratings of soil areas rather than specific ratings for found at elevations of approximately 2,600 feet to individual land parcels. On the accompanying soi1 3,000 feet have received a lower rating than compar- rating map, pasture and woodland is indicated as able soils at lower elevations and soils occurring at P-W whereas the arable groups are numbered 4 to 6. elevations exceeding 3,000 feet are indicated as The following is the approximate acreage of each of unsuitable for grain trop production and have been the five groups outlined on the accompanying soi1 rated as pasture and woodland. Soi1 rating is an in- rating map: terpretation of the soi1 morphological features as they P-W Pasture and Woodland, may affect plant growth and agricultural use. On the nonarable land ...... 69 1,400 basis of this numerical rating, the soils are tenta- Group 4 Poor to fair arable land ...... 284,240 tively grouped according to their suitability for grain Group 5 Fair to fairly good arable land ...... 225,080 production. Factors such as hail incidence, distance Group 6 Fairly good to good arable land . .. . 140,920 from markets, and local frost hazard are not con- Water ...... 22,760 sidered. However, the past performance of somewhat TOTAL ...... 1,364,400 similar soils under the prevailing grain cropping systems of management is used as a guide in deter- The distribution of these productivity groups in mining this productivity grouping. the Chip Lake area is shown in Figure 36.

62 REPORT S-71-28 These figures were, in the main, arrived at through use of the Hopkins (1938) formula- which takes into account the effect of elevation, latitude and longitude on temperature. There is considerable range in climatic conditions in the map area. On the basis of frost-free days and summer heat units the Chip Lake map area cari be delineated into three climatic Subregions. The Mayer- thorpe and Wildwood regions, with a frost-free period of 75 to 90 days, is in Subregion II. Those areas which lie at elevations between 2,600 and 3,000 feet above sea level, are in Subregion III. The southwestern portion, at an elevation above 3,000 feet, RATING CLASS ususlly has less than 60 frost-free days and has been ,Figure 36-Histogwm showing the disbibutian of ihe sgricuitural mting classes in designated as Subregion V. Climatic Subregion II is îhe Chip Lake map arat. suitable for growing a wide variety of crops including It should be recognized that the rating system wheat, barley and oats. Subregion III is suitable for provides only a relative comparison since the actual the growth of coarse grains, barley and oats, but a yields depend greatly on the varieties of crops grown high risk of damage is attached to wheat production. as well as the resources and management skills of Subregion V is unsuitable for cultivated crops and the producer. With continuing improvement in farm- is limited to the production of forage crops for hay ing practices and the introduction of new varieties and pasture. of farm crops, the productivity capacity of these In the soi1 capability classification system the soils Will undoubtedly rise, and a shift in the pre- minera1 soils are grouped into seven classes according sent proposed limits for these groups may be to their potentialities and limitations for agricultural necessary. use. The first three classes are considered capable for sustained production of common cultivated crops, (b) Soi1 Capability the fourth is marginal for sustained arable culture, A soi1 capability classification for agricultural the fifth is capable of use only for permanent pas- purposes is one of the objectives of the Canada Land ture and hay, the sixth is capable of use only Inventory under the Agricultural and Rural Develop- for wild pasture, while the seventh class is for ment Act (ARDA) of June 1961. This classification soils and land types (including rock outcrop and provides for an interpretive grouping, based on soi1 small bodies of water) considered incapable of use survey data, and attempts to assess the potentials for arable culture or permanent pasture. Organic and limitations of areas for agricultural use. Within soils are not classified in the Canada Land Inventory the framework of the Capability Classification, con- classification system. The acreage of the agricul- sideration has been given to the delineation of cli- tural capability classes in the Chip Lake map area matic Subregions. The main criteria used for estab- are shown in Table 47. Capability classes 2 and 3, lishing these Subregions are length of frost-free the better agricultural land in the map area, are period (Last frost before July 15 and first frost found mainly in the northeastern portion and com- after July 16) and the number of degree-days above prise 14 per ent of the total area. Approximately 51 42 degrees Fahrenheit. The length of frost-free period per cent of the map area is unsuitable for sustained and number of degree-days above 42 degrees Fahren- arable culture. heit generally decrease with increasing latitude and elevation but at the same time tend to increase with increasing longitude. TABLE 47-Acreage of the Agricultural Capability Classes in the Chip Lake Map Area

TABLE 46-Length of Frost-Free Period and Degree-Days above Capability C1a.s~ Acreage 42 Degrees Fahrenheit for the Climatic Subregions of the Map Area - Climate Frost-Free 88,360 Subregion Days Degree-Days 102,160 482,480 II 75-90 1900-2200 323,950 111 60-75 1750-1900 47,540 V L60 < 1750 22,760 297,150

On this basis the following limits, as shown in Table TOTAL 1,364,400 46, are used for establishing climatic Subregions.

SOlL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE AREA 63 The agricultural soi1 capability map, which in- the soils in the map area. The information was ob- cludes the Chip Lake area, is presently in press and tained from examination of 100 plots in the area. Will be available from the Queens Printer, Ottawa in the near future. (a) Average Site Index FORESTRY On each plot, heights and ages of four dominant The forestry inventory of the Chip Lake map area or CO-dominant trees were measured and site index is shown in Table 48. The data were compiled by determined for Lodgepole Pine and White Spruce. the Alberta Forest Service from aerial photographs The index age for these species in this area is 70 and includes tords of pulpwood and thousands of years. Therefore, on a soi1 classified as having a board feet of sawtimber. Trees selected for pulp- site index of 78 for Lodgepole Pine, those Lodgepole wood are those with 4 to 7 inch diameters at breast Pine which have been in a dominant position Will height. Larger timber, with greater than 8 inch dia- average 78 feet in height at age 70 years. meters at breast height, were designated. as sawtimber. (b) Moisture Status Moisture status as used herein refers to the nor- TABLE 48-Pulpwood and Sawtimber Inventory in tbe Chip Lake Map Area* mal amount of moisture available for tree growth during the growing season. These estimates are based Coniferous Deciduous (popular) on the moisture analysis (1/3 atmosphere and 15 Pulpwood (Cords) 1,187,134 2505,069 atmospheres) of some 250 soi1 horizon samples which Sawtimber (FBM) 645,904 1,830,844 ranged from about 15% in fine textured soils to 9% in the medium textured and 3% in the coarse * Data supphed by Alberta Forest Service, 1970 textured soils. Accordingly the soils have been rated A recent study in the southern portion of this as excellent, moderate, and droughty. Those soils area, in the vicinity of Cynthia, has shown that the in which excessive moisture may limit tree growth various soils have different productivities and have been designated excessive or wet. These in- limitations for the production of timber. This include soils with the water table near the ground vestigation was carried out by the Canada Depart- surface during a large part of the growing season. ment of Forestry and the Research Council of Alberta. (c) Potential Erosion Hazard Since this study was confined to the Cynthia area, Potential erosion hazard is the expected rapidity data is only available for those soils found in this and amount of soi1 loss from an area following re- area and no attempt has been made to estimate the moval of the protective vegetation. Such erosion may potentialities or limitations of other soils in the map be a result of either water or wind action. Many area. factors contribute to this hazard, such as steepness Table 49 shows the productivity, suitabilities and of slope, soi1 texture, depth and permeability of the limitations for the production of timber of some of soi1 profile and the intensity of precipitation. In

TABLE 49-Soi1 Productivity and Management Limitations for Timber Production-Cyntbia Area

Soi1 Series Average Site Index-70 yrs. Potential Potential Potential Or Slope Drainage Lodgepole White Moisture Erosion Windthrow Brush Complex Texture % Class Pine Spruce Status Hazard Hazard Hazard

Alluvial Loamy Sand to O-l Moderately well 64 73 Moderate Moderate High High silt loam to imperfectly Bremay Clay loam O-5 Imperfectly 66 72 Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Codesa Loamy Sand to O-6 Moderately well 75 Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate sandy loam Evansburg Heavy clay O-4 Imperfectly 68 78 Excellent High Moderate High Heart Sand O-6 Rapidly 55 N.C.* Droughty High Moderate Low Horburg Gravelly O-l Well 64 N.C. Droughty Low Moderate Moderate loamy Sand Hubalta Clay loam O-20 Moderately well 63 79 Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Kenzie Organic O-l Very poorly N.C. N.C. Wet Moderate High Moderate Maywood Heavy clay O-4 Moderately well 78 80 Excellent High Moderate High Raven Heavy clay O-2 Poorly 60 81 Excessive Moderate Moderate Moderate Peaty Raven Heavy clay O-2 Very poorly 64 Wet Moderate High Moderate Wildwood Heavy clay o-2 Poorly 72 Excessive Moderate Moderate Moderate

*N.C.-noncommercial

64 REPORT S-71-28 Alberta, experience has shown that those soils de- following timber harvesting. These estimates are veloped on very fine textured lacustrine materials are based on the percentage caver of the High shrub usually the most easily eroded by water. Erosion cari layer (Alder and Willow) and Low shrub layer occur in these soils even on very gentle slopes. For (Buffaloberry and Low Bush Cranberry) on reason- purposes of this report the potential erosion hazard ably well stocked stands of timber on various soils has been rated as high, moderate or low. of the Cynthia area. The relative ratings used are high, moderate, and low. (d) Potential Windthrow Hazard The windthrow hazard ratings in Table 49 were ENGINEERING estimated from soi1 properties and from field obser- The soil survey of the Chip Lake map area, vations. Trees appear to be most subject to wind- though made primarily for agriculture, has consider- throw on soils characterized by a relatively thick or- able value for other uses. Some soi1 properties are ganic surface layer. These would include the organic of special interest to engineers because these pro- soils and peaty phased gleysolic soils where the root- perties affect the design, construction and mainten- ing depth is quite shallow. Usually these soils have a ance of roads, airports, pipelines, foundations of seasonally high water table. Such soils have been buildings, sewagedisposal systems, and drainage given a high windthrow rating whereas soils systems. characterized by deeper rooting zones have been des- With the soi1 map for identification, the engineer- cribed as having a moderate or low windthrow ing data in Table 50 cari be used for many pur-poses. hazard. It should be strongly emphasized, however, that the data generally will not eliminate the need for sub- (e) Potential Brush Hazard surface investigation, subsequent testing and engi- The brush hazard rating refers to the expected neering analysis at the site of the proposed engi- amount of competition from shrubs that may occur neering works. In most places the intensity of in-

TABLE SO-Physical Analyses of Some Representative Soils

Particle Size Sand (S) Silt (Si) Clay ((2 Fine Clay (FC) Liquid Plastic Plasticity Soi1 Series Hor- Per Cent Per Cent Per Cent Per Cent Limit Limit Index Classification or Complex izon (24.05 mm) (0.05-0.002 mm) ( < 0.002 mm) ( < 0.0002 mm) (WL) (Wp) (PI) USDA texture Unified

Till Materials Hubalta Bt 31 28 41 26 43.1 17.0 26.1 Clay CL Ck 38 29 33 17 37.8 14.0 23.8 Clay loam CL Hubalta Bt 31 33 38 28 45.4 16.4 29.0 Clay Ioam CL Ck 34 33 33 23 43.1 15.4 28.3 Clay loam CL Hubalta Ck 36 31 33 19 45.3 15.8 29.5 Clay loam CL Wildhay Bt 42 27 31 18 39.3 16.8 22.5 Clay loam CL Ck 48 34 18 8 27.8 13.3 14.5 Loam CL Breton Ck 32 40 28 15 35.5 14.8 20.7 Loam-clay loam CL Lacustrine Materials Mica Bt 2 20 78 48 78.6 28.4 50.2 Heavy clay CH Ck 1 19 80 41 70.2 25.0 45.2 Heavy clay CH Judah Bt 13 32 55 33 52.9 21.3 31.6 Clay CH Ck 23 49 28 20 40.6 16.6 24.0 Silt loamalay loam CL Macola Bt 12 17 71 47 67.5 25.8 41.7 Reavy clay CH Ck 3 23 74 39 74.6 24.6 50.0 Heavy clay CH Raven Bis 3 22 75 48 77.8 25.1 52.7 Heavy clay CH cg 2 17 81 32 92.0 28.0 64.0 Heavy clay CH Evansburg Btg 2 28 70 41 71.2 25.3 45.9 Heavy clay CH Ch 1 46 53 24 52.0 21.2 30.8 Silty clay CH Alluvial-Aeolian Material Sundance Bt 82 13 5 2 - - NP* Loamy sand SP C 81 13 6 4 - - NP Loamy sand SP Aeolian Material Heart BC 91 6 3 - - NP Sand SP Ck 90 3 3 - - NP Sand SP

NP*-Non Plastic

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP L4KE ARE4 65 vestigation needed is proportional to the weight of are used to designate each of 15 possible classes. the loads to be applied, to the depth and amount The letters G, S, C, M, and 0 stand for gravel, of earthwork involved, and to the cost of the con- Sand, clay, silt, and organic material, respectively; templated works. Nevertheless, the engineering data and the letters W, P, L, and H refer to well graded, and the soil map, together with the soil descriptions, poorly graded, low liquid limit, and high liquid limit, are useful for planning more detailed field investiga- respectively. The designation SM, for example, tions and for suggesting the kinds of problems that shows sand mixed with silt, and ML shows silt that may be expected. has a liquid limit less than 50. In a like manner, The selected samples in Table 50 are representa- the designation MH or CH shows silt and clay tive of some of the principal soils of this area. The that have a liquid limit of more than 50. soils are grouped according to parent material. In The methods used in determining the reported some cases several samples of the same soi1 series results are as follows: were collected to show the variations within a soi1 1. Particle Size-Pipette method of Kilmer and series. The samples of the C horizon were taken Alexander modified by Toogood and Peters, at depths usually not greater than 5 feet. Particle 1953. Can. J. Agr. Sci. 33:159-171. size distribution, liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasti- 2. Liquid Limit-ASTM procedures for testing soils, City index were determined. A comparison of the 1958. 1916 Race St., Philadelphia 3, Pa. Desig- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) nation D423-54T. textured classes and the Unified Soi1 Classification 3. Plastic Limit-ASTM procedures for testing soils, System is also presented in Table 50. 1958. 1916 Race St., Philadelphia 3, Pa. Desig- In the Unified Soi1 Classification System the soils nation D424-54T. are identified according to their texture and plasti- 4. Unified Soi1 Classification System-PC4 Soi1 Pri- City and are grouped according to their performance mer, Portland Cernent Association, 1962. 33 West as engineering construction material. Two letters Grand Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60610.

REFERENCES

Bayrock, L. A. 1962. Heavy minerals in till of central Alberta. temuerature in central and southern Alberta and Saskatche- J.Alta. Soc. Pet. Geol. 1~171-184. wan with latitude, longitude and altitude. Can. J. of Res., Boughner, C. C., R. W. Longley, and M. K. Thomas. 1956. Cli- Sec. 6, Vol. 16. matic’ summaries for selected meteorological stations in Can- Longley, R. W. 1967. The frost-free period in Alberta, Can. J. ada. Vol. III. Frost data. Plant Sci., 47239-249. Chapman, L. J. and D. M. Brown. 1966. The climates of Canada National Soi1 Survey Committee of Canada. 1968. Report of for agriculture, The Canada land inventory, Dept. of For. meetings held at the Univ. ofAlta., Edm., Alta. and Rural Dev., Ottawa, Can. Rept. No. 3. Roed, M. A. 1968. Surficial geology, Edson-Hinton Area. Ph.D. Collins, G. A. and A. G. Swan. 1955. Glacial geology St. Ann Thesis, Univ. of Alta., Edm. area. Res. Council of Alta. Rept. No. 67. Rowe, J. S. 1959. Forest regions of Canada, Can. Dept. of Nor. Cormack, R. G. H. Botanical survey of east slope region, Dept. Aff. and Natur. Res., For. Br., Ottawa, Bull. 123. of Botany, Univ. ofAlta., Edm. Twardy, A. G. 1969. A comparative study of glacial till parent Gravenor, C. P. and L. A. Bayrock. 1955. Use of indicators in material in west-central Alberta. M.Sc. Thesis, Univ. of Alta., the determination of ice-movement directions in Alberta. Edm. Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull. 66: 1325-8. U.S.DA. 1951. Soi1 survey manual. Handb. No. 18. U.S. Gov’t. Hopkins, J. W. 1938. Agricultural meteorology: Correlation of air Printing Office, Wash., D.C.

REPORT S-71-28 APPENDIX DEFINITION OF DESCRIPTIVE TERMS of distinctness) as follows: weak, moderate, and strong. They Throughout this report frequent use is made of descriptive vary in class (size) as follows: very fine, fine, medium, coarse, terms in describing features of significance within the map area. and very coarse. They also vary in kinds (character of the faces The following are definitions of some of these descriptive terms. and edges of the aggregates). The kinds mentioned in this report are: Sing/e-grain-loose, incoherent mass of individual particles as 1. SOIL TEXTURE in sands. Elocky-faces rectangular and flattened, vertices sharply (a) Soi1 Separates (Parti& Size) on which Textural Classes angular. Subangular blocky-faces subrectangular, vertices most- are Based 1y oblique, or subrounded. Columnar-vertical edges near top of columns are not Sharp (columns may be flat-topped, round- Diameter in topped, or irregular). Granular-spheroidal, characterized by Separates MiHimelers rounded vertices. Plary-horizontal planes more or less developed. Very Coarse Sand (V . C. S .) 2.0 -1.0 Soil consisrence comprises the attributes of soi1 materials that Coarse Sand (C. S .) 1.0 -0.5 are expressed by the degree and kind of cohesion and adhesion Medium Sand (M . S .) Sand (S . ) ...... _____ 0.5. -0.25 or by the resistance to deformation and rupture. It deals with Fine Sand (F.S.) 0.25-o. 10 the strength and nature of the forces of attraction within a soi1 Very Fine Sand (V.F. S ) 0.10-0.05 mass. The terms used in describing soils in this report fohow: Silt (Si.) _...._._.___...... 0.05-0.002 L’ose-noncoherent. Friable (specifies friable when moist)-soi1 Clay (C. ) ...... less than 0.002 material crushes easily under gentle to moderate pressure be- Fine Clay (F. C.) ...... less than 0.0002 tween thumb and forefinger, and coheres when pressed together. (b) Proportions of Soils Separates in Various Soi1 Textural Firm (specifies firm when moist)-soi1 material crushes under Classes moderate pressure between thumb and foretïnger but resistance From: Toogood, J. A. 1958. A Simplified Textural Clas- is distinctly noticeable. Hard (specifies hard ‘when dry)-mod- sification Diagram. Can. J. Soi1 Sci. 38:54-55. erately resistant to pressure, cari be broken in the hands without difficulty but rarely breakable between thumb and forefïnger. 100 r, Compact-term denotes a combination of tïrm consistence and \ a close packing or arrangement of particles. Plastic (specifies 90 \ plastic when wet)-wire formable by rolling the soi1 between the \ \ thumb and forefinger and moderate pressure required for defor- l-lI \ -1 80 I * mation of the soi1 mass. HéAVY ‘\ I LAY ‘\ 3. SOIL MOISTURE CLASSES Soi1 moisture classes are defined in terms of (a) actual moisture content in excess of field moisture capacity, and (b) the extent of the period during which such excess water is present in the plant root zone. (1) Rapidly drained-soi1 moisture content seldom exceeds fïeld capacity in any horizon except immediately after water additions.

w (2) We[l-drained-soi1 moisture content does not normally exceed SILTY &Y ’ CLk LOAM i \ ûeld capacity in any horizon except possibly the C, for a CL 30 -LO*N I l ’ -- --- t- --- -+ANOY

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE ARFA 67 5. REACTION CLASSES of the grain-size distribution curve.* Representative soi1 types The reaction classes and terminology adopted by the National found in each of these secondary groups are shown in Table Soi1 Survey Committee (1968) are as follows: 51 under the heading “Typical names.” Fine-grained soils are subdivided into silts (M) and clays PHiH, 0) PH (C), depending on their liquid limit and plasticity index. Silts Extremely acid 4.5 Neutral 6.6-7.3 are those fine-grained soils with a liquid limit and plasticity Very strongly acid 4.6-5.0 Mildly alkaline 1.4-1.8 index that plot below the ‘A” Line in the diagram in Table 51, Strongly acid 5.1-5.5 Moderately alkaline 7.9-8.4 and clays are those that plot above the “A“ LINE. The foregoing Medium acid 5.6-6.0 Strongly alkaline 8.5-9.0 definition is not valid for organic clays since their liquid limit and Slightly acid 6. I-6.5 Very strongly alkaline 9.0 plasticity index plot below the “A” line. The silt and clay groups have secondary divisions based on whether the soils have a relatively low (L) or high (H) liquid limit. 6. STONINESS The highly organic soils, usually very compressible and with The classes of stoniness are defined as follows: undesirable construction characteristics, are classified into one 1. Stones 1 (Slightly stony land): Some stones, offering slight group designated by the symbol “Pt.” Peat, humus, and swamp to no hindrance to cuhivation. soils are typical examples. 2. Stones 2 (Moderately stony land): Enough stones to cause some interference with cultivation. 3. Stones 3 (Very stony land): Enough stones to constitute a GLOSSARY** serious handicap to cultivation and some clearing is required. Aeolian’ deposit-Material deposited by wind, includes both loess 4. Stones 4 (Exceedingly stony land): Enough stones to prevent and dune Sand. cultivation until considerable clearing is done. Aggregare-A group of soi1 particles cohering SO as to behave 5. Stones 5 (Excessively stony land): The land is a boulder or mechanically as a unit. stone pavement, too stony to permit any cultivation. A/luvial deposir-Material deposited by moving water. AUuvium-A general term for a11 deposits of modern rivers and streams. 7n. HORIZON BOUNDARIES The lower boundary of each horizon is described by indicat- Association, soil-A group of soils geographically associated in a characteristic repeating pattern on the landscape. ing its distinctness and form as suggested in the U.S. Dept. Agr. Soi1 Survey Manual (1951). Avoilable planf nrrrrients-That portion of any element or com- Pound in the soi1 that cari be readily absorbed and assim- Distinctness ilated by growing plants, Carbon-nitrogen rario-Ratio of organic carbon to total nitrogen. abrupt -1ess than 1 inch wide clear -1 to 2.5 inches wide Cation-An ion carrying a positive charge of electricity. The gradua1 -2.5 to 5 inches wide common soi1 cations are calcium, magnesium, sodium, potas- diffuse -more than 5 inches wide sium and hydrogen. Carion-exchange capacify (C.E.C.)-A measure of the total Form amount of exchangeable cations that cari be held by the smooth -nearly a plane soil. It is expressed in terms of milliequivalents per 100 grams of soil. wavy -pockets are wider than deep irregular -pockets are deeper than wide Complex, soi/-A mapping unit used in detailed and recon- broken -parts of the horizon are unconnected with other naissance soi1 surveys where two or more defined taxonomie parts. soi1 units are SO intimately intermixed geographically that it is impractical, because of the scale used, to separate them. Concretion-A local concentration of a chemical compound, such 8. UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM as calcium carbonate or iron oxide, in the form of a grain The Unified Soi1 Classification System identifies soils accord- or nodule of varying size, shape, hardness and color. ing to their textural and plasticity qualities, and their grouping Contour lillage-Plowing, cultivating, planting and harvesting in with respect to their performances as engineering construction rows that follow the natural contour of the slope. materials. The following properties form the basis of soi1 iden- Dr@-Material of any sort deposited in one place after having tification: been moved from another. Glacial drift includes a11 glacial 1. Percentages of grave], Sand, and fines (fraction passing the deposits whether unstratified or stratified. No. 200 sieve). Dune, Sand-A mound or ridge of loose Sand deposited by wind. 2. Shape of the grain-size distribution curve. Eluviation-The removal of soi1 material in suspension or in 3. Plasticity and compressibility characteristics. solution from a layer or layers of the soil. The soi1 is given a descriptive name and a letter symbol indicating its principal characteristics. Erosion-The wearing away of the land surface by running Four soi1 fractions are recognized: cobbles, gravel, Sand, and water, wind, or other erosive agents. It includes both normal fines (silt or clay). and accelerated soi1 erosion. The latter is brought about by The soils are divided as (1) coarse-grained soils, (2) fine- changes in the natural caver or ground conditions and inclndes grained soils, and (3) highly organic soils. The coarse-grained those due to human activity. soils contain 50 per cent or less material smaller than the No. F.B.M.-Foot board measurement. 200 sieve, and fine-grained soils contain more than 50 per cent Flood plain-The land bordering a stream, buih up of sediments material smaller than the No. 200 sieve. Highly organic soils from overflow of the stream and subject to inundation when cari generally be identified visually. the stream is at flood stage. The coarse-grained soils are subdivided into gravels (G) and Formafion-Any igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic rock which sands (S). The gravels have the greater percentage of the coarse is represented as a unit in geological mapping. fraction (that portion retained on the No. 200 sieve) retained on the No. 4 sieve, and the sands have the greater portion ‘The grain-size CUTY~Sof well-graded materials are generally smoorh and concave. passing the No. 4 sieve. The four secondary divisions of each wirh no sizes lacking and no exccss of material in any six range. group-GW, GP, GM, and GC (grave]); SW, SP, SM, and SC “This is net a compkte glorsvy, but is primarily to define some ~CT~E commoply (sand)depend on the amount and type of fines and the shape used in this report.

68 REPORT S-71-28 Group Major divisions Typical names symbols

GW Weil-graded gravels. gravel-sand mixtures, little or no fines TABLE 51 Unified Soi1 Classification Sjstem

GP Poorly graded gravels. gravel- sand mixtures, little or no fines

‘Division of GM and SM groups into subdtvi- Silty gravels. gravel-sand-silt mix- sions of d and u are for roads and airfields only. tures Subdivision is based on Atterburg limits; sufftx d used when L.L. is 28 or less and the P.I. is 6 or less: the suffix u used when L.L. is greater than 28. “Borderline classifications, used for soils pos- GC Clayey gravels. gravel-Sand-clay sessing characteristics of two groups, are designated mixtures by combinations of group symbols. For example: GW-GC, well-graded gravel-sand mixture with clay binder. *Table from: “PCA Soi1 Primer”. 1962. Portland sw Weil-graded sands, gravelly sands, Cernent Association. Chic. Ill. little or no fines

SP Poorly graded sands, gravelly sands. little or no fines

d SM’ Silty sands, Sand-silt mixtures ” t

SC Clayey sands. Sand-clay mixtures

Inorganic silts and very fine sands. ML rock fleur. silty or clayey fine sands, or clayey silts with slight plastictty 60

Inorganic clays of low to medium 50 / CL plasticity, gravelly clays. sandy clays. silty clays. lean clays

40 OL Organic silts and organic silty clays / of low plasticity 21.c I l I l l I/l .g 30 I] tnorganic silts, micaceous or diato- .zül MH maceous fine sandy or’ silty sorts. elastic silts $ 20

CH lnorganic clays of htgh plasticity. fat clays

0” OH Organic clays of medium to high plasticity, organic stlts 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Liquid limrt

Pt Peat and other highly organic soils Plasticity Chart

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKEARE 69 Frost-free period-The period or season of the year between concentration of lime exceeds that. present in the unen- the last frost of spring and the first frost of autumn. riched parent material. Gley-Gleying is a reduction process that takes place in soils e-A horizon characterized by the removal of clay, iron, that are saturated with water for long periods of time. The aluminum or organic matter. Lighter in color by one unit horizon of most intense reduction is characterized by a gray, or value or chroma when dry, than the layer below. commonly mottled appearance, which on drying shows numerous f-A horizon enriched with hydrated iron. It has a chroma of rusty brown iron stains or streaks. It is generally very sticky 3 or more and is redder than the horizon above or below. when wet and hard when dry. Those horizons in which gley- g-A horizon characterized by reduction and gray colors; ing is intense are designated with the subscript g. often mottled (gley). Green munure trop-Any trop that is plowed under for the h-A horizon entiched with organic matter. When used with purpose of improving the soil, especially by the addition of A it must show at least one Munsell unit of value darker organic matter. than the layer immediately below. Ground moraine-Generally an unsorted mixture of rocks, boul- j-A, horizon whose characteristics are weakly expressed. It ders, Sand, silt and clay deposited by glacial ice. The pre- must be used with some other suffix. dominant material is till, though stmtified drift is present in places. The till is thought to have accumulated both by k-Presence of carbonate as indicated by visible effervescence lodgment beneath the ice and by being let down from the with dilute hydrochloric acid. Upper surface of the ice during the ice-melting process. m-A horizon slightly altered by hydrolysis, oxidation and/or Ground moraine occurs most commonly in the form of un- solution to give a change in color and/or structure. Suffix dulating plains with gently sloping swells, swales and en- to be used with B and then only alone or with suffixes closed depressions. k, s, or g. Groundwuter-That portion of the total precipitation which at any n-A horizon with distinctive morphological and physical particular time is either passing through or standing in the characteristics as shown by black or dark colorations or soil and the underlying strata and is free to move under the coatings on the surface of the peds and characterized by influence of gravity. prismatic or columnar structure, and very hard consistency Horizon-A layer in the soi1 profile approximately parallel to when dry. The ratio of exchangeable Ca++ to exchange- the land surface with more or less well-defined characteristics able Na+ in this horizon must be less than 10. that have been produced through the operation of soi1 form- p-A layer disturbed by man’s activities, i.e. by- cultivation ing processes. The major organic horizons are defined as and/or pasturing. TO be used only with A. follows: s-A horizon with salts including gypsum which may be de- L-An organic layer characterized by the accumulation of tected as crystals or veins, or as surface trusts of salt organic matter in which the original structures are easily crystals or by distressed trop growth, or presence of salt- discernible. tolerant plants. F-An organic layer characterized by the accumulation of t-A horizon enriched with silicate clay, used with B alone partly decomposed organic matter in which the original (Bt) or with Bg (Btg), and meeting the following require- structures are discernible with difficulty. ments: H-An organic layer characterized by the accumulation of (1) Where an eluviated A horizon remains and there is no decomposed organic matter in which the original structures lithologic discontinuity between the A and the Bt are undiscernible. horizon, it contains more clay as follows: The major minera1 horizons are defined as follows: (a) If the Ae or AB has less than 15 per cent clay, A-A minera1 horizon or horizons formed at or near the the Bt horizon must contain at least 3 per cent surface in the zone of maximum removal of materials in more clay than the Ae or AB horizon. solution and suspension and/or maximum in situ accumula- (b) If the Ae or AB has more than 15 per cent tion of organic matter. It includes (1) horizons in which and less than 40 per cent clay, the ratio of the clay organic matter has accumulated as a result of biological in the Bt horizon to that in the Ae or AB activity (Ah); (2) horizons that have eluviated of clay, horizon must be 1.‘2 or more. iron, aluminum and/or organic matter (Ae); (3) horizons (c) If the Ae or AB has more than 40 per cent clay dominated by 1 and 2 above but transitional to the under- the Bt horizon must contain 8 per cent more clay lying B horizon (AB); (4) horizons markedly disturbed by than the Ae or AB horizon. cultivated (AP). (2) It must be at least 2 inches thick. In some sandy B-A minera1 horizon or horizons characterized by one or SO~IS where clay accumulation occurs in lamellae, the more of the following: (1) an illuvial enrichment (exclusive total thickness of the lamellae should be more than of dolomite or salts more soluble in water) of silicate 4 inches in the Upper 60 inches of the profile. clay, iron, aluminum and/or organic matter (Bt, Bf, Bh, Humus-That more or less stable fraction of the soi1 organic Bfhk (2) a prismatic or columnar structure that exhibits pronounced coatings or stainings and is-characterized by the matter remaining after the major portion of added plant and presence of significant amounts of exchangeable sodium animal residues have decomposed. Usually it is dark colored. and/or magnesium (Bn); (3) an alteration by hydrolisis or Hummocky dead-ice moraine-A tiI1 deposit composed of knobs oxidation to give a change in color and/or structure and and depressions with local relief generally in excess of 40 does not meet the requirements of (1) and (2) above feet. May also include stratified drift. (Bm). Ihvialion-The process of deposition of soi1 material removed C-A minera1 horizon or horizons comparatively unaffected by from one horizon to another in the soi]; usually from an the pedogenic processes operative in A and B, excepting Upper to a lower horizon in the soil profile. Illuviated com- (1) the process of gleying and (2) the accumulation of pounds include silicate clay, iron and aluminum hydrous dolomite and salts more soluble in water (Cca, Csa, Cg oxides and/or organic matter. and C). Infilration-The downward entry of water into the soil. Tbe minera1 horizons described in this report are denoted by Intergrade-A soi1 that possesses moderately welldeveloped the following lower-case,suffixes: distinguishing characteristics of two or more genetically related ca-A horizon with secondary carbonate enrichment where the taxa.

70 REPORT S-71-28 Lucustrine deposit-Material deposited in lake water and later Plastic limit-Water content at which a soi1 will just begin to exposed either by a lowering of the water or by uplift of crumble when rolled into a thread approximately 3 mm in the land, diameter. Lncusrro-fil1 deposit-Fine textured stratified materials that con- Pfasricify index-The numerical difference between the liquid and tain some stones, deposited mainly under lake-water conditions. the plastic limit or, synonymously, between the lower plastic Liqw’d limif (Upper plastic limit)-The water content at which a limit and the Upper plastic limit. pat of soil, tut by a groove of standard dimensions, Will Profile-A vertical section of the soil throughout ail its horizons flow together for a distance of 12 mm under the impact of and extending into the parent material. 25 blows in a standard liquid limit apparatus. Relief-The elevations or inequalities of the land surface when Mupping unir-see Association, soil. considered collectively. Minor configurations are referred to Marphology, soil-The makeup of the soi], including the texture, as “microrelief.” structure, consistence, color, and other physical, mineralogical, Saline muterial-Material whose saturated extract has an elec- and biological properties of the various horizons of the soiJ trical conductivity greater than 4 mmhos/cm. The grades of profile. salinity used in this report are: Weakly saline4 to 8 mmhos/ Morlles-Spots or blotches of different color or shades of color cm.,* Moderately saline-8 to 15 mmhos / cm.2, and Strongly interspersed with the dominant color. Mottling in soils usually saline-over 15 mmhos/cm.* indicates poor aeration and lack of drainage. Series. soi/-A group of SO& developed from a particular type Orgunic marrer-The decomposition residues of plant material of parent material and having genetic horizons that, except derived from: (1) plant materials deposited on the surface of for texture of the surface layer are similar in differentiating the soil; and (2) roots that decay beneath the surface of the characteristics and in arrangement in the profile. soi]. Sire index-The height in feet of the dominant forest vegetation Orthic-A term used in soil classification to denote the Sub- taken at or calculated to an index age. group that typifies the central concept of the Great Group. Solum. (plwal) solu-The part of the soi1 profile that is above Outwush-Sediments “washed ouf’ by flowing water beyond the the parent material and in which the processes of soil forma- glacier and laid down in beds as stratified drift. Particle size tion are active. It comprises the A and B horizons. may range from boulders to silt. Sfrarified-Composed of or arranged in strata or layers as applied Purent marerial-Unconsolidated minera1 material or peat from to parent materials. Layers less than lcm. in thickness are which the soi1 profile develops. referred to as laminae, while those thicker than 1 cm. are Peur-Unconsolidated soil mater& consisting largely of unde- referred to as beds. composed to partially decomposed organic matter accumulated SubsoiLTechnically, the B horizon; broadly, the part of the under conditions of excessive moisture. profile below plow depth. Ped-A unit of soil structure such as a prism, block, or granule, Substrutum-Any layer lying beneath the solum, or true soil; the formed by natural processes (in contrast to a clod, which C or R horizon. is formed artificially). Terruce-A nearly ievel or undulating plain, commonly rather long Pedology-Those aspects of soi1 science involving the constitution, and narrow and having a steep front facing a river bottom. distribution, genesis and classification of soils. Till-Unstratified glacial drift deposited directly by ice and con- Percolation, soi1 warer-The downward movement of water sisting of clay, silt, sand, and boulders intermingled in any through soil. Especially, the downward flow of water in proportion. saturated or nearly saturated soil at hydraulic gradients of the order of I .O or less. Tilt&The physical condition of soif as related to its ease of tillage, suitability as a seedbed, and its impedance to seed- Permeabilify-The ease with which gases,, Iiquids, or plant roots ling emergence and root penetration. penetrate or pass through a bulk mass of soi1 or a layer of soil. Since different soil horizons vary in permeability, the Wafer-holding cnpucify-The ability of soi1 to hold water. The particular horizon under question should be designated. water-holding capacity of sandy soils is usually constdered to pH-A notation used to designate the relative acidity or alka- be low while that of clayey soils is high. Ofteir expressed in linity of soils and other materials. A pH of 7.0 indicates inches of water per foot depth of soil. neutrality, higher values indicate alkalinity, and lower values Wurer ruble-The Upper limit of the part of the soil or under- acidity. lying rock material that is wholly saturated with water.

SOIL SURVEY OF THE CHIP LAKE AREA 71